Make Money on YouTube WITHOUT Making Videos (Step by Step Guide!)

If you’re not interested in filming your own videos, you’ll want to know how to make money on YouTube without making them.

Is it possible?

Yes, indeed it is!

You can actually make money on YouTube without having to shoot videos yourself.

This involves creating compilation videos. All you need to do is take a few clips, put them together in a video, and post it to YouTube. That’s how you get paid for your videos without actually showing your face or making videos from scratch.

So, if you don’t want to appear on camera, don’t have a camera, or simply don’t want to film videos, then this is the post for you.

Making Money on YouTube Without Making Videos

Below, I’ll give you a simple step-by-step guide to making money on YouTube without creating any videos!

Step One: Choose a Niche

Step one is to decide on a niche because you’re unlikely to earn money just by posting random videos on YouTube.

You want your channel to have a focus so that you can attract viewers and subscribers who are interested in the type of content you’re producing.

Browse YouTube to get some ideas.

You could make compilation videos, such as:

• Challenge compilation videos
• Funny pet clips
• Cute animal clips
• Gym fails compilations
• Gaming video compilations
• A compilation of viral videos
• Funny video compilations
• Motivational compilation videos
• Nature and wildlife compilation videos
• Relaxing music compilations

So, choose a niche and start creating videos focused on that niche.

As mentioned earlier, it’s a good idea to browse YouTube to see what’s popular. Then, you can select a niche with an audience and potentially earn money from your videos.

Step Two: Find Videos with a Creative Commons License

The next step is to find video clips that you can include in your compilation videos.

It’s important to only use clips that have a Creative Commons License to avoid copyright issues.

A Creative Commons License is a type of public copyright license that enables the free distribution of an otherwise copyrighted work. It is used when an author wants to allow others to share, use, and build upon their work.

By using Creative Commons Licensed videos, you don’t have to worry about infringing on copyright rules.

Finding Creative Commons videos on YouTube is straightforward. YouTube allows you to filter your searches.

Simply enter a keyword, keyphrase, or topic, such as “cute cat videos” or “gym fails,” into the search bar and hit enter.

Then, at the top of the page, click on “Filter.” This will open a dropdown menu where you can select “Creative Commons.” This will display videos that have a Creative Commons License. Make sure to double-check the description box on the video to confirm that it is indeed a Creative Commons video.

You can also find Creative Commons videos on other sites.

Here are some places to find free Creative Commons videos:

• Vimeo
• Pixabay
• Pexels

When you find a few videos you like, download them onto your computer because you’ll need to edit and combine them for your compilation video.

While you can use the footage exactly as downloaded, it’s better to edit the videos. Editing allows you to make the video your own and gives it a more professional look. Consider including your YouTube channel’s name, as well as an intro and outro you’ve created.

Step Three: Create Your Compilation Videos

The next step is to actually create your videos. You can use free video editing software to edit your compilation videos.

Check out this article from Shopify for a list of the best free video editing software.

Now, the edits you’ll need to make to complete your compilation videos are pretty simple, so you don’t have to worry about paying for editing programs. Free software will work just fine.

Here are a few tips for editing and creating your videos:

Include an Intro and Outro in Your Videos

This is easier than you might think. There are free YouTube intro makers and outro makers available online.

Here are some you can try:

• Canva Free Intro Maker for YouTube
• Canva Free Outro Maker for YouTube End Screens

Choose a Good Clip to Start the Compilation

You want to capture viewers’ attention from the outset, so choose an engaging clip to start the compilation. This will give people a reason to keep watching your video.

Have Several Videos Ready Before You Start Posting

It’s a good idea to create several compilation videos before you start posting. This not only gives you a head start but also ensures you have content ready if something comes up and you don’t have time to make videos that week. Additionally, having multiple videos provides more content for viewers to explore.

If a viewer enjoys one of your YouTube videos, they’re likely to check out your other videos. Therefore, it’s a good idea to have a few videos ready to upload right from the start. Having around 7 to 10 videos is a good starting point.

Step Four: Set Up Your YouTube Channel

Once you’ve created your compilation videos, you’ll want to upload them to YouTube. If you don’t have an account, set one up. While you could use your personal account, consider starting a new channel to make it look as professional as possible.

You can learn how to create a YouTube channel here.

Create a strong profile by adding a profile photo and a banner to your channel. This will enhance its professional appearance.

Also, complete the “About” section of your channel. This will give viewers a better idea of what your channel is about, what types of videos they can expect, and contribute to a more professional look.

Step Five: Upload Your YouTube Videos

Once you have your videos and channel ready, you can start posting your videos. Make sure to post consistently. Setting up a schedule for posting videos and sticking to it is a good practice.

At the start, it’s a good idea to post more frequently to build your audience.

Once you have built up your audience and have people visiting your channel, you can reduce the frequency of your posts. Set a posting schedule that works for you and stick to it.

How Much Money Can You Earn from YouTube?

Once your channel gains enough views, you’ll be able to become a YouTube Partner and earn money from ads on your videos.

YouTube isn’t very transparent about how much it pays its content creators. Online figures suggest that for every 1,000 views, YouTubers earn between $0.25 and $7.

In a Business Insider article, six YouTubers shared their revenue, reporting earnings between $2 and $12 per 1,000 views.

These figures are slightly higher than some other estimates online, but income can vary significantly on the platform.

Essentially, if your videos get a lot of views, you could earn hundreds, thousands, or even tens of thousands of dollars.

Have a read of my post about how much YouTubers make to get a better idea.

Closing Thoughts

Hopefully, these tips will help you learn how to make money on YouTube without making videos.

Creating compilation videos is relatively easy.

Moreover, compilation videos are a great option if you want to make money on YouTube without showing your face.

YouTube can be a great side income, and some people even make a full-time income from it.

You might also become one of those people making money on YouTube!