YouTube Memberships can bring you thousands in stable income, but they can also flop if done wrong. Some creators turn them on, see a few bucks, and think, “Yeah, this doesn’t work.” This is a misconception we’ve seen too many times. There are proven strategies to make YouTube Memberships overperform. Our experts have shared exactly how to do it, step by step.
We sat down with Ihor Novosyolov, Head of YouTube Membership Development at AIR Media-Tech, to give you a clear answer: How do you make YouTube Memberships work?
Here’s what we learned.
1. Mention Memberships in Your Video
Most creators treat Memberships like a no-effort source of revenue, which isn’t so. Your audience will not immediately subscribe to your Membership page. After all, why should they? How do they know that this opportunity even exists?
AIR: “We all know about calls to action to promote YouTube Memberships, but what’s the most effective way to use them?”
Ihor Novosyolov: “You should mention the opportunity to become a channel member right in your videos. It should be short, natural, and have a call to action like ‘support the channel - join the community.’ The most effective format to implement that is to put the call to action at the end of the video, 10-15 seconds before it ends. Or make a separate video where you, as a creator, explain why your subscribers should become members (channels with such videos have around 40-60% more members than those that don’t do that),” he says.
People join Memberships because they want more of you. Whether it’s additional content, exclusive emoji, behind-the-scenes pictures, or a combination of several other unique things. If you put the mention in the description of your videos, that’s good, but not enough. To really sell your pitch, you need to mention Memberships in your videos.
OOHAMI channel turned Memberships into 30% of their income by following the right steps. Learn how
2. Level Value
The biggest mistake with Memberships is offering random content as “exclusive” and making the levels too similar. Each level should provide more value than the last, offering a unique experience that feels worth the price.
AIR: “How do you make the viewer feel the value of the offer?”
Ihor Novosyolov: “The viewers need to feel and see that they receive something more meaningful than a mere ‘thank you’. Each level can have gradually increasing rewards. For example, one level can have early access to your videos and special emojis. Level above can have all that plus ‘behind the scenes’ and a unique badge. One above gets all that plus special badges, mentions at the end of the video/in a stream, polls for sponsors, and so much more.”
So, there you have it. To make your Memberships work and to encourage people to subscribe, mention the offer and what people can get on each level. That’s answering the question ‘why should I pay for this?’
Source: Nixxiom
Notice how this YouTuber talks about his Memberships and explains the exact value of each tier?
3. Use ‘Community Tab’
A lot of creators often forget about the ‘Community Tab’ or ignore it altogether. Which is a big mistake; this is a great tool for growth and promotion! Don’t take our word for it, take it from pros who work within the field and know it all:
AIR: “Many creators neglect the ‘Community Tab,’ thinking it’s not worth the effort. What would you say to them?”
Ihor Novosyolov: “It’s simple, really: they’re missing out. If you, as a creator, regularly publish Community Tab posts (even if they’re short and have a couple of pictures and behind-the-scenes stories) and publicly announce that ‘the full version/additional pictures are available for sponsors only, it wakes up something we call FOMO, aka the fear of missing out. It’s simple human psychology,” he responds.
In just one year, the Rally Point channel grew its Memberships to account for 60% of its revenue, thanks to our expert guidance. See how.
4. Use ‘CTA-chain’: Video -> Ending -> Screen -> ‘Join’
It’s not enough to mention the possibility of joining in your videos. The offer must be visible.
AIR: “What’s one of the best ways to make the Memberships more visible?”
Ihor Novosyolov: “At the end of each video, add either a ‘Sponsor now’ button or a video-promo. In the description of each video, add ‘become a Channel Member and a link. Don’t forget to add and pin another mention in the comments. Again, your offer needs to be visible enough for your viewers to want to click.”
Example: See how this channel makes all their offers visible? This is a great way to do it, but you can expand on already existing methods as well!
Source: PlatinumWow
5. Thank Your Sponsors Publicly
It’s very important not to underestimate the power of thanking your audience for subscribing to your Membership program. Not only does it make your sponsors feel appreciated, but it also makes them feel special.
AIR: “Do you think thanking your sponsors is truly an important component of making your Memberships successful?”
Ihor Novosyolov: “Yes, I do. The most successful creators, when it comes to YouTube Memberships, always highlight their sponsors either by thanking them at the end of the video whilst vocalizing their names, or by showing the ‘wall of fame’. Public acknowledgement is one of the most powerful triggers for new subscribers.”
AIR: “Any other important insights?”
Ihor Novosyolov: “Oh, definitely! I was genuinely surprised that not many creators know about this, but YouTube gives every creator who has Memberships enabled an opportunity to give away a couple of monthly subscriptions to their viewers during streams. It’s actually a great instrument to promote Memberships on your channel.”
Example: This creator has made a ‘wall of fame’ for their Patrons/Premium Membership subscribers. And it entices people to subscribe even more.
Source: Belluar
When you want your YouTube Memberships to become successful, you must stop ‘letting it thrive’ by itself. It is hard work, but with enough commitment, it pays off fast! Give fans a reason to join, acknowledge them, and be visible enough with your offer. That way, as our experts suggest, the Memberships will work.
A Checklist to Make YouTube Memberships Work
Go step by step and see how each of these changes will improve your YouTube Memberships, boost your revenue, and engage your audience.
- Mention Memberships directly in your videos with a short, natural call to action: “Support the channel – hit the 'Sponsor' button!”
- Include a Membership mention 10-15 seconds before your video ends or create a dedicated “Why Become a Sponsor?” video.
- Provide real value at each Membership level, offering rewards like early access, behind-the-scenes content, exclusive polls, badges, and emojis.
- Make each Membership level distinct and progressively more valuable.
- Use the Community Tab to share exclusive content for sponsors and announce additional content available only for them.
- Create FOMO by announcing “full versions” or extra photos only for sponsors.
- Add a “Sponsor Now” button on your end screens and include Membership links in your video description.
- Pin a call to action in your comments, like, “Join the sponsor club!”
- Publicly thank your sponsors by name or feature a "Wall of Fame" in your videos or streams.
- Launch a “Sponsor Challenge” like, “If we hit 20 sponsors, I’ll create an exclusive episode just for members!”
Implementing these tips will give your YouTube Memberships the attention and value they need to succeed.
Want to Bulletproof the Efforts?
If you want to make sure your strategy is spot-on or need personalized assistance, reach out to our team. We’re here to help you optimize and grow your YouTube Membership program!
Here’s what we provide to help you succeed with YouTube Memberships:
- Actionable Checklist for Membership Growth. You’ll receive a comprehensive checklist with recommendations to grow your Memberships and integrate other Super Features on your channel.
- Help with Setting Up Memberships. We assist with setting up Memberships, including all levels and bonuses, ensuring everything runs smoothly.
- Channel and Competitor Content Analysis. We analyze your content and competitors within your niche to ensure your Membership offering stands out and maximizes engagement.
- Development of 2-4 Membership Levels with Pricing. We design Membership tiers based on your audience’s purchasing power, creating valuable, well-structured levels that fit your audience’s needs.
- Bonus Content for Each Membership Level. We create bonus content for each tier, aligned with trends across YouTube and other platforms, tailored to your audience and competitors.
- Badge Design. We design custom badges for your members, enhancing their experience and increasing engagement.
- Audience Analysis. We dive deep into understanding your channel’s audience, helping you create a targeted approach for Memberships.
