The Think Media Podcast – Episode 453: 17 Real Ways to Make Money on YouTube
Host: Sean Cannell
Guest: Michael Zuber (One Rental at a Time)
Date: October 9, 2025
Episode Overview
In this eye-opening episode of the Think Media Podcast, host Sean Cannell sits down with Michael Zuber, founder of the YouTube channel One Rental at a Time, to break down the actual 17 income streams that power his business – all stemming from a single, ad-free, no-team, no-edit YouTube operation. The episode busts myths about what it means to succeed on YouTube (Spoiler: viral videos and AdSense aren’t the real moneymakers) and provides a tactical roadmap creators can follow to build sustainable, diversified online income, regardless of their channel size or niche.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Rethinking YouTube Monetization
- YouTube is a Trust Vehicle, Not Just a Platform for Adsense
- Michael emphasizes that simply chasing views, subs, or AdSense revenue is leaving massive opportunities on the table.
- “YouTube is everything and nothing. It's everything from content, but it's nothing from the income stream.” – Michael (36:43)
- The true power is in trust-building and community—this enables every other income stream.
2. Michael Zuber’s 17 Income Streams from YouTube
Sean and Michael systematically break down each stream—with Michael’s real numbers and experiences.
1. YouTube Ad Revenue [04:06]
- Fluctuates with algorithm and niche. Not nearly the biggest source (“near the bottom” for Michael).
- For example: $78K in 2022, $40K last year.
- “My best month ever was just over $10,000... But I haven't had a month over $4,200 in 14 months.” – Michael (04:29)
2. Book Sales (Print & eBook) [06:29]
- “One Rental at a Time” is self-published, print-on-demand through Amazon.
- $132,026 in total earnings from book sales alone.
- “I think the easiest thing to do is write a book… We are in a trust recession… If you just keep showing up, people are going to start to trust you.” – Michael (06:29)
3. Online Courses [08:42]
- Audience-driven problem solving; main course is $299, spun off to 8–9 smaller ones.
- $537,000 generated so far.
- “The beauty… it was all audience driven. If you actually have the course and go through it, it's all audience generated questions that became the course.” – Michael (09:25)
4. Audiobook [10:44]
- Initially a poor-quality narrator, then re-recorded by a friend; now main Audible option.
- $37,000 in revenue from Audible.
- “Part of my audience, it was a real person, but it sounded like a computer.” – Michael (11:03)
5–11. Referral/Affiliate/Brand Partnership Income [12:38–22:13]
- Amazon Affiliate: recommending gear, books (“just links in my videos”).
- Convoy, Velocity, Matt the Mortgage Guy: Paid weekly guest spots ($1,000/month each) + commission for referrals.
- HEM Lane/Steadily: Property management/insurance brand partnerships—paid spots, plus commissions.
- Small Business Loans, SaaS Tools: 25% performance-based commission for referrals.
- Resi Club Newsletter: Paid placements & shared ad revenue.
- These brand deals range from straight sponsorship to affiliate to hybrid performance-based deals.
- “I've built a media company and people can almost like come on your platform.” – Sean (17:29)
- “I think of this as like biz development. This is creator economy, media company, business development.” – Sean (21:38)
- “I wanted to be paid some base rate for my time each month... and then be paid on performance.” – Michael (21:54)
12. Live Events [23:43]
- Community meetups; $101,000 in revenue, but high costs—sometimes a break-even or loss leader that builds deeper community.
- “When you really think about what we're doing... we're building a community. It now feels like a family reunion.” – Michael (24:29)
13. Community Platform/Membership (School) [24:44]
- Launched on School (with a "K") in 2024; quickly exceeded $41,000, projecting six figures for 2025.
- “Those (online course sales) have really fallen off because people want community now…. Focus on the community. Look for the depth." – Michael (25:47)
14. Podcast (Spotify) [28:10]
- Simple audio repurposing of YouTube content; $600/month from Spotify alone.
- Managed by a VA; passive, “showed up out of nowhere”. – Michael (28:52)
15. Newsletter Income [29:19]
- Partnered with Resi Club: They write, handle ads, Michael gets a cut. $15,000 last year, projected $30,000+ this year.
- “All of this just spins off YouTube.” (33:15)
16. Sponsorship Logo Placement [35:08]
- Example: Steadily insurance logo on the Daily Financial News show, $2,000/month.
