Profitable YouTube Niches Pros Rely On (You Should Too!)
Introduction
Going viral? – OK, But,..! What if I say going to YouTube niches is the smarter way to profit?
Here is the creator, Jeff, from El Jefe Reviews. He initially covered general tech topics but realized his content on personal audio devices—like headphones and earbuds—gained more traction. By honing in on this niche, he saw significant growth in his views and subscriber count.
This shift allowed him to stand out in a crowded market and cater to a dedicated audience interested in audio reviews - Today, by finding the right YouTube niche he has around 151K subscribers!
Depending on your niche, you can earn anywhere from $3.50 CPM in the ASMR space to more than $13.52 CPM for online money-making tips. From history to sewing, there is a wide variety of the most profitable YouTube niches from which one could theoretically generate income. However, some are far more difficult than others.
So, how exactly do you identify a lucrative YouTube niche?
In this article, we'll dive deep into that question. We'll also:
- Explore why some niches outperform others
- Reveal the highest-paying niches on YouTube and
- Provide insights on choosing the best YouTube niches for your unique talents and audience interests.
Let’s get started!
Understanding YouTube Niches
A YouTube niche is a specific topic or category a content creator consistently focuses on. It's the main subject area of a channel's videos, which helps define its identity and attract a particular audience. For example, "Making money online," "Digital marketing," or "Personal finance " are all top profitable niches as of 2024 based on their CPM.
Why YouTube niches matter for success
When you "niche down" on a subject, you go farther into it until you locate the sweet spot with moderate competition and great viewer interest. You're trying to find a void in the content market that you can address with interesting, original content. Let’s understand why choosing the right YouTube niches can define your success here.
- To acquire a targeted audience: If your niche is well-defined, you can easily draw in visitors who are already interested in what you have to say. By narrowing your focus, you can increase engagement and build a YouTube community.
- To optimize the algorithm: YouTube gives more weight to channels that stick to a consistent theme to optimize for the algorithm. If you limit your content to a specific niche, people interested in watching videos like yours are likelier to find it.
- To develop expertise: By narrowing your focus, you can gather extensive knowledge and establish yourself as an authority in your niche r. With this knowledge, you can differentiate yourself from generic YouTube channels.
- To improve SEO: Your videos will have better search engine optimization (SEO) results when you target popular niches with fewer competitors using keywords specific to those areas.
- To monetize: As brands seek out highly relevant YouTube channels to their target audience, certain niches can entice more lucrative advertisements and sponsorships.
Factors that influence the success of YouTube niches
A few factors can impact the profitability of YouTube niches. This is why some YouTube videos or niches rank high in terms of making dollars. Let’s have a quick overview.
- Search volume: Search volume quantifies the frequency with which specific queries are entered into search engines. Tools like Google Trends or YouTube’s own search bar can give you a peek at potential viewer interest. Higher search volumes mean a larger possible audience, setting the stage for more views.
- Advertiser appeal: Some topics naturally attract more lucrative ads. Channels focusing on finance, technology, or business can often command higher CPM rates. So advertisers pay more for such niches to attract their target audiences in these areas.
- Sponsorship potential: Some of the most profitable YouTube niches align perfectly with specific brands or products, opening doors to partnerships. For example, gaming channels frequently partner with hardware manufacturers or game developers.
- Audience demographics: Channels that appeal to viewers with disposable income, such as those interested in luxury lifestyles or high-end tech gadgets, typically see more profitability. A wealthier audience often means higher potential earnings from YouTube ads and sponsorships.
- Evergreen content potential: Creating high-quality content that stays relevant over time? Educational tutorials or how-to guides often attract viewers long after they're published, ensuring a steady stream of revenue.
- Trend alignment: Aligning your content with current trends or the latest technologies can spike your growth rapidly. Yet, it’s wise to balance trend-focused content with material that has staying power to keep your YouTube channel thriving in the long run.
