If you're reading this, you probably know that getting 

 is a critical checkpoint on the road to YouTube monetization. It's not easy, and many creators spend a year or more getting there, but it's ultimately worth it. Achieving this goal means you can monetize your videos with advertisements through the 

. It's a hands-off way to boost your income!

But first, what is watch time, and how is it calculated on YouTube?

Watch time is the cumulative duration that individuals spend watching a video. Each YouTube video has a watch time count, which contributes to your channel's overall count.

For your watch time to count toward monetization, you must gain 4,000 viewing hours in 12 consecutive months. The videos don't have to be published in the last 12 months, as long as viewers watched them over the previous year.

Also, only certain types of videos can collect watch time. Make sure you're getting 4,000 

 watch hours, as this is the main qualifier — so don't set your videos to private!

YouTube Monetization — Which Videos Count Toward 4,000 Hours of Watch Time?

Notably, you don't need 4,000 hours to get into the YPP. 

 and then monetize your videos through fan funding instead of ads. These include Super Chats, Super Thanks, channel memberships, and more. Below are the minimum requirements to join the YPP, but remember that 

you'll still need 4,000 hours to earn ad revenue

New requirements for joining the YouTube Partner Program

So, how many watch hours have you collected so far? Knowing this number is extremely helpful, especially when building a strategy to keep viewers' attention.

The Earn option on the YouTube Studio navigation bar

2. On the Become a Partner page, scroll down to 

. And there, you'll see how much watch time your channel has.

How to Get More Watch Time on YouTube: 9 Powerful Tips

Now that you know where you stand, use these powerful tips to increase your watch time on YouTube.

1. Master the Art of YouTube Storytelling

 is crucial for keeping viewers engaged, and thus, boosting your watch hours on YouTube. In every video, you want to grab viewers' attention, take them on a journey, and create emotional scenes that hook them along the way.

To do this effectively, master three areas of YouTube storytelling:

The title and thumbnail (convince people to click)

The video introduction (persuade people to keep watching)

Emotional connectivity (keep viewers invested in the story)

Your title and thumbnail are like two sides of the same coin. They should give viewers a snapshot of what the video is about and communicate how it will 

to watch it. For example, notice how the creator's dread in this thumbnail reinforces the video's title: "

Big Mistakes Small YouTubers Still Make."

Man looking devastated in YouTube thumbnail

get straight to the point by mentioning what viewers care about in the first three seconds. If you're struggling to 

, study the best–performing YouTube Shorts and the introductions they have. Introductory phrases like "They don't want you to know this secret" or "I never do this, and here's why" are effective curiosity drivers.

Emotion makes your content 10 times more relatable. Try using 

 like fear, nostalgia, novelty, and scarcity to make your videos seem urgent and relevant to the viewer's life.

2. Increase Engagement with Pattern Interrupters

A good story may pique viewers' interest, but knowing how to edit that story is the real watch-time booster.

 are your secret weapon for this. They turn a good video into a great one by adding variety to what's already there. On YouTube, a pattern interrupter is any visual or auditory element that changes someone's thought pattern. 

is one thought you want to interrupt in a viewer's mind!

Some examples of pattern interrupts include:

Getting someone to watch your video for longer is much easier 

. Think about it: "Reading along" takes pressure off of viewers who don't want to listen to a video or have some degree of hearing loss. Plus, viewers in crowded, noisy areas benefit from reading captions versus listening to audio.

Additionally, subtitles should be your go-to if you have a multicultural audience on YouTube. They translate your audio into multiple languages so people in faraway regions understand you better!

Filming a long outro feels natural, but did you know there are better ways to close out a video? Most viewers click away when they hear goodbye phrases, such as:

Instead of announcing the end of a video, leave before anyone knows what's happening. Your watch time will improve when you don't signal that a video is ending.

Evergreen content is popular year-round, so you need those types of videos to get watch time fast. Evergreen topics like how to change careers, how to cook brown rice, and tips for making friends in your 30s have a high search volume from January to December.

