A Career in YouTube

'YouTuber'?
YouTuber, a term that has only come about in the last 5 years.
Someone that classifies themselves as a YouTuber, is usually employed by Google (who owns the video charing site). A YouTuber creates videos for the public to watch on the internet, and there are some very successful ones out there.

Swedish YouTuber Felix Kjellberg, commonly known as 'PewDiePie" currently has more than 35.5 million subscribers*, making him the most subscribed person on YouTube to date. Collectively, his videos have a total of 8 billion views. He is most known for reviewing games on the site, showing his reactions to gaming situations. He has an infectious personality and is quite entertaining. His content must be good if there are that many people who want to see his videos.

This is his most popular video, gaining almost 64 million views.
"A Funny Montage" showing various clips from his channel titled "PewDiePie"

Other notable YouTube personalities who have a large following...
Smosh (USA) 20+ Million
The Fine Bros (USA) 11+ Million
Zoe Sugg (UK) 7+ Million
Tyler Oakley (USA) 6+ Million
Caspar Lee (RSA) 4+ Million
Community Channel (AUS) 1+ Million

Making Money
As a regular YouTube user myself, I have been subjected to many advertisements through watching YouTube content. I have an application on my laptop called 'AdBlock' meaning that I don't see the ads before a video is played, but advertising companies have found many other ways to advertise to YouTube users.
Sponsorship
I have personally seen many videos on YouTube where the person is talking about a product that a company have sent them to 'try out'. Just by talking about the product is an effective way of advertising, as there can be millions of people who will see the video (depending on the YouTuber). For those popular YouTubers who regularly do reviews on beauty products, beauty companies will utilise the viewership and sponsor the YouTuber to talk about their product. I have heard many YouTubers say "I don't talk about a product unless I love it." But I doubt that this is always the case.
I also remember a video that I saw of two British YouTubers, Alfie Deyes and Marcus Butler, that travelled to Germany for an X-Box One convention.  The trip was paid for by X-Box.
In the following weeks, I saw that Sony sent Alfie a new PS4. He said that he didn't know he was getting it and it was out of the blue. X-Box utilised Alfies following of 2+ Million on his daily vlogging channel.
Sony then counteracted, and just sent him a PS4, hoping it would appear in one of his videos (which it did)
Promotions.
One other advertising techniques that I have noticed whilst using YouTube, is that of promotions.
Audible, a audio book company, have done many deals with several YouTubers. In the last month, I have seen 5+ YouTubers mention that if their viewers use a particular promotional code, they can get their first book free. It is a great way to penetrate the market, allow a user to experience the product and hope that they purchase a book in the future.

Even though I can block automated advertisements, I can't block out the product placements and sponsorships. And I have to admit, I have actually gone out and made a purchase, because one of my favourite YouTubers recommended the product. As new technologies develop, advertising companies react accordingly to maintain or gain audiences.

*Subscribers: users of YouTube who have the subscribed content on their YouTube page home page.