- Scalability: Think about the limits of your niche. Can you diversify your content within its boundaries? This flexibility can keep your existing audience engaged and attract new viewers.
Top 10 Most Profitable YouTube Niches for 2024
Now that you know what makes niches click, here are the ten most profitable YouTube niches to find out what’s best for you.
1. Educational Content
YouTube has become a virtual classroom where you can learn almost any subject. Educational content, from how-to tutorials to comprehensive courses, is among the most viewed platforms. For creators, it's not just about sharing knowledge—it's also a profitable venture, with an average CPM of $9.89.
For example, CrashCourse on YouTube is a platform dedicated to delivering in-depth lectures on diverse topics. With over 15.7 million subscribers, the channel’s estimated earnings are between $34.2K - $102.6K, as of 2024.
- Academic subjects
- Study skills
- Edutainment
- Language learning
- DIY guides
For those considering entering this niche, your expertise could be the foundation of a successful channel. Remember, educational content often remains relevant over time, potentially providing a steady stream of passive income.
To maximize the potential of educational content, consider these strategies:
- Develop and sell online courses: Package your in-depth knowledge into comprehensive courses.
- Offer tutoring services: Provide personalized instruction to help learners achieve specific goals.
- Promote affiliate products: Recommend tools and resources related to your field, earning commissions on sales. Also, if you deliver valuable educational content, you can widen your income streams by creating a comprehensive course and selling it on a self-hosted platform like FreshLearn.
With its intuitive, code-free drag-and-drop interface, FreshLearn streamlines the content development process. To make learning more engaging, you can add interactive components and upload various content types, such as videos, animated visuals, and text.
The platform comes with marketing tools that will help you promote your courses. These features include email marketing campaign tools, marketing process automation, and comprehensive analytics for monitoring engagement and revenue.
2. Health and Fitness
Health and fitness content on YouTube has surged in popularity, covering everything from beginner yoga to targeted exercises like weighted jump ropes for muscle growth.
With an average CPM rate of $1.60, the health and fitness industry niche on YouTube includes several profitable sub-niches:
- Workout guides and routines
- Healthy eating plans
- Mental health support
- Nutritional guidance
- Yoga and meditation
- Sports training
- Transformation journeys
- Medical insights
MattDoesFitness is a YouTube channel that creates content on health and fitness. Here, you can watch many videos on diet, wellness tips, and transformation journeys. The channel has over 395 million views, and its monthly estimated earnings are $3.8K - $11.4K.
You can also check out this article on how to teach fitness online
3. Cooking and Food
Launching a cooking channel on YouTube is a great way to inspire food lovers and share your culinary skills.
Cooking videos, especially those using a bird’s-eye view, allow you to keep the camera focused on the food and your hands — no need to show your face if you prefer not to. You can amuse your target audience with dynamic cuts on recipe tutorials and fun cooking-themed graphics that make your delicious dishes pop on screen.
In the cooking niche, the average pay ranges from $1 to $2 per 1,000 views. To make the most of this, diversifying your income streams is key. Here’s how you can spice up your YouTube channel’s ad revenue potential:
- Recipe videos
- Meal prep guides
- Cooking tutorials
- Kitchen equipment reviews
- Grocery shopping tips and hauls
- Culinary travel vlogs
With over nine million subscribers, Joshua Weissman's cooking channel is among the most popular on YouTube. He is passionate about food and cooking.
Here are a few more ideas on making money online through your cooking channel:
- Affiliate marketing: Recommend kitchen tools and ingredients
- Ad placements: Integrate ads into your cooking demos
- Create products: Develop cookbooks, custom aprons, or digital recipe collectionsBrand partnerships: Collaborate with kitchen brands and food companies
You can also check out this article on how to teach Cooking online
4. Gaming
Gaming YouTube channels attract over 500 million active users on YouTube every month, making it a profitable niche.
With various content types at your disposal, you're not limited to covering just one game. You can expand your channel's scope to include gaming news, in-depth reviews, tutorials for specific games, unboxing, and more.
