YouTube Monetization: How to Make Money from YouTube Videos

Everything is online nowadays and YouTube is a big part of the online content community. The world's biggest video streaming has over 2 billion active users which gives an impressive opportunity to content creators to show their talent and get famous. Being a YouTube content creator is one of the most attractive career choices that not only brings fame but also a great earning. However, to earn money from the streaming platform, one must know how to monetize their videos on the channel.

Getting monetized on YouTube is what every creator releasing videos on the platform wants. Whether someone treats YouTube as a side hustle, a full-time content creator, or running a business that gets additional revenue from the video streaming platform, everyone is looking to earn from YouTube. Especially now that there are so many opportunities and good revenue, monetization has become even easier. But how do you actually do it? Let's find out.

Using YouTube Partner Program (YPP) - 

The most common way to earn from YouTube is through the YouTube Partner Program (YPP). Meeting the eligibility criteria and reaching YouTube partner status comes after an upgrade of your channel which helps monetize the community. If these certain milestones are reached, creators will be able to make money from the advertisements. YouTube pays its creators through the Google AdSense program, and the system is surely hard to understand. For starters, know that whenever a viewer clicks on any ad that is playing within your video, revenue gets generated. This revenue then gets split between the creator and YouTube where the platform gets 45%, leaving you with the rest of 55%. 

Requirements for YouTube Monetization - 

To join the YPP or enjoy the benefits of monetization, as mentioned above, there are certain criteria you need to meet to enjoy certain types of benefits. They are divided into two parts and are as follows -

Type 1 Channel thresholds: 

    • 500 subscribers

    • 3 public uploads in the last 90 days

    • 3,000 public watch hours on long-form videos in the last 365 days 

Or

    • 3 million public Shorts views in the last 90 days

Type 1 monetization features:

    • Channel memberships

    • Super Chat and Super Stickers

    • Shopping (promoting your own products)

    • Super Thanks

Type 2 Channel thresholds:

    • 1,000 subscribers

    • 4,000 public watch hours on long-form videos in the last 365 days

Or

    • 10 million public Shorts views in the last 90 days

Type 2 monetization features:

    • 10 million public Shorts views in the last 90 days

    • Channel memberships

    • Super Chat and Super Stickers

    • Shopping (promoting your products and products from other brands)

    • Super Thanks

    • Watch page ads

    • YouTube Premium

    • Shorts Feed ads

To put it simply, if you want to make money through fan funding, such as Super Chat, and Super Thanks, your channel needs to have a minimum of 500 subscribers along with type 1 requirements. On the other hand, you can make money through video advertisements when your channel gets to 1000 subscribers along with other requirements of Type 2.

The positive side to this YouTube Partner Program is that once you are in, you will not have to remind YouTube again. Even if you have neutered the program with a minimum of 500 subscribers and 3000 watch hours, you do not have to re-apply for the program after you have hit 1000 subscribers and 4000 watch hours. You will then automatically unlock the revenue tools that you did not have before.

Also Read: 10+ Brilliant and Effective Ways to Promote Your Videos on YouTube

How can you join the YouTube Partner Program (YPP)?

Once your channel has met all the requirements of YouTube, you are all set to apply for the YPP. This can be done from the page YouTube Studio which also tracks your watch time and your subscriber count. If you have already applied and got rejected, you will have 21 days to appeal YouTube's decision. Then you will have to wait for another 30 days before you can re-apply. If you are again rejected for the second, you will have a similar 21 days to appeal the decision, but the re-apply days extend to 90 days.

How can you enable monetization on YouTube?

Once you have entered the YouTube Partner Program, you need to turn on monetization for as many videos as you can. You can do this while uploading new videos, but it is always advised to wait until the videos are fully uploaded or at least a few hours. In the meantime, YouTube will process your content and you will know if the system has found anything to demonetize your content such as copyright claims, adult themes, extreme profanity, etc.

