How to Get Sponsored on YouTube | The Definitive Guide

Are you wondering how to get sponsored on YouTube but don’t know where to start? While it can seem challenging at first, it’s simple, and we’re here to break it down for you step-by-step.

In this article, we’ll explore how to set up your brand, publish content, and drive revenue. Keep reading to learn how to make money from doing what you love; creating YouTube videos.

What does it Mean to Get a YouTube Sponsorship?

In simple terms, a YouTube sponsorship is when you have an agreement with a company to promote their brand in your videos often in exchange for a commission. This differs from paid Google ads because it’s a partnership directly between you and another company. But why would you choose a sponsorship when you can make money from AdSense?

Why Get a YouTube Sponsorship?

The answer is simple. Sponsorship sells. Most YouTubers make the majority of their income off of affiliate programs. Let’s compare it with AdSense.

Companies will often pay much more per view than YouTube Ads will. This is why you see so many high-profile influencers advertising products or services in their videos. It’s a profitable strategy! But like anything else, it can have its downsides.

It’s not uncommon for viewers to view sponsorships as “selling out.” They may see their favorite creator promoting a company and assume they only care about earning money. Luckily, this doesn’t have to happen.

Getting a YouTube sponsorship is a great opportunity to sell a product you like while also earning money. As long as your intentions are genuine, your audience will appreciate what you’re doing.

Building a Strong YouTube Presence

You will need a decent following before companies want to partner with you. Does that mean you can’t land a YouTube sponsorship if you’re a beginner? Absolutely not! Many small creators earn lots of money off of partnerships. As long as you have a subscriber base you’re good to go. But what if you’re starting from zero? Luckily there are easy steps you can take to build a presence on YouTube.

Importance of creating high-quality content

Creating high-quality content is essential for building and maintaining a successful YouTube channel. High-quality content not only keeps viewers engaged and coming back for more, but it also sets you apart from other content creators and can make you more attractive to potential sponsors.

Additionally, high-quality content is more likely to be featured in YouTube's recommended videos, which can help you reach a wider audience. In short, creating high-quality content is not only essential for building a loyal audience, but it also helps to improve your chances of securing sponsorship deals and growing your channel.

Tips for growing a large and engaged audience

When it comes to growing a loyal fanbase, there are no shortcuts. Stick to the basics, stay consistent, and you’ll be racking in views in no time. Let’s go over the five pillars of building an audience on YouTube.

1. 1.

   Consistency is key: One of the most important things you can do to build a large and loyal audience on YouTube is to consistently upload new content. This will help keep your viewers engaged and coming back for more.

2. 2.

   Engage with your audience: Building a loyal audience on YouTube also means engaging with your viewers. Respond to comments and messages, ask for feedback, and make an effort to connect with your viewers through social media and other platforms.

3. 3.

   Optimize your videos for SEO: To reach a larger audience, it's important to optimize your videos for search engines. This includes using relevant keywords in your video's title, description, tags, and thumbnails.

4. 4.

   Promote your channel: Promote your channel on other social media platforms, in forums, online communities, and through your website.

5. 5.

   Collaborate with other YouTubers: Collaborating with other YouTubers in your niche can help you reach a wider audience and introduce your channel to new viewers. This can be through cross-promotion, doing a video together, or even just a shoutout.

Identifying Potential Sponsors

Now that you’ve built an audience and optimized your channel for a sponsorship, the next step is to find sponsors. Reaching out to random companies may not be the best approach. So how do you find a company that’s willing to partner with you?

Researching and identifying potential sponsors

After identifying the correct type of brand, you may be wondering where to start. Luckily, YouTube has set up a program that connects you with other companies. This program is called YouTube Brand Connect. Keep in mind that you have to pass these benchmarks to be eligible to join.

• You're over 18 years old

• You're in the YouTube Partner Program

• You're based in the U.S., Canada, or the United Kingdom.

• You have zero active Community Guidelines strikes

As long as you check these boxes, you’re good to go. Set up an account, follow the instructions, and you’ll be on your way to finding the right brand for you.

Negotiating and Securing Sponsorship Deals

Once you’ve identified some potential sponsors, you have to figure out the best way to approach them and pitch your channel. This is where analytics come in. Create a media kit that includes your channel’s statistics, viewer count, subscribers, demographics, etc. Use these details to prove your legitimacy when reaching out to brands.

It’s also good to personalize each pitch. Creating a personalized pitch shows each brand that you’ve done your research and you genuinely like their company.

How to maintain a positive relationship with your YouTube sponsor

Once you’ve landed a YouTube sponsorship, it’s good to do your best to maintain a good relationship with them.

Having a positive experience with your sponsor comes down to communicating and delivering. Send regular updates with detailed information. This will show that you’re being active and the brand can rely on you to keep track of your results. You also need to deliver. Read over the contract carefully and make sure you are fulfilling the terms of the sponsorship agreement. These are just a couple of steps you can take to have a great relationship with your YouTube sponsors.

Maximizing the Benefits of Sponsorship

After getting a YouTube sponsorship there are steps you can take to get the most out of the partnership. To maximize the benefits of a YouTube partnership, create high-quality content, and maintain good communication with the brand.

Create high-quality content that’s on brand

As long as you get sponsored by a company that is in your niche, most of your content should align with the brand. But it’s always good to try and improve. Keep looking for ways you can increase the quality of your videos. Upgrading equipment, outsourcing your video editing, and creating quality thumbnails are all ways you can make the best content possible.

Maintaining transparency with your audience and sponsor

To ensure your followers don’t feel like you’ve “sold out”, communicate with them and explain your thought process behind pursuing a YouTube sponsorship. People appreciate when you’re transparent.

It’s also good to communicate with your sponsor. Send them regular updates including insights from YouTube analytics. Don’t forget that a little gratitude goes a long way!

Getting sponsored on YouTube is an amazing way to turn your passion into a carrier. While it may seem complicated, it’s not. By optimizing your channel, reaching out to brands, and maintaining a good relationship with sponsors, you’ll be making income in no time.

If you’re interested in optimizing your content, check out our guide to creating YouTube thumbnails.