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

How To Make Money on YouTube

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

YouTube Shorts content is set to explode! 

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

YouTube Shorts

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.

How To Get More Views on YouTube

Six months ago, we told creators to experiment with YouTube Shorts. We advised them to film vertical videos under 60 seconds (as the requirements suggest), post them to YouTube, and create a featured section on their channel to house the content.

Why did we suggest this? In just a few weeks, we saw channels getting thousands of views from Shorts. They mostly came from the YouTube Shorts shelf, a display area where different Shorts are featured. By the time a creator’s video left the shelf, it would have hundreds, thousands, or millions of views.

That’s how powerful Shorts are. With them, you can gain more subscribers in two weeks than you’ve had all year. Without them, you’ll miss a valuable opportunity to get discovered on the platform.

How to Create a YouTube Short: The Complete Beginner's Guide

If you want to know exactly why that is, watch our latest video about Shorts and the competition that’s quickly surrounding them.

The best time to post a Short was months ago. But if you hurry, you can still reap the benefits of creating content that gets played millions of times.

Need a push to get started? Here are three undeniable reasons to experiment with Shorts.

Reason 1: Creators Are Still Getting More Views and Subscribers From YouTube Shorts

The first reason is a little obvious but worth repeating. Extra views from Shorts have helped many channels grow, and they’ve got the numbers to prove it.

. In September 2020, he had 40k total channel views. After posting original, 3D-animated Shorts, he now has more than 3M subscribers and almost 2B views.

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

Jake isn’t the only creator to reap the benefits of Shorts. There’s also MrBeast, a popular creator who grew his 

 to 4.79M subscribers. Professional YouTube channels such as 

 have Shorts with more than 200k views each. Members of the vidIQ community have seen explosive growth, and some TikTok creators have successfully transitioned to Shorts.

You could be next if you act now. Shorts are viewed 3.5B times each day, so there are plenty of people willing to watch your videos.

Reason 2: Pretty Soon, You’ll Have to Compete With Creators From the U.S.

Did you hear the news? Beginning in March, U.S. creators will get a beta version of the in-app Shorts camera.

The announcement came from Neal Mohan, chief product officer at YouTube. On Feb. 17, he shared the news in a 

“Currently, Shorts is available in beta in India. Since the beginning of December, the number of Indian channels using Shorts creation tools has more than tripled... In the coming weeks, we'll begin expanding the beta to the U.S., unlocking our tools to even more creators so they can get started with Shorts.”

To be clear, anyone can post a Short today. As long as a video is vertical and under 60 seconds, YouTube will recognize it as a Short. What Mohan is mentioning above refers to a TikTok-style camera that’s only available in India. With it, creators can record, edit, and post Shorts directly inside the app, adding music and other special effects to their content.

When the U.S. market gets the Shorts camera, things are going to get very competitive. More creators will have tools for creating better Shorts. Plus, thousands of people who never posted a Short will do so just because there’s a new feature encouraging it.

In the coming weeks, it’s going to be harder to do what creators like Jake, MrBeast, and LegalEagle have done. Rather than wait, it's better to experiment with Shorts right now.

Reason 3: If YouTube Monetizes Shorts, You Can Make More Money

Right now, there’s no way to monetize Shorts. The Shorts display area doesn't support ads, and advertisers may not want to appear on a seconds-long video.

But if you think about YouTube’s history, things are always changing at the company

Just because creators aren’t making money from

Shorts today, that doesn’t mean they won’t in the next five or 10 years.

It's likely YouTube isn’t doing this for free. With content as popular as Shorts, the platform could be searching for ways to monetize it as we type.

Before that happens, put yourself in a position to earn Shorts revenue. If you start posting them now, you can increase your chance of monetizing that content.

Use These Tools to Start Leveraging YouTube Shorts

Even if you decide to post a few Shorts, you’ll need a way to measure their impact on your channel. When you 

, you’ll find two powerful tools within the Chrome extension – one for tracking Shorts views and another for researching popular Shorts on YouTube.

This dashboard is on the top right corner of all YouTube pages. Hover your mouse over the menu to discover how many Shorts views your channel earned in the last 48 hours. For easy access, click the box beside this metric to add it to your dashboard.

This tool lets you research the most-viewed videos on YouTube for any keyword. To access it, go to the YouTube Studio and click 

Type #Shorts into the search bar, then filter the results to show channels with 1,000 or less subscribers. This will show you all of the small channels on YouTube getting tons of views with Shorts. You can use this as motivation to start posting your Shorts or an idea generator for future Shorts.

Shorts are doing well on YouTube. They’re going to be around for a long time, so don’t wait to post your first vertical, less-than-a-minute video. Do it now to reap the benefits before creators in both India and the U.S. can do the same.

Is it too late to capitalize on the viral nature of YouTube Shorts? No, not yet. But in the coming weeks, it may be harder to stand out with short video content.

3 Reasons to Upload YouTube Shorts Before the Competition Gets Tough

For most people, the memory of their first pet never goes away. Whether their animal friend had wings, scales, or fur, there’s something about animals - perhaps they way they love and play - that makes them nearly unforgettable to us.

If you’re a pet enthusiast or a pet professional, you understand this connection more than anyone. Cats, dogs, and other animals must be cared for if kept in captivity, and the owners who love them need the knowledge and skills to do so.

That’s why there’s a strong need for this type of content on YouTube.

 Like humans, animals get sick, need consistent attention and grooming, and can benefit from learning new behaviors. So if you, a passionate animal lover, can share that information on YouTube, you can make money while also living your ultimate purpose.

While there are tons of things to think about before 

, such as how to be absolutely great at it, it’s also important to learn the common money-making methods before diving in.

If you’re ready to monetize your passion for animals, we've pulled some examples of people who're doing it right now. From a licensed veterinarian to a revered dog trainer, here's how pet enthusiasts are making money on YouTube.

Zak George’s Dog Training Revolution: A Powerful Patreon Earner

Zak George is a popular dog trainer who has been on YouTube since 2006. His channel, 

, has 2.66M subscribers and over 183M views.

In his videos, Zak shows owners how to teach their dogs new skills, whether that’s to stop them from yanking walkers with their leashes or some fun, amusing tricks. But out of all his videos, his obedience training guides are probably most vital for viewers.

Many owners want their dogs to be well-behaved in public, and to do that, dogs must obey simple commands like “sit” that distract them from their canine mischief.

 impacted the world, George uploaded a video about how this kind of training could change for dog owners. In a video titled, “

,” Zak says young dogs need to be properly socialized. That’s a challenge for most owners during a pandemic, so Zak shared some advice for safe socialization in the video below:

Zak places little to no advertisements in his videos, but he still makes money from sharing useful, timely information around dog training.

For example, there are four revenue sources associated with the video above. In the description section, there’s a link to Zak’s Patreon of exclusive dog training videos and services. Clicking that link reveals that he has several hundred Patrons, and they contribute more than $2,000 toward his content each month.

But of course, there’s more. Zak also makes money by selling dog training guides for owners who truly need them. Then there’s merchandise related to his company and brand sponsorships that fund a large chunk of his videos.

Needless to say, Zak’s YouTube Channel is packed with earning potential. As a pet professional or enthusiast, you can also share your expertise on YouTube and start earning money online.

Pet care and training are essential year-round, but dog owners in particular thought about these things more often at the beginning of the pandemic. While Zak was focusing on obedience training videos, other YouTubers were addressing a vital question from viewers: How do I groom my dog at home during a lockdown?

, we analyzed the performance of such searches on YouTube over the past year, focusing on the phrases ