After lots of hard work, nothing comes close to the feeling of monetizing a YouTube channel. It makes the journey a thousand times more meaningful, especially when that labor includes hundreds of videos, thumbnails, and YouTube titles.
If you aren’t monetized yet, then read on to learn how to sharpen your video skills, expedite your path to the YouTube Partner Program, and get paid!
To get monetized on YouTube, you need to hit specific subscriber and watch time thresholds depending on whether you want fan funding or ad revenue. YouTube doesn't let everyone in, so meeting those requirements is step one.
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For a full breakdown of what's required, read: How to Join the YouTube Partner Program
Once you know what you're working toward, here's how to get there faster.
On YouTube, watch time is the cumulative duration that individuals spend watching a video. These hours add up to reflect your channel's overall count, and, consequently, your ability to join the YPP.
Did you know that some videos get more watch time than others? It’s not that they're special or amazingly different; they’re simply formatted in a way that supports longer viewing and listening.
Read more: 10 Types of Videos that Attract More YouTube Watch Time
So, if you’re starting a new YouTube channel, try your hand at these watch time collectors:
Before anything else, YouTube is an entertainment platform for billions of people. So, the more interesting and innovative you are, the easier it is to earn watch time. Of course, you’ll have to be more interesting and more innovative than thousands of creators, which is easier said than done.
That may come from having a:
In other words, what makes your content special?
For example, we can guarantee you’ve never seen a dog stomping on its hind legs enthusiastically, wobbling from left to right between its owner’s knees. Most people love pet videos, but that’s not something you see every day.
However, the dog is real and represents a YouTube channel (Adventuring With Nala) that’s about to hit 1.2M subscribers! It’s fresh and fascinating, especially in the pet space.
Do you show your face in YouTube videos? If so, one way to delight your audience (and boost watch time) is to be more engaging. Use your voice, personality, and facial expressions to make viewers feel at home when watching your content. This, by far, is an underrated way to keep their attention.
Read more: How to Become a Pro at Speaking on Camera
Start by figuring out how long you need to speak instead of rambling or freestyling. Then, vary your speaking patterns (volume and speed) to create vocal variety and keep viewers engaged. Create warmth in your video by maintaining eye contact, changing your facial expressions, and using welcoming body language.
Many videos are getting longer and less polished as creators lean into story times and intimate vlogs.
Creators like Sam Sulek, Dry Creek Wrangler School, and Phil Cofer make videos that feel like “life discussions” between friends.
Viewers want to feel like they're hanging out with someone, not watching a lecture. Try video essays, story time content, or extended vlogs. Combine that with the right YouTube keywords, and you’re swiftly on your way to building more watch time!
Getting more YouTube subscribers is just as important as boosting your watch time. But while building watch hours is an art, finding your target audience on YouTube is more of a science. Here’s how to make it happen!
Establishing a niche allows you to attract viewers interested in the same hobby, subject, or lifestyle you’re promoting. And that builds a community!
It’s OK to experiment with different types of content when you first join YouTube. But eventually, you’ll want to be known for something concrete so viewers have a reason to subscribe.
Read more: How to Choose the Best Niche for Your YouTube Channel
Few people subscribe to a channel because they saw one good video; they join after witnessing a solid community.
Building a community isn’t easy, but the actions to get there are simple:
Read more: The Secret Formula for Gaining and Retaining YouTube Subscribers
Do you share your YouTube videos on other platforms? If not, it’s time to post your content on apps like TikTok, Instagram, X, Facebook, and more to promote your channel. This brings more eyeballs to your content and increases your chance of earning more subscribers.
Plus, this way, you aren’t waiting on the YouTube algorithm to notice your videos and recommend them to the right people. You’re taking matters into your own hands to grow your audience faster.
Read more: 6 Popular Apps to Promote Your YouTube Channel
Reminding viewers to subscribe is always helpful, but there are other ways to grow your community in record time.
From a user experience standpoint, you can make it ridiculously easy for people to hit subscribe. All you have to do is put a subscribe link, button, or watermark wherever your viewers are, the video watch page, your website, the comment section, etc.
Read more: 8 Ways to Help Viewers Subscribe to Your YouTube Channel
Always remember to:
The creators who hit YPP the fastest aren't necessarily making the best videos, they're making smart decisions about what to create, how to build an audience, and how to stay consistent. Follow the seven steps above, and you'll shorten the runway between today and the day you start getting paid.
Once you're monetized, learn how to boost your YouTube ad revenue.
Long-form content tends to accumulate watch time most efficiently. Podcasts, livestreams, documentaries, ASMR, children's content, and compilations are all strong options because viewers tend to watch them longer or return to them repeatedly.
Very. You can experiment at first, but staying unfocused long-term makes it hard to build a loyal subscriber base. Viewers subscribe when they know what they're signing up for.
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In addition to being an avid movie and gaming enthusiast, Uttaran Samaddar is an experienced writer who has lent his creativity and unique perspective to various publications. He loves hearing and telling stories.
