After years of hard work, nothing comes close to the feeling of 

 It makes the journey a thousand times more meaningful, especially when that labor includes hundreds of videos, thumbnails, and YouTube titles.

If you aren’t monetized yet, can we propose a new year’s resolution? Sharpen your video skills, expedite your path to the YouTube Partner Program, and get paid!

Basic Requirements for Joining the YouTube Partner Program (YPP):

The YPP allows creators to monetize their videos with advertisements and fan funding revenue, such as Super Chats and Stickers, Super Thanks, and Channel Memberships. YouTube doesn’t let 

 into the program, so there are plenty of requirements to meet.

To get monetized quickly, you need to focus on two things:

These milestones matter because they represent the various paths into the YPP.

If you want to make money through fan funding, here are the minimum requirements to join the YPP:

3,000 public watch hours in the previous 12 months or 3 million public YouTube Shorts views in the last 90 days

If you want to make money with video advertisements, here are the minimum requirements do that:

 of public watch time within a 12-month period or 

youtube requirements ad revenue partner program

Tips for Building 3,000-4,000 Watch Hours

On YouTube, watch time is the cumulative duration that individuals spend watching a video. These hours add up to reflect your channel's overall count, and, consequently, your ability to join the YPP. Here, we’ll explain how to quickly get the 3,000 to 4,000 hours you need.

1. Make Videos with High Watch Time Potential

red youtube themed clock with 9 minutes and 45 seconds displayed

Did you know that some videos get more watch time than others? It’s not that they're special or amazingly different; they’re simply formatted in a way that supports 

10 Types of Videos that Attract More YouTube Watch Time

So, if you’re starting a new YouTube channel, try your hand at these watch time collectors:

 Audio-based content that accumulates high watch time if the topic is engaging.

 Videos that kids watch repeatedly (like nursery rhymes and baby songs), which produce more watch hours.

: Videos that explore topics in-depth, often with a mix of education and entertainment.

 Live videos that are typically lengthy and earn high watch time.

 Sound-driven videos that can play in the background and rack up watch hours.

 A collection of entertaining videos that play back-to-back and keep viewers engaged.

Before anything else, YouTube is an entertainment platform for billions of people. So, the more interesting and innovative you are, the easier it is to earn watch time. Of course, you’ll have to be 

 innovative than thousands of creators, which is easier said than done. 

But it’s possible. You just have to be 90% better than your competition. This typically means 

creating something people haven’t seen before

In other words, what makes your content special?

For example, we can guarantee you’ve never seen a dog stomping on its hind legs enthusiastically, wobbling from left to right between its owner’s knees. Most people love pet videos, but that’s not something you see every day.

However, the dog is real and represents a YouTube channel (Adventuring With Nala) that’s about to hit 600,000 subscribers! It’s fresh and fascinating, especially in the pet space.

Do you show your face in YouTube videos? If so, one way to delight your audience (and boost watch time) is to be more engaging. Use your voice, personality, and facial expressions to make viewers feel at home when watching your content. This, by far, is an underrated way to keep their attention.

How to Become a Pro at Speaking on Camera

Start by figuring out how long you need to speak instead of rambling or freestyling. Then, vary your speaking patterns (volume and speed) to create vocal variety and keep viewers engaged. Create warmth in your video by maintaining eye contact, changing your facial expressions, and using welcoming body language.

4. Don’t Just Make Videos — Tell Stories

A man telling a story with animated expression

In 2020, we would have told you to edit your videos so there are 

. But four years later, videos are getting longer and less polished as creators prioritize story times and intimate vlogs. And it’s working.

, Dry Creek Wrangler School, and Phil Cofer making videos that feel like “life discussions” between friends.

If we’ve learned anything from the rise of authenticity on YouTube, it’s that viewers want to feel like they’re hanging out with a close friend. And what do friends do? They swap stories!

Try your hand at making video essays, story time content, extended vlogs, or anything viewers will stick around for. Combine that with 

, and you’re swiftly on your way to building more watch time!

