How to Monetize a YouTube Channel from Scratch (Broke, Camera-less, or Slightly Confused)

So there I was. Sitting in my boxers at 2 a.m., half-eating stale cereal, watching some dude flex his new Tesla and saying, “This all started with my YouTube channel.” I rolled my eyes, but… then I paused. Wait. What if I could do it too?

That was my moment. The moment I said, “Screw it, lemme give this YouTube thing a try.”

Fast-forward to today—I’ve monetized my YouTube channel from scratch, made money (not Tesla-level, chill), and learned a LOT about what works, what flops, and what makes you want to rage-quit YouTube forever.

If you’re dreaming about turning your channel into a money machine, then buckle up. I’m spilling everything I know about how to monetize a YouTube channel from scratch.

First things first… Why even start a YouTube channel?

Besides the obvious fame, cash, and potentially getting recognized in Walmart by one (1) subscriber?

YouTube is a goldmine. It’s not just for vloggers or gamers or makeup pros anymore. People are making $$$ reviewing pens. No joke.

But let’s be real—it ain’t easy. Especially when you’re starting with:

• Zero subscribers
• An old phone camera
• Your pet cat as your only production crew

And that’s exactly why I’m writing this blog post—to show you how I managed to monetize a YouTube channel from scratch, even when my life looked like a blooper reel.

🎥 Pick Your Niche Like Your Life Depends On It

Okay, not your whole life, but it’s pretty darn important.

Here’s what happened: I started with random videos. Like, one day I was reviewing cheap headphones, and the next I was ranking cereal brands (spoiler: Cinnamon Toast Crunch wins always). It was chaos.

YouTube’s algorithm got confused. My viewers got confused. Heck, I got confused.

Then I niched down. I picked “budget tech” and committed to it like it was my Netflix password.

📌 Key lesson: If you wanna monetize a YouTube channel from scratch, you gotta build around one idea—one vibe—so people (and YouTube bots) know what you’re all about.

🧠 Content First, Monetize Second

Lemme tell you, if you go into this ONLY thinking about money, you’ll burn out faster than a Dollar Tree candle.

Your first mission is to create content that helps, entertains, or solves a problem. I had a whole playlist on “best tech under $20” and guess what? People LOVED it. Not ’cause I was a genius editor (lol), but because I was helping broke folks like me.

People don’t just hand out views. You gotta earn ‘em.

So before you stress about ad revenue or brand deals, focus on making stuff people actually care about.

📈 How to Monetize a YouTube Channel from Scratch: The Actual Steps

Okay, enough warm-up. Here’s what I actually did:

1. Got to 1,000 Subscribers & 4,000 Watch Hours

Yup, the classic YouTube Partner Program requirements. And no, it wasn’t overnight. Took me 6 months of weekly uploads and some serious “why-am-I-even-doing-this” moments.

But I kept at it. Promoted my vids on Reddit, posted teaser clips on TikTok, and asked my 9 friends (yes, exactly 9) to share them.

Persistence. That’s the name of the game.

2. Applied for Monetization

Once I hit those numbers, I applied for monetization. YouTube took about a week to approve me. And then… drumroll… I earned $3.42 in my first week.

Not joking. I could barely buy a Big Mac with it. But it felt like a million bucks to me.

3. Added Affiliate Links

Ohhh baby, this one’s juicy.

I started dropping Amazon affiliate links in my video descriptions. If I was reviewing budget earbuds, I’d add a link like “grab them here 👇” and boom—every time someone bought them, I got a tiny cut.

It wasn’t huge at first, but one video went semi-viral (20k views—felt like fame), and suddenly I had $80 in commissions. Legit cried a little.

If you’re serious about learning how to monetize a YouTube channel from scratch, affiliate links are your lowkey secret weapon.

4. Accepted My First Brand Deal (it was awkward)

A small tech brand emailed me, saying, “Hey, can we send you our product for a review?”

I panicked. I had 1.2k subs and thought I was still invisible.

But I said yes, reviewed the product, and they later offered $150 for a sponsored mention. Y’all—I felt like a YouTube baller.

💡 What I Wish I Knew Before Trying to Monetize a YouTube Channel from Scratch

1. Thumbnails matter more than your actual face.
   Seriously. Spend time designing clickable thumbnails. I use Canva and still suck sometimes, but it’s all trial and error.
2. Your first 20 videos will be bad.
   Accept it. Move on. You’ll get better. I cringe at mine, but they were stepping stones.
3. Batch content saves lives.
   Making 3-4 videos in one go? Total lifehack. Especially when life gets hectic and motivation takes a vacation.
4. You don’t need fancy gear.
   I shot most of my first 50 videos on a Samsung phone and edited on free software. Ain’t no excuse!

👇Time: How to Monetize a YouTube Channel from Scratch Without Going Broke

Here’s a mini cheat sheet if you’re broke AF like I was:

• Use your phone to film. Natural light is your friend.
• Use CapCut, DaVinci Resolve, or Clipchamp to edit for free.
• Focus on solving a problem in every video.
• Drop affiliate links. (Do it smartly, not spammy.)
• Once monetized, explore Super Thanks, memberships, and Patreon if you got superfans.

No budget? No problem. You can absolutely monetize a YouTube channel from scratch with hustle and some good ol’ awkward charm.

📊How to Monetize a YouTube Channel from Scratch with Zero Experience

Trust me, I knew zilch when I started. My editing was rough, audio sucked, and I was nervous on camera like I’d swallowed a bee.

But guess what? I kept showing up. You learn as you go.

There are thousands of tutorials out there, but the real growth comes from doing.

So don’t wait until you “feel ready.” Start messy. Just start.

📲How to Monetize a YouTube Channel from Scratch Using Social Media

Don’t be shy—promote your stuff.

Here’s what worked for me:

• TikTok clips with a link to my YouTube.
• Short Instagram Reels with juicy video snippets.
• Engaging in Reddit communities and subtly (not spammy!) dropping my videos.

The more places you show up, the faster your channel grows. And guess what? That helps you monetize way quicker.

🧾 Final Thoughts: Yes, You Can Monetize a YouTube Channel from Scratch

It ain’t easy. You’ll doubt yourself. You’ll refresh your sub count obsessively. You’ll wonder if anyone even cares.

But stick with it.

I went from $0 to earning hundreds per month just by being consistent, learning as I go, and being ridiculously real on camera.

If you’re ready to grind, learn, and laugh at your awkward early videos—then yes, you can monetize a YouTube channel from scratch.

❓ Let’s Chat:

• Have you started your channel yet?
• What’s your biggest fear about putting yourself out there?
• Wanna see my first cringey video? (jk… unless?)

Drop your thoughts below or hit me up—I’m always down to help fellow creators!