Two Paths to Ad Revenue: YouTube or Your Own Site? If you’re a content creator or publisher looking to earn money through ads, there are two main roads: YouTube or your own website. Both can be profitable—but they operate under very different systems. One gives you scale, the other gives you control. Which one makes more money? The answer is: it depends on your niche, your traffic quality, and how much control you want over the user experience and monetization strategy. How Monetization Works on YouTube YouTube monetization happens through the YouTube Partner Program. Once eligible, creators earn money via ads shown before, during, or after their videos. The platform handles ad placement and optimization—you just create content and let YouTube do the rest. CPM rates vary based on your audience demographics, niche, watch time, and ad demand. YouTube takes a 45% cut of ad revenue, and you keep 55%. Pros of YouTube Monetization Massive reach : YouTube is the second-largest s...
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