In case you missed it, Nollywood star Omoni Oboli has been quietly making waves, not just on screen, but on YouTube too. According to an analysis by BusinessDay, her channel has pulled in 182 million views since it was created in 2023. With YouTube’s average revenue estimates, that puts her earnings anywhere between $182,000 and $910,000. Shocking? Just a bit.
Now, before you start regretting not recording your last family drama or uploading your church play from 2009, hold on. Not everyone has award-winning movies in their back pocket. But that does not mean you can not get in on the YouTube money train. The best part? You don’t even have to show your face.
In fact, there is a whole world of faceless content where creators earn thousands of dollars monthly without ever showing their face or filming themselves.
Starting a faceless YouTube channel is not as complicated as it sounds. First, you’ll need to decide on a niche, something you can consistently create content about. Popular faceless niches include motivational videos, tech explainers, educational content, lo-fi music, whiteboard animations, storytelling, and Top 10 lists. For example, you could create videos like “Top 5 African Startups Changing the World” or “Why Lagos Never Sleeps” using stock footage, voiceovers, and solid scripting.
Once you have your niche, you’ll need some basic tools. A video editing app like CapCut can help you put everything together, and you can find royalty-free stock footage on platforms like Pexels. For voiceovers, you can either record your own using your phone or a budget mic, or use text-to-speech software if you prefer to keep things fully anonymous. Writing good scripts is key, your audience needs to be engaged enough to stick around, so consider learning a bit of storytelling or using AI tools to help structure your narration.
Monetisation comes after you have built some traction. To join the YouTube Partner Programme, you’ll need at least 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours. Once you are in, YouTube places ads on your videos and you earn based on how many people watch and engage. That is just the beginning though. Many faceless creators also earn through affiliate marketing (recommending products in the video description), sponsorships (brands paying for shoutouts or content), or by selling digital products like eBooks, templates, or online courses.
One of the best things about faceless channels is scalability. Once you have a working content formula, you can batch-produce videos, hire help for voiceovers or editing, and build multiple channels if you like. You are not tied to your physical appearance or daily routine, which makes it ideal for introverts, busy parents, students, or anyone who just prefers working behind the scenes.
The key is consistency and clarity. Upload regularly, use eye-catching thumbnails and titles, and study your YouTube analytics to understand what is working. Faceless does not mean featureless, your channel should still have a unique style or tone, even if viewers never see your face.
So, no, you may not have Nollywood blockbusters to upload, but with the right idea, a bit of time, and some creativity, you can still carve out a profitable space on YouTube. And who knows? A few months from now, it might just be your channel hitting that six-figure milestone.
