YouTube is not just for funny cat videos and "that one time I tried lip syncing." The platform's creators are some of the most successful people in their fields. They've made millions from their content -- but they also have an even bigger dream. Some want more than that though.
They'd like to earn money directly off of their work instead of relying solely on advertising revenue. This requires them to be accepted into Google AdSense's Creator Academy, which has been around since 2005 (but was recently rebranded as YouTube Monetization). The process is pretty easy once you're accepted, but there are still questions worth asking yourself if you plan to apply. So here are some answers to those burning questions!
This question seems simple enough. It all comes down to how much traffic you drive to your channels. If you don't quite meet the criteria yet, then no problem. You can always try again next year or wait until you hit 4000 watch hours. But what exactly are these thresholds? According to Google's official blog post announcing its new monetization program, "You must reach at least 4,000 minutes watched within three months after subscribing or creating your account." In other words, you'll need over 3,333 minutes watching your own videos before you can become eligible for direct payment.
So you might think that means you only need 1,667 subscribers with 10+ minute watches per subscriber during this period. Not true. To make matters worse, each creator will receive different numbers depending upon where you live. For example, someone living in Canada would likely receive less than someone who lives in Australia. Here's a breakdown by country:
Australia - 7,500 mins/mo = 15,000 mins total
Canada - 6,250 mins/mo = 12,500 mins total
UK - 5,625 mins/mo = 11,250 mins total
USA - 2,500 mins/mo = 5,000 mins total
India - 1,875 mins/mo = 3,750 mins total
If you're located outside any of these countries, you should check out our guide on maximizing your chances of being accepted into the Partner Program. It contains tips for making sure your viewership continues to grow, increasing engagement levels, and improving your analytics so you know when your audience starts paying attention.
Yes, you can. Even if you haven't reached the 4000-minute threshold yet, you could potentially get accepted later. As mentioned above, we had previously recommended waiting until you hit that mark, but now things are changing due to COVID-19. Instead, consider focusing on building up your popularity through high-quality original content rather than trying to get viewers right away. This way, you can build trust and gain loyal fans while establishing a following worthy of monetizing.
And remember, you don't necessarily have to be accepted into the Partner Program by the end of 2020. That said, it's probably best to aim toward hitting the standard sooner rather than later. After all, it takes years to develop a business based on online streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. Why shouldn't you treat YouTube similarly?
In fact, you might already be working towards earning money from YouTube. What about TikTok, Vimeo, Facebook Live, Instagram Direct, Twitter Moments, Snapchat, Reddit, Twitch, DLive, Mixer, Discord, etc.? Where else do you stream your creations? All of these platforms offer options for creators to earn income directly from their work. And if you use multiple sites, why not combine efforts and leverage your existing audiences across several social media networks? By doing so, you could end up driving higher ad revenues, increased brand awareness, and better conversion rates.
To learn more about the benefits of combining social networking streams, read our article detailing how to create a social marketing strategy for 2021. We cover everything from using influencers to boost followers to leveraging hashtags to increase engagement. Plus, we include specific steps for boosting your YouTube channel's visibility on other major social websites.
Yes. However, keep in mind that success isn't guaranteed simply because you joined the Partner Program. There are plenty of reasons why your application may never get approved. Perhaps your uploads aren't interesting enough. Maybe your comments section is too negative. Or maybe you were banned for violating community guidelines. Unfortunately, there's nothing you can do about these types of issues. However, there are ways to avoid becoming a victim of censorship.
For starters, ensure your comment sections are welcoming places where commenters feel comfortable expressing themselves freely. Also, monitor your page closely for potential signs of abuse. These include spammy comments, hate speech, and trolls looking to disrupt discussions. When necessary, remove users, block IP addresses, report posts, and/or ban accounts. Doing so helps protect both your channel and your fellow creators.
As far as the actual application itself goes, focus on providing value for your customers. Be open and honest about your goals, plans, strengths, weaknesses, and future intentions. Don't forget to add links to your social profiles where applicable.
Lastly, pay close attention to your Analytics data. Make sure your viewer count keeps climbing steadily throughout the entire duration of your application, especially in the final month. Otherwise, you won't qualify for monetization.
Unfortunately, this varies greatly depending upon your location. Based on my research, India receives the smallest payout, whereas Sweden receives the largest. The average monthly earnings range between $1.50-$2.00 depending on whether you live in North America, Europe, Asia, Latin America, Africa, or Oceania. Keep in mind that these figures represent gross payments, meaning they exclude taxes and fees associated with running a business in your region.
However, if you're interested in learning more about these discrepancies, you could contact PayPal directly for additional information.
It's important to note that these figures are estimates based on averages provided by various sources. Therefore, results may vary slightly based on factors including your geographic location, current number of subscribers, and performance history.
We hope you find the above helpful. Now go forth and succeed!
YouTube has been around since 2005. It's one of the largest video platforms in the world and is home to millions of creators who have built their own audiences. However, just because your content is good doesn't mean that someone will want to pay money to watch it or support it financially.
