If you’re like most creators, you have a goal to get more YouTube subscribers

and monetize your channel. You want to attract real viewers, make them fans, and earn lots of money from the video ads on your channel. The only question is, "How?"

 subscribers to get paid on YouTube in a sustainable way — 1,000 to be exact. 

Reaching this goal is one part of the recipe when it comes to joining the 

 and monetizing your videos with ads. The other part is reaching 

 10 million YouTube Shorts views in the last 90 days.

Ready to get started? The good news is, with this guide, you'll never have to, or should, buy 1,000 YouTube subscribers to meet your goals. 

In the video above, Dan talks about proven strategies that have worked for small creators who have reached their goals. These range from selecting a high-stakes niche to maintaining a consistent schedule. Over the months we've also shared similar accounts of successful channels here. But today, let's talk about how you can achieve the same!

1. Break Your 1,000-Subscriber Goal Into Small Chunks

First, here's a bit of raw honesty: Trying to collect a thousand of anything is hard. You know it’s going to take a long time, but you don’t know exactly how long. And that is 

So, chop the goal into manageable chunks. Instead of saying you want 1,000 YouTube subscribers right now, tell yourself that you want to gain:

After all, it's less scary (and more encouraging) to go after smaller, realistic goals.

Female fitness youtuber filming yoga workout

It's important to focus on one target audience when you're chasing the 1,000-subscriber mark on YouTube. By honing in on a specific niche, you'll craft content that deeply resonates with like-minded viewers.

High-stakes niches, such as health, personal finance, or education, tend to attract more viewers because they address urgent and important issues. For example, health-related content appeals to individuals concerned about their well-being, while personal finance videos attract those looking to manage their money better. These topics have a higher likelihood of retaining viewers because they seek solutions and valuable information.

The 54 Best YouTube Niches, According to Viewers

Let's say you're aiming at fitness enthusiasts; instead of broad workout videos, delve into niche topics like "HIIT workouts for beginners." This tailored approach will attract viewers who are genuinely interested in your content. They will engage, share, and crucially, subscribe!

It's hard to stand out as a creator, but you'll gain more subscribers on YouTube when you focus your efforts.

3. Create the Most Popular Kinds of Content

There are many YouTube video ideas online, but it's difficult to know which ones will connect with your viewers.

But there's good news: Regardless of your channel type, these 

 are highly entertaining on YouTube. People love seeing someone react to funny or dramatic events, so those videos will always be popular online.

 are appealing because everyone loves a hot debate: Samsung Galaxy or iPhone? Cats or dogs? LeBron James or Michael Jordan?

 — answer questions people never stop asking. A how-to video could be titled "How to Negotiate a $10,000 Pay Raise." Meanwhile, a list video might be "30 Cheap Meal Plan Ideas to Save Money."

4. Take YouTube Keywords, Thumbnails, and Video Titles Seriously

A YouTube video in search, including the thumbnail, title, and description

 to get 1,000 subscribers on YouTube fast. These are the first touchpoints that viewers have with your content, so make them count! 

A compelling thumbnail grabs attention, while a well-optimized title, infused with relevant keywords, ensures your video surfaces in search results.

Imagine a viewer searching for "vegan recipes." If your video title is "Delicious Vegan Pasta Recipe" and is backed by keyword research, it's more likely to appear in their search. Pair that with an enticing thumbnail showcasing the mouth-watering dish, and you've got a click!

How To Make Attention-Grabbing Custom Thumbnails on YouTube with vidIQ

5. Create Videos That Deliver on Their Promise

Did you know that every YouTube video makes a subtle promise?

The title tells you what to expect from the video.

The thumbnail is an emotional snapshot of the story.

The video description supports the title and thumbnail.

Everything works together to give the viewer an 

If a video doesn’t live up to the hype, it means you broke the initial promise you made to viewers. And on YouTube, 1,000 subscribers are hard to come by if you let people down!

create a value proposition for your channel, 

such as "tasty meals for every budget" or "high school math made easy." Make videos that align with your slogan, and you'll get your first 1,000 subscribers on YouTube in no time.

