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How Does YouTube Monetization Work

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This post breaks down everything you need to know about YouTube monetization.

This will help you make a passive income from your content and also see you gain YouTube subs, which will grow your channel significantly.

If you have a YouTube channel, your aim should be to promote your content and make money.

Become Part of the YouTube Partner Program

A few years ago, all you needed to do to earn on YouTube was upload great content and garner lots of views.

Unfortunately, this has changed as the platform has put more stringent monetization measures meant to keep spammers at bay.

Today, you have to join the YouTube Partner Program (YPP) to earn from your YouTube channel.

The program has a few requirements that YouTubers have to meet before they qualify to join, as explained below:

  • Your channel should have more than 1,000 subscribers
  • Have garnered more than 4,000 public watch hours over the last year
  • You should reside in a country that has the YouTube partner program
  • Have an AdSense account linked to your channel
  • Adhere to the YouTube partner program policies

In addition to meeting the above requirements, you must adhere to YouTube advertising policies. YouTube also constantly monitors your content for spam, abusive language, community strikes, violence, and adult content to ensure compliance.

1. Advertising Revenue

Joining the YouTube partnership program allows you to monetize your channel with the help of the Google AdSense tool. AdSense is a platform where firms buy ad space and create ads.

YouTube places these ads on the videos they see fit. Every time a viewer views the whole ad, you get some money. YouTube takes 45% of the ad revenue, while you get 55%.

2. Channel Membership

Channel membership is a great way to earn revenue for YouTubers whose channels have more than 30,000 subscribers.  

Channel membership allows interested subscribers to pay some membership fee to receive custom perks, badges, or exclusive content from a given channel.  

The program also allows you to have different tiers of membership, such that the higher the level, the more your subscribers need to pay and the better the perks.

YouTube predetermines the tier prices and takes 30% of the revenue you get from your profits. 

3. Merchandise

As a YouTube partner, you can also monetize your channel by selling merchandise. Merchandise sales often work for YouTubers with a strong brand and great influence.

YouTubers with more than 10,000 subscribers can apply for this monetization option. YouTube merch allows you to sell merchandise directly from your YouTube watch page.

4. Super Chats and Super Stickers

Your subscribers can opt to pay to have their messages and chats highlighted in the chat section.

This monetization option is particularly suitable if you often do live stream videos that are live chat enabled.  If you also wish to fundraise for a campaign or an important cause, then super chat will most likely work to your advantage.

The more they pay, the longer the chat gets pinned on the chat section. The paid comment is highlighted in a different color, making it more visible to the other subscribers.

There is no set amount on how much super chats should cost. So, your subscribers are the ones who decide how much they’re going to spend. The good news is that you receive all the super chat contributions from your channel.

Besides, all YouTube partners can apply for this program, so long as they live in a country with super chat.

5. YouTube Premium Revenue

YouTube Premium is a subscription program offered to users who want to watch videos uninterrupted.

Members of this program pay a fee to watch ad-free videos.  YouTube premium users do not see ads regardless of the content they watch. As a content creator, you get a share of the premium revenue from the user if your content attracts a premium user.

In closing, these are the ways that YouTube monetization works. If you’re just starting on YouTube, we advise that you concentrate on creating engaging content to attract a loyal following. With a large and loyal following, it will be easier for you to earn a good income on YouTube.