As you can see, many evergreen videos are 

and offer steady watch time through sheer popularity.

If you're struggling to find evergreen video ideas, ask yourself a question:

What do my viewers care about more than anything else?

For example, vidIQ subscribers love to hear growth tips for small channels. One of our videos on the subject has over 78,000 watch hours since it was published six months ago. And the hours are 

Watch time from streaming will always count toward your 4,000-hour goal, so bond with viewers in real time. It's the perfect way to 

When we started our live stream journey, 50-100 people showed up. Now we get hundreds of concurrent viewers, and with that boost in viewership comes plenty of additional watch time.

For example, check out the watch time from this two-hour live stream:

Give streaming a chance when you have about 12 months of YouTube experience. By then you should have 100 or more subscribers who may show up to watch your streams.

Why do people binge videos for hours on Netflix? Simply put, it's because their shows are organized with the help of 

. Viewers don't have to keep selecting episodes when they want to watch a romantic comedy or learn about nature through a documentary. They click on a show, and Netflix plays the episodes automatically.

This is an excellent strategy to bring to your YouTube channel. Figure out which topics viewers care about the most, then create YouTube playlists that hold 10 or more videos. It's one of the easiest ways to increase your watch hours!

How to Grow Your Channel with YouTube Playlists

In the current age becoming a successful creator often indicates holistic growth in the content ecosystem. While some social media platforms might appeal to you more than others, it is important to spread your content as far as possible.

Graphic of many people interacting with various forms of social media

Some of the best places to promote your YouTube channel are outside the platform itself. A few of those apps and websites include:

These are the best apps to promote a YouTube channel, but it helps to know the flavor of each community. What type of discussions do they have there, and better yet, how do the conversations take shape? Once you know that, you can create content in the best style for those users. Eventually, some of these viewers might trickle into your YouTube channel and consistently give you watch time!

 Promote Your YouTube Channel: 17 Tips for Small Creators

YouTube end screens are interactive outros that appear in the last 5-20 seconds of a video. You can add all sorts of clickable elements to them, such as website links, a subscribe button, or even a YouTube channel you want to promote. But it's wise to "send" viewers to the rest of your content if you want more watch hours.

So, instead of creating an "outro," make your last point, then quickly transition to an end screen. Now you can recommend one more video to viewers!

YouTube End Screens — How to Make Cool Video Outros

YouTube's recommendation system has one job, but it's a pretty big one. It has to suggest the right content to viewers based on their watch history and other factors.

YouTube can do this faster and easier if you're always making videos. After all, how can the algorithm rely on any channel for quality recommendations if there isn't much content?

You don't have to upload every day, but stick to a schedule that keeps viewers engaged and doesn't burn you out.

Are you tired of digging through the YouTube Studio to see your watch time? If so, 

 for FREE. In addition to watch time, it also tracks views per hour and subscribers gained.

Image of vidIQ's Real-Time Stats Bar for YouTube channels

FAQ: More Details About YouTube Watch Time

A group of people looking at their phones

Can I watch my own YouTube videos for more watch time?

You can press play on your own videos, but doing so to increase your watch time isn’t a good idea. According to 

, the platform “doesn’t allow anything that artificially increases the number of views, likes, comments, or other metrics.” Plus, many creators have found that 

 coming from their own browser after 48 hours.

Unfortunately, watch time from Shorts does not count toward the 4,000 hours you need to join the YouTube Partner Program. Those hours must come from regular videos. An alternative route is getting 1,000 subscribers plus 

10 million public Shorts views in 90 days

How Long Should It Take to Get 4000 Hours of Watch Time?

Ready to reach 4,000 watch hours and make money on YouTube? Keep reading for 9 solid strategies.

YouTube Watch Time: 10 Ways to Reach 4,000 Hours and Monetize Your Channel

Welcome to our celebration of the fastest-growing small channels in the vidIQ community! 

