Is YouTube Automation Legit or a SCAM? It Depends on Who You Ask

Is YouTube automation legit or is it a scam? 

It’s hard to decipher the truth from the online chatter, especially when it comes to those YouTube automation Reddit threads. 

Some respondents say that YouTube automation is legit, while others claim it’s a scam. 

The consensus from YouTube course gurus on the other hand is that YouTube automation is real, and should be considered as a passive income business model.

So who’s correct? 

Well, the answer is not as cut and dry as you may want it to be. There are valid arguments that point to each answer being correct. 

In this article, I’ll cover both sides of the spectrum to determine whether YouTube automation is legit and worth your effort to pursue.

Make Money from YouTube without Making Videos

It’s inconceivable for some to understand how a YouTube creator can create faceless YouTube videos, upload it, and earn money from it. 

Even more unimaginable is how one can outsource the entire process to earn a full-time online passive income. 

This one simple disconnect gets many people to claim that YouTube automation is a scam. Although the truth of the matter is that these businesses do exist and many of these channels are profitable.

It’s a matter of understanding what YouTube automation is and how it works to make you money.

Take for instance the popular Motiversity channel that publishes motivational YouTube videos.

These videos are a combination of stock footage, licensed Creative Commons video clips and audio.

According to Social Blade, the channel earns an estimated $346k per year from YouTube Adsense revenue. 

Although as a YouTuber myself, I can tell you from personal experience that these numbers tend to be much lower than the actual amount.

A channel such as Motiversity is considered a faceless channel since the creators behind the channel do not get on camera for these videos. 

By all accounts, this channel is completely outsourced and automated to make money on YouTube via various monetization methods. 

Ultimately, you can make money from YouTube without having to ever create a video yourself with YouTube automation.

Is YouTube Automation Legit?

YouTube automation is a legit online business. 

Creators can earn money on YouTube by outsourcing and automating all aspects of the video creation process. 

Still, many people question the legitimacy of this business model due to the countless scams plaguing the industry, and the lack of knowledge for how the business actually works. 

3 Reasons YouTube Automation is Legit

YouTube doesn’t care whether you’re a YouTube automation channel or a personal brand channel. 

If you create compelling videos that engage their audience and get them to stay on the platform longer, then you’re welcomed to create more similar videos.

That’s because YouTube earns money from advertisers who pay to run ads on your videos. Here are other reasons YouTube automation is considered legit.

YouTube Automation Channels Earn Real Money

Successful YouTube automation channels get paid real money from YouTube itself (owned by Google), and with other monetization methods. This is probably one of the most compelling arguments to YouTube automation being a real business. 

Here are some ways in which these channels earn money:

• YouTube Adsense Revenue

• Selling Digital Products

• Brand Sponsorship Deals

• Offering Paid Services

• Channel Memberships

• Super Chat & Super Stickers

The Motiversity channel for example advertises their online shop in the YouTube descriptions of their videos.

This is in addition to other monetization revenue streams the channel earns.

Many Examples of Successful YouTube Automation Channels

It’s hard to deny the validity of YouTube automation when there’s a multitude of successful channels to show as examples.

These channels below have successfully leveraged the power of automation, outsourcing, and high-quality content production to grow their audience and maintain a strong presence on YouTube.

• Top5s: As the name suggests, this channel focuses on ‘top 5’ lists covering a variety of topics, from mysterious events to historical facts. The use of compelling narratives and high-quality voiceover work has made it a go-to channel for those who love countdown lists and intriguing stories.

• Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell: This channel is known for its distinct animation style and its ability to explain complex scientific concepts in a simple and understandable way. Despite being highly educational, the content is engaging and visually appealing.

• WatchMojo: Famous for its top 10 lists and pop culture content, WatchMojo has a vast array of videos covering movies, music, TV, video games, and more. The channel has become a staple for those who enjoy countdowns and entertainment facts.

All of these YouTube automation niche channel ideas can be started without a traditional on-camera host and be completely outsourced to freelancers.

YouTube Automation Channels Adhere to Community Guidelines

YouTube Automation channels, like all channels on the platform, must adhere to YouTube’s Community Guidelines and policies to maintain their presence and monetization status.

Legitimate YouTube automation channels ensure their compliance by:

• Adhering to Copyright Rules: Automation channels must use original content or content they have the rights to use. This means avoiding copyrighted music, videos, or images unless they have permission or are using them in a way that qualifies as fair use.

• No Spammy Practices: YouTube penalizes channels that engage in spammy practices such as using automated bots to artificially inflate engagement on videos.

