One effective monetization strategy for making money with your YouTube channel is by earning from ads shown on your videos. This is achievable by joining the YouTube Partner Program. Sounds simple, right? However, many people don’t realize that to start earning from ads and become eligible for the program, your channel needs to have 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 hours of watch time. This might seem like a daunting task if you’re just starting out with few or no subscribers, but don’t worry.
What is YouTube Monetization?
YouTube monetization allows creators to earn money through ads, channel memberships, and other revenue streams on their videos. To qualify, you need to meet specific criteria: 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours over the past 12 months.
How Can You Get Your YouTube Channel Monetized in Just 30 Days?
Today’s Curated Feature brought to you by https://www.youtube.com/@makemoneymatt
Here are six secrets mentioned in the video to help you reach your first 1,000 subscribers:
- Ask Directly for Subscriptions: Don’t be shy about asking your viewers to subscribe. Include a call-to-action in your video intros or outros, add a subscription link in your video descriptions, and use YouTube cards and end screens to remind viewers to subscribe.
- Create Engaging Content: Focus on producing high-quality, valuable content that resonates with your target audience. Engaging and informative videos are more likely to be shared and recommended, helping you reach new viewers who might subscribe.
- Optimize Your Channel: Use attractive and consistent branding for your channel, including a compelling channel banner, a memorable channel icon, and a well-written channel description. A custom channel trailer that highlights the best of your content can also entice new visitors to subscribe.
- Promote Your Content Beyond YouTube: Share your videos on other social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Cross-promoting your content can drive traffic from your existing followers on these platforms to your YouTube channel, increasing your chances of gaining subscribers.
- Engage with Your Audience: Respond to comments on your videos, ask for feedback, and create a sense of community. Engaging with your viewers makes them feel valued and more likely to subscribe and stay loyal to your channel.
- Collaborate with Other Creators: Partner with other YouTubers in your niche to reach a broader audience. Collaborations can expose your channel to new viewers who are already interested in your content type, leading to more subscriptions.
But What About the 4,000 Hours of Watch Time?
Gaining subscribers is only half the battle. You also need to accumulate 4,000 hours of watch time. Here are some strategies to get those watch time hours quickly:
- Create Engaging Content: Focus on making content that captivates your audience from start to finish. The more engaging your videos are, the longer viewers will watch them. Pay attention to audience retention metrics to see where viewers drop off and adjust your content accordingly.
- Optimize Video Length: Longer videos don’t always equate to more watch time. It’s crucial to make videos as long as they need to be to get your point across without losing viewer interest. Shorter, more concise videos can often retain viewers better than longer ones.
- Utilize YouTube Features: Make use of YouTube’s end screens, info cards, and playlists to keep viewers on your channel. These tools can guide viewers to other videos of yours, thereby increasing overall watch time. Creating playlists can also help by auto-playing related videos, keeping viewers engaged with your content longer.
- Publish at Optimal Times: Release your videos when your audience is most active. Use analytics tools to determine the best times to post. This ensures that your videos get maximum initial views, which can help boost watch time and improve your chances of being recommended by YouTube’s algorithm.
- Promote Longer Viewing Sessions: Encourage viewers to watch multiple videos in one session. This can be achieved by creating series or related content that naturally leads from one video to the next. You can also prompt viewers to check out more videos through verbal reminders and links within the video descriptions.
By implementing these strategies, you can effectively boost your watch time and move closer to YouTube monetization. For a detailed walkthrough, watch the full guide video.
If after you’ve watched this video you have questions about how to implement the strategies discussed or if you want help in creating compelling and relevant content for your channel and audience, schedule a call with one of our team members. We’ll show you how we can support you in getting your YouTube channel monetized.