Last month, 10 creators did the impossible by passing 1,000 subscribers in just 30 days. These creatives make videos about various topics, such as YouTube automation, personal growth, gaming, and more. We're here to say 

and share your success with other vidIQ-ers!

As always, we define the vidIQ community as anyone using our growth tools to reach YouTube success. So if you've 

 to optimize your videos, find keywords, or even get video ideas, this roundup is for you. We're celebrating 

Ready to see who got the most subscribers? These were the fastest-growing YouTube channels last month.

Top Channels Passing 1,000 Subscribers in May

 about all things related to LEGO Fortnite.

 helps with self-improvement and personal growth

 makes fictional content based on the Star Wars universe.

 creates content based on survival games.

, much like the name, uploads different lip-smacking recipes.

 uploads entertaining voice-over content based on the Marvel universe.

 provides general advice and practical insights on everything.

 explores unknown and obscure stories from around the world.

 uploads gaming content based on Fortnite.

 uploads quizzes and choice-based questions through Shorts.

Congrats to everyone who had amazing subscriber growth last month! 🥳 If you want to see your channel grow, don't forget to 

 and get robust tools, data, and video ideas.

Which small YouTube channels grew the fastest in May? Get to know 10 rising creators who make videos about tech, pets, money, and more.

10 Small YouTube Channels that Hit 1,000 Subs FAST [May]

Deciding whether to delete or keep old YouTube videos is tough. There are 

 factors to consider, such as how popular the videos are and if they still match the focus of your channel. In fact, that last point is pretty crucial. Some people try dozens of 

Does that sound like you? If so, here are three times when it’s OK to delete old YouTube videos.

Scenario 1: You’re Embarrassed by Your Older Videos

Embarrassed woman covers her face in shock

This is the most important reason to delete old YouTube videos. If you look back at any piece of content and feel embarrassed or think it doesn’t represent who you are today, go ahead and delete it. Don’t think about the number of views it’s getting. Forget about the fact that it 

 get views later as an evergreen topic. If you care about your online image or personal brand, that’s the number one thing to consider.

You might consider deleting older videos if:

They don’t reflect your current level of maturity.

They include themes that could get you canceled today.

Regardless of the reason, you just don’t like how they portray you!

Scenario 2: Your Channel Is Heading in a Different Direction

You should also consider deleting YouTube videos that don’t match the current theme of your channel. Some people think this isn’t a big deal, 

. YouTube is too competitive to leave your page half-branded!

For example, imagine that a viewer types “exercises to relieve knee pain” into YouTube’s search bar. There are plenty of videos to choose from, but ultimately, the viewer taps on one with 

 and a convincing title. Overall, they’re satisfied with the video and excited to try all of the exercises for strengthening their knees.

 helpful, they go to the creator’s channel to watch more content. 

 There are other videos about knee health, but many have nothing to do with that topic. Altogether, the channel looks like a hodge-podge of random content with a few months dedicated to knee health.

At this point, how do you think the viewer feels? Should they trust the channel’s advice or find a more authoritative page?

Scenario 3: Your Older Videos Get Minimal Views

Finally, if your older videos aren’t all that popular, it’s OK to remove them from your channel. This is especially true if you don’t like the content for whatever reason. Perhaps you made the videos when you had dim lighting, quiet audio, or a backdrop you aren’t fond of. It’s easy to delete these types of videos when they’re underperforming.

On the flip side, what if you have an older video that’s well-produced but doesn’t get many views? Does it make sense to delete it forever?

If you’re facing this scenario, don’t give up just yet. Try changing the title and thumbnail to see if that makes a difference, then promote the video on the YouTube Community tab. That could prompt viewers to start watching again, which helps 

Deleting videos from your YouTube channel can lead to significant consequences, often negative. On YouTube, videos are forever and the last thing you want as a creator is to part ways with a video that might later turn out to be a goldmine! The YouTube algorithm, which relies on metrics like 

, audience retention, and engagement to recommend content, is disrupted when videos are deleted. This disruption can diminish your channel's visibility and reach.

