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YouTubers aren’t relying on ad revenue anymore — here’s how some are diversifying

April 2, 2026 No Comments

YouTube has become the biggest platform out there, offering tons of opportunities for creators to earn a living. Back in June, the company reported that its creative ecosystem added over $55 billion to the U.S. GDP and created more than 490,000 full-time jobs.

However, many YouTubers have reduced their reliance on ad revenue and brand deals. There are several reasons for this shift. First, ad revenue can be unpredictable. With YouTube continually updating its policies, some creators find it challenging to secure ads for their videos, which can negatively impact their earnings. They’ve also realized that income from these streams can vanish unexpectedly.

Recognizing the volatility of platform-dependent revenue, many YouTubers are no longer just creators. They’re vertically integrated media companies with parallel businesses, including product lines, brick-and-mortar ventures, and consumer brands that can outlast algorithm changes and policy shifts.

In some cases, these side businesses are growing faster and more sustainably than their YouTube channels.

MrBeast

Jimmy Donaldson, known as MrBeast, who has 442 million subscribers, isn’t just one of the platform’s biggest creators — he’s its most aggressive entrepreneur.

In November 2025, for example, The Times reported that the YouTuber is set to open a theme park in Saudi Arabia, with rides inspired by his video content. Among other features, there will supposedly be a game where six players stand on trap doors and must press a button when it lights up or fall down.

MrBeast is also venturing into telecommunications. He plans to establish a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), which could involve partnering with one of the major operators, such as AT&T, T-Mobile, or Verizon.

Additionally, the YouTuber was spotted filing a trademark application for a mobile app that offers banking, financial advisory, and crypto exchange services. In February 2026, MrBeast announced the acquisition of Step, the banking app targeting Gen Z users.

But there’s so much more. What started with a merchandise store in 2018 — ShopMrBeast — has exploded into a broad business portfolio, including his now three-year-old snack brand, Feastables.

Feastables’ initial product was the “MrBeast Bar,” a chocolate bar that generated over $10 million in sales within its first 72 hours, selling over 1 million bars at launch. As of today, Feastables is more profitable than his YouTube content and even his “Beast Games” competition series on Prime Video. In 2024, Feastables generated roughly $250 million in revenue and over $20 million in profit, while his media business lost approximately $80 million.

Other ventures include his packaged food brand Lunchly (co-founded with YouTubers Logan Paul and KSI), the toy line MrBeast Lab, MrBeast Burger, and the analytics platform Viewstats. He even attempted to buy the U.S. operations of TikTok by joining the American Investor Consortium, a group of investors led by Employer.com founder Jesse Tinsley.

Emma Chamberlain

Emma Chamberlain, who rose to fame as a teen vlogger in 2016, now has over 12 million subscribers and has found success in the beverage industry.

She launched her coffee brand, Chamberlain Coffee, in 2019, which offers a variety of products, including cold brew, coffee pods, ground and whole bean options, as well as tea and matcha. Notably, other YouTubers have followed suit, such as Jacksepticeye with his Top of the Mornin’ Coffee brand and Philip DeFranco with Wake & Make Coffee.

In 2023, Chamberlain Coffee had a significant year, introducing ready-to-drink canned lattes and reaching approximately $20 million in revenue, according to Forbes. The brand recently experienced even more substantial growth, opening its first physical location in January. Previously, it had only an online and retail presence at places like Target, Sprouts, and Walmart.

Although Chamberlain Coffee faced some challenges in 2024 due to supplier issues, it’s expected to rebound, with projected revenue growth of over 50% by 2025, reaching more than $33 million, according to Business Insider. The brand is also aiming for profitability by 2026.

Logan Paul

Logan Paul (23.6 million subscribers) is now known for his wrestling career but was earlier known for numerous controversies, like an infamous 2017 video and an allegedly scammy NFT project, CryptoZoo.

He also gained attention through his energy drink brand, Prime, which achieved rapid viral success in 2022. The brand, co-founded by YouTuber KSI, surpassed $1.2 billion in sales in 2023, a figure far exceeding what most content creators earn from views, ads, and brand deals. However, it has since faced declining sales, regulatory scrutiny for its high caffeine content, and lawsuits from business partners. Sales have particularly cooled in the U.K., where revenue dropped by about 70% from 2023 to 2024.

Another venture of his, Maverick Apparel, made between $30 million and $40 million in 2020.

His brother, Jake Paul, is also involved in various ventures, including co-founding the Anti Fund, which has touted past investments in OpenAI, Anduril, Ramp, and Cognition, among others. The younger Paul also owns a grooming line, called W, and a mobile betting platform called Betr.

Ryan’s World

Ryan’s World, hosted by 13-year-old Ryan Kaji, is another prominent YouTuber with a staggering following. Ryan rose to fame through his toy reviews and unboxing videos, which have captivated nearly 40 million young viewers.