6. Identify Which Videos Attract the Most Subscribers

If you have 30 or more videos on your channel, why not see which ones attracted the most subscribers? The proper term for this metric is called 

, and you can find it in the YouTube Studio.

Click your profile picture, then select YouTube Studio (below "your channel")

which is below the YouTube dashboard showing monthly views, subscribers, revenue, and watch time.

5. See which videos attracted the most subscribers. Make similar content to get more subscribers on YouTube!

list of videos that gained the most subscribers

7. Do a YouTube Collab to Reach New Viewers

Creators put a lot of work into video collaborations. They search for like-minded partners, brainstorm collab ideas, and film several videos together. But after all that hard work, the two creators earn a priceless reward. They get to 

and fast-track their way toward 1,000 subs on YouTube!

Here's how it works: In collab videos, people will discover creator A and creator B for the first time. If things go well, some of these viewers become

So, if you're serious about growing, it's time to collaborate on YouTube. 

Here are six tips to nail your first collab.

Woman holding up sign that says "like and subscribe" while filming

To get people to subscribe to your channel, dedicate some time to promoting your videos to a wider audience. You have various options to do this, like posting on the YouTube Community tab, 

But that's just a small taste of what you can do. You can also:

Add YouTube cards and end screens in your videos to promote extra content.

Comment on other YouTube videos within your niche.

Here's how to promote your YouTube channel to get more subscribers.

9. Use 'Related Links' in Shorts to Get More Subscribers

Related link near the bottom of a YouTube Short

Guess what? YouTube has rolled out a game-changing feature just for you: 

. With 'Related Links', you can guide your Shorts audience straight to your long-form content, and turn them into loyal subscribers!

The best part is that it's super easy to set up. Just pop into your YouTube Studio, pick a Short, and link it to one of your in-depth videos. Make sure the two videos are related in topic and complement each other well. When you've saved the changes, a clickable link will appear near the bottom of the Short!

This new strategy isn't just about boosting views, although it never hurts to do that. Placing related links in your content is about building a community and turning those casual viewers into loyal subscribers.

10. Add a YouTube Subscribe Button to Your Videos

Red Youtube subscribe button in corner of video frame

Want an easy way to get 1,000 subscribers on YouTube? Create an attractive subscribe button for your videos!

These little buttons are clickable and appear in the lower right corner of your YouTube videos. When viewers click on them (also known as video watermarks), they instantly become a subscriber to your channel!

11. Place a YouTube Subscribe Link in Video Descriptions

The description box is more than a holding place for your video's about section. You can also add links there, such as affiliate links, website links, and your social media profiles. More importantly, pasting in a 

lets viewers join your community in just a few taps!

To create a subscription link, simply add "

How hard is it to get 1,000 subscribers on YouTube? 

It's pretty tough, but not impossible when you're posting videos consistently. By crafting good videos often, you can influence the 

 and boost the number of subscribers on your channel.

13. Ask Viewers to Subscribe to Your Channel

Finally, it never hurts to ask viewers to tap that big, white button and join your community! Use a clear call-to-action near the middle or end of your videos, sincerely asking viewers to subscribe. You can even use a Y

 to place a subscribe button on the last few frames of your video.

Growing your subscriber base isn't easy, so we know you have lots of questions! This FAQ will answer the biggest ones.

What happens when you reach 1,000 subscribers on YouTube?

Having 1,000 subscribers makes you eligible for the YouTube Partner Program so you can make money from ads and fan support. The other requirement is getting 4,000 hours of watch time in the last 365 days 

 10 million public Shorts views in the last 90 days.

Woman holding a subscribe sign while filming a video

Gaining 1,000 subscribers on YouTube just got easier. Here's how to attract viewers and encourage them to subscribe in 13 powerful steps.

How to Get 1,000 Subscribers on YouTube (Fast and Free)

As a short-form creator, you're probably wondering if you can monetize your YouTube Shorts like long-form creators monetize their videos. 

YouTube has several paths for monetizing short content, and this guide explains all of your options.

