YouTube in 2025: Building Trust and a Monetization Plan That Works for Me
I can not cap — YouTube feels different now. It’s not just the platform itself, but the culture, the strategies, and the way creators approach their work. After being on the YouTube platform for a couple of years now (since 2011), I’ve had the chance to observe the many ways creators monetize their channels, and let me tell you, there are plenty of options.
But here’s the thing: not all of those options feel genuine.
I’ve seen a lot of creators jump into selling courses, and while that’s a valid way to earn, it’s not something I feel called to do right now. Don’t get me wrong, I respect the hustle. I know creating a high-value course takes work, and it can genuinely help people. But for me, selling courses feels… off.
Why? Because I don’t want my audience to feel like I’m using them as dollar signs. Trust is so important in this game, and I’d never want to jeopardize that. Deep down, I know I can’t fully trust creators whose entire channel feels like a lead magnet for whatever they’re selling on the backend. It’s like their content becomes less about us — the viewers — and more about them.
And so, I’ve decided to go a different route.
Monetization: The First (and Easiest) Step
The easiest and probably most common way creators start making money on YouTube is by getting monetized. Once you meet the requirements — 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours in the last 12 months — you can join YouTube’s Adsense Creator Program. It’s not a bad deal at all. In fact, it’s a great way to earn a little extra cash on the side — a true side hustle.
Ad revenue isn’t going to make anyone rich overnight (unless your channel blows up, of course), but it’s a solid foundation. And for me, that’s what I’m focused on right now: laying the foundation. I plan to leverage the network I have in place now before it grows.
Curating Content with Integrity
I recently dropped my first YouTube video — big milestone! Now I’m in the process of curating a content creation plan that feels true to me and the values I want to represent on my channel. I’m approaching this as a long game, not a quick cash grab.
The truth is, I want my channel to be a space where people feel inspired, entertained, and maybe even a little bit educated — not sold to. My goal is to build a community, not a customer base. That means every piece of content I create needs to serve my audience first and foremost. Starting out, I plan to post what I want to get used to doing this whole uploading thing. I admire a lot of content creators but none inspire me enough with their blueprint for me to follow it. This is about creating my own. Documenting the process, the journey.
As I plan out my next steps, I’m thinking about what kind of value I can bring. What stories can I tell? What experiences can I share? How can I make someone’s day just a little bit better?
Champagne (or Golden) Birthday Goals
This is a special year for me — it’s my champagne (or golden) birthday. It feels like the perfect time to double down on my creative efforts and take things to the next level. I’m using this milestone as motivation to push myself, try new things, and really figure out what I want my channel to stand for.
For now, my focus is on experimenting, staying consistent, and connecting with my audience. Monetization will come in due time, but my main priority is to create content that feels authentic and builds trust.
YouTube might be different now, but that doesn’t mean I have to follow every trend or strategy out there. I’m choosing to build my channel in a way that aligns with who I am and what I believe in. Here’s to a year of growth, creativity, and staying true to myself. The world is yours to discover and I am sure that if you really looked, you would see more and more of yourself reflected in it.
If you’re in the early stages of your YouTube journey too, I’d love to hear from you. What’s your approach to monetization? How do you balance earning with authenticity? Let’s chat in the comments below!
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P.S. If you’re curious, my first video is live now — check it out and let me know what you think! Every like, comment, and share means the world to me. Thanks!
