My 19-year-old son became a successful YouTuber in just one month and was monetized in half that time! It takes him just 30 minutes a day to average $400 per day.
Nope, that wasn’t a typo! The boy started his channel 2 months ago, and got it monetized in 2 weeks! Wow, just seeing myself write this still blows me away.
Ahhhh he got lucky……right? WRONG.
Prior to this, he had started 3 others. Every single one of them were monetized in 2 weeks flat.
I keep telling him he should package his knowledge and sell a course or something. But why would he listen to Mom? Apparently, he’s got it all figured out. But hey, what teenager doesn’t, right?
Truth is, I have learned a lot about monetization just from seeing his success first hand. Now, I’m going to share some of that knowledge with you.
Without further ado, let’s read on to find out how to get monetized on YouTube ……in record speed.
So, whether you’re new to YouTube or simply wanting to know how to start earning money from your channel, you are 100% in the right place today!
Getting monetized on YouTube means you can start earning money through ads that play on your videos.
To get there, you will need to accomplish 2 things before YouTube will monetize your channel;
- 1,000 subscribers
- 4,000 hours of watch time
This might sound tough, but don’t worry—I’ll break it down for you (just like it was broken down for me!) in step-by-step manner, so that it’s easy to follow.
I want to leave you motivated and pumped for the future!
This guide will be divided into three main parts:
- How to Get Your First 1,000 Subscribers
- How to Reach 4,000 Hours of Watch Time
- How to get Monetized in 30 Days
There’s also a bonus section at the end with extra tips on how to make money on YouTube even before you’re officially monetized!
How to Get 1,000 Subscribers Quickly
Getting your first 1,000 subscribers might seem like a big challenge, but with the right strategies, you can do it faster than you think.
Here’s how:
1. ASK People to Subscribe:
It’s simple but effective. Ask viewers to subscribe to your channel. Instead of just saying, “Hit that subscribe button,” explain what they’ll get in return.
In other words, how will subscribing BENEFIT your readers?
For example, say, “Subscribe for more easy tips on making money online!“
You can also ask them to leave a comment saying, “I subscribed”. Because when new viewers see others commenting that they subscribed, they’re more likely to subscribe too.
2. CREATE Proven Content:
Find out what’s already working on YouTube and create your own version of those videos.
Search for videos in your niche (like tech, cooking, or gaming) and sort the results by the most viewed videos uploaded in the past week.
Make your video better and longer (around 10 minutes), which gives it a better chance to perform well.
This comes back to what I always say, which is……
Don’t re-invent the wheel! Instead, do what’s already performing well, except find a way to make it better. Period.
3. KEEP People Watching:
YouTube wants viewers to stay on the platform, so if your videos keep people watching, YouTube will promote your content more.
To achieve that, start your video with something exciting or suspenseful to hook viewers right away. For example, tease a big reveal at the end of the video so viewers stay until the end.
Yes, that still works!
4. INCREASE Session Time:
Session time is how long someone stays on YouTube after watching your video.
If your videos encourage people to keep watching more videos (yours or others), YouTube rewards you by showing your content to more people. One way to do this is by creating playlists.
When viewers finish one video, they’ll automatically be led to another, keeping them on YouTube longer.
5. BOOST Your Click-Through Rate (CTR):
Your video needs to catch people’s attention, so they actually click on it. This is called the click-through rate. Aim for a CTR of at least 6%.
To improve your CTR, create eye-catching thumbnails and titles.
You can also change thumbnails on older videos to see if it increases the CTR.
6. UPLOAD 33 Videos:
Don’t get discouraged if your first few videos don’t perform well. Aim to upload at least 33 videos before analyzing what’s working and what’s not.
This will provide you with just enough data to see which of your videos are popular (and which ones aren’t!) and then help you decide what to actually focus on.
How to Get 4,000 Hours of Watch Time
Now that you’re working on getting subscribers, it’s time to focus on watch time. Watch time is the total number of hours people spend watching your videos.
You need 4,000 hours in the past 12 months to qualify for monetization.
So, here’s how to reach your goal:
1. Make Longer Videos:
Longer videos tend to have more watch time.
For example, if someone watches 50% of a 10-minute video, that’s 5 minutes of watch time. If they watch 50% of a 1-minute video, it’s only 30 seconds.
