Video blogging, or vlogging, has exploded in the decade YouTube has been around. There are more than 10 million hours of video on the platform, and people have figured out how to monetize it handsomely. Some vloggers make enough for a little pocket money, while others have turned it into a real career. But when does YouTube start paying you for your channel’s videos? It’s important to learn a few terms to understand how and when that happens. Show
Cost Per Impression"Cost per impression" is the metric YouTube uses to gauge how much to pay you, also known as CPI. Every time someone sees an ad on your videos, it counts toward your account. At 10,000 views, the potential to get paid truly begins. With every 10,000 clicks, your number goes up. CPI Dollar AmountThe average CPI is $2. Your videos may have a CPI ranging from a few cents all the way up to around $10. The way YouTube decides this is based on an algorithm and entirely up to their own discretion. Factors include the prices of the ads themselves, if your audience is watching the whole ad or not, your channel’s target audience and the popularity of your channel. Adsense AccountIf you garner enough traction from YouTube’s algorithm to start getting paid, it will come through AdSense. Like YouTube, AdSense is a separate entity, in this case owned by Google. Most vloggers are paid via direct deposit monthly, typically on the 21st of every month. However, be warned that the eligibility of your channel to receive payment at all is at the mercy of AdSense – and not all content meets its criteria. Check its rules carefully upon signing up. Vloggers with YouTube channels outside the United States may be paid by mailed checks or wire transfers. How to Start Getting PaidWhile most vloggers tend to monetize their YouTube channels via sponsorships or affiliate links, there is a distinct opportunity to get paid for your videos alone. Creating engaging and popular content ups your CPI; since you can’t be considered a contender for payment until you hit that all-important 10,000 views (and more!), it should be your focus. Make videos about things that inspire you and light your passions, get an AdSense account, and focus your intentions on a higher and higher CPI. Watch the RulesOver the years, YouTube has tweaked its rules affecting payment for videos. These changes have sometimes taken vloggers by surprise, as YouTube typically makes them without advance notice. This means it pays to check the rules regularly. At the time of publication, your channel needs a minimum of 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 hours of viewing time in the past year before the money starts flowing in. Careful of the ContentIn the past, some “bad actors” took advantage of YouTube’s former content policies and posted videos of hate speech, violence and other offensive and fraudulent material. YouTube has tightened its standards and no longer allows this kind of content. To keep the money coming in from your videos, be careful that they follow YouTube’s community guidelines. Tell Viewers to SubscribeAs you watch many vlogger’s videos, you’ll hear them tell you to “hit the Subscribe button.” Your getting paid depends on having subscribers; by reminding viewers to click the button, you’ll improve your chances of getting paid. The growing creator economy has turned up some diverse ways to make money on YouTube. And while some methods offer a lower barrier to entry than earning through ads, there’s no substitute for quality content and an engaged audience. If you can tap into your creative side, and are willing to put in a lot of effort, you might be able to make money on YouTube, too. Here are a few monetization methods to explore. How to get paid on YouTube1. Earn with ads as a YouTube Partner Program memberLet’s get this one out of the way first. You must join the YouTube Partner Program to earn money from advertisements. And you can’t become a YouTube partner until your channel surpasses the 1,000-subscriber threshold. You’ll also need a collective 4,000 hours of watch time within the past 12 months. Check those big boxes and it opens the door to ad revenue. A few additional requirements apply before you can become a partner:
Click the “monetization” section in YouTube Studio to monitor your subscriber and watch hours progress. YouTube will let you know when you’re eligible to apply. As a YouTube partner, you can earn money through ads, chat features and from YouTube Premium subscribers who watch your content. Notably, YouTube will begin to allow YouTube partners to also earn ad revenue on Shorts in 2023. Shorts are YouTube’s version of short-form TikTok-like videos. How many views on YouTube does it take to make money?You don’t get paid per video view. Rather, you’re paid for the times when someone watches or clicks on an ad shown on your video. Influencer Marketing Hub says that while payment varies, the average YouTube channel can expect to make about $18 per 1,000 ad views. That translates to $3 to $5 per 1,000 video views when you factor in the rate of ads actually viewed. So when do you start making money on YouTube?You'll be paid once your balance reaches $100. Say it takes approximately 1,000 video views to earn $4 from those viewers who saw ads. You would need 25,000 video views to make $100 through those ads. If you have a small channel, you might get paid only every few months. You'll also want to be familiar with how Google, which issues AdSense payments, handles taxes. Sound like a long road ahead?Below are alternative ways to earn before you hit 1,000 subscribers. Track all the money you make See the ins and outs of your cash, cards and bank accounts at a glance. 