Creators in the gaming sector typically experience CPM rates around $1.40, but the broad appeal of gaming content can compensate for this with high viewer engagement.
Consider exploring these sub-niches to maximize your channel's reach and relevance:
- Game reviews
- Esports coverage
- Let’s play videos
- Gaming tips and guides
- Developer interview
- Live streaming
Here is a gaming niche on YouTube with over 9 million subscribers - Mumbo Jumbo. The YouTube channel posts videos on the well-liked voxel-based game "Minecraft." The game's mechanics are the primary emphasis.
5. Beauty and Fashion
If you're passionate about beauty and want to create videos ranging from makeup tutorials to skincare techniques, creating beauty-related content on your YouTube channel could be a perfect fit. These channels typically see RPMs between $2 and $10, depending on content engagement and audience reach.
Consider the specific beauty tips you want to cover, such as makeup, nail art, skincare, or hair care, to target and attract the right viewers effectively. You can enhance your YouTube videos with voiceovers and subtle background music, adding professionalism and keeping your audience engaged.
Here are some beauty sub-niches you might consider:
- Makeup tutorials and reviews
- Skin and hair care tips
- Fashion lookbooks and hauls
- DIY clothing projects
- Style Advice
- Modeling and posing guides
- Celebrity fashion analysis
To ensure that women worldwide would be included, Rihanna founded Fenty Beauty, emphasizing universal shades. These formulas suit all skin types and a broad range of traditionally difficult-to-match skin tones.
Fenty remains committed to improving its brand reputation and sales. Additionally, it has succeeded in establishing a niche market: Luxury cosmetics on a tighter budget.
You can monetize your lifestyle channels by linking to the beauty products you review, joining affiliate programs, and partnering with beauty brands for sponsorships. Additionally, you can create and sell your beauty courses, ebooks, or merchandise sales, opening up further revenue streams.
6. Personal Finance
Personal finance is one of YouTube's high-paying niches, with finance channels often enjoying higher CPMs than other categories. If you have a knack for finance and investing, YouTube offers a vast platform where you can share your knowledge on profitable financial practices, from budgeting tips and investment strategies to general financial education.
Creators in the personal finance niche often see CPM rates as high as $12, making it one of the highest on the platform. Popular topics in this realm include:
- Budgeting strategies and money management:
- Investing and retirement planning
- Credit and debt management
- Tax preparation tips
- Frugal living hacks
- College finances and student loan advice
- Home buying guides
- Personal finance for kids
Here’s a YouTube channel — The Money Plant — that focuses on finance-based content creation. They also review personal finance books, offer experts' insights, and help make investment decisions.
Everything from paying off debt to investing in cryptocurrency falls under this category. There is much room for originality and less competition in the personal finance area, making it an ideal niche for video content creation. You can expand your reach by concentrating on financial SEO as well.
By establishing yourself as a financial expert, you open doors to multiple revenue streams. You can sell premium courses, offer personalized coaching services, develop your own financial planning tools, publish books, and create branded merchandise. Financial institutions, investment firms, and insurance companies are often willing to pay a premium to sponsor content that reaches a financially focused audience.
7. Travel
Travel-themed YouTube niches offer travel guides, destination reviews, tips for safe or budget-friendly travel, and personal travel vlogs. This content is valuable for viewers planning trips or dreaming of their next vacation.
These channels often receive lucrative collaboration opportunities from brands and local tourism boards, driven by their ability to engage eager traveler audiences. As a result, CPM rates for travel YouTubers have rebounded to over $2, underscoring the financial viability of this niche.
Daily vlogs, which focus on everyday experiences, are a highly profitable YouTube genre. To succeed, vlog content must be captivating and showcase the creator’s genuine personality and insights, which helps form a connection with the audience.
