How To Get Your YouTube Channel Monetized

There’s a magical word out there that every single YouTuber is chasing. It’s what drives creators forward, the golden ghost we’re all striving after. And even after you get it, you spend every effort you can to protect and grow it as much as possible.

That word is “monetization.” There are few things out there that are appealing as getting paid to make content on YouTube. Whether you make gaming content or your interests lie outside of gaming, it’s pretty much the dream to live from your passions doing what you love.

Well, we want to help you achieve your goals, and we know that getting your channel monetized is no easy feat. With that in mind, we’ve put together a short guide that will give you all the tips you need on how to make money from playing video games, making videos, and more.

What You Need To Know About Monetization

If you’re reading this article, you probably know that in order to monetize your YouTube account, you need to grow your channel. But before we dive into growth tactics and how to engage your audience, first, we need to dive into some details about what YouTube monetization looks like.

What Is the YouTube Partner Program?

The only people who can make money on YouTube are people who qualify for the YouTube Partner Program, also called the YPP. Similarly to Twitch’s Affiliate program, becoming a YouTube Partner allows you to unlock certain features on your channel that allow you to bring in money.

In addition to being able to make some cash through their channels, Partners also get access to priority service from YouTube. This means that if something goes wrong with your channel, you’ll have a YouTube staffer help you get things sorted as soon as possible.

But not just anybody can become a partner. Your channel needs to reach certain thresholds before you can qualify. We’ll talk about how to qualify in just a minute.

What Monetization Features Do YouTube Partners Get?

Luckily for all you creators out there, there’s not just one way to make money on YouTube. There are several — so you don’t have to put all your eggs in one basket. Instead, you can diversify your revenue streams to be able to make reliable money as a creator.

First, you’ve got Watch Page ads. The Watch Page is what you think of when you think of YouTube. It’s where all the long-form YouTube videos get posted, including things like YouTube Music and YouTube Kids. As you know, every viewer is subject to YouTube ads before, during, and after videos (unless you’ve got Premium).

Partners can pocket 55 percent of the advertising revenue their videos generate. And for the YouTube Premium users who don’t see ads when they watch your videos, you get a small cut of their subscription fee proportional to how much of your channel they watch.

Next, there are Shorts Page ads. YouTube recently dove into the short-form video sphere, and now YouTube Shorts is a thriving platform with an ad system of its own. YouTube Partners can reap 45 percent of the ad revenue their videos help to generate.

Then, you’ve got channel memberships. These are like subs on Twitch. People pay a monthly fee to access special features, perks, exclusive content, and more on your channel. Memberships start at $5, but you can add higher tiers. You’re able to keep 70 percent of your membership money.

And finally, you’ve got the Commerce Product Module or the CPM. This includes features like Super Chat, Super Stickers, and Super Thanks. These are ways that your viewers and fan base can pay a little extra to become Super fans and have their comments and names highlighted when they interact with your content. You get to keep 70 percent of all the Super income you get on your channel.

How Do I Qualify for the YPP?

YouTube’s policies require that your channel reach a certain amount of engagement before you’re allowed to start making money. Once you reach the engagement thresholds in place, you’ll qualify to be able to submit an application for the YPP.

There are currently two monetization thresholds you’ll need to meet. The first and easiest threshold has three parts. Meet that threshold, and you’ll gain access to the CPM and channel membership revenue.

You’ll have to:

• Get a total of 500 subscribers
• Have three valid public uploads in the last 90 days
• Have 3,000 valid public watch hours in the past year OR have three million valid public Shorts views in the past 90 days

The second eligibility requirement is a bit more significant, but it’s still totally achievable if you put in the work. Once you reach it, you’ll get access to all the ad revenue that your channel generates. It’s another big money maker for YouTube creators, so it’s super important.

You’ll have to:

• Get a total of 1,000 subscribers
• Have 4,000 valid hours of public watch time in the past year OR have 10 million valid public Shorts views in the past 90 days

Things To Do Before You Apply

Before you go through the application process, it’s a good idea to get some logistical things out of the way so that your application can go through without a hitch. Then, you can start making money as soon as possible.

First, make sure that your channel is always complying with the YouTube Terms of Service and Community Guidelines. If your channel has any active Community Guidelines strikes, your application will be denied, and you’ll have to appeal it or even reapply. So it’s generally best just to make sure that you’re following the rules ahead of time.

You’ll also want to turn on 2-step verification in your Google account. This is going to help keep your account information and your money safe (which is pretty important). YouTube pays you through Google AdSense, so this step is pretty critical.

That brings us to our next point. If you want to collect your hard-earned cash, you’ll need to set up a Google AdSense account — and YouTube makes it easy to do. Just head to your YouTube Studio, click on the “Earn” tab on the left side of the screen, and then follow the instructions to set up your AdSense account. Make sure you link it to your YouTube channel, and you’re good to go.

