🎯 YouTube Pays ME How Much!? The Secret to Insanely High CPMs on a Tiny Channel

Let’s talk about something most YouTubers won’t admit: your channel size doesn’t always determine your income. I’m living proof.

With just around 3,750 subscribers, I made over $7,000 in 2022 from YouTube ad revenue alone. Sounds wild, right? Especially when you consider that many creators with ten times my audience make less.

So how did I do it?

One word: CPM.
(Okay, three words if you count what it stands for: Cost Per Mille — aka the amount advertisers pay per 1,000 views.)

💸 What is CPM — and Why It Matters

If you're new to the term, CPM is how advertisers pay YouTube, and YouTube pays YOU, the creator, 55% of that revenue. The higher your CPM, the more money you make per 1,000 views.

Most creators in popular niches like beauty, gaming, or fitness are pulling in $1–$4 CPM. That’s not bad—but it’s nowhere near what’s possible.

My average CPM in 2022 was $166.61.

Yes, seriously.

In fact, my 2021 CPM was even crazier: $218.92. 🤯

🎯 Why My CPM Is So Freakishly High

I didn’t game the system or follow some trendy blueprint.

In fact, I started creating content around the topics I genuinely love and teach — like:

  • Website design (especially Squarespace tutorials)

  • Client onboarding and pricing

  • Content creation and workflow tips

  • Personal finance

  • Tools like Asana and HoneyBook

These just so happen to be some of the highest-paying niches on YouTube.

Here’s a quick look at how CPMs stack up for popular high-paying topics:

Topic Average CPM
Affiliate Marketing $22.00
Digital Marketing $12.52
Making Money Online $13.52
Personal Finance $12.00
Website Hosting/Design $15+

Compare that to fitness or gaming? You’re lucky to hit $1.60.

I got super lucky hitting these niches naturally — I’ve been blogging about them for years, so when I transitioned to YouTube, it was just a new format for the same content.



📹 My Best Performing Videos (and How Much They Earned)

Let’s get into what really paid the bills last year:

  • Squarespace E-Commerce Tutorial: $1,531

  • Oldest (and most cringe) video on Squarespace tags & categories: $451

  • Squarespace vs Teachable comparison video

  • Asana productivity tutorial

  • HoneyBook for client management (with affiliate link = bonus cash)

Even my “life update: why I moved to London” video did great with a $176 CPM!

Want to know something even crazier? One of my most personal videos — “10 things I’m afraid to share” — earned a CPM of $77. Vulnerability pays 💁‍♀️

🔎 What Else Impacts CPM?

CPM isn’t just about the topic. Other factors matter too:

  • Viewer Location: U.S., Canada, U.K. = higher CPMs

  • Viewer Intent: Are they buyers or just browsers?

  • Gender: Advertisers spend more to reach women on topics like business, lifestyle, and education.

  • Search-friendly content: Tutorials and how-to content tend to attract better ad placements.

⚡ From Blog to YouTube: My One Tip for Making It Work

Before I fully committed to YouTube, I was writing blogs — lots of them. When I decided to create videos instead, I realized something FAST: video takes 4–5x more time than writing.

That’s why I rely on tools like Asana to manage my editorial calendar, and I’ve created content planning outlines you can grab for free to help streamline your process too!

➡️ Check out my Asana content workflow video & get your free outline templates below.

💼 This Is Just One Piece of My Business Puzzle

YouTube isn’t my only revenue stream — not even close. It’s just one part of a much larger business model that currently brings in $62,500/month (yes, for real).

Want to see all my income streams?

🎥 Watch my next video: 7 Income Streams That Power My Business



🔥 Final Thoughts: What You Should Do Next

If you’re a small creator, don’t underestimate your earning potential.

✅ Pick profitable topics
✅ Stay consistent
✅ Create value-based content
✅ Monetize beyond ads (affiliate links, digital products, etc.)

And most of all: Know your niche, and serve your people.

You don’t need a massive channel. You just need the right content and a smart strategy.

💬 Related Videos You’ll Love:

  • How I Made $200,000 in 1 Hour (Affiliate Launch Secrets)

  • Secrets of a 6-Figure Web Designer

  • How Katelyn Earns $1,000/Day Offering VIP Days

  • My Room Tour on Necker Island