Ever dreamed of turning your YouTube hobby into a moneymaker? This guide dives into YouTube monetisation, unpacking the process, key terms, and essential policies. We’ll even explore what to do if your application gets rejected. First, let’s start with the basics: what exactly is YouTube monetisation?
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What is YouTube Monitisation?
YouTube monetisation turns watching into earning. Creators can transform their videos into a revenue stream by enabling ads. This financial potential has made YouTube a hotbed for hobbyists and pros, allowing them to build an income while sharing their passions.
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On YouTube, creators can turn their videos into cash through monetisation. However, to join the club, you must meet YouTube’s criteria and follow their guidelines.
Eligibility Criteria for the YouTube Partner Program (YPP)
- Follow the Monetisation Policies: Creators must stick to YouTube’s guidelines and policies, ensuring that their content complies with community standards and is suitable for advertising.
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- Complete Watch Hours: You must have racked up 4,000 watch hours from last year and have at least 1,000 subscribers. This shows YouTube you have a dedicated viewership.
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- Subscriber Count: Having at least 1,000 subscribers shows YouTube you’ve developed a loyal community around your channel.
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- Connect AdSense Account: Link an AdSense account to your channel. AdSense is Google’s advertising platform. This connection lets you collect revenue from the ads displayed on your videos.
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- Location Matters: The YPP program is available in some regions, so check if it’s open in your area.
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- Keeping It Clean: Having a channel with strikes for breaking YouTube’s rules can disqualify you from YPP. Make sure your content follows the guidelines.
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- Enabling Two-Step Verification: Enable two-step verification on your Google account for an extra layer of protection. This keeps your channel safe.
Youtube Monetisation Rules
To monetise your YouTube account, you need to follow some rules. The rules are the following:
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- Creating an AdSense Account: An AdSense account is key to monetisation on YouTube. It’s Google’s advertising platform, and linking it allows you to collect revenue from the ads displayed on your videos. This makes it a crucial first step on your YouTube monetisation journey.
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- Learn YouTube Partner Program Requirements: YPP membership opens the door to a treasure trove of benefits, like a merchandise shelf and channel memberships, to help you grow your channel and connect with your audience. But before you claim your gold pickaxe, there are a few hurdles to cross:
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- Ensure your content follows YouTube’s monetisation policies (we’ll get to those in a second).
- Build an Audience: Your fans must have watched at least 4,000 hours of your content in the last year, showing YouTube you have a dedicated viewership.
- You’ll need at least 1,000 subscribers to qualify.
- Link an AdSense account to your channel. This is where the ad revenue gets deposited.
- Make sure YPP is available in your region.
- Avoid strikes for violating YouTube’s community guidelines. A clean record is key.
- Enable two-step verification on your Google account for an extra layer of protection.
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- Enable YouTube Monetisation: Once you’re officially a YouTube Partner, head to YouTube Studio and flip the switch on “Enable Monetization.” Just follow the on-screen instructions, and you’ll be well on your way to earning from your videos!
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- Follow the YouTube Monetisation Rules: YouTube has policies to ensure a safe and positive environment for everyone. These guidelines cover things like:
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- Google AdSense policies
- Community Guidelines
- Copyright
- Monetisation policies
- YouTube’s Terms of Service
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- Follow the Copyright Laws: Copyright is a big deal. Ensure you have the right to any music you use in your videos. Services like Lickd can help you find royalty-free music to add that perfect soundtrack.
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- Things Needed to be Avoid: While you have creative freedom, there are a few things to keep in mind to stay advertiser-friendly:
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- Avoid controversy, misleading statements, or clickbait tactics. Aim for genuine content with responsible communication.
- A few swear words are okay, but excessive profanity might get flagged, similar to movie ratings.
- Make sure your thumbnail accurately reflects your video content. Don’t use misleading images to attract viewers.
- While edgy content can have its place, avoid unnecessary shock tactics that might make advertisers shy away.
YouTube Channel Monetisation Policies
To get specific about YouTube’s channel monetisation policies, let’s focus on two key requirements. We already touched on these briefly, but a closer look is beneficial.
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- Applying to the YouTube Partner Program(YPP): YouTube typically takes around a month, possibly longer, to evaluate your membership application and make a decision. Throughout the application process, YouTube will assess the following criteria:
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- Main theme
- Most viewed videos
- Newest videos
- The biggest proportion of watch time
- Video metadata (e.g., titles, thumbnails, descriptions)
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- Preventing Copyright and Monetisation Errors on YouTube: As previously mentioned, copyright infringement is a significant concern on YouTube. Hence, you must only upload videos if you’ve created or obtained permission to use them. Copyright extends to audio, music tracks, videos made by others, and other copyrighted materials. Breaching policies may lead to:
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- Account termination or suspension
- Removal of all advertisements from your videos
- Suspension from the YouTube Partner Programme (YPP)
The Top 10 Ways to Monetize on YouTube
- YouTube Ads: This method is the easiest, most fundamental, and widely embraced approach to monetisation. These adverts appear before or during a video, and you can manage their positioning through various YouTube ad formats.
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- Affiliates: Have you ever watched a video in which the presenter offers a link to a company’s website where you can potentially buy their products or services? That’s an affiliate programme. You receive a commission for each successful purchase.
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- YouTube Premium: YouTube Premium is a subscription service that allows members to download videos and enjoy ad-free content. Fortunately, creators still receive earnings for their videos through this service, as subscription revenue is distributed to them similarly to ad revenue payments. The amount depends on how frequently Premium members watch their videos.
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- Channel Membership: Channel memberships require a monthly subscription for exclusive perks such as exclusive videos, one-to-one live chats, and product discounts.
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- Patronage: We previously discussed this advice. You should explore using a third-party platform like Patreon to allow viewers to support your channel in exchange for exclusive perks.
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- Merchandise: Here’s another strategy we’ve already covered. Today, numerous supported merchant platforms are readily available to assist you in selling your branded merchandise to your fans.
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- Paid Sponsorship: This strategy entails securing a sponsorship from a company or brand. In return, you showcase, demonstrate, or discuss their products or services in your video content.
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- Super Features: These “super” features are available in three forms, all of which are displayed in chat messages during YouTube live streams:
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- Super Chat: This feature emphasises your chat messages above others’.
- Super Stickers: Like Super Chat, fans purchase and share vibrant, attractive stickers to pin at the top of a chat stream.
- Super Thanks: This functionality enables users to show appreciation to their favourite creators. Users receive a highlighted comment in the chat and an animated GIF for a small fee.
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- YouTube Shorts Fund: This £100 million fund is allocated for Shorts creators, provided they meet the criteria.
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- YouTube BrandConnect: This service, presently accessible in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada, links brands with YouTube creators for content marketing campaigns.
What to Do If the YouTube Partner Programme Declines Your Application
If your application to the YPP is rejected, keep hope. You can reapply for the YPP after 30 days. Fortunately, YouTube allows you to rectify any issues by sending a notification outlining which policies your channel did not comply with.
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Therefore, you will receive feedback on necessary changes and the opportunity to make those adjustments to attain the coveted YPP membership!
Conclusion
In conclusion, monetising your YouTube channel can be rewarding but requires careful planning, dedication, and adherence to YouTube’s policies and guidelines. You can maximise your revenue potential and create sustainable income from your content creation efforts by utilising various monetisation methods, such as ads, channel memberships, affiliate programmes, and sponsored content. Remember to engage with your audience consistently, produce high-quality content, and stay informed about changes in YouTube’s monetisation policies to ensure long-term success on the platform. With patience, perseverance, and strategic implementation, you can turn your passion for creating videos into a profitable venture on YouTube.
Bonus
For aspiring creators who want to make money through YouTube, we have 2 courses for your reference. Have a look.
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