Aim to make your videos at least 8-10 minutes long to maximize watch time.
2. Create List Videos:
List videos, like “Top 10 Fastest Cars” or “Top 5 Tips to Save Money,” are popular and easy to make.
They keep viewers engaged because they want to see the whole list, which helps increase watch time.
3. Use Playlists:
As mentioned earlier, playlists can help boost watch time. When someone watches one video from a playlist, the next video starts automatically, keeping them on your channel longer.
4. Feature Popular Videos:
On your channel’s homepage, highlight your most popular videos. These videos are already proven to attract viewers and can help you increase watch time even more.
5. Live Streams:
Live streaming is a powerful way to rack up watch time. Live streams often have a higher average view duration because people tend to stay longer.
Even a few viewers staying for a long live stream can significantly boost your watch time.
6. Upload 33 Videos:
Just like with gaining subscribers, uploading more videos increases your chances of hitting 4,000 watch hours. Use the data from your first 33 videos to see which topics get the most watch time, then focus on those.
7. Analyze and Optimize:
After uploading your first batch of videos, check your YouTube analytics. Look at which videos have the highest watch time and audience retention (the percentage of the video viewers watch).
Make more videos like those to keep increasing your watch time.
8. Use a Channel Trailer:
Set one of your highest watch time videos as your channel trailer. When new visitors come to your channel, this is the first video they’ll see, which can help you get more watch time and subscribers.
How to Get Monetized in 30 Days
Now that you know the basics, let’s dive into how to get monetized on YouTube in just 30 days. I chose 30 days because I know that it’s completely doable if you follow this advice.
Here’s a step-by-step breakdown:
- Set a 30-Day Challenge: Commit to uploading a new video every day for 30 days. Each video should be at least 12 minutes long. With a 50% audience retention rate, that means each view will give you 6 minutes of watch time. That being said, your goal should be to reach 40,000 views within 30 days, which would give you the 4,000 hrs. of watch time you need to be monetized.
- Focus on High-Interest Topics: You want to choose a topic that you know will attract viewers quickly. Search for what is trending and make sure your videos are in popular niches where they can compete.
- Monitor and Adjust: Throughout the 30 days, be sure to monitor your analytics closely. If a video performs well, make more content like it. If a video doesn’t do well, simply adjust your strategy.
- Engage with Viewers: Reply to comments, ask viewers to subscribe, and build a connection with your audience. This helps to increase your subscriber count and viewer loyalty.
- Keep Going: Even after hitting the requirements, be sure to keep uploading regularly to maintain momentum and continue growing your channel.
How to Make Money on YouTube Before You’re Monetized
Did you know you can start making money on YouTube even before you hit 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours?
Here are a few ways to do it:
- Affiliate Marketing: Promote products in your videos and include affiliate links in your descriptions. When viewers buy through your links, you earn a commission.
- Sell Digital Products: If you have knowledge or skills to share, consider selling digital products like eBooks, courses, or templates. You can promote these in your videos and descriptions.
- Offer Services or Consulting: If you’re an expert in something, offer your services or consulting through your channel. For example, you could offer video editing services or coaching sessions.
- Sponsorships: Once your channel grows a bit, you can start reaching out to brands for sponsorships. They’ll pay you to feature their products in your videos.
- Merchandise: Create and sell merchandise related to your channel, like T-shirts or mugs. Platforms like Teespring make it easy to design and sell your own merch.
- Crowdfunding and Donations: Set up a Patreon account or use YouTube’s membership feature to offer exclusive content or perks to viewers who support you with monthly donations.
Getting monetized on YouTube might seem challenging, but with the right strategies, it’s totally achievable—even faster than you might think!
By following this guide and staying consistent with your uploads, you can build a successful YouTube channel and start earning money from your content.
Remember, learning, experimenting, and improving as you go is the key to success.
But here’s the thing: creating just one video isn’t enough.
Truth be told, your first video might not perform well. That’s why it’s important to stay consistent and keep publishing.
You’ll reach 4,000 watch hours as long as you keep creating content. The key to hitting 4,000 watch hours on YouTube is to GET STARTED and then keep producing valuable content.
P.S. Want to speed up your growth? Try using a tool like Tubebuddy.
