The Reality of Making Money on YouTube: A Small Australian Travel/Lifestyle Channel's Journey
Have you ever wondered how much money small YouTube channels actually make? If you've ever dreamt of turning your passion for travel and lifestyle into a source of income through YouTube, you're not alone. But the truth is, the road to monetization and financial success on YouTube can be a challenging one, especially for small creators like us.
Let me take you behind the scenes of our journey as a small Australian travel and lifestyle channel. We started our channel on the 20th of October 2021 on a complete whim, we kept at it and decided we were loving putting together videos to share. We monetised our content on YouTube in March 2023 as we finally reached our last hurdle, getting 1,000 subscribers. We embarked on this adventure with high hopes and realistic expectations, we never thought we would even reach 1,000 subscribers so to be monetised at all was a great success in our eyes.
Here's a glimpse into our earnings, month by month, since we started monetizing:
March 2023: $20.05
April 2023: $50.07
May 2023: $43.28
June 2023: $48.28
July 2023: $55.28
August 2023: $55.04
September 2023: $74.67
October 2023: $71.71
November 2023: $80.47
December 2023: $92.43
January 2024: $81.51
February 2024: $74.13
That is a grand total of $727.94 in 12 whole months!
As you can see, our earnings fluctuated from month to month, influenced by factors such as viewer engagement, ad rates, and seasonal trends. Despite the ups and downs, one thing remained constant – our love for creating and sharing our holiday adventures with the world.
In December 2023, we reached a milestone of 1,500 subscribers, a testament to the hard work and dedication we've poured into our channel. But even with this growth, the reality is that our YouTube earnings are far from enough to live on. Yet, that's not why we started this journey in the first place.
For us, the true reward lies in the joy of turning our travel experiences into cherished memories through the art of video editing and storytelling. It's about connecting with our audience, inspiring others to explore the world, and preserving precious moments that we can look back on for years to come.
While the financial aspect of YouTube monetization is undoubtedly important, it's essential to remember that success isn't solely measured by dollar signs. It's about finding fulfillment in what you do, staying true to your passion, and embracing the journey, no matter how challenging it may be.
So, if you're considering starting a YouTube channel or if you're already on this adventure with us, know that it's okay if the money isn't rolling in as quickly as you'd hoped. Keep creating, keep sharing, and most importantly, keep following your heart. Because in the end, the memories you create and the lives you touch are what truly matter.