Tips for Building 500-1,000 YouTube Subscribers

Getting more YouTube subscribers is just as important as boosting your watch time. But while building watch hours is an art, finding your target audience on YouTube is more of a science. Here’s how to make it happen!

Two people cooking and filming the process in a kitchen

On YouTube, your niche is what you’re known for. It’s the specific type of content you make and the topics you discuss on your channel, like home gardening, basketball highlights, or animal rescue. Establishing a niche allows you to attract viewers interested in the same hobby, subject, or lifestyle you’re promoting. And that builds a community!

It’s OK to experiment with different types of content when you first join YouTube. But eventually, you’ll want to be known for something concrete so viewers have a reason to subscribe.

How to Choose the Best Niche for Your YouTube Channel

Woman doing a livestream with heart icons surrounding her

The best YouTube channels are built on strong communities. In fact, replace the phrase “YouTube subscribers” with “YouTube community” and you have the right idea in mind.

Think of how most viewers behave as they watch, browse, and interact on YouTube. Few people subscribe to a channel because they saw one good video; they join after witnessing a solid community.

The Secret Formula for Gaining and Retaining YouTube Subscribers

Building a community isn’t easy, but the actions to get there are simple enough:

Solve problems for your viewers through content, products, and more.

Keep your viewers’ wants and needs in mind when making content.

Talk to your viewers on the YouTube Community Tab

Build exclusive communities just for them.

Do you share your YouTube videos on other platforms? If not, it’s time to post your content on apps like TikTok, Instagram, X, Facebook, and more to 

. This brings more eyeballs to your content and increases your chance of earning more subscribers.

Plus, this way, you aren’t waiting on the 

 to notice your videos and recommend them to the right people. You’re taking matters into your own hands to grow your audience faster.

6 Popular Apps to Promote Your YouTube Channel

Reminding viewers to subscribe is always helpful, but there are other ways to grow your community in record time.

From a user experience standpoint, you can make it ridiculously easy for people to hit subscribe. All you have to do is put a subscribe link, button, or watermark wherever your viewers are — the video watch page, your website, the comment section, etc.

8 Ways to Help Viewers Subscribe to Your YouTube Channel

Place a subscribe button (video watermark) on all of your videos.

Embed a subscribe button on your website or blog.

YouTube Monetization: More Ways to Expedite the Journey

Follow the eight steps above, and you’ll shorten the runway between your first day on YouTube and the day you get monetized. 

However, there are even 

ways to succeed. You can start by following YouTube’s terms and policies, which explain how to keep your channel in good standing. After all, no channel = no money!

Following these rules helps you enter the YPP faster, as YouTube does review every channel to make sure it's compliant.

phone lying on top of money and showing the youtube logo

Looking for ways to reach YouTube monetization faster? Use these 8 powerful tips to accelerate the journey in 2024.

New Year, Richer You: 8 Tips to Get Monetized Faster on YouTube

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. 2024 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 2024? Don't skip the most crucial step in the creator journey: setting a SMART goal to achieve your dreams!

Kickstarting 2024: How to Set the Perfect YouTube Subscriber Goal

What is a good YouTube channel name? Is it something spicy that no one else has claimed? Or can it be as simple as using your first and last name?

Both are good options depending on your goals, but there’s more to the equation.

Choosing a YouTube channel name is a big deal because it’s how everyone will recognize you — and not just viewers. The YouTube algorithm will analyze your name for relevant keywords. Brands will look at it before they offer you a partnership deal. Every day, you want this part of your channel to shine.

If your channel name is missing something important, 

. That’s the best way get back on track and rebrand your channel, which is very important in 2024.

Before we discuss channel names, it helps to know they're 

 are a unique identifier for your channel. They look and function like the handles you've seen on other social media platforms, such as Instagram, X, and TikTok. And of course, they begin with the iconic @ symbol.

For example, @vidIQ is our YouTube handle. Viewers can use it to:

Search for our channel on YouTube (and distinguish us from duplicates).

