There's no denying that video content is more popular than ever. In 2020 alone, people watched more than 12 billion minutes of videos online — and they want more than.

For digital content creators and businesses alike, this is a great time to focus on video content. With YouTube'due south monetization features, y'all're able to exercise just that.

In this article, we'll define YouTube monetization, its rules and requirements, and how to monetize your YouTube videos.

What is YouTube monetization?

In simplest terms: YouTube monetization is the ability to brand money from your videos.

To enable monetization on YouTube, you need to encounter certain requirements and join the YouTube Partner Programme (YPP).

Screenshot example of a YouTube Partner Program qualification checklist.

According to YouTube, to qualify for monetization, you must have:

  • four,000 lookout man hours over the last 12 months
  • at least ane,000 subscribers on your channel.

You can grow these numbers by creating quality content, too as past promoting your channel.

Additionally, at that place are some other requirements to set up and monetize your channel. Nosotros'll discuss those in the next section.

YouTube monetization rules and requirements

Monetizing your YouTube channel is every bit amazing equally it sounds, but it comes with a few strings attached. While the requirements for YouTube monetization aren't log, the benefits are groovy.

Simply put, once you've joined the YouTube Partner Program (YPP), it all comes down to how well your videos perform. The more views you get on your content, the more money you lot'll be able to make.

Let's await at the dissimilar requirements to start monetizing your YouTube videos:

Apply to the YouTube Partner Program

The first step is to apply to the YouTube Partner Program (YPP).

Information technology takes at least one calendar month for YouTube to review applications before mark a decision. It may take longer than a month, mostly because YouTube has actual specialists reviewing each application.

The minimum eligibility requirements for joining the YPP are that:

  • Your channel has at to the lowest degree 1,000 subscribers
  • You have at least of 4,000 valid public watch hours over the last 12 months
  • You live in a land where the YouTube Partner Program is available
  • You have an AdSense account linked to your YouTube channel
  • Your channel does non have whatsoever active Customs Guidelines strikes
  • You follower all YouTube aqueduct monetization policies
  • You must use two-Stride Verification on the Google Account associated with your YouTube channel for an extra layer of security

Avoid copyright and monetization mistakes on YouTube

It's of import to adhere to YouTube'southward copyright and monetization rules at all times. Meaning, y'all should just upload videos that you have made or authorized to use. Copyright as well extends to music or audio tracks, other copyrighted works, or videos created by others.

If you're caught violating any of the policies, you may be subject to the following:

  • Removal of ads from your videos
  • Intermission from the YouTube Partner Program
  • Account intermission or termination

YouTube states that they will always inform you via e-mail if y'all violate any of their policies. They will also let you know nearly the options bachelor to you, if any.

What to do if you get rejected by the YouTube Partner Program

If your application gets rejected, YouTube outlines which policies your channel failed to follow. If that's the case, don't fret. You tin ever re-use after 30 days. Apply this as an opportunity to improve your channel before you utilize a second time.

For example, you may desire to revisit any video titles, video descriptions and thumbnails to align with with YouTube's policies. And if you take specific videos causing issues, y'all may too want to delete or edit them.

Top 10 ways to monetize on YouTube

We've covered the requirements to fifty-fifty begin monetizing on YouTube. Now let'south get to the more heady part: exploring all the different ways you tin can earn from your YouTube videos.

You may be wondering how much money YouTubers really make. While some of the highest paid YouTube creators earn millions of dollars from their videos, not every creator manages to make that much. In fact, the average YouTube channel earns around $xviii per 1,000 views.

YouTube has changed the mode creators earn coin online and on the platform.

Let'due south take a await at the top ten ways to tin can earn money on YouTube:

1. YouTube Ads

The most "traditional" manner you lot tin brand money on YouTube is through ads that appear earlier or during your videos.

If you've joined the YPP, you can turn on advertising monetization for individual or multiple videos on your channel. Keep in heed that your videos must run across YouTube's advertiser-friendly content guidelines to exist able to run ads.

With several YouTube advertizing formats available, you lot're able to control the placement of ads on your videos.

2. Paid Sponsorships

Paid sponsorships are when brands and businesses pay or sponsor a content creator to pay, use or demonstrate their production in a video. While sponsorships are provided by brands to creators, information technology benefits both parties likewise every bit the viewers.

Sponsorships are hard to obtain, but can exist extremely rewarding. If y'all have an influential channel with a large post-obit, y'all can pitch to relevant brands in your niche to partner for a video.

To secure a sponsorship, show brands your past work, YouTube analytics and engagement rates. Explain to them how you tin bring value to their business with your content.

3. Affiliates

Another way to monetize your YouTube videos is through affiliate programs.