2. Take a cut with affiliate marketingAffiliate marketing might be the most practical way to monetize your YouTube traffic, especially if you plan to make product review videos. It works like this:
As an affiliate of a brand, you’ll earn a commission when a viewer clicks your custom link and purchases the product. While Amazon Associates is a great way to make money on Amazon, endless other opportunities exist. Search on affiliate marketing sites such as ShareASale and ClickBank for possible corporate partners and products to feature. You can also search your favorite brands’ websites for information on how to become an affiliate. Don’t forget to properly notify your viewers about your affiliation with the brand or brands featured, and be sure to point them to the “link in description” when you shoot your video. Companies interested in your channel’s audience might sponsor your videos or offer you product placement deals in exchange for a shoutout, called brand deals in the biz. The operative word here is “audience,” which means these types of deals are more likely to present themselves when you develop a following. As your channel grows, you can contact the brands you’d like to work with directly, or use resources like the aforementioned affiliate marketing sites to find corporate partners that complement your style of content. With brand deals, you can receive lump sum payments, earn commission on a per-sale basis or get the product or service for free. Keep in mind: If you do have an endorsement or use product placement in a video, you must notify YouTube by ticking a box in your video details. If you have merchandise or offer a service that’s relevant to your audience, let them know about it and provide links in your videos. For example, creator Marques Brownlee, of popular tech review channel MKBHD, leaves a link to his own line of T-shirts and accessories in every video he posts. Selling a physical product might require you to buy materials or find a manufacturer, but you can also sell downloadables such as e-books, art prints or virtual classes. Have a secure payment system in place before you advertise your goods. Incentive to sell: While creating your own products can be a lot harder than pitching those of other companies, you could stand to make more money this way, since you’ll keep the bulk of your proceeds as the product owner. A membership model is another way to monetize viewership. With this method, fans of the channel pay a small subscription fee for perks and/or an exclusive tier of access. Patreon is a popular third-party membership platform. YouTube has been slowly rolling out its own channel memberships feature, but you need to be part of the YouTube Partner Program to be eligible. As always, more viewers can lead to more revenue. Incentives such as one-on-one video chats, private classes or other perks may entice viewers to become paying members. How much money can you make on YouTube?Breakout YouTube stars with millions of followers stand to make the most money, easily reaching seven figures. But even lesser-known content creators with a modest following can make some solid income on the side, or even full time. According to Forbes, creator Stevin John of the hugely popular kids' channel Blippi earned $17 million in 2020, in large part from the 8.2 billion views and 27.4 million subscribers he’s racked up on YouTube. That kind of success is more the exception than the rule. On the more modest side, Kelly Anne Smith, a personal finance YouTuber with 50,000 subscribers, earned around $900 in ad revenue in March 2022, according to Business Insider. Sean Cannell, co-author of “YouTube Secrets” and founder of the Think Media channel, advises new YouTubers to lean on affiliate marketing as the best way to earn right off the bat. In a video post from 2021, he says it’s possible to pull in $500 a week with the right niche and strategy. Earn an audience, and earn more in the long runYouTube offers opportunity for all, but it’s not a get-rich-quick platform. It takes time, effort and an engaged audience to make money on YouTube. The good news is, with a little motivation and a lot of practice, you can find ways to earn before the coveted 1,000-subscriber threshold. Keep these tips in mind as you get started:
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