Cash Cow YouTube Channels - Are They Legit and How to Make Your Own
Jan 10, 2022
Looking for some information about cash cow YouTube channels? If so, you've come to the right place.
Every few years, a new YouTube marketing strategy rises to prominence. The newest strategy on the block is the cash cow strategy. But what exactly is this strategy, and is it legit? Also, how can you create your own cash cow channel and try the strategy for yourself?
In this article, you will learn:
YouTube Cash Cow Channels - What Are They?
Is Cash Cow Legit?
How to Make a Cash Cow YouTube Channel
Cash Cow YouTube Channel Ideas
Read on and learn everything you need to know about cash cow channels.
YouTube Cash Cow Channels - What Are They?
So, what are YouTube cash cow channels? Specifically, how do they differ from every other channel that exists on YouTube? Are they created using a special kind of account? Or, are they the same as every other channel?
Cash cow channels are YouTube channels that are entirely outsourced. Scriptwriters are hired to write scripts, voice actors are hired to record voiceovers, and editors are hired to edit videos. The owners of these channels find topics and upload videos.
Essentially, there's nothing significantly different between a cash cow channel and a normal channel. Both channels still create and upload videos. The only difference is that one channel outsources the creation of content while the other doesn't.
Due to their nature, cash cow channels often publish faceless videos. Examples of these videos include list videos, commentaries, and videos that are created using stock video footage or images.
Is Cash Cow Legit?
You might be wondering- is cash cow legit? After all, many people online seem to be selling courses teaching this strategy, and they often end up being scams. Is this strategy a way for fake gurus to sell bad courses, or is it a legitimate way to operate a channel?
Cash cow is legit. Channels such as TheRichest and Screen Rant have utilized this strategy for many years. However, many of the courses sold teaching this strategy are low-quality and are not worth purchasing.
The business model for cash cow channels goes as follows: A channel owner hires freelancers to write scripts, record voiceovers, and edit videos. Videos are then published and earn money via Google AdSense. Over time, as channels grow, they become profitable.
At the end of the day, the cash cow strategy isn't revolutionary. It's a hands-off content creation system for YouTube. Money is invested upfront with the hope of one day generating a positive return on investment.
How to Make a Cash Cow YouTube Channel
At this point, you're probably curious as to how you can create a cash cow channel for yourself. Luckily, the process is simple. With this said, it does require money to invest, being as the content creation portion of operating a cash cow channel is meant to be outsourced.
Here's how to make a cash cow YouTube channel:
- Pick a niche
- Choose a content style
- Build workflow processes
- Hire freelancers
- Start outsourcing
Let's go over this process in more detail.
1. Pick a Niche
The first thing you need to do is pick a niche for your channel. Since you're most likely going to be earning revenue via Google AdSense, it would be a good idea to pick a high CPM niche. This way, you can earn the most money possible per 1,000 monetized views.
Some high CPM niches include:
Even if none of these niches interest you, consider combining them with a niche that does. For example, create gaming videos that address how games are marketed. Create fitness videos that cover different weight loss technology products, etc.
2. Choose a Content Style
Once you've selected your niche, your next goal should be to choose a content style. Do you want to upload top 10 countdown list videos? Or, do you want to create informational commentary-style videos?
If you're not sure what content style you'd like to use, try researching the large channels in your niche and seeing how their videos are made. This can help you get an idea of what your target audience expects when it comes to the presentation of videos.
3. Build Workflow Processes
Managing a team of freelancers and keeping things organized isn't easy. But, since cash cow channels are meant to be entirely outsourced, you must learn how to do so. One of the best ways to keep things on track is to build workflow processes.
You can do this by creating a Google Drive or Dropbox folder that your team can access. Inside, you can create folders for each step of the process. The scriptwriter places the script in the scripts folder, the voice actor places audio in the audio folder, etc.
Many people utilize project management applications like Trello and Asana as well. So, consider building out a step-by-step task list for your freelancers to follow. This way, things stay organized and the video creation process runs smoothly.
4. Hire Freelancers
Hiring freelancers is the most crucial step to the cash cow strategy. Freelancers will allow you to be hands-off (for the most part) when operating YouTube channels, which is the point of the strategy.
As it was stated previously, you will need to spend money to utilize the cash cow strategy. Depending on how much you have to invest, you might consider writing scripts yourself or recording voiceovers.
The easiest way to hire freelancers is to go to Fiverr or Upwork and give the same test task to a handful of freelancers. Then, see which individuals complete the test task the best, and get rid of those who did not perform the job adequately.
Once a freelancer has managed to complete multiple test tasks successfully, integrate them into the workflow process. This could mean giving them access to a Google Drive folder or inviting them to join Asana.
5. Start Outsourcing
You've chosen your niche, determined your content style, built your workflow processes, and hired freelancers. All that's left for you to do now is start the process of outsourcing the video creation process.
Just remember, you're investing in the opportunity to generate an ROI in the future. Success is not guaranteed. Be prepared to wait for multiple months (even years) for a return on your investment.
Even if you don't have enough money to outsource the entire video creation process, consider outsourcing a portion. For example, hire a voice actor and edit videos yourself, or write scripts and record voiceovers and outsource the editing portion of the process.
Cash Cow YouTube Channel Ideas
One of the hardest parts of utilizing this strategy is getting started. It's understandable- there are many different directions that an individual can go in. To make getting started easier, consider these cash cow YouTube channel ideas.
Business News
Fresh news about the business world is released daily. Knowing this, it's easy to see why creating videos about news stories in the business world could be a lucrative option for an outsourced channel.
For this type of channel, you could monitor Google Trends, social media, and websites for business-related news stories. Then, you could get a scriptwriter to write a script that covers the story and offers insights using facts and opinions from posts and articles.
Ideally, a YouTube channel that creates these videos should target a sub-niche. An example of this is a channel that creates videos about cryptocurrency news or popular social media platforms.
Sports Facts
The sports niche is huge on YouTube. Fans of all the major sports, from hockey to football, consume copious amounts of content every single day. Seeing as there's a demand for content in this niche, it's a great option for cash cow channels.
Since there are so many popular teams and players, you essentially have a lifetime's worth of topics at your disposal. Consider covering a specific sport or a specific team so you can build a niche-specific audience.
An example of a sports facts video could be, "10 Interesting Facts About Wayne Gretzky" or "7 NFL Records That Will Never be Broken", etc. A scriptwriter could go to Reddit, start a discussion, and get the information needed to write a script- plain and simple.
Legal News
Many different legal news stories are released daily. With this fresh pipeline of content ideas, one could create new videos consistently for YouTube with ease and grow an audience.
Let's face it- court is always in session, and many cases attract a lot of attention. You could create videos about prominent cases, offer a summary of them and some insights from legal experts, and repeat the process.
Yes, this is a technical niche that typically requires expertise to create content about. However, if you focus on curating content, you can gather information from trusted sources and use the information to construct videos.
Conclusion
You now know everything you need to know about cash cow YouTube channels. While the strategy has a unique name, it's nothing more than a systematized approach to outsourcing the creation of videos. It is a legitimate strategy, and you can do it yourself.