Go directly to our channel via URL (https://www.youtube.com/

While handles help you interact with others, your channel name is entirely distinct from that. You can use your channel name to explain your niche better and attract the right audience.

So, whether you’re choosing a name for the first time or seeking a new one, here are six ways to pick a YouTube channel name.

1. Follow YouTube’s Community Guidelines

Before you pick a channel name, make sure it’s appropriate for YouTube. You can do that by following the 

, which covers things like spam, impersonating other creators, and words you shouldn’t say (or write) on the platform.

After all, what’s the point of finally figuring out a channel name, only to have someone report it?

2. Make Your Channel Name Short and Sweet

On YouTube, a short channel name is always better than a long one. Why? They’re just easier to remember. When someone is searching for your channel, you don’t want them stumbling over a 50-character name. Choose something 

You should pick a YouTube channel name that's:

. You won’t have any problems typing that into YouTube’s search bar. The same goes for channels like 

Did you know it’s against YouTube’s rules to 

? Intentional or not, anyone who does that is misleading their viewers. So that’s the first reason to have an original channel name. It keeps you honest, and YouTube won’t have a reason to strike down your channel.

 is a famous YouTube creator, and someone is always trying to impersonate him. Dozens of people steal his channel name and profile icon to create bogus accounts. Take a look at all the copycat channels below.

What’s the end goal, if not to impersonate MrBeast? And what will these users do with the influence they stole? It can’t be anything good.

4. Pick a Name That Represents Your Niche

When someone comes to your channel, they should know three things immediately:

The right YouTube channel name can express all three.

 But how do you come up with a name so powerful that people understand your channel’s worth?

It’s not as difficult as you think. Whatever your YouTube niche is — hockey, nail art, marine biology — start thinking about that subject. Next, challenge yourself to create a channel name based on your niche.

, a channel with dozens of Microsoft Excel tutorials, is a great example. The channel name comes from combining “Excel” and “excellent.” It’s a clever way to say, “I have the best Excel tutorials on YouTube'' without  saying exactly that.

5. Building a Personal Brand? It’s OK to Use Your Real Name

If you’re building an online persona, your channel name doesn’t have to represent your niche. After all, the content revolves around you. Your personality is the star of the show, not tutorials and how-to advice. It seems fitting that your first and last name are what people see.

It’s tempting to do the opposite, though. You may be thinking to yourself, 

“Who clicks on a channel showing a stranger’s full name? Will I get less search traffic because I’m using my name, which no one cares about yet?”

Maybe, but don’t worry about that. If your goal is building a personal brand, have some faith and trust the process.

? This creator has a self-titled channel with more than 600,000 subscribers. And no, it didn’t take her 10 years to build that following as a personality-driven channel. After posting some popular New York videos, her subscriber count ballooned in 2019!

Stamps’ channel is about many things: minimalism, making money, traveling, and more. She could’ve named her channel something edgy and off-kilter, like Minimal Money. But even that would be too limiting for the content she creates.

OK, let’s get back to YouTube tutorials. If you’re making videos about searchable topics, like “how to change a tire,” it’s worth having a channel name that’s searchable too.

Think of all the keywords someone would use to find your content. When you have a solid list, build your YouTube channel name using a couple of those keywords. Over time, this will help you attract your target audience.

How to Find YouTube Keywords that Grow Your Channel

Here’s an example. Let’s say you have a tech channel that focuses on Apple products. You could potentially add any of these keywords to your channel name:

Some channels are using these keywords already

. They cover Apple products differently, but each channel has a keyword aligning with its purpose.

How to Come Up With a YouTube Channel Name: A Short Exercise

Sometimes the best channel names are hiding in your head, and you need to solid way to pull them out. Here’s a quick brainstorming activity to get your wheels turning:

Write down some words associated with your content.

 Need an example? As a YouTube education channel, we’d write a list of creator-focused words: subscribers, views, channel growth, monetization, etc.

Write a list of words emphasizing your channel’s goal.

 Maybe you want to motivate, inspire, share news, or entertain. There’s no right or wrong answer as long as you’re honest.