Once you do all that, you’ll be ready to apply and get the ball rolling with monetization. If your channel is in good shape, your application should go through with no problems, and you can enable monetization to officially become a professional content creator, streamer, or influencer.

How To Grow Your Channel

Alright, now we know all about the logistics of the YouTube Partner Program and everything that it entails. We know what it unlocks and what thresholds we have to meet to become a Partner.

But of course, meeting those thresholds is easier said than done. You’ve got to grow your channel, which takes time, effort, and a good plan. So now, let’s talk about some good strategies you can implement that can help you grow your channel, engagement, and platform.

1. Find Your Niche

This might seem like the oldest cliche in the “How to Grow Your YouTube Channel” handbook, but that’s only because it’s true. Discovering your niche is one of the most important parts of growing your channel and establishing your brand online.

Viewers need something to gravitate toward. They need to know what they can expect from your channel so they can become passionate about it. But more than all that, it’s important to find your niche because it’s the best way to make content that’s interesting and engaging.

Make quality content that you’re passionate about. People will see your passion and gravitate to your channel because of that. If you’re out there creating content that you love, the right audience will find you. It’s just a matter of time and consistency.

2. Be Consistent

Consistency is key when it comes to video content. As you start to develop an audience, you’ll want to become a part of their daily or weekly rhythm. That’s how you get loyal fans who will commit to supporting your channel in the long run.

So set up a schedule for your content. If you’re a gamer who live streams on YouTube, stream at the same times every day or every week. If you post long-form videos, do the same. And if you’re trying hard at Shorts, post a couple of times every day.

At the end of the day, consistency is better than quantity, so set a schedule for yourself that’s manageable for you and your other commitments. Make something you can stick to and then stick to it.

3. Work on Your SEO and Metadata

This point is on the nerdier side, but if you want to find a lot of success with YouTube, you absolutely need to follow this step. SEO and metadata are how you get your channel to make friends with the all-important YouTube algorithm that will push your content to new viewers.

SEO stands for “search engine optimization.” YouTube is a search engine, just like Google is, except that YouTube only brings up video results. So when people search for something in the search bar, you want your videos to pop up.

To do this, become familiar with keywords related to your niche and include them in your video titles. If you’re a gamer, it’s a good idea to include the game you play, what type of content your video is (tutorial, highlights, walkthrough, etc.), and other important information. You should also use these words in the video descriptions.

Another way to boost your SEO is with your channel tags. In your channel settings, you can select a bunch of tags related to your channel, which can help to boost your channel’s SEO in a big way.

And finally, it also helps to include links in the description of your video. If you plug a sponsorship product, talk about a website, or mention another video, put it in the description.

If you want to plug your social media, your merch, your Patreon, or talk about any other website on the internet at all, put a link to it in the description. The algorithm loves when your channel leads to other places!

4. Have Great Thumbnails

Thumbnails are an art and a science, and they can be difficult to master. Honestly, we could write a whole other article about thumbnails, but for now, we’ll just stick to the basics.

Your thumbnails should be eye-catching and informative. It’s important to use color to your advantage (after all, color has a profound impact on our emotions), include images that relate to the video, and create some type of brand recognition in all your thumbnails.

With thumbnails, it’s easy to go over the top in a bad way. Don’t use too many colors, and don’t let them clash. And remember not to make your thumbnail so busy that it’s overcrowded and overwhelming.

Go check out some of your favorite creators’ thumbnails and take notes. And if you’re struggling, remember that it’s always okay to get some help!

6. Post YouTube Shorts

YouTube Shorts is one of the best ways to grow your channel. If you haven’t hopped on this train yet, you need to change that ASAP. The great thing about YouTube Shorts is that the algorithm does a great job at pushing new content to viewers, so it can get your channel in front of a much wider audience.

On top of that, people can subscribe to your YouTube channel right from your Shorts, so it’s a great way to get a lot of subscribers.

AI tools like Powder help gaming streamers automatically create Shorts from their long streams, for example. Shorts are a great way to extend the lifespan and reach of your longer content to give new audiences a taste of what you’re all about.

7. Make Small Improvements Over Time

Finally, it’s important to realize that you’re not going to be perfect right away. It’s going to take some time and practice before you’re making videos as good as your favorite YouTuber.

The best strategy is not to try and make the perfect video right now. Instead, just make a video, post it, and think deeply about where it can improve. Then, make a small improvement in your next video. Rinse and repeat, and before long, you’ll be making high-quality videos that viewers will love and gravitate toward.

You can also grow your channel in other ways. Advertise your YouTube content across other social media platforms, or sell merchandise specific to your brand. You can also participate in affiliate marketing, influencer marketing, and content marketing to boost your brand recognition.

Get Your Channel Monetized

Now you know everything you need to know about how to monetize your YouTube channel. Every creator has to start somewhere, but if you keep at it and stay dedicated to your craft, you can grow your online platform into something big. So take all these tips and get your channel monetized so you can start your online career.

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