How Much Do YouTubers Make? 6 Essential Tips for Selling Products as a Creator
How do YouTubers turn their passion into a successful business?
When I was working at YouTube, part of my job as a content strategist was to determine how creators were succeeding. I saw again and again that the creators who monetized their channels beyond AdSense were those with longer “lifespans”.
Of course, growing from a video content creator to a business that offers digital or even physical products may seem tricky, but there are ways.
In this blog post and video interview, I recap the story of YouTube creator Sarah Renee Clark, a talented coloring book artist who achieved $50,000 in sales within just two days of launching her new product (and a ton more since then). Let’s uncover her six essential pieces of advice for creators looking to sell products and build a thriving business.
1. Know Your Audience and Listen to Their Needs & Wants
One of the keys to Sarah's success was understanding what her audience needed help with. Through her YouTube channel, which caters to people who love to color, she learned that her visitors were most interested in color combinations.
Recognizing this demand, she created a digital product that fulfilled their needs, resulting in over 20,000 copies sold. By paying attention to your audience and identifying what they truly desire, you can create products that resonate with them and lead to greater success.
2. Start with Digital Products
When you're just starting as a creator, it's often wise to begin with digital products. Unlike physical products, digital items are much simpler to make, and require less financial investment. You bypass a ton of complication when it comes to the manufacturing and shipping required for physical products.
There are a wide range of digital product options, such as:
Templates
Worksheets
Courses
Software
Presets
And more, suitable for virtually any niche
Digital products allow you to test the waters, validate your ideas, and build a loyal customer base before diving into physical products.
3. Don't Be Afraid to Sell
Many creators feel hesitant about promoting their products, fearing they might come across as too salesy and promotional. However, if your product genuinely fulfills your audience's needs, they will welcome you sharing it with them. Avoid being overly promotional and focus on demonstrating how your product adds value and helps your audience. Instead of a hard sales pitch, use your product in your videos and talk about it naturally, showcasing its benefits. Viewers will naturally think to themselves, “Hey, I need one of those.”
4. Pre-sell Your Product
Before fully committing to any product, consider offering pre-orders to gauge interest and generate cash flow. It may seem scary to ask for money before the product is complete, but pre-orders can act as a safety net, allowing you to understand the level of demand before ordering inventory of physical products. (If something doesn’t work out, you can always refund their money.)
Whether with physical or digital products, involving your audience in the pre-selling process creates a sense of excitement and accountability, making them feel connected to the product's creation. It also keeps you accountable; there’s nothing like the motivation of people who have already PAID for your product!
5. Bundle, Upsell, and Cross-sell
Just like buying “value meals” at fast food restaurants, you can maximize your revenue potential by offering bundles or add-ons to your products. Bundling smaller items or combining complementary products encourages customers to spend more, as it simplifies the purchasing process and provides added value.
Remember, people are often willing to spend extra if you make the right suggestions and present them with enticing options during the checkout process.
6. Think Outside Platforms—Build Your Website and Email List
While YouTube and other big social media platforms are valuable for reaching a broader audience, they also have limitations. As a creator looking to sell products or services, it's crucial to establish your own website and an email newsletter to have more control over your audience and communication.
Social media algorithms and filtered email inboxes can limit your reach, but having your website and email list allows for direct communication with your loyal followers and customers. And now of course with sites like Squarespace, Wix, and WordPress, it’s super easy to make a website based on their templates.
Thanks to Sarah Renee Clark for dishing some valuable insights into selling products as a creator!
Watch the full interview here:
If you’d like a fresh perspective on your YouTube channel, feel free to book a channel evaluation and live call with Matt Koval.