That's why there are strict guidelines when it comes to getting approved onto the platform as a creator with monetization privileges. If your channel meets all criteria, but YouTube still denies you monetization access, don’t worry! You do have options. Here are some things you need to know about how long it takes to be accepted onto the YouTube Partner Program (YPP) and what happens if your application gets denied.
According to statistics from 2019, over half a million channels had applied for YPP at the end of 2018, and only 0.5% were approved. That means less than 500 out of 1000000 applications got accepted by YouTube. And while this number seems low, remember, these numbers come directly from data collected by Google itself, so they're likely an underestimation.
To give you an idea of how slow the process really is, we spoke to a couple of successful creators whose channels were finally added to the program last year. Both said it took several months before they received any sort of notice from YouTube about being accepted. One even went through three different levels of reviews, meaning she spent more time waiting for her application to be reviewed than actually creating videos.
So, now that you understand how frustrating the wait can be, here's where you should start looking for answers. First off, let's talk about the types of channels that most often apply for YPP approval. According to the same statistics mentioned above, the majority of new applicants fall under either "Original Content Creators" or "Creator/Artist Communities." Original content refers to any type of original creation made by yourself, such as music, movies, artwork, etc., while Creator/Artist communities include other people like musicians, artists, comedians, podcasters, videographers, photographers, teachers, journalists, bloggers, writers, and others.
As far as success stories go, both of our sources fell within those two categories. They also shared that a lot depended upon which country they lived in — namely, whether they already had established relationships with local distributors or not. For example, if you live in Australia or New Zealand, chances are high that you won't need to seek distribution locally first. But if you want to create a similar channel elsewhere, then you might find yourself needing to approach local partners first.
The best way to avoid wasting time applying for YPP without knowing much about its requirements is to use a tool specifically designed to help you navigate the entire process. This guide walks you through each step required to submit your application successfully. Plus, you'll receive real-time notifications whenever anything changes along the way. So, keep an eye on it every month or so until you make it past the initial screening stage. Once you've completed everything listed, you can rest easy knowing that you did everything possible to improve your odds of being accepted.
While you wait for your acceptance package, consider using this list of helpful resources to grow your audience faster.
In addition to finding out when your application will be submitted, another thing you may want to track is when a final decision will be reached after your appeal is rejected. After all, having to continually ask for extensions due to ongoing delays isn't ideal. Fortunately, the rules aren't too complicated to follow and offer plenty of opportunity to change the outcome.
Here's what you can expect once your request reaches YouTube's team:
First, you'll see a message stating that your case was assigned to a specialist for further work. Then, you'll be given a set amount of time to reply back to them via email. In general, this response period shouldn't exceed four weeks. Next up, you'll receive a notification letting you know that your claim has passed the preliminary level. Again, you should hear something back no later than eight weeks. Finally, if your appeal passes all stages, you'll get notified when your account receives official status. Depending on your situation, this could take anywhere between 6–12 months, though again, this timeline varies per applicant.
It's important to note that if you feel like a particular part of your appeal falls outside of YouTube's jurisdiction, you can always contact the relevant representatives. The company states that it welcomes feedback from anyone affected by the policy, especially when claims involve third parties.
If your appeal is unsuccessful, check out our tips for when your YouTube channel needs fixing.
Once your account receives official recognition, you'll begin receiving revenue based on your overall subscription rate. As previously stated, the actual timeframe for making progress depends on your specific circumstance. Most average users will probably reach this milestone somewhere between six and 12 months following their application submission date.
However, if you struggle to build viewership during this time, it's worth considering alternative methods to earn income. While YouTube offers advertising solutions for smaller channels, it can sometimes prove unreliable. Instead, try building connections with influencers or brands in your niche. These partnerships allow you to share ad revenues instead of relying solely on YouTube's services. Additionally, you can leverage social media marketing tools to increase engagement among viewers. Since these companies depend heavily on user interaction, engaging with potential clients becomes easier thanks to boosted follower counts. Lastly, you can look towards affiliate programs to generate extra streams of income. By partnering with products related to your interests, you can boost brand awareness while earning commissions.
Also, keep in mind that you won't necessarily become eligible for payments immediately. Because of the nature of digital transactions, YouTube holds funds for 30 days prior to releasing them to creators. Therefore, you should plan accordingly when setting goals for your channel growth.
Like pretty much every industry, the rules surrounding submissions vary depending on location. Some countries limit the number of applications allowed annually, whereas others cap it at a certain point throughout the calendar year. Generally speaking, you can reapply every 180 days, although it's entirely at YouTube's discretion whether they accept your second attempt.
You can save previous versions of your app by logging into My Studio. From there, simply click App Manager located next to Create Videos & Uploads and select Previous Versions. Alternatively, you can download older versions of your app by clicking File " Download Video Library " Your Channel Name " Version History.
Keep in mind that if your application is declined for any reason aside from lack of compliance, you must stop uploading videos completely for 24 hours. Doing otherwise would violate YouTube's Community Guidelines and result in suspension.
YouTube has taken its time in rolling out monetization capabilities. But now that they are here, how quickly can you make money from your content creation? Here's what you need to know about getting approved and making some cash off your videos.
