How to Make Money on YouTube with AI Video Tools

Last year, I spoke with Tony Lysandrides on episode 565 where we talked about YouTube automation. Back then, the process was much more manual.

The typical workflow was something like this: coming up with viral video ideas, hiring scriptwriters, voice artists, and video editors to create content.

The aim was to hit the viral YouTube lottery by planting a bunch of digital assets and hoping enough would hit big to turn a profit on ad income.

But what a difference a year makes.

Now, we’ve got AI tools to assist in just about every step of that production process, and Tony’s been on the front lines of these changes.

So I wanted to have him back on to find out, first of all, is that a good thing for content creators, YouTubers, and side hustlers? And how much can you make in this new AI-powered YouTube landscape?

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Evolution of AI on Content Creation

Tony’s been on the frontlines of these changes. His “Interesting Flow” channel earned as much as $14k in a month during viral spikes. He’s since started several new channels, including “Bible Blazing,” which got monetized in just 30 days and makes up to $100 a day using AI tools.

But where does the human element come in now? According to Tony, “It’s been good and bad in terms of good for the creators, but a bit bad for the freelancers”.

Many basic tasks that used to require hiring people can now be done with AI. But there’s still room for high-level expertise and human touch.

New AI-powered Workflow

Tony talked about his transition to AI for various aspects of YouTube automation. He noted:

Ideation

Tools like VidIQ help with keyword research and finding trending topics. ChatGPT further assists by looking for variations on viral video ideas.

For example, “Where was Jesus during Satan’s rebellion?” can spawn multiple related topics like “Where was God during Satan’s rebellion?” or “Where was Angel Michael during Satan’s rebellion?”

Scripting

The scriptwriters who did very basic scripts are pretty much out of the water now because ChatGPT has (kinda) replaced them, according to Tony.

BUT if you do want premium scripts, then you’re going to have to hire someone who’s experienced in that area. These people can’t get replaced because they’re really good at what they do.

Voiceover

ElevenLabs offers AI voices for as little as $20/month. You can pick male or female voiceovers, and it sounds so real. You can even clone your own voice!

Video Production

MidJourney generates images used in videos. Combined with tools like Runway AI’s motion brush effect, it creates dynamic visual content.

Pictory can even match stock footage to your script automatically. (Use discount code nshn20 to save 20% on Pictory!)

With these tools, you have zero chance of being copyright claimed because you’re paying for a subscription that’s generating the images.

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MidJourney or DALL-E create eye-catching images, which can be tweaked in Canva.

The Human Element is Still Important

Even with all the fancy AI tools out there, Tony made it clear that humans still play a vital role. He spends a lot of time on two key areas:

Idea generation: Coming up with viral video concepts
Script editing: Fact-checking and refining AI-generated scripts

Tony says he’s “very fussy” about his scripts, often rewriting them multiple times until they are just right. And this attention to detail is what helps his videos stand out in a crowded field.

Understanding Your Audience is Key

“When you understand who your audience is, then you can just leverage that and just take your channel to the moon,” said Tony.

He chatted with a YouTuber a few weeks back who had a channel about EV cars.

This YouTuber’s income skyrocketed from $3,000 to $11,000 per month when he figured out that his audience was not actually into electric cars—they were watching his videos because they despised them.

So then he started doing videos against electric cars, saying how it’s a scam or an agenda from the government.

And people loved it.

Tony then uses YouTube analytics and AI tools to create detailed audience profiles—how old they are, if they’re male or female, what percentage are male, what percentage are female, and which country they’re watching from. He then tailors his content to match what his audience wants to see and feel.

Marketing and Promotion

Tony suggests hijacking the psychology of an already viral thumbnail. Basically, look at what’s working in your niche and put your own spin on it. He also stresses that it’s a numbers game.

His strategy is to put out 10 quality videos a month, hoping that 3 will hit big (150-250k views minimum).

With current YouTube RPM (revenue per mille) around $4.50, that means $4,500 for every million views.

Tony’s production costs are about $10 per minute of video, so a 10-minute video costs around $100 to produce. That means he needs about 22,000 views to break even on each video.

Finding Your Competitive Advantage

In a world where anyone can use AI tools to create videos, Tony says it’s important to find your unique angle. This could be:

Specialized knowledge in your niche
More time to devote to creating content
More money to invest in production
A unique personality or perspective

Whatever makes you different, that’s what you should focus on to stand out from the crowd.

A Day in the Life

Tony spends a lot of time on ideation and scripting, making sure the content is top-notch.

While AI helps with the initial draft, he still puts in significant effort to refine and perfect each script. He’s also constantly analyzing trends and audience data to stay ahead of the curve.

For those looking to get started with YouTube automation, Tony offers a free guide on his “7 Steps On How You Can Crush It On YouTube” on his website.

It’s definitely worth checking out if you’re interested in exploring this side hustle opportunity.

Tony’s #1 Tip for Side Hustle Nation

2023: “Never ever give up.”
2024: “Never ever give up. Find what your competitive advantage is.”

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