To mitigate these effects, it's crucial to carefully assess the performance of each video while keeping the scenarios we mentioned above in mind. A useful strategy is to direct viewers from deleted videos to other relevant content on your channel, maintaining engagement and presence. Additionally, be aware of any legal or ethical issues when removing videos, especially those involving 

It's part and parcel of a creator's life to expect those "10 out of 10" debut videos. But not every one of them needs to be a lost cause! Some strategies can effectively change the outcome of your "dead" video:

Optimizing the video title and thumbnail to make them more enticing.

Leveraging collaborations to inject authenticity and boost credibility.

Promoting it on end screens of your popular videos or linking it to newer content.

In the video above, Dan explains how to achieve this successfully. The main idea is to keep experimenting with the video after its upload and observe how it affects the performance. This will not only improve results for the video in question but also for future uploads and the channel overall.

But, as long as you’re making new content, you almost have infinite chances to get more views. So don’t worry about keeping old videos that embarrass you, underperform, or don’t fit your channel’s theme anymore.

 Look to the future of your content journey!

When is it OK to delete old YouTube videos? In this article, we explore three scenarios where it absolutely makes sense.

When to Delete Those Old, Embarrassing Videos on Your YouTube Channel

Starting a YouTube channel has many benefits, some of which are too enticing to ignore. The first perk? You get to create content from the heart and share it with like-minded viewers around the world. And eventually, you'll build a community where thousands of people (or even millions) look forward to watching your videos.

If all of that goes well, you'll reach a point where you can monetize your videos, 

Our brilliant creator Dan had recently spoken about how he would do the whole YouTube thing all over again if he had the chance. While the number of tips on this topic is endless, new creators need to focus on certain aspects more than others. Watch the video above to know what they are!

It's important to remember that you aren't the only person trying to become a content creator on YouTube. There are millions of channels, and the people behind them want the same thing as you: creative expression, financial freedom, and a community.

how to start a successful YouTube channel

. With so much competition, you'll need tips and strategies to begin your journey the right way.

This is where it all begins. If you haven’t 

 yet, it’s very simple. Simply sign up by filling out your name.

Next, you have to provide some more basic information about yourself.

And it’s that easy! You now have a Google account.

It’s good to have a Google account to create your YouTube channel, simply because of the ecosystem that Google has built. Even earning on YouTube happens through a Google AdSense account, 

Google AdSense 101: How to Benefit from Ad Revenue on YouTube

So, now that you have your Google account set up, let’s start creating your channel!

Creating your YouTube channel won't take long at all. Just follow the steps below!

2. Click your profile picture in the top right corner and select 

3. Upload a profile picture and type in your channel's name.

here's a guide for creating the best YouTube channel name

Now that you've created your channel, the next step is 

. This step allows you to create videos longer than 15 minutes, upload custom thumbnails, live stream, and appeal Content ID claims.

1. To verify your phone number, click your profile picture again and select 

Add a Banner and Video Watermark to Your Channel

At this point, you can also add a banner and video watermark to your channel.

 is a long, horizontal image that appears at the top of your YouTube channel's homepage. If you design it well, it will quickly communicate what your videos are about. Here's an example from the Poké Daxi YouTube channel.

 is a small image in the bottom-right corner of all your videos. When viewers click or hover over the image, YouTube will prompt them to subscribe to your channel. You can make this image your channel logo or whatever you think is best for branding your content.

How to Add a Banner and Video Watermark to Your Channel

Once you've created your banner and watermark, follow these steps to add them to your channel.

3. Find the banner and watermark sections. Click 

Minimum image size: 2048 x 1152 px with a 16:9 aspect ratio.

YouTube recommends dimensions of 150 x 150 px.

Acceptable file types: PNG, GIF (no animations), BMP, and JPEG.

Now, tie everything together with your YouTube "about" section. This should encapsulate what you are offering in the best way possible.

Try to communicate what you want to achieve on the channel and how it benefits your audience. If everything is cohesive, you'll have a good-looking channel!