One of the best ways to monetize your Shorts is through the YouTube Partner Program (YPP). Upon joining, you have access to all of YouTube's money-making tools, like the ability to place ads on videos or monetize your audience directly through fan-funding.

There are two ways to enter the YPP (you only need to choose one!).

Upload 3 public videos in the last 90 days.

Get 3,000 public watch hours in the last 365 days or 3 million public Shorts views in the last 90 days.

 from long-form videos in the last 365 days or 

If you're a Shorts creator or someone who makes long and short videos, option 2 or 3 is your best bet for joining the YPP!

 will earn advertising revenue. So, do these four things to stay in the clear:

YouTube's Advertiser-Friendly Content Guidelines

Avoid using unedited clips from movies and TV shows that you don't have rights to.

Avoid uploading another creator's content without adding a new perspective or transforming the content.

Monetizing YouTube Shorts Through Ads: A Quick Rundown

 is a bit different from monetizing a regular YouTube video. Notably, all Shorts revenue is split between different parties, including the creators who make them and the music publishers who provide songs for those videos.

The four steps of YouTube Shorts monetization 

 all of the Shorts ad revenue on its platform.

 how much money goes to the creator pool, which depends on views and music usage across all Shorts. If creators use no music in their Shorts, they retain all of the revenue at this point. If they use music, the revenue is split between the creator pool and music publishers.

 the ad revenue to monetized Shorts creators. This is based on a creator's total share of Shorts views on the platform, whether that's 5%, 10%, 15%, etc.

Can You Monetize YouTube Shorts Without 1,000 Subscribers?

If you're just starting out on YouTube, getting 500 subscribers is a quick way to join the YPP and monetize your Shorts. You won't earn ad revenue, but you can monetize most of your content — Shorts included — through fan-funding tools.

For example, with just 500 subs, you can collect 

 revenue on your YouTube Shorts. These are "video tips" ranging from $2 to $50 that your fans can send to support individual videos.

 are an option as well, especially if you love streaming on YouTube.

When you host a vertical or horizontal live stream, viewers in the live chat can reward you with monetary donations ranging from $1 to $500. These can appear as Super Chats — colorful comments pinned to the top of the live chat — or as Super Stickers, which are fun, digital animations that appear on the screen.

Channel Memberships offer exclusive perks, such as members-only videos, badges, Community posts, emojis, and livestreams, to a creators' super fans. It's a great way to make money, but did you know that you can get your YouTube Shorts monetized through channel memberships? 

After all, Shorts count as videos too! You can make these exclusive to your members just like regular, horizontal content.

How Much Money Will You Earn from Shorts?

Are YouTube Shorts monetized in a sustainable way? Can they become a side hustle or help you quit your day job?

We'd have said it's hard to make decent money from Shorts only a year ago, barring times when you get a nice chunk of revenue. For example, we got 

 for a vidIQ Short that got 468,500 views.

The content performance dashboard showing we earned $16.61 from YouTube Shorts

With recent updates on advertisements, RPM on our Shorts has seen an impressive 150% increase. So, for every 1000 views we are getting $0.10 revenue, without any external changes like location of viewers, topic of videos, etc.

This hasn't happened overnight. YouTube has steadily increased Shorts revenue on the vidIQ channel throughout the year. It seems like advertisers have finally found the sweet spot for their products in the Shorts ecosystem as other creators have also talked about experiencing similar surges on their channel. Watch Rob discuss all of that in the video below!

It's easier than ever to become a monetized Shorts creator, but you'll need 

OK, so getting into the YPP to monetize your Shorts is a real challenge. You either have to go viral a lot or face the difficult task of earning 1,000 subscribers plus thousands of hours of watch time.

. There are other ways to make money from Shorts, and one of those golden opportunities is through

When a brand sponsors you, they’re paying you to advertise a product or service in one of your videos. That could be a new line of laptops, the latest leggings from Lululemon, or even a squeegee that removes pet hair from dirty carpet.

Here’s an example of a sponsored Short. In this video, actress Eliana Ghen advertises Vita, a mobile video editing app.

