Do you want to make money on YouTube? Millions of creators are earning a very good living from monetizing the platform and uploading content that drives huge views and engagements. Whether that YouTube income is from advertising revenue, merchandise sales, or brand deals, or subscriptions, we keep you updated with best practices and ideas.

YouTube Monetization

How To Make Money on YouTube

Ask any YouTuber and they will tell you that generating significant views and subscribers isn't easy. But with the right strategy and tools, any video creator can build an engaged subscriber base when they understand what those subscribers want to watch.

Appealing to an audience to watch content you are passionate about making is just the first step, you need to know how to reach them and get your videos discovered. Our guides to how to guide more views on YouTube will give you the best tips to succeed on the platform.

YouTube Views

How To Get More Views on YouTube

YouTube Shorts content is set to explode! 

All the latest tips, tricks, and rock-solid advice you need for this new feature.

YouTube Shorts

Do you know how to do keyword research so you understand what videos people are actually searching for on YouTube? Do you know how to create a custom YouTube thumbnail? Do you know how to create a Playlist on YouTube?

vidIQ has a ton of tips that will help every creator maximise their video content. We publish content every week to keep you up to date with all the best practices.

YouTube Tips & Tricks

Watch Time is arguably THE most important metric on YouTube right now, and creators won’t be able to monetize their content without 4000 hours of it. But what is it and how can creators increase the amount of Watch Time their videos attract? We keep you updated on the best practices around Watch Time, and how you can increase how much your video content generates.

YouTube Watch Time

All the tips, tricks, and solid gold advice you need for starting or growing a Gaming channel on YouTube and other platforms

YouTube Gaming

Gaming

Earning 4,000 hours of Watch Time is the dream for most creators, but it isn’t easy. Gaining 100 hours, sure. But thousands? That’ll test your determination to keep going on YouTube. Essentially, you have to post multiple videos and hope people watch them for long enough.

But once you have 4,000 hours, everything gets easier. You’ll be one step closer to applying to the YouTube Partner Program, which lets you monetize your channel with advertisements. Having those valuable hours allows you to focus on other things, too, like 

. That’s the second milestone required for the YPP.

YouTube Partner Program – How to Monetize Your Channel

When you’re collecting Watch Time hours, it’s easy to overlook certain parts of the process. The biggest, most understated thing, is that 

These 5 Videos Aren’t Eligible for YPP Watch Time

Before you start earning Watch Time, know which videos are in your best interest to create. There are five videos that make it hard – in most cases, impossible – to reach 4,000 hours.

Years ago, private and unlisted videos counted toward YPP Watch Time. 

 when YouTube decided that public videos, not partially viewable content, could accumulate watch hours.

prioritize public videos over private or unlisted ones.

 Unlisted videos can only be watched if certain people have the link. This privacy option benefits creators with specific content plans. They may want to send videos to friends and family or create a webinar for a limited audience.

If you’re trying to monetize your channel, unlisted and private videos aren’t very helpful. Make sure videos that need to be public are, in fact, set to public. That’ll help you reach 4,000 hours and apply to the YPP.

How to set private or unlisted videos to public on YouTube

Log in to YouTube on desktop. Click your profile icon and select 

You’ll see a list of all the videos on your channel. Find the videos you want to make public, then go to the 

 column. Click the eyeball symbol to reveal a menu of options: private, unlisted, members only, and public. Choose 

 from your monetizable total. For example, imagine your channel has 2,000 watch hours. If you delete a video that contributed 500 of those hours, you’ll be left with 1,500. Before you delete anything, check to see how many watch hours your content has earned.

Sometimes deleting a video is inevitable. Maybe you’ve grown as a person since it was first published and want to clean up your image. Or perhaps someone appeared in your video without prior consent, and they want you to take it down. Whatever the reason, make sure it’s worth deleting a video and losing precious watch hours.

Have you created video ads for YouTube? If you were hoping these would help you apply to the YPP, unfortunately, they won’t. Watch hours from advertising campaigns don’t count toward YouTube monetization. Even if you’ve earned 10,000 hours, none of it will go toward the 4,000 hours you need.

This seems fair because ads can get millions of views. If YouTube counts them for YPP acceptance, that’ll create a shortcut to monetization.