Here are some engaging YouTube channel ideas for travel vlogs that could attract a dedicated viewership:
- Budget travel adventures
- Solo female travel
- Eco-friendly travel tips
- Hidden gems and offbeat places
- Cultural immersion travel
Take a look at Mojo Travels, an exclusive YouTube channel for travel vlogs. Their insider videos cover various topics, including cuisine, hotspots, hacks, adventures, beaches, and more, making them ideal for vacation planning or satisfying wanderlust.
8. Comedy
Comedy reigns as one of the most popular genres on YouTube, capturing the attention of over 77% of viewers. Whether it's comedic sketches, parodies, or stand-up routines, funny videos consistently draw in large audiences.
The universal appeal of laughter is why these videos attract diverse viewers, from teens to adults. While this wide appeal might lower the average CPM to about $1, the broad audience base still offers substantial monetization potential. Many comedians have recognized the value of uploading their open mic performances to YouTube; the results speak for themselves.
Here’s a look at some of the most popular YouTube niches on comedy:
- Sketches, spoofs, and parodies
- Stand-up comedy and improvisation
- Satire news and commentary
- Comedy skits and podcasts
- Pranks
Trevor Noah is a popular South African comedian worldwide, raking millions from his YouTube channel. His channel broadcasts his comic tours, specials, and podcasts. Take a look at his channel here, boasting 3.8 million subscribers.
9. Self-improvement
Motivational speeches, self-help tips, and personal development content are immensely popular on YouTube. This genre appeals broadly, offering guidance and inspiration to a vast audience interested in enhancing their personal and professional lives.
Self-improvement content spans a variety of topics, from personal success stories and productivity hacks to spiritual growth and more, making it a versatile and engaging niche.
Advertisers and sponsors are keen to connect with this engaged audience, who are proactive about their personal development. As a result, channels focused on self-improvement typically see CPM rates ranging from $2.50 to $4.00.
Here are some popular sub-niches within the motivational and personal development sphere on YouTube:
- Success stories
- Productivity tips
- Mindfulness and spirituality
- Life hacks
- Career advice
Here is an example of a self-improvement-themed YouTube channel. Canadian educational YouTuber Joey Schweitzer (aka Better Ideas) posts a wide range of videos offering advice and tips on dealing with real-life issues.
10. Technology Reviews
Technology review channels on YouTube are a hotbed for viewership, with millions tuning in each month to check out the latest gadgets. These channels cover various devices and can see varied CPM (cost per thousand views) rates depending on the specific tech focus.
For example, photography-centric YouTube channels may enjoy higher CPMs, around $7.31, whereas car tech reviews typically see about $4.32. General tech content might fetch around $2.39 per 1,000 ad views.
However, if you're considering starting a tech review YouTube channel, consider the initial investments. Often, you'll need to purchase the gadgets you review, which can be a substantial upfront cost before you begin to see returns.
Here’s a look at some specific niches within the tech review space:
- Smartphones, tablets, and laptops unboxing videos and reviews
- Camera gear and photography tutorials
- Home gadgets and IoT devices
- Gaming gear
- Audio equipment
- Streaming service reviews
- Website, app, and software reviews
Top 10 Zone is a group of skilled product researchers who evaluate the newest and most advanced products and create an impartial buying guide list based on price, popularity, and general quality. They tell you about the latest cool stuff, how it works, and whether to buy it.
If you look at their website, you’ll find affiliate links to the products they review. These reviewers also get paid to refer viewers to products and offer discounts.
How to Find Profitable YouTube Niches and Start Earning
Create a space on YouTube and turn your passion into profit.
1. Identify your interests and expertise
Grab a pen and paper or open a new document. It's time for some self-reflection. Ask yourself:
- What topics do I find myself constantly researching or discussing?
- Which skills have I developed through work or hobbies?
- What subjects do others often ask for my advice on?
Your profitable niche on YouTube should be something you can consistently create videos about without losing interest. Maintaining enthusiasm and producing authentic content is easier when you're genuinely passionate about the subject matter.
2. Conduct in-depth YouTube search analysis
Use YouTube's search function as a powerful research tool. In the search bar, enter broad keywords related to your interests and pay close attention to autocomplete suggestions. Let’s say your keyword is “yoga”; you might get options like these.