- “I didn’t even know you could do that.” – Michael (36:10)
17. Miscellaneous (Performance Commissions, Smaller Partnerships)
- Some additional categories include unique sponsorships or partner offers that arise from persistent community-building presence.
3. Strategic Takeaways
-
Compound effect and patience
- “It's also eight years, right. But this is not, we're not saying this is get rich quick….” – Sean (31:16)
- Michael didn’t start with 17 streams; built one, then another, over eight years.
-
Trust and Audience > Virality
- “I've saved my most important question for the end: How many viral videos have you had? – Sean (40:25)
- “Zero.” – Michael (40:29)
- “I think going viral is a detriment because... you never know what may come from that... they were quitters and whiners. I want to deal with people who are hopeful, who… believe it's possible.” – Michael (41:33)
- Not all views or audience growth are equal; deepest profit and satisfaction come from a loyal, well-served community.
-
Title/Thumbnail/Hook Still Matter
- “I wish I would have learned earlier the importance of title, thumbnail, hook… That's Think Media 101.” – Michael (39:26)
- He learned after 2,000 videos (many with low optimization).
-
Start Simple, Don’t Overcomplicate
- “Everything starts there. YouTube... I do no marketing, I have no team, I do no editing.” – Michael (05:45)
- Even podcast is repurposed by a single VA who also does thumbnails; you don’t need a big team to reach six figures plus.
4. Advice for Beginners [37:40]
- Focus year one on craft and community.
- “It's not, how do I go from 0 to 17 income streams? I didn’t go 0 to 17. I went from 0 to 1, you know, 1 to 2, 2 to 3... Make it all about YouTube.” – Michael (38:16)
- Add “buy buttons” (books, courses, referrals) as trust grows—but only offer/endorse what you truly believe in.
Notable Quotes & Moments
- “YouTube is everything and nothing. It's the trust vehicle.” – Michael [36:43]
- “I have no idea what I’m doing, and these numbers still happen. It’s kind of wild.” – Michael [19:45]
- “I want to be paid some base rate for my time each month... and then be paid on performance.” – Michael [21:54]
- “If I stop posting on YouTube, all of those disappear. ALL of them.” – Michael [33:15]
- “I have done zero viral videos.” – Michael [40:25]
- “Going viral is a detriment because... you start to get to other communities... quitters, whiners, complainers.” – Michael [41:30]
- “Your income is directly correlated to the amount of buy buttons you have on your website.” – Sean [38:16]
- “I wish I would have learned earlier the importance of title, thumbnail, hook.” – Michael [39:26]
- “The accolades are really there for those that are still going at year four, year eight, 10 years plus.” – Sean [34:00]
Segment Timestamps
- Intro & Purpose: [00:00–01:39]
- Michael’s YouTube Origin Story: [01:40–03:41]
- Income Stream 1 – Ad Revenue: [03:41–06:21]
- Income Stream 2 – Books: [06:21–08:42]
- Income Stream 3 – Online Courses: [08:42–10:44]
- Income Stream 4 – Audiobook: [10:44–12:38]
- Affiliate & Brand Partnerships Explored: [12:38–23:43]
- Live Events: [23:43–24:44]
- Membership Community/School: [24:44–28:10]
- Podcast (Spotify): [28:10–29:19]
- Newsletter Platform: [29:19–33:15]
- Longevity, Patience, and Compounding: [33:15–36:10]
- Logo Sponsorships: [35:08–36:10]
- Monetization Mindset: [36:10–38:16]
- Advice for Beginners: [37:40–39:26]
- The Power of Consistency vs. Virality: [40:25–43:36]
- Purpose-Driven Channel Building: [43:36–44:53]
- Wrap Up and Closing Thoughts: [44:53–End]
Final Thoughts
Michael’s story and Sean’s expert hosting break the "get rich quick" and "must go viral" myths, instead presenting a blueprint based on adding value, building trust, and methodically layering income streams that compound over years. Whether you’re in year one or eight, the key is to “focus on the community, focus on the depth,” and realize that the real YouTube money is made well beyond Adsense.
Connect with Michael Zuber:
Search "One Rental at a Time" on YouTube or check show notes for links.
If you’re tired of chasing viral hits and want to build sustainable income with online video, this episode delivers not only the blueprint, but the enduring mindset and business model behind long-term digital wealth.