Live streaming can be very profitable and is a good chance to make extra money. People who love video games, sports, music, or prefer lifestyle blogging can learn how to make money streaming, get paid for their work, and even make their hobby a job.
So we’ll help you understand streaming, how much money you might be able to make, and some ideas to get you started.
What does streaming involve?
Streaming involves sending multimedia content such as videos or music directly to the streaming platform, where viewers can start watching or listening immediately without needing to wait for the entire file to download first. This process relies on a stable internet connection and uses buffering to ensure smooth playback.
Editors can monetize various types of streaming across different verticals:
- Live events (e.g., sporting events): use a reliable hosting service, embed an HTML5 player, and employ a CDN for global reach;
- Movie platforms: platforms like Netflix offer on-demand streaming with subscriptions, content licensing, and personalized recommendations (explore our article about earning money from a movie website);
- YouTube: provides live streaming, scheduled broadcasts, and monetization through ads and memberships;
- Social media: platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitch support interactive live streaming with features like comments and subscriptions;
- Gaming: platforms like Twitch and Mixer specialize in live broadcasts of gaming and eSports.
How much does a streamer get paid?
The amount of time and effort streamers put in will affect how much money they make. On average, Twitch streamers in developed countries pursuing a live streaming career can earn between $3,000 and $5,000 per week.
Sponsorships for streamers can range from $0.01 to $1 per viewer per hour. There are no set monthly payments in the streaming industry, but there are several ways to earn concurrent revenues. For many, it’s just a hobby, but with time and hard work, it can be a good source of income.
Useful streams (even recorded ones) are a source of organic traffic on which you can earn extra money. Earlier we published the case of a gamer and blogger who publishes cool tutorials on YouTube. At the same time, he additionally monetizes traffic from YouTube by sending it to a site with ads on it.
Here’s how Tayyab Mehmood, a gaming blogger from Pakistan, earned $7,000 from YouTube traffic and Adsterra banners.
You too can also use YouTube traffic for moneymaking. Simply direct your users from YouTube to a website page where they can get additional info. Place ads on this page and earn from ad impressions and clicks.
To Contents ↑10 ways to earn money streaming
Most platforms let you stream in some way, which can help you reach a large audience. But let’s talk about some things you can do while streaming to make money.
1. Monetize with ads
Monetizing your live streams through ads can significantly boost your revenue. You can maximize ad revenue by choosing a platform that supports ad monetization, such as YouTube, Facebook, or Twitch.
Additionally, consider leveraging ad networks that offer in-video advertising:
- Pre-roll ads begin playing as soon as a viewer clicks on your stream. They must first view the ad before they can begin watching your content.
- Mid-roll ads appear in the middle of your live stream. While the ad takes up the majority of the screen, your stream continues in a smaller window.
- Overlay ads appear as banners or small cards on top of your stream.
Alternatively, you can boost earnings with display advertising from reputable ad networks.
Adsterra offers a variety of ad formats for monetizing through streaming, including Social Bar, Banners, and Direct Link, designed to enhance monetization opportunities on platforms like YouTube. With formats such as pre-roll, mid-roll, and overlay, you can increase revenue opportunities while maintaining content quality.
The Adsterra Direct Link ad format integrates seamlessly with streaming platforms, blending naturally with your content. Additionally, it offers flexible placement options, allowing you to choose when and where to place ads to best fit your content and audience.
To Contents ↑Are streaming and display ads worth it?
The effectiveness of streaming ads for publishers lies in their ability to actively engage viewers with content. Unlike traditional TV ads, streaming ads can be more personalized and interactive, resulting in higher engagement rates and potentially greater profits.
However, the cost-effectiveness of streaming ads can vary based on ad placement, audience segmentation, and the nature of the content offered.
Therefore, Adsterra provides a robust platform that enables publishers to optimize the performance of their streaming ads. With a quick and easy 10-minute moderation process, publishers can start monetizing their sites promptly. Our advanced data analytics technology offers detailed insights into campaign performance, enabling real-time adjustments to maximize engagement and, consequently, financial results.