Then, how does this piece of work? When you join an chapter marketing plan, you lot transport your audience to a brand's product or landing folio via an affiliate link. If the user successfully makes a purchase, you lot earn a commission from the auction.

While not as lucrative as paid sponsorships, an chapter plan nonetheless generates extra income. You can become an chapter for products that you already utilize, and fifty-fifty offer your followers a disbelieve lawmaking.

4. Channel Membership

YouTube channel memberships are a monthly subscription in exchange for exclusive perks. Creators can give exclusive offerings to channel members, such equally product discounts, 1:1 live chats or sectional videos.

Screenshot example of a YouTube channel with a membership option. A "join" button appears next to the "Subscribe" button on the main YouTube Channel page.

Membership fees are set up by the creator, and channels need at least one,000 subscribers to enable this characteristic.

5. Patronage

If you have a loyal fanbase, a tertiary-party platform like Patreon lets digital creators, artists, writers and businesses provide exclusive perks to patrons who support your channel and content.

Screenshot example of a tiered patronage program to be used for YouTube monetization.

Patreon is popular with YouTube creators and brands, like a YouTube channel membership. Merely with tiered membership, you tin can choose different perks to offer patrons regardless of your subscriber count . Provide exclusive content such as behind-the-scenes videos or perks like early access and one-on-one fourth dimension .

vi. Merchandise

YouTube channels with more ten,000 subscribers can sell merchandise via a merch shelf that appears on each video page. If yous've built a strong brand community, y'all can open up another revenue stream by selling branded merchandise to your fans on YouTube.

Example of a YouTube channel Rose Anvil using merchandise as a way to monetize on YouTube.

This is particularly useful for YouTube creators who may not have their ain website and want to sell merchandise to their followers. With over 45 supported merch platforms or retailers worldwide, at that place is an opportunity your grow your make.

vii. Super Features: Super Conversation, Super Stickers, Super Thanks

If you've ever watched a livestream on YouTube, you lot might accept noticed that some chat messages stand out and are highlighted over others.

Example of a YouTube Chat monetization feature in a live chat.

That's because YouTube lets creators enable Super Chat on their live videos and premieres. This monetization feature allows your audience to pay betwixt $1 to $500 to get their bulletin featured in a livestream chat.

In that aforementioned vein, Super Stickers piece of work similarly to Super Chat.

Instead of buying chat messages, users tin purchase and share fun stickers. These stickers then get pinned to the top of the chat stream to grab their favorite creator'south attention.

And finally, the Super Cheers characteristic allows users to show appreciation to their favorite creators. By donating a small corporeality, users receive a featured comment in the livestream chat, as well equally an animated GIF.

Example of a YouTube Super Thanks monetization feature in action.

Unlike Super Chats and Super Stickers, users can purchase Super Thanks on any uploaded video, not just livestreams and Premieres.

These are great features for digital creators or brands that create helpful and educational videos. Not only do these Super features generate some extra income, only information technology also allows your top fans to evidence their back up and gratitude for your content.

8. YouTube Shorts Fund

In May 2021, YouTube launched a $100 million fund exclusively for Shorts creators. This coin is to be distributed each calendar month to YouTube Shorts creators over 2021-2022.

This means every month, YouTubers can make anywhere from $100 to $x,000 depending on the engagement and views on their Shorts videos. And eligibility refreshes every month, and then if you don't qualify for one month, you may qualify the side by side, or vice versa.

To receive a YouTube Shorts Fund, you don't need to be role of the YPP, so for creators don't meet the requirements of the YPP program, this is a huge do good. Merely, creators still need to meet certain eligibility requirements to qualify for a YouTube Shorts Bonus.

9. YouTube Premium

YouTube Premium is a subscription service offered by YouTube. Members tin watch ad-gratuitous content, download videos, enable background playback and more.

So, how does this affect monetization? Will creators monetizing their videos via ads nonetheless become paid if YouTube Premium members watch their videos? Fortunately, yeah.

According to YouTube, subscription revenue payments are distributed to creators at the start of every month simply similar ad revenue payments. The amount, of course, depends on how much Premium members watch your videos.

10. YouTube BrandConnect

YouTube BrandConnect connects brands with YouTube creators for content campaigns. Audiences trust creators when it comes to product recommendations. And using BrandConnect can — yes — connect YouTube channels with brands for partnership

This service is currently available only in the U.S., Canada and the Britain.

Earn acquirement from your videos with YouTube monetization

Creating and publishing videos is non just dandy for brand awareness. It'south also an excellent mode to support yourself by monetizing on YouTube.

Are you set to grow your YouTube channel? If your goal is to offset monetizing on YouTube, start by branding your YouTube account. Then promote your channel and get more views on your videos. Remember, the more views and subscribers you take, the more opportunity you lot have to monetize on the platform. Cha-ching!