In addition to his YouTube success, Kaji has expanded his brand through a line of toys and apparel that are sold in major retail chains and that reportedly generated over $250 million in revenue in 2020. Kaji and his family have since diversified their ventures, including launching a TV show and an app that provides educational content tailored for children.

Rosanna Pansino

Rosanna Pansino is a popular baker on YouTube known for her baking tutorials and themed treats. With 14.8 million subscribers, she gained fame for her recipes inspired by pop culture, gaming, and movies.

Beyond YouTube, Pansino has released several cookbooks that have been well-received, expanding her Nerdy Nummies brand. She also sells baking tools at several retailers, such as Amazon.

Other YouTubers have ventured into cookware and food products as additional revenue streams. Notable examples include cook and author Andrew Rea, known by the pseudonym Babish, who launched his Babish Cookware brand in 2021, as well as comedy duo Rhett & Link, who sell MishMash Cereal.

Michelle Phan

Michelle Phan gained fame in 2007 with her makeup tutorials, becoming one of the first beauty influencers to effectively monetize her content. In addition to her successful YouTube career, she co-founded the beauty subscription service Ipsy, which has become highly popular. Phan also has her own makeup line, EM Cosmetics.

Huda Kattan

Huda Kattan founded the globally recognized beauty brand Huda Beauty in 2013. She sold a minority stake to private equity firm TSG Consumer Partners in 2017 but bought it back in June after investor pressure to bring in senior leadership clashed with her vision for the fast-moving brand, which reportedly brings in hundreds of millions of dollars in sales each year.

Many influencers have created their own makeup brands. Other well-known makeup brands launched by YouTube influencers include Jeffree Star Cosmetics and Tati Beauty.

Feature image credit: Bryce Durbin / TechCrunch

By Lauren Forristal

Lauren covers media, streaming, apps and platforms at TechCrunch. You can contact or verify outreach from Lauren by emailing [email protected]

Sourced from TechCrunch

I’m an Introvert Who Made 6 Figures Online Without Becoming an Influencer. These 3 Secrets Helped Me Succeed.

January 29, 2026 No Comments

By Megan Spencer, Edited by Chelsea Brown

Here are three things you need to make money online as a content creator — without a following.

I did not grow up wanting to be a content creator. I started adulthood in a government job with decent benefits and a deep creative itch I couldn’t scratch. When I became a mom, I wanted to stay home with my kids, but I also needed to contribute financially. That’s when I discovered online side hustles, and eventually, user-generated content, or UGC.

UGC is the kind of short-form video or photo content that everyday people create for brands to use in their ads or marketing. It doesn’t require a following, and it doesn’t live on your personal channels. You’re simply creating content that helps a product make sense to someone else, and brands pay well for that.

At first, I thought I was just reviewing products. It turned out to be the doorway to a new business model — one that helped me pay off over $60,000 in debt and eventually earn six figures a year. And here’s the thing most people don’t understand: I did it without going viral, without building a personal brand and without chasing likes.

The UGC space is flooded with advice that centres on visibility. Grow your platform. Build a niche. Get discovered. But after teaching this model to thousands of others, especially self-labelled introverts, parents and people with no online audience, I can say confidently that followers aren’t what get you paid. Here are three of the top things that do.

1. You need a skill someone will pay for, not necessarily an audience

When people ask me how to start with UGC, their first question is often, “Do I need a following?” I get it. We’ve been conditioned to believe that income comes from visibility. But what brands are actually paying for is content that converts. Can you help them show off a product? Can you tell a story that gets clicks? Can you explain how something works in a way that makes someone want to try it?

That’s the job. And you don’t need an audience to do it; you just need to start creating with intention and learn as you go.

One of the first videos I ever filmed that really took off was a simple product review shot in my kitchen. I didn’t overthink it. No makeup, no special setup, just me talking to the camera. I said, “You don’t have to be an influencer to get paid for videos,” and apparently, a lot of people needed to hear that, because the views took off fast. What mattered wasn’t the editing or aesthetic; it was that the message hit home. You don’t need a following. You need proof you can sell.

A lot of new creators assume they have to start with perfect gear. I get it — there’s pressure to look a certain way or film like a pro. And yes, having decent lighting and clean audio helps. But gear isn’t what gets you paid. What gets you paid is understanding how to communicate something clearly on camera: how to hold someone’s attention, how to make them feel understood, how to guide them to a decision. That’s the actual skill brands are looking for.

2. You need a community

The fastest way to stall out is to do this alone. I see it all the time. People get excited, buy a tripod, try to recreate a trending video and then quit after two posts because no one clapped for them.

You don’t need cheerleaders. You need people in the trenches with you.