Short, vertical videos and how they relate to the YPP is a complicated subject. We know that 

; YouTube made that clear a few months ago. The platform also announced that Watch Time from Shorts doesn’t contribute to a creator’s 4,000-hour goal. But will this change in the future? Is there a monetization program just for Shorts in the works?

Only time will tell. For now, know that Shorts won’t help you monetize your channel – not quickly, at least.

There’s a small caveat to this statement, though. If a Short is viewed on the Shorts shelf, a display area for brief, vertical videos, it won’t earn YPP watch hours. But if the same video is viewed on a regular watch page with YouTube ads and a comment section, you can earn eligible Watch Time.

So while Shorts are mostly viewed on the Shorts shelf, they 

 get played in monetizable areas. If you need all the watch hours you can get, take advantage of this loophole. Those seconds, however small, add up.

Live streams are a great way to increase your Watch Time. These videos are usually lengthy, and if people stick around until the end, you can add several hours to your analytics.

According to YouTube, live streams that aren’t converted to video-on-demand content won’t earn YPP watch hours. The information around this is pretty vague, so we'd suggest making sure your live streams are public when they've ended. Don't archive a live stream by setting it to unlisted or private. 

Just to be sure, we asked YouTube if this advice made sense for creators. 

We didn't get a straightforward answer, but creators chimed in with their personal experience. A few of them said they earn Watch Time both during and after a live stream, which includes video-on-demand viewing.

Whether these hours were recorded for YPP Watch Time is another story. That's why, as soon as possible, we'd recommend checking to see if your live stream is public after it ends. If it's unlisted or private, switch it to public.

How to Get 4,000 Hours of YouTube Watch Time

 That means in addition to regular videos, posting lengthy live streams and experimenting with Shorts. The latter isn’t going to bring you quick success. The Watch Time you earn, if you earn any at all, will depend on where people watch the video. Shorts should complement your regular videos and live streams because all the Watch Time accumulates.

be intentional with the videos you upload.

 It’s easier to earn watch hours when you post videos that are relevant all year. Anything about making more money, product reviews, and video games with lasting popularity are good examples. People continue to search for these evergreen topics on YouTube.

 Instead of posting 30 videos in 30 days, aim to create videos that are entertaining, informative, and completely cover a topic. That could be 15 videos that answer every question about a topic, complete with video chapters and detailed instructions. Provide as much value as you can to make people watch longer.

Create a diverse set of content (regular videos, live streams, Shorts).

Post evergreen content that’s always relevant.

Give your video so much value that people can’t click away.

Make Money on YouTube – How to Get 4000 Hours Watch Time

Earning 4,000 hours of YouTube Watch Time is a major undertaking. If you need more clarification on how to do it, watch our explainer video below:

Put these suggestions to action, and you’ll eventually reach 4,000 hours of Watch Time. But don’t stop there. Your next goal should be applying to the YPP, which you can learn how to do 

You need 4,000 hours of Watch Time to monetize your YouTube channel. Unfortunately, the five videos below may slow your progress toward reaching that big, desirable goal.

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

We know you’re focused on growing a regular YouTube channel, but what about a Shorts-only channel? So far, Shorts creators are attracting millions of subscribers. And, they’re going viral with less than 60 seconds of content.

How This YouTube Creator Got 1.5 Billion Views In Just 80 Days

 about how he gained a million subscribers on his Minecraft Shorts channel. His recipe for success is simple: Commit to a content style that’s working, and never give up.

Of course, there’s more to the story. Here are seven practical tips to grow a YouTube Shorts channel.

1. Determine How Long Your Shorts Need to Be

A YouTube Short can be a maximum of 60 seconds, or 59 if you count the extra second YouTube adds to every video. But that doesn’t mean you should use the full minute. If you can 

Below, notice how most videos on Block Facts' channel are 27 seconds. He tells viewers what they need to know in that short period, and it's working for him.

Answer these two questions to make your Shorts the right length:

Did I make my point or should I keep going?

Is there any “dead air” I can cut or eliminate?

2. Make Valuable Shorts That Entertain or Inform

You can create a variety of content with YouTube Shorts. Some people dance to music, play with pets, or produce funny skits. Others share their expertise by showing viewers how to do something in less than 60 seconds.

make sure the video is valuable for the viewer.