Discover how Zohaib, a gaming vlogger, boosts YouTube earnings through display ads. By driving viewers to his expert blog with Adsterra Banners and Direct Links, he seamlessly integrates ads with quality content, earning an additional $300 to $800 monthly.
Join Adsterra now to tap into a vast network of over 15,000 advertisers and benefit from 200,000 new ad campaigns every year. Start earning money with your live streams today!
To Contents ↑2. Receive support money for live streaming
You could ask people who watched your live stream on YouTube or Twitch to give you money if they enjoyed the stream. This is perhaps the most popular way to make money while live streaming, but the amount varies. You can also add links to payment platforms like your personal PayPal, Venmo, and CashApp and ask people to tip you through those services.
Deloitte’s recent market study says that “tipping” will likely be the main passive income source for streamers. Fans can now give money to their favorite creators much more easily than ever before.
When you hear the phrase “online donations,” you might think of those “donate” buttons on websites and YouTube pages. Popular live streaming platforms have come a long way since then, putting donation systems for fans right into their interfaces and making the whole thing into a game.
To Contents ↑3. Affiliate marketing
Joining an affiliate program like Twitch partners can help you make money on Twitch. You can talk about affiliates and what they have to offer and include a link to an affiliate. You’ll get a money cut every time a customer buys something through your link.
Affiliate programs are a great way to make money streaming. It often works like this: a sponsor gives you a special link (or promo code) to a product.
This is an excellent way to make money for people who make live content. Let’s assume a beauty blogger uses a live stream to show how to use a hair dryer. People who watch her videos get to see how the product works in real-time, which makes them more likely to trust the product. The affiliate program will still work even after the stream becomes VOD content. And who knows, maybe the sponsor even gave the beauty blogger her curling iron for free as a bonus.
If you want to learn how to use affiliate programs to make money from streaming, Amazon is a great place to start. You could get bonuses if the person who clicked on your link bought something other than what you were selling.
To Contents ↑4. Sell merchandise
Selling personalized merch is another way to make money from video streaming. You can make your own hats, t-shirts, mugs, and more based on the videos you make and sell them in your online store or through Amazon.
Promoting your stuff on a live stream could be a great way to spread the word about it. You could wear your own merchandise during your live stream and casually point out where and how to buy it (add links!). Sites like Merch by Amazon let you make designs and sell them on the web without paying anything upfront.
To Contents ↑5. Get sponsored by brands
Many people who make things want to work out a good deal with a big company. This kind of income works for both live and on-demand video. But we think that promoting a brand through live video makes the “ad” feel a little more real and trustworthy. Profit from brand deals and sponsorships can vary a lot depending on the brand, how specific your channel is, how big your following is, and other things. Sometimes you get a good amount of money, and sometimes the brand gives you free stuff.
You might ask, “How can I get a brand deal?” here’s what to do:
Stay in your niche
If all you do on your channel is review tech, try to make a deal with a tech company. If you are interested in beauty, this is where you should look for sponsors. Your channel’s overall theme should align with the brand you’re promoting.
Don’t be shy about asking
Don’t give up if you don’t get many brand offers in your email! You need to take the first step. Write down precisely what you want to do, contact the brand you want to work with (via email, phone, or in person), and ask. Whoever asks will be given.
Fewer brands can be better
It’s better to focus on doing an excellent job for one brand than to spread yourself too thin and try to get many deals.
Don’t put your name at risk
No brand is important enough to lose all of your followers over. In the long run, your reputation matters much more. Stay with brands and products that you like and trust. There are a lot of good articles out there about how to get sponsorships and brand deals.
6. Set up paid subscriptions
Paid subscriptions are another way Twitch channels and YouTube videos make money. As subscribers, fans can access exclusive content and perks like a streaming schedule. Streamers get paid regularly through a flat fee revenue model.
Under the pay-per-view model, fans have to pay a certain amount to see “hidden” live content from an item creator. Most of the time, this content is more special than open content (it has to be worth paying for). In the same way, a subscription lets you see all of a creator’s exclusive content for a certain amount of time (like Netflix). Subscriptions are basically monthly donations that are set up in advance.