As mentioned above, there’s no set timeline regarding when channels will be reviewed by YouTube to see if they should gain monetization privileges. The company typically takes around two weeks after creators submit their application. In June 2021, YouTube said this process would likely take an additional week or so since more people were applying than ever before. So keep that in mind as we talk about timelines below.
In 2020, Google announced that it was working with partners to create a system where users could apply directly through the platform. Creators who want to use ads to promote their work must first have approval to join the program. Once selected, creators are responsible for managing their advertising accounts. If you don't already have one, start setting up yours right away!
If you're not sure which type of video you'd like to upload next, check out these best free web apps to find inspiration. You'll also learn tips on growing your audience using online tools. And remember, building relationships with followers is essential when starting any business—so consider joining relevant communities and engaging regularly.
The simplest way to start earning revenue on YouTube is to select "monetizable" under the monetization option at the bottom left corner of your screen (it looks like a dollar sign). This only applies to videos uploaded after October 24, 2017. It means that you won't receive credit for pre-2017 content, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't try creating those kinds of videos anymore. Just go ahead and give them a title and description.
You'll then be able to add text links to your videos via HTML code. When someone clicks on your link, they'll be redirected to your advertiser account page. From there, you can choose between placing sponsored posts or adverts within your videos. These options vary depending on the length of your clip. YouTube offers several types of promotions including TrueView, Sticker, Full Screen, Skippable Ads, and Sponsored Post. All of these ads appear at different times during playback. Some require extra steps such as tapping a button or scrolling down. However, others simply play along with the rest of the clips without stopping at all.
Another method to earn revenue on YouTube is to integrate third-party platforms with your account. For example, if you've created a tutorial series, you might decide to connect TikTok, Instagram, or Twitter to allow viewers to share or comment on each episode individually. To enable third party integration, click on "Connected Accounts." Then, pick either Facebook, Twitter, Discord, Twitch, or LinkedIn to attach your social media profiles. After doing this, every time someone comments on your post, shares your video, subscribes, or follows you, you'll automatically generate income based on the amount of impressions or views.
Finally, another popular form of monetizing YouTube involves putting together branded merchandises. There are many ways to sell T-shirts, hoodies, mugs, stickers, phone cases, etc., but most of them involve designing products yourself. Luckily, you can easily order personalized items from Cafepress, Zazzle, Spreadshirt, Redbubble, Society6, CafePress, among other companies. Simply log onto your preferred site, search for templates, and drag and drop images until you arrive at something unique. Then, just fill in your details and shipping information.
So far, we've talked mostly about non-exclusive licensing models. Exclusive licenses provide exclusive rights to distribute your content to certain distributors. They usually come with higher royalties and fees compared to standard agreements. Unfortunately, it's harder to land exclusivity deals because most companies tend to avoid signing contracts due to high risks involved.
However, there are still plenty of opportunities to earn with YouTube even if exclusivity isn't available. One thing worth mentioning is YouTube TV. It allows creators to host live programming events and stream directly from their own channel pages. Another great opportunity is becoming a partner of Maker Studios. While this requires upfront investment, it provides access to millions of monthly viewers looking for original content.
Yes, you can definitely monetize shortform formats such as highlights, reaction videos, and challenges. Shortform videos are easier to produce, especially when done collaboratively. Also, unlike full episodes, shortform videos often showcase individual talent instead of relying on multiple cast members. As a result, it's much less expensive to film reactions on camera rather than having a bunch of extras show up.
It's best to follow proper copyright rules while uploading shorts. Otherwise, you risk facing legal issues similar to what happened to Felix Kjellberg (AKA PewDiePie) back in 2019. He had his entire channel shut down by YouTube over a claim he didn't properly attribute music used in his videos. Fortunately, he eventually got everything sorted out. Nowadays, you can protect your intellectual property by adding automatic watermarks to your footage. Alternatively, you can purchase stock footage from places like iStockPhoto to prevent unauthorized usage.
To sum things up, yes, you can monetize your YouTube Shorts. Keep in mind, however, that the situation changes frequently. Therefore, it's always wise to contact your local authorities to ask whether monetization violates current regulations.
On July 2, 2021, YouTube rolled out new policies surrounding hate speech, misinformation, harassment, profanity, and graphic violence. With these guidelines, the tech giant aims to help curb problematic behavior across its platform. According to YouTube, harmful content includes anything related to terrorism, organized crime, suicide attempts, self-harm/self-harm attempts, animal abuse, death threats, disinformation campaigns, and violent extremism.
These terms cover both user-generated and newsfeed content. On top of that, the company added a list of prohibited activities that violate community guidelines. Examples include spreading lies, bullying, threatening, stalking, impersonating others, encouraging dangerous actions, promoting illegal drugs, sexually explicit material, and weapons sales. Violators can face temporary suspension or permanent removal from YouTube.
Of course, it's important to note that these aren't necessarily final. Since YouTube is constantly updating its policies, they may change overtime. That being said, it's worth keeping tabs on the latest updates to stay safe.
Just follow our battle-tested guidelines and rake in the profits.