Here is how you can enable ads on any individual video on YouTube:

    • Sign in to YouTube Studio

    • Click Content in the left navigation bar

    • Select the video you think is fit to monetize

    • Click Monetization from the left menu

    • Choose the ads you want to display on your video

    • Click on Save

Here is how you can enable ads on multiple videos on YouTube:

    • Go to YouTube Studio

    • In the left menu, select Content 

    • Select the gray box on the left of the video thumbnail for any video that you select to monetize

    • Click the Edit drop-down in the black bar above your video list and then Monetization 

    • Click On in the monetization drop-down

    • To change ad settings for mid-roll ads in bulk: Click Edit and then Ad settings and then Tick the box next to 'Place ads during video (mid-roll)' and decide whether you want automatic mid-roll ads for videos without ad breaks or all videos

    • Click Update videos and then Tick the box next to 'I understand the implications of this action' and then Update videos.

Now it is important to remember that not all videos will show ads, even if you monetize them. So the best way to monetize your content on YouTube is to create content that matches the PG to PG-13 range.

What are the different types of ads you can eastern from?

    I. Watch page ads

These are the ads that show up before, after, during, and around the videos you upload on YouTube, or watch pages. You will be earning even more revenue when a YouTube premium user views your content on the watch page. You need to accept the Watch Page Monetization Module if you want to earn YouTube Premium and ad revenue on live streaming videos or long-form content viewed on the watch page.

    II. Shorts Feed ads

To get this type of revenue you need to accept the Shorts Monetization Module that will allow your YouTube channel to share the revenue from ads that are viewed between videos in the shorts feed. This Shorts ad revenue sharing will start the day you accept the module.

    III. Commerce Product Module

Accepting the Commerce Product Module and the formerly available Commerce Product Addendum will allow your channel to earn money from fan funding features while you can also connect to your fans. These fan funding features on YouTube include Super Chat, Super Stickers, and Super Thanks. To earn revenue using this, you need to accept the Commerce Product Module and turn on individual features. One thing to remember if you have already signed the Commerce Product Addendum (CPA), you don't need to sign the new module.

Turning on watch page ads -

If your videos meet YouTube advertiser-friendly content guidelines, you are eligible to turn on ads. If you are unsure whether your video is eligible, you can check out the self-certification guidance along with the examples on the same page. Before any ads appear on the video, the content will go through a standard process including human and automated reviews that verify the content meeting guidelines.

Turning on Shopping -

Turning on this feature will let the creator connect to their shops on YouTube, showcasing their products and earning money. If the creator is eligible, he or she can easily promote other products from different brands in their content and earn money.

Turning on Shorts Feed ads -

When it comes to YouTube Shorts, views of content that follow the platform's advertiser-friendly guidelines will be eligible for revenue earning. This starts with accepting the module and selecting Earn on YouTube Studio.

Turning on Super Chat and Super Stickers -

Super Stickers and Super Chat are ways to connect with the community and fans even more deeply during premiers and live streaming. Fans have the option to buy Super Chats that highlight their message within the live chat or Super Stickers that give them an animated image, surfacing in the live chat.

Turning on Super Thanks -

Similar to Super Chat and Super Stickers, Super Thanks is a feature that strengthens the connection between the creator and their viewers. Super Thanks is also a way for creators to earn extra revenue from their viewers directly, in the form of extra gratitude and affection. In Super Thanks, fans can post a distinct, colorful, and customizable comment or buy a one-time animation and post it in the video's comment section.

Turning on channel memberships -

YouTube has channel memberships for users that viewers join your channel through a monthly payment structure and enjoy access to members-only perks. These perks are selected by the creator and can include emoji, badges, and other goods.

Turning on YouTube Premium revenue -

When a viewer who has already subscribed to YouTube Premium watches your video content on the platform, you can be a part of the copayment they pay for the Premium version. All content that meets YouTube’s criteria is available for revenue from YouTube Premium. To start earning with YouTube Premium -

    • You need to accept the Watch Page Monetization Module and then turn on Watch Page ads for long-term videos. 

    • You need to accept the Shorts Feed Monetization Module for YouTube Shorts.

Other than the YouTube Partner Program, there are a few other ways you can earn on the platform. These include affiliate marketing on YouTube, brand deals, YouTube Sponsorship deals, etc. Having a monetized YouTube channel is everything for a YouTube content creator who sees this weather as a side hustle or full-time. However, Monetization only works when people watch the content, so make sure the content quality is high, and you are promoting it enough.