If you’re looking at this video and thinking, 

You don’t need millions of views and subscribers to 

 —just the right audience and a strong YouTube resume.

 said they plan to invest in short-form content more than they did in 2024.

Brands are excited to partner with short-form creators, who bring 

2.5 times more engagement than long-form videos.

As for that last detail, don’t just take our word for it. 

“At the end of the day, most brands don’t want to partner with you and feel like the only thing you’re good at is long-form video,” Moore says. “They want to feel that you may have some flexibility to create different types of content.”

Read this post to avoid the common mistakes YouTubers make while pitching brands

There are a few mountains to climb when monetizing short-form content, but don't worry! 

 Our blog has many tips and tricks to help you get 500 subscribers, 

 Just click the hyperlinks throughout this post to get a winning plan for YouTube success!

Now that you know how to monetize YouTube Shorts, let's take things up a notch and show you how to increase your views!

A smartphone displaying "Shorts Feed Ads" on its screen

Are you ready to finally monetize your YouTube Shorts? Here's how to make money with short, vertical videos in 2025.


YouTube Shorts Monetization: How to Profit from Short Videos

We’re finally in the new year, and for many of you, that means setting bigger goals for your YouTube channel. While it’s nice to collect more views or even monetize your videos, we know you want something else too: more YouTube subscribers.

No matter what number you’re striving for, you’ll reach it faster if you set a 

. The SMART method is a proven way to set meaningful goals, and it stands for specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. These are the five key elements of a wise goal — one that’s realistic and more likely to be achieved.

Not to mention, a SMART goal brings more focus to your YouTube journey. It helps you understand 

 you need to make it happen. So whether you’re looking to hit 1,000; 10,000; or even 100,000 subscribers, here’s how to set a SMART goal.

First up, your goal needs to be as specific as possible. Instead of saying you want to get more subscribers, which is a bit vague, name a real number. It’s not just about having a figure to chase; setting a clear goal helps you understand what you need to bring your dreams to life.

Why is this goal important? Will it help me 

, secure bigger brand deals, sell products to my audience?, etc.

For example, you might say, "I need 10,000 subscribers to attract more lucrative brand deals and grow my content creation business. To increase my subscribers, I’ll have to learn community building, storytelling, thumbnail creation, and YouTube SEO. I can learn these skills myself or enroll in a 

Now the goal is well-defined with clear action steps!

Tracking your progress helps you stay focused, especially when chasing an intimidating goal. In the YouTube space, “intimidating” could be anything over 100,000 subscribers. For some creators, 

Balloons surrounding a huge number 1 and a small letter m

No matter what your goal is, don’t make the mistake of only tracking subscriber count. 

Measure the underlying process that grows your channel

. After all, it’s the months of acquiring new skills or posting new content that truly moves the needle.

In that case, “measuring your progress” could mean:

Posting a specific number of videos to understand which ideas succeed or fail.

Choosing one YouTube skill to learn over the course of each month.

 and track important metrics, including subscribers.

Watching a specific number of YouTube education videos, such as the ones from vidIQ.

For any goal to work, it has to be realistic. You might be able to gain 3,000 subscribers in a month, but 30,000 might be a stretch!

Be honest with yourself and set a goal that feels achievable. Look at how fast your channel is growing, then pick a number that builds upon your current trajectory.

 a graph showing youtube subscriber growth over time for a channel

For example, you might say, “My channel gains 100 subscribers each month. With the resources I have, and the skills I’m gaining, I can reasonably grow that number to 300. That means I could reach 1,800 subscribers in the next six months.”

How to Get More YouTube Subscribers on a Small Channel

When a goal is relevant, it aligns with everything on your YouTube channel, from the content you make to the audience you target. But it goes even deeper than that.

Sometimes, setting a relevant goal is vowing to never make content that repeatedly fails to grow your subscribers. So, spend some time looking at the 

 metric in the YouTube Studio. It will show you which videos bring in the most subscribers so you can keep making relevant content.