• Avoiding Misinformation: Automation channels need to be careful about the accuracy of the information they present, especially on sensitive topics. Spreading false information or engaging in deceptive practices can lead to strikes against the channel.

Following these guidelines enable YouTube automation videos to be produced legally for publishing on YouTube.

Is YouTube Automation a Scam?

YouTube automation is not a scam. It’s a legitimate strategy for content creation and channel management that leverages tools and processes to streamline and automate various aspects of running a YouTube channel.

However, like any tool, its effectiveness and legitimacy depend on how it’s used.

3 Reasons YouTube Automation is a Scam

Unfortunately, there are many people that use shady practices in their YouTube automation business, which causes others to believe YouTube automation is a scam.

On top of this, online gurus generally market the business as a ‘get-rich-quick scheme’ which it is not. 

Here, I’ll go over other reasons that have helped perpetuate these beliefs.

YouTube Automation is Hard and Expensive

YouTube automation is hard! Yet, it’s oftentimes marketed as being an easy side hustle to make money online.

This leaves many people frustrated and disappointed when the results they get don’t match expectations promised by YouTube automation course creators. 

Understandably, this would make anyone feel scammed by YouTube automation.

This type of online business demands considerable financial investments, time, and effort to get off the ground. 

YouTube automation business owners need to master new tools and understand the nuances of YouTube’s algorithm, SEO, and audience engagement strategies.

For those new to video production or digital marketing, this learning curve can be steep, challenging and expensive.

AI is Making It Easier to Steal Your Videos

It’s so much easier now than ever before to replicate popular faceless YouTube videos thanks to AI. YouTube AI tools is easily considered both a pro and con of YouTube automation.

But does that constitute someone to call YouTube automation a scam? 

I’m not sure about that. 

Although, I would certainly question the ethicality behind someone blatantly stealing another person’s work for personal gain.

Consider this next scenario. 

After lots of research, editing and optimizing, you and your YouTube automation team find success with a faceless video that goes viral. Congratulations! 

You start earning money and expect it to pile on month after month.

Soon after, another YouTube automation creator notices your viral video and decides to replicate it. Just take a look at how easy this can be done using AI tools.

• Use Temi to transcribe any public video on YouTube

• Put transcription through ChatGPT to paraphrase it

• Use ElevenLabs to add a human sounding voiceover

• Let invideo AI create your full video using stock footage

• Design a high quality thumbnail with Midjourney

• Ask vidIQ to write you a catchy YouTube title and SEO video description

Just like that, your money making video is no longer the cash cow you were expecting it to be with the new competition in town.

Your freelancers are paid, but you’re still in the red. 

This scenario is not an uncommon story to hear in the YouTube automation niche business. Not surprisingly, it causes many people to believe this online business is a scam. 

YouTube Automation is Not Entirely Passive

YouTube automation is not entirely passive as many gurus claim. It can be to a certain extent, but this usually happens after a lot of trial and error.

As a business owner you’ll be vetting new freelancers, overseeing your YouTube automation team and setting up systems to run the entire operation.

As much as many of us would like to own a ‘set it and forget it’ YouTube automation business, it’s rarely possible to do. 

Yet once again, YouTube automation is oftentimes marketed as a great passive income business to start. 

From these claims stem many of the YouTube automation complaints you see riddled over chat forums and in online communities.

The truth is, there are high turnover rates for freelancers. Algorithms change. Processes break. And during these times and in others, your business will need you to be involved.

Is YouTube Automation Easy?

YouTube automation can be considered “easy” to those who are familiar with digital marketing creation due to its scalability and outsourcing opportunities. 

Once a successful format or niche is identified, content can be replicated or produced in bulk. Automated systems can generate video ideas, use templates for quick editing, and even automate posting schedules.

However, it’s important to note that while the mechanics of setting up and running an automated YouTube channel can be straightforward, creating a successful and sustainable channel requires a lot of ongoing effort.

Is YouTube Automation Worth It?

YouTube in general is tough. Starting a YouTube automation business doesn’t make it any easier. 

Some months you may have to put in more money into your business than what you actually bring in. Other months you’ll be fortunate enough to break even.

You can find success with a YouTube automation channel. 

But you can expect to have your competition ready to copy your most popular videos and dig into your earnings potential.

Ultimately, it’s becoming increasingly harder for beginners to make money with YouTube automation versus building a personal brand channel. 

If you’re attracted to YouTube automation due to the potential for passive income, then I would recommend starting a money making affiliate website instead. 

It’s much cheaper to start and offers you unlimited earnings potential.

Start with the FREE affiliate blog training.