To Contents ↑7. Ask for Patreon pledges
Some streamers use the built-in subscription features that many live streaming sites have (Vimeo Live, IBM Cloud Video, etc.). With a monthly subscription, viewers can get special badges, chat with other subscribers, and watch live streams without ads. Others use a service to help them, like Patreon.
Patreon is one of the most important donation platforms right now. It affects many creators’ financial futures and freedom. In just the last year, Patreon made it possible for their video creators to get more than $3.5 million! Even though Patreon is not itself a live streaming platform, it is easy to connect it to YouTube, Twitch, and Facebook Live.
Discover the latest in digital advertising strategies and industry insights! Follow Adsterra on Facebook for updates, tips, and more!
To Contents ↑8. Create multiple channels
Streamers can boost their income by creating multiple channels within the same niche but aimed at different target audiences. Running these channels simultaneously helps reach specific viewers, keeps content organized, and increases earnings. While it means creating more content, it ensures you’re not relying solely on one income stream.
9. Create additional content
Many streamers end up making money from things other than videos. For example, many streamers also write blog posts, including content marketing that leads to getting more readers to check out their channel. Or, they could make other kinds of pre-recorded videos and give paid subscribers special access to them as a reward for watching their live streams.
10. Virtual goods and currency
Live streaming platforms offer various ways for streamers to earn money through virtual goods and currencies:
- Bits and cheers (Twitch): viewers buy Twitch Bits to cheer during streams, showing support. Streamers convert Bits into real money;
- Stars (Facebook Gaming): viewers purchase Stars to send to streamers, who can convert them into cash, with Facebook taking a fee;
- Super Chat (YouTube): viewers buy Super Chats to highlight messages during streams, providing streamers with revenue;
- Donations and subscriptions: viewers can donate or subscribe for exclusive benefits, supporting streamers directly through platforms like PayPal or Patreon.
How to make money streaming — FAQs
Some topics attract larger audiences. Choosing the best type of stream to generate income depends on three factors: audience size, engagement, and content niche. Popular options include gaming, educational, informational, and arts content. For example, those in the gaming niche can find success and profit on platforms like Twitch and YouTube with popular video games like League of Legends and Fortnite.
Beginner streamers can earn between $50 and $1,500 per month. The amount earned depends on factors such as the number of views their streams receive, viewer donations, and the number of subscriptions. More popular streamers with an established audience can earn an average of $8,000 per month, with additional income from sponsorships and product sales during streams.
The main and most popular streaming platforms today are Twitch, YouTube Live, and Facebook Gaming. On a smaller scale, platforms like Trovo, AfreecaTV, Mildom, and Bilibili also stand out. These platforms are generally known for having a large community of streamers and viewers, offering plenty of opportunities for live broadcasts and the ability to reach audiences worldwide.
Popular streaming platforms like Twitch, YouTube Live, Facebook Gaming, and Trovo offer competitive payment options for streamers. Muhammad Bilal Asad, for instance, earns up to $977 monthly by driving traffic to his website and focusing on gaming tutorials with Adsterra ads. In music streaming, rates vary: Spotify pays $0.003 to $0.005 per stream, Apple Music about $0.00675, Amazon Music around $0.004, Tidal averages $0.0125, and Deezer approximately $0.005 per stream, depending on factors like listener location and streaming agreements.
Conclusion
When you’re learning how to make money live streaming, the more shots you take, the more likely you will succeed. We suggest using more than one of these methods for the best results. Experimenting can help you find out which ones work best for you and which ones only make you a small amount of money but take up a lot of your valuable time and effort.
Despite all of this, please remember that your live content still needs to be helpful. If all your viewers see ads and pitches for your products on your live stream, you might lose them all for good. Don’t forget the basics of live streaming, like sticking to the same schedule, letting your personality shine through, and entertaining and keeping your viewers interested. Also, if you want to dive even deeper in streaming topic, see our How to Create a Streaming Website guide. And when you’re ready to earn real cash from your live-streaming activities, Adsterra will be there to help you do it smoothly.