These reflect popular search terms and can provide insights into what viewers are interested in seeking.
Note the following:
- Types of videos appearing
- View counts
- Engagement levels (likes, comments, shares)
- Upload dates
- Channel sizes
You can examine the "Up Next" and "Related Videos" sections as well. These reveal subtopics within your niche, popular content formats, and gaps in existing content that you could fill. By thoroughly exploring these areas, you'll gain a comprehensive understanding of your potential niche's landscape on YouTube.
3. Leverage keyword research and trending topics
It's time to dig deeper. Open YouTube Trends in another tab. Which topics are currently popular in your areas of interest?
Next, head to Google Keyword Planner (you'll need a Google Ads account). Enter your potential niche keywords and analyze them:
- Search volumes
- Competition levels
- Related keywords
Look at this search result on Google Adwords keyword planner, for example.
Look for keywords with moderate to high search volume and low to medium competition. These could be your targets.
Study competing channels related to your interests to gain valuable insights. Identify 5-10 successful YouTube channels in your potential niche. You can do this by viewing the “related” videos that appear next to your preferred niche video.
For each YouTube channel, answer these questions:
- What is their most popular video content?
- How often do they post?
- What's their production quality like?
- How do they engage viewers?
- Can you spot any content gaps or unique angles they're not covering?
Use the YouTube search filter to find both established and up-and-coming channels. This can help you understand what it takes to succeed at different stages of YouTube channel growth. By thoroughly examining these successful channels, you'll better understand what works in your niche and how to differentiate yourself.
4. Test, measure, and refine your approach
Once you've identified potential niches, it's time to create high-quality content and analyze its performance. Produce a series of 5-10 videos across different subtopics within your chosen niche, varying your content formats to see what resonates best with your audience. Your YouTube Analytics would look something like this.
Monitor key metrics for each video, including
- View count
- Watch time
- Audience retention
- Engagement rate
- Click-through rate from thumbnails
- Subscriber growth
Don't forget to read your comments! Your viewers' feedback is gold. What are they asking for more of? What questions keep coming up?
Use all this data to refine your video content strategy. Double down on what's working and tweak or drop what isn't.
Wrapping Up
Choosing the right YouTube niche is crucial for any video content creator aiming to build a successful YouTube channel. Imagine this: your YouTube channel is up and running, covering topics you love. Now, what if you could package that knowledge into courses, offer exclusive memberships, or create interactive quizzes that keep your audience coming back for more? That's exactly what FreshLearn helps you do.
Our tools are designed with content creators like you in mind. Whether you're breaking down complex tech concepts, demonstrating killer workout routines, or sharing culinary secrets, we have features to amplify your impact. And the best part? You're not just creating content—you're building a community and a sustainable income stream.
To transform your expertise into an engaging, interactive learning experience, visit FreshLearn and start exploring.
FAQs
1. Which is the best niche for YouTube?
Identifying the best niche for your YouTube channel involves balancing your interests with what's in demand. Digital marketing, personal finance, technology reviews, and health and fitness are among the most profitable niches. These topics offer substantial opportunities for ad revenue and affiliate marketing on platforms like YouTube, where you can create content that resonates with a wide audience.
2. How to make $10,000 per month on YouTube without making videos?
Earning significant income on YouTube without personally making videos is possible by focusing on niches like music videos or leveraging automated content creation tools. You can manage and promote videos others produce or use software to generate content, capitalizing on popular and profitable niches like entertainment or sports news. This strategy involves understanding YouTube channels' dynamics and leveraging social media platforms for promotion.
3. What is the best faceless niche for YouTube?
The best faceless niches for YouTube don't require an on-screen presence. This includes creating engaging content such as video essays, digital marketing strategy tutorials, or animal videos. These areas allow you to produce informative content or entertaining videos that can capture the audience's interest without a personal presence, focusing instead on the content's value.
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