When I started my Facebook group for introverts, I wasn’t trying to build a brand or start a funnel. I just wanted to connect with other people like me, creators who were figuring it out one video at a time and didn’t want to feel awkward asking beginner questions in public. I had spent so many late nights Googling things like “best mic for voiceovers under $30” or “how to make a product not look dusty on camera,” and I kept thinking, Why isn’t there a space where people actually talk about this stuff honestly?

That group started with maybe a dozen of us, and now it’s grown to over 19,000 members sharing wins, setbacks, gear links, script templates, screen recordings, side hustle income updates, etc. — everything you’d want to ask a more experienced friend if you weren’t afraid of sounding clueless.

It’s the kind of feedback, support and in-the-moment ideation that you can’t Google. Being around other creators shortens the learning curve and keeps you from spiralling after one awkward experience.

3. You need a process that works on the days you want to quit

Confidence came later. What helped me early on was staying focused on the task at hand. I had projects to finish, clients to deliver for, and content to figure out. The more I showed up for the work, the less time I spent second-guessing myself.

There’s a lot of talk about visibility in this space. But what matters most is whether the content does its job. Can the viewer understand the product? Can they see how it fits into their life? Can the brand use the video in a campaign without needing to change much? That’s the real measure of value. You’re not being paid to be famous; you’re being paid to solve a business problem.

That mindset shift has made this work sustainable for me. I’m not building a personal brand or trying to become a personality. I’m building systems that allow me to earn steadily while keeping most of my life private. That’s what I want other people to see — that it’s possible to do this work on your own terms.

The Anti-Influencer Economy is for anyone who wants more freedom without the pressure to perform. It’s already working for creators who never thought of themselves as creators.

By Megan Spencer

CEO of Meg the Creator

Entrepreneur Leadership Network® Contributor

Meg The Creator teaches introverts and everyday people how to earn online without being influencers. Her Anti-Influencer Method™ helps students make sustainable income with Amazon onsite reviews, UGC, freelancing, and TikTok Shop. No followers, fame, or burnout needed.

Edited by Chelsea Brown

Sourced from Entrepreneur

5 Ways to Make More Money as a Content Creator in 2021

September 21, 2021 No Comments

By Tanveer Zafar

Are you a content writer? here are 5 ways to earn more!

Being a content creator is currently one of the most sought-after job descriptions, because who wouldn’t want to make a living by being themselves online?

With influencer marketing on the rise, there are now millions of brands willing to pay premiums to place their products in front of the right audience. To stay ahead of the curve, I spoke with Shahrzad Rafati, CEO of BBTV and one of the world’s largest creator solution providers, on her tips for turning your content into a career.

Be discoverable

In 2020, over 3.6 billion people were using social media, which is projected to increase to 4.41 billion in 2025. With numbers like these, there’s no reason you can’t achieve massive reach. To hit that next level it’s all about optimization. Details such as keywords, descriptions and titles may seem small and irrelevant compared to the content itself but they can actually be equally important.

You can’t simply press post and expect to receive millions of views without optimizing the content itself. This is where tools such as BBTV’s VISO Catalyst can be indispensable. This software automatically finds the optimal keywords and metadata to maximize your content’s performance.

Brand safety

Many tools are available to constantly monitor your brand, not only protecting it but elevating its reach. Nowadays creators can calculate an overall “Brand Safety Score”, based on the metadata of your content: the title, the description, the tags, the video and image detection.

A multi-platform approach

Growing an audience in today’s world is about using all of the platforms you can. Once you cultivate a significant following on one platform, e.g. TikTok, your followers will literally follow you from platform-to-platform and that’s when you can begin to diversify and increase your content. Follow the three E’s: expandable (does the post encourage continuous discussion?), evergreen (is the post going to remain relevant and topical?), and engaging (does the post fit your target audience or does it alienate them?).

Use analytics

Knowing your audience is one of the most valuable tools you can have. Any social media account can give you your analytics, it’s usually just a simple move from a personal account to a business or pro account. Comparing and contrasting how your reel, video or post performs is a great way to understand the bigger picture of what your really wants.

However, to reach the next level, it’s important to have a little bit of help. For example, a video comparison tool. With built-in key metrics for comparison and defaulted to comparing the first 48 hours of video data, this tool levels the playing field between videos to offer you the best insights for your content strategy. Through their in-depth knowledge of trends and data, it can help you figure out your follower activity, other videos your followers have watched, how long they stay on your page etc. in order to increase your brand visibility, follower count and ultimately your pay check.

Protect your pockets

Thanks to innovation in the influencer market there are more ways than ever to make money. Have you ever found stolen content reposted without your permission? Now there are tools to help creators reclaim this lost revenue. The Plus solutions toolkit ensures that earnings from your content go right to your pocket, and no one else’s. Plus solutions have already helped reclaim billions of views that would have otherwise been completely lost.

Ultimately a combination of engaging content and a savvy toolkit will take any creator to the next level. The key is finding the right combination that works best for your audience, content and career.

Content Creator