Create some channel names using words from both lists.

 Don’t put yourself under too much pressure here. Even if you fail at naming your YouTube channel, you’ll have a better idea of what it 

 from vidIQ to get some ideas. It's an AI tool and super easy to use.

1. Enter the type of channel you want to make in the prompt box. Here, we use "Video Essays," as an example. Click Generate.

YouTube Channel Name generator landing page

2. That's it! The AI generates a list of cool YouTube channel names for you to choose from.

More Examples of Good YouTube Channel Names

When all else fails, look at existing YouTube channels for inspiration. Here are some channel names that embody everything we’ve discussed:

 Reading that channel name, you know this creator shares tips to improve your charisma. Plus, “Charisma on Command” is short and catchy. We would have a hard time forgetting this channel.

 Can you craft something in five minutes? This channel says, 

. Technically, the name breaks one of our rules: Don't add a number to your YouTube channel name. But this is a rare instance where it works well and makes sense for the channel.

 If you play Zelda: Breath of the Wild, you understand what this channel is offering. “100 Percent” implies that no other games will be played – just Breath of the Wild. You might get some gameplay footage, tutorials, or how-to explainers. It’s the most accurate channel name we’ve seen and another outlier that breaks our “no numbers” rule.

 This channel shares random facts about the various blocks in Minecraft. It doesn’t have the shiniest name out there, but you know what type of content you’re getting. On top of that, “Block Facts” is easy to type without making mistakes.

 We’ve all asked our Dads how to do something, right? That’s what makes “Dad, how do I?” the perfect YouTube channel name. It’s relatable, and you know that fatherly advice is incoming.

 This channel shows viewers how to live better lives through animated storytelling. For what the channel promises, who could ask for a better name?

Picking a channel name takes some deep reflection, but so does defining your channel's ultimate purpose. 



Here's how to find your niche on YouTube and stand out from other creators

Are you struggling to name your YouTube channel? Keep reading to learn 6 tips for choosing the right channel name, plus tons of examples to move you in the right direction.

How to Pick a Good YouTube Channel Name

Getting 100,000 subscribers isn't easy, but we know 10 creators who pulled it off in just a few weeks. Many of them used lifelong skills, such as candy making, drawing, and video game design, to pull in hundreds of thousands of views. This proves that almost 

can find their audience on YouTube, especially when making videos about their expertise. 

These lucky creators are in the vidIQ community, so we're doubly excited about their success this month. Congratulations and welcome to 

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 

Top Channels Passing 100,000 Subscribers in December

Koryer makes skits that combine funny voiceovers and 

Great Gadgets makes videos about technology and appliances that make life easier.

Andulord posts daily Shorts about the signs of normal versus genius intelligence.

EiCurioso! Español shares tales of legendary monsters.

Quizzer Kayra shares entertaining memory tests, puzzles, and "find this" challenges.

Artist Abhimanyu makes drawing tutorials for kids and adults.

Linda Vilay makes beauty, fashion, and music videos.

 is an indie game studio that shares the reality of making video games.

Rocks & Rolls Candy shows the fascinating process of making artisanal treats.

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.

A graphic showing the words 100,000 subscribers 

They've done it again! 10 creators, who once had small channels, hit 100,000 subscribers on YouTube. Discover who they are and how they blew up so quickly!

Posts Written By Lydia Sweatt

New Year, Richer You: 8 Tips to Get Monetized Faster on YouTube

Kickstarting 2024: How to Set the Perfect YouTube Subscriber Goal

How to Pick a Good YouTube Channel Name

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

YouTube Skills: How to Become a Pro at Speaking on Camera

6 Popular Apps to Promote Your YouTube Channel

10 Small YouTube Channels that Hit 10K Subs [December]

The Future of Video Creation: 9 YouTube Trends to Watch in 2024

YouTube Launches New Thumbnail Testing Tool to Boost Your Views

How Much Does YouTube Pay for 1 Million Views?

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

How Jenny Hoyos Gets 10M Views Per YouTube Short