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15 Worst Ways to Make Money on YouTube (Do This Instead)
If you’re stuck earning pennies, this video exposes the biggest YouTube monetization mistakes draining your income—and what to do instead. We’re ranking the 15 worst ways to make money on YouTube, then pointing you toward platform-proof strategies that actually pay.
In this straight-talk breakdown, you’ll see why launching memberships too early backfires, why print-on-demand merch shouldn’t be your first product, and how “link trees with 15 buttons” tank conversions through choice overload. We’ll dig into mid-roll ad spam (every minute? brutal for retention), the trap of Amazon-only low-ticket affiliates, and why giveaway-driven growth attracts the wrong audience who disappear the moment the freebies stop. You’ll also learn the risks of one-off brand deals, shorts-only ad share, and AdSense in low-RPM niches (the math rarely works long-term). Then we’ll cover MCN/rev-share contracts that handcuff your business, low-quality CPA offers that erode trust, unlicensed compilation/reaction pitfalls, and those shady high-CPM sponsors you should avoid entirely.
My goal is to help you build platform-proof income: capture emails, align offers with your niche, and ship simple digital products that compound. Watch to the end and comment “MONETIZE” if you want my “Top 5 best ways to monetize” video next. If you made it all the way through, drop “25 Minute Club” so I know you’re serious.
If this helped, like, subscribe, and tell me which trap you’ve fallen into—and what you’re switching to next. Your feedback helps me prioritize the next deep dives.
Join my free live webclass and discover how to turn your content into cash—without going viral or chasing brand deals: https://www.platformproof.com/
⚡ Build funnels & email on ONE tool—start GBolt Lite for just $17: https://gboltsystems.com/lite
Follow Me On All Socials
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@alston.godbolt
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alston-godbol/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alstongodbolt/
Twitter: https://x.com/godbolt5234
Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/OnlineMarketingFansOf/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564365647886
Blog: https://alstongodbolt.com/
Tools of the trade:
TubeBuddy: The YouTube Advantage: https://www.Tubebuddy.com/agodbolt
Camera: https://amzn.to/3W3IvkY
Wireless Micophone: https://amzn.to/3L8nnHL
Main Light: https://amzn.to/47oumoM
Light Stand: https://amzn.to/42Ez0wb
Softbox: https://amzn.to/4h8yJaR
Backlight: https://amzn.to/4nYBjCT
Map: https://amzn.to/4q2VTmZ
View all episodes
By Alston GodboltIf you’re stuck earning pennies, this video exposes the biggest YouTube monetization mistakes draining your income—and what to do instead. We’re ranking the 15 worst ways to make money on YouTube, then pointing you toward platform-proof strategies that actually pay.
In this straight-talk breakdown, you’ll see why launching memberships too early backfires, why print-on-demand merch shouldn’t be your first product, and how “link trees with 15 buttons” tank conversions through choice overload. We’ll dig into mid-roll ad spam (every minute? brutal for retention), the trap of Amazon-only low-ticket affiliates, and why giveaway-driven growth attracts the wrong audience who disappear the moment the freebies stop. You’ll also learn the risks of one-off brand deals, shorts-only ad share, and AdSense in low-RPM niches (the math rarely works long-term). Then we’ll cover MCN/rev-share contracts that handcuff your business, low-quality CPA offers that erode trust, unlicensed compilation/reaction pitfalls, and those shady high-CPM sponsors you should avoid entirely.
My goal is to help you build platform-proof income: capture emails, align offers with your niche, and ship simple digital products that compound. Watch to the end and comment “MONETIZE” if you want my “Top 5 best ways to monetize” video next. If you made it all the way through, drop “25 Minute Club” so I know you’re serious.
If this helped, like, subscribe, and tell me which trap you’ve fallen into—and what you’re switching to next. Your feedback helps me prioritize the next deep dives.
Join my free live webclass and discover how to turn your content into cash—without going viral or chasing brand deals: https://www.platformproof.com/
⚡ Build funnels & email on ONE tool—start GBolt Lite for just $17: https://gboltsystems.com/lite
Follow Me On All Socials
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@alston.godbolt
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alston-godbol/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alstongodbolt/
Twitter: https://x.com/godbolt5234
Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/OnlineMarketingFansOf/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564365647886
Blog: https://alstongodbolt.com/
Tools of the trade:
TubeBuddy: The YouTube Advantage: https://www.Tubebuddy.com/agodbolt
Camera: https://amzn.to/3W3IvkY
Wireless Micophone: https://amzn.to/3L8nnHL
Main Light: https://amzn.to/47oumoM
Light Stand: https://amzn.to/42Ez0wb
Softbox: https://amzn.to/4h8yJaR
Backlight: https://amzn.to/4nYBjCT
Map: https://amzn.to/4q2VTmZ