3. Find Your YouTube Niche (Channel Topic)

Your niche is the main topic you'll explore on your YouTube channel. It's also the reason most people will watch your content, as some viewers are attracted to specific topics.

But if you really want to stand out, find a niche 

 a niche. For example, you might create a channel about how to cook Caribbean food instead of focusing on 

 cooking styles, like American, Italian, Spanish, etc. Your broad niche would be "cooking," and your sub-niche would be "Caribbean recipes."

Need help finding your YouTube niche? Or ideas for starting a YouTube channel? 

Here are seven tips to discover your channel's main topic.

Once you've found your niche, imagining who will watch your videos is much easier. And that's something you want to do sooner rather than later.

Understanding what your viewers need (information, entertainment, guidance, instructions) helps you develop better video ideas.

You can post videos at the right time of day when you know your audience's viewing habits.

Knowing viewers' likes and dislikes allows you to make enjoyable content.

Some of this knowledge comes as you build an audience. But even now, you can guess a few things about your potential audience.

Let's say you want to create a channel about working remotely around the globe – becoming a digital nomad. Your audience might be younger adults in their 20s or early 30s who can afford to travel non-stop. They might not have established any roots or started a family yet, which allows them to move from country to country.

Do they need tips on international travel? Do they dislike staying in one place for too long? Does it matter what time you post on YouTube if your viewers are global citizens?

These questions help you plan content around viewers' lives.

5. Create a Value Proposition for Your Viewers

So far, you've discovered your channel's topic and who your viewers are. Now it's time to make a promise to everyone who comes across your content.

We'll call this promise a value proposition. It's a brief statement that explains what your channel is about and what viewers gain by watching your videos.

." That's our value proposition for the vidIQ channel, and it makes two things clear:

We're obsessed with helping creators reach their goals.

We specialize in YouTube education and coaching.

Want to become a successful YouTuber? Your journey begins with the first step: creating your YouTube channel. Here's how to strategize, plan, and build a home for your videos.

How to Start a YouTube Channel: 10 Brilliant Tips

In the fast-paced world of YouTube, it’s easy to get caught up in the latest trends and tactics for growing your channel. However, it's important to remember that what works today may not necessarily work in the future. With that in mind, here are ten pieces of YouTube advice to ignore.

From the outside, this looks like good advice for creators of all sizes. After all, more videos mean more opportunities to get those numbers up. But is it applicable to everyone?

Woman looking frustrated at the work desk

If you're primarily a Shorts creator and do not require long hours for each video, putting out content daily might be doable. But, for creators who are primarily focused on long-form videos, it does not seem feasible. If you're trying to give your audience the highest-quality videos, posting every day stands contrary to that. So, depending on the type of creator you are, you can choose your strategy accordingly.

Alright, this might sound controversial right off the bat, given that we've encouraged new creators to follow this advice in the past. And it does make sense to do so. But not everyone has the same creative style or is inspired by the same kind of content.

A more attuned way would be to follow the type of content that draws you in, not the creator. Simply put, make the kind of videos you would want to watch and try to give your best shot at it.

3. Starting a Separate Channel for Your YouTube Shorts

Some creators worry that mixing long videos with shorter ones will hurt their channel. It makes sense when you’re following the most crucial rule of YouTube growth: Make videos for your audience and no one else.

There’s a lot of advice on how to grow a YouTube channel, but which information should you trust?

Posts Written By Lydia Sweatt

YouTube Watch Time: 10 Ways to Reach 4,000 Hours and Monetize Your Channel

10 Small YouTube Channels that Hit 1,000 Subs FAST [May]

When to Delete Those Old, Embarrassing Videos on Your YouTube Channel

How to Start a YouTube Channel: 10 Brilliant Tips

Outdated YouTube Advice You Should Ignore in 2024

How to Make YouTube Reaction Videos

12 YouTube Myths that Distract You from Getting More Views

4 Mistakes to Avoid if You Have a Small YouTube Channel

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Starting a YouTube Channel? 9 Videos to Make Right Now