Subscribers gained by content filter in the youtube studio

How to Get Subscriber Feedback from a YouTube Analytics Deep Dive

Lastly, set a deadline to achieve your goal. This helps you envision what's on the horizon for your channel and makes the journey feel 

A good deadline creates a sense of urgency and order, pushing you to make detailed plans. It might inspire you to build a content strategy or stick to a 

. But remember, a SMART goal is always realistic, so choose your deadline wisely!

For example, you might say, “My channel has 50 subscribers, and I want to 

A SMART goal is just that — an incredibly smart way to grow your YouTube channel faster. But that doesn’t mean life won’t throw you a curveball. As you gain more subscribers, you may have to adjust your plans when there's an unexpected hiccup. That could be a new work schedule, complications at school, or just having more important obligations!

No matter what happens, don’t give up. 2025 can be your year on YouTube, but only if you keep going.

If you haven’t already, read this guide to help you prepare for more YouTube growth in 2024!

"100K" in yellow and surrounded by balloons.

Want more YouTube subscribers in 2025? Don't skip the most crucial step in the creator journey: setting a SMART goal to achieve your dreams!

Kickstarting 2025: How to Set the Perfect YouTube Subscriber Goal

Starting a gaming YouTube channel is no easy feat. Millions of people play video games in their free time, so naturally, the competition is stiff.

 dominating the space with billions of YouTube views. The 

 channel has over 46 million subscribers. Beyond that, you have thousands of small channels worldwide to compete with!

Coupled with gaming being one of the most attractive universal activities in the world, this makes it difficult for new creators to stand out, let alone go viral. But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible.

Think about the biggest gaming channels, and you'll be able to remember a unique feature that helps you recall them. That's what Dan, our YouTube expert, calls a "hallmark." To develop this unique identifier for your channel, you must think of your identity as a creator as a whole. 

In the video above, Dan also talks about different strategies you can adopt to reach levels of success in the gaming niche, supported by real life examples. So, check it out now!

Is it worth starting a gaming channel in 2025? We’d say 100% 

Here’s how to grow your gaming channel fast in 12 powerful steps.

1. Focus On Your Target Audience, Not a Particular Game

If you want to grow your gaming channel, don't focus on playing one title. Centering your content around a single game is not only a serious commitment but also a limiting one.

For example, you don't have to commit to playing or talking about 

It might be smarter to chase the target audience behind that series: people who love '90s video games.

Discover the Top YouTube Gaming Niches for 2024

Two channels that have done this pretty well are 

. While both of them do have a main game that they upload content for, they aren't shy about venturing out to try new titles (while never forgetting their core audience).  

In the hustle of going after views and subscribers, it's easy to forget the mother metric that covers all: 

. Having decent watch time on your channel usually indicates that all bases are covered, and people are enjoying your content.

One of the biggest insights from the past year is that viewers have a massive appetite for lengthy videos. We interviewed a small channel called 


, which gained over 100,000 views on a two-hour video essay about a game called 

. Watch the full video below to know how he did it!

 takes it a step further by compiling several of his long-form videos into 10-plus-hour marathons. These videos rack up hundreds of thousands of views in an era where bite-sized content is king. The videos are binge-able and seamless for the viewer, who receives a better experience than what they get through 

3. Get the Right Equipment for Your Gaming Channel

Gaming is a competitive YouTube niche, but there's still room (and time) for new creators to grow successful channels. All it takes is 12 powerful steps.

Posts Written By Lydia Sweatt

How to Get 1,000 Subscribers on YouTube (Fast and Free)

YouTube Shorts Monetization: How to Profit from Short Videos

Kickstarting 2025: How to Set the Perfect YouTube Subscriber Goal

12 Tips for Starting a YouTube Gaming Channel in 2025

YouTube Monetization: How to Make Money from Videos in 2024

11 Pieces of YouTube Equipment on Sale for Black Friday

How to Find YouTube Keywords that Grow Your Channel

4 Tips to Grow Your Channel with YouTube Shorts

12 Best YouTube Thumbnails Ideas People Love to Click On

YouTube Shorts Thumbnail: How to Upload Them for More Views

10 YouTube Channels that Hit 100K Subs FAST! [August]

6 Small YouTube Channels that Hit 10K Subs [August]