YouTube Success: 3 Steps to Create Valuable, Highly-Watched Videos

Block Facts uses this strategy for every Short, and the video below is a great example. In it, he shares facts about furnaces in Minecraft, which is useful information for those who play the game. The video has more than 2 million views.

3. Create Custom Thumbnails for Your Shorts

If you’re familiar with how Shorts work, we know what you might be thinking: “If viewers are watching from the Shorts shelf – a display area that plays vertical videos non-stop – 

why should I create thumbnails for Shorts?

 They don't show up in that area anyway.”

That’s true. But did you know that Shorts are also watched as regular YouTube videos? You can view them on a normal watch page, which has advertisements and a comment section. Before someone watches a Short in that area, 

If it’s not a custom one, YouTube shows a random video frame, which makes for a lousy graphic. That’s why more creators are making custom thumbnails for Shorts.

 started doing that as well,” Block Facts says. “He makes custom thumbnails for people [watching] on PC. They’re vertical but don’t actually appear in the video. I’ve tried to incorporate my thumbnail into the video so the one on the Shorts shelf is similar, but it’s always slightly different.”

Have you noticed the more prominent areas of the YouTube Shorts player? There’s the video, of course, which fills the entire screen. Then there’s the video title, the channel’s name, a subscribe button, like and dislike buttons, a comment icon, and a share icon.

 A viewer doesn’t know what’s going to happen in the next 60 seconds of a Short, but they will if they read the title. 

The video below is titled "Minecraft Salmon Facts." Click the play button to see if this Block Facts video is consistent with its headline.

What did you discover? We spotted several facts: how salmon used to look in Minecraft, the amount of health they restored, where to find salmon in the game, and more. The video's title lives up to the hype.

To get more views on every Short, make your titles interesting 

5. Use YouTube Stories to Increase Shorts Views

Here’s a hack anyone can use to promote their YouTube Shorts channel. Instead of posting a Short and hoping for the best, create some YouTube Stories that “highlight” your best Shorts.

“Stories helped a lot,” Block Facts says. “Every time I posted a Story, it tripled or even quadrupled the amount of subscribers for that day.”

Block Facts did two things to create such results. He asked people to

 about their favorite Minecraft block. He says the extra engagement may have pushed his content to new levels within the YouTube algorithm.

6. Don’t Post Long-Form Content on Your Shorts Channel

This probably goes without saying, but lengthy videos will underperform on a Shorts channel. Viewers originally subscribed for brief entertainment – videos that play within the same time you'd microwave a cookie. 

 so viewers are satisfied and in the mood to subscribe.

This tip isn’t just for Shorts. Whether you’re posting long-form videos, 

 polls, or YouTube Stories, one piece of content won’t help you gain millions of subscribers. You must be consistent and 

 That doesn’t mean you need to upload daily, but it’s smart to have some kind of schedule. 

 depends on the type of Shorts – or overall content – you want to make.

Also, don’t forget about style consistency. Having a recognizable format and appearance for your content helps viewers remember your work.

Want more YouTube Shorts tips? Here's a quick guide to 

Are you growing a YouTube Shorts Channel? Here are seven tips to help you out.

How to Grow a YouTube Shorts Channel

What is the easiest way to get 1,000 subscribers on YouTube? Should you try to go viral with a trendy video that gets millions of views?

There’s nothing wrong with this method, but it’s not the best way to gain subscribers. Viewers will move on when the hype is over because trends – and trending videos – always lose momentum. Plus, going viral on YouTube is 

You need a deeper plan to make people stick around – one that prioritizes five parts of 

Making videos that YouTube will (likely) recommend to viewers

Understanding which videos make people subscribe

Watch the video below to learn more about these five areas of YouTube growth:

If you can master those five things, you’ll get 1,000 subscribers in no time. Here’s a guide to help you get started.

If you haven’t posted many videos, make that your first step. This will help YouTube understand what your channel is about and which viewers enjoy your content.

Quantity Over Quality - The One Thing New YouTubers Should Focus On

 in the next three or four months. That’s a big number, and it’s going to be hard to stay on track, but don’t panic. The goal isn’t to make a few perfect videos people rave about; at this stage, you want to make lots of content so YouTube can test your videos with different audiences. One hundred videos should be enough to penetrate the algorithm and have YouTube suggest your content.

As you create, avoid the trap of making perfect videos. That will only slow you down and make “100” seem like an impossible number. Instead, focus on 

 that have good information, proper lighting, and adequate audio. That’s what viewers need to enjoy a video, and ultimately, subscribe.

2. Identify Your Top 5 ‘Suggested’ Videos. Make ‘Companion’ Videos for Each One

OK, here’s where the fun starts. Now that you have dozens of videos to analyze, you can go into the YouTube Studio and see which ones are performing well. This is a crucial step to gaining 1,000 subscribers; your absolute best videos – not the average performers – are more likely to make people subscribe.

top five suggested videos on your channel.

 These are the videos YouTube recommends to viewers based on what they’ve already watched or what they might watch next. So essentially, YouTube will “pair” one video with another if people frequently watch them “together” on the platform.

YouTube Algorithm Guide - How Your Videos Are Recommended to Viewers

If someone watches a video about how to get more subscribers on YouTube, they might see some of the suggested videos below. These could appear as a “watch next” prompt within the video, on the right side of the screen (pictured below, as seen on desktop), or below the video being watched (mobile).

Follow these steps to see your top five suggested videos:

Make sure you’re on the Overview tab, then click 

 below the graph that shows views, Watch Time, estimated revenue, and subscribers.

From the list of traffic sources, select 

 (in the top right corner) to make sure you get enough data.

Your suggested videos list should look something like this:

Write down the top five videos on your list, and for each one, film a companion video on the same topic. As YouTube suggests "pairs" of videos to viewers, you'll give the algorithm popular but similar content to pull from.

3. Identify Your Top 5 ‘Search’ Topics. Make Similar Content

Out of all the videos you’ve made, how many of them are searchable? Do they address problems people are always trying to solve? If so, find out which video topics are most helpful to viewers.

You can do this by identifying the top five search terms on your channel. These are video topics that perform well in the 

. Getting views in this area means people are clicking on your videos after searching a specific term or phrase.

Here’s how to find your most popular search topics:

Next, you’ll see a list of your channel's popular search content.

 Then make additional content using the same topics. If things work out, you’ll reach new viewers who are constantly searching for such videos. That creates an opportunity to snag more subscribers.

4. Figure Out Which Videos Attract the Most Subscribers

This might be the most straightforward tip on our list. When viewers hit subscribe, they probably watched an awesome video beforehand. But not every video convinces people to join your community. That’s why our next strategy is pure gold: Go into the YouTube Studio and identify which videos bring in the most subscribers.

Take a look at your top five videos; this is the content that convinces viewers to hit subscribe.

Pick one video from your list and make an additional video about the same topic. If the original video is working for you, a follow-up could potentially increase your subscribers.

Everything we’ve listed above should be repeated to start seeing success. Your analytics will change as you make more videos, so make a habit of checking those “big three” areas: 

YouTube search, suggested videos, and the subscriber traffic source.

 You could check every month or every three months; it just depends on how often your analytics change.

Making content that performs well in certain traffic sources is smart. But don’t forget that YouTube success comes from 

, which means you have to make content your viewers like. At the same time, it doesn’t hurt to find an intersection that satisfies both the YouTube algorithm and loyal subscribers.

Getting 1,000 subscribers on YouTube takes planning and dedication. Here are 

Is there a foolproof way to get 1,000 subscribers on YouTube? Yes! Here are five amazing tips to reach that big goal.

The Easiest Way to Get 1,000 Subscribers on YouTube

Starting a YouTube channel for your business is a smart marketing strategy. With just one video, you can create additional pieces of content, such as:

Short clips for Facebook, IGTV, and LinkedIn

A blog post adapted from the video’s transcript

7 Steps to Build Multiple Income Streams on YouTube

 about how businesses can grow on YouTube. Martinez hosts the 

 podcast, where female creators share their stories and uplift other creatives. She also runs a social media marketing business. Her YouTube channel is about that very topic, and the problem-solving videos attract paying clients.


Are you ready to create a YouTube channel for your business? Here are five tips to get you started.

1. Understand Your YouTube Goal as a Business Owner

First, know that you aren’t like most YouTube creators. You have a business to run, which means likes, views, and subscribers aren’t the way you’ll measure success on YouTube.

Converting those leads and making money 

Views are subscribers alone won’t help your business, 

“The first video you make, have an opt-in to get people’s email address…. When your video shows up as the answer to someone’s question, they won’t care how many videos you’ve done before that to qualify what you’re doing,” Martinez says.

If you have a marketing funnel, getting viewers on an email list helps you nurture those leads. You can send deals to your customers, share industry news, and build relationships that lead to more sales. Remember: The funnel flows from YouTube to your email list to purchases (courses, memberships, or products/services).

2. Let Your Content Determine Your Budget

Now that you know your goal, create a budget for your channel. You can ask yourself specific questions, such as:

Do I need to hire help or should I run the channel?

Depending on the content, you can run your business’s YouTube channel by yourself. All you need is a smartphone and internet connection to get started. There’s a learning curve for new creators, but the more you record and upload, the better your content will be.

This is the most cost-effective way to start a YouTube channel for a business. Before you spend thousands of dollars hiring videographers and editors, 

ask yourself what your videos will be about.

 How much production value do you need to execute those ideas? If you’re a mechanic showing people how to fix cars, a smartphone and natural sunlight are all you need in the beginning. A shoe salesman in a busy mall might need more – perhaps audio equipment to capture voices or lighting to brighten a dark store.

The Best YouTube Video Equipment to Upgrade Your Content

No matter what, let your content needs determine your budget.

If things go well, and you start making money from viewers, that’s a sign to upgrade. You can turn your one-person production into a team of editors and videographers. Or spend some extra money on video equipment.

Before you post your first video, have nine more ready to upload. 

 and allows you to focus on other aspects of your business.

The One Thing New YouTubers Should Focus On

“It shows you how to get started,” Martinez says. “You can work through the growing pains of figuring out what those videos [should be].”

The last thing you want to do is upload one thing and still be working on video number two. That makes the YouTube journey feel hectic. Film 10 videos to build that “creator” muscle instead of making one perfect video.

Coming up with 10 video ideas is easier than you think. Because you’re a business owner, your videos should solve specific problems – and every problem starts with a question. So put yourself in your customer’s shoes. What are some challenges they face? How often do those problems appear? If it’s a year-round issue, that’s the type of problem that lends itself well to YouTube. 

Viewers are always searching for evergreen videos around such topics

“Evergreen is where it’s at,” Martinez says. “A video on how to change your oil for a 2020 Honda isn’t going to change. So you can corner the market by creating that video. And then it’s going to keep working for you.”

Why Evergreen Content is the Key to More Views on YouTube

Imagine you’re a real estate agent in Houston, Texas. When you brainstorm video ideas, you’ll probably want to address the thousands of Californians moving to Texas. You’ll also want to answer basic questions your customers ask – things that have to do with housing prices, selling a home, or buying a home. Lastly, make your content location-specific, like the videos below.

How to Sell Your First Home In The Suburbs of Houston

10 Features to Look for in a Houston Home

Housing Prices In Houston Suburbs vs. Los Angeles

Should You Move From California to Houston to Buy a Cheaper Home?

5. Film Faster (and Better) With a Video ‘Formula’

How do you structure videos for your business’s YouTube channel? If you’re not a lifestyle creator that can have a loose format, what 

Below are six segments that can greatly improve your content. Present the information in this order to keep viewers engaged and collect emails.

Pitch a free piece of downloadable content 

(pdf, guide, etc.) in exchange for emails.

 to solve the problem (the meat of the video).

Need an example of how to properly structure a video? Here's one using our previous real estate example:

"Are you moving from San Francisco to a Houston suburb? 

It’s a really scary move, and I am here to help. 

In this video, I’m going to show you 10 things you can’t get in San Francisco that we have here. 

Hi, my name is (your name here), and I’ve been a real estate agent for eXp Realty in Houston since 2010. 

Before we dive into this, to make your move easier, grab my relocation guide in the description below. It’s going to help you learn everything you need to know about moving to Houston. 

And that’s it! You can start sharing tips and advice from there.

Starting a YouTube channel for your business is challenging but totally worth it. Here are 

If you want to get more leads for your business, start a YouTube channel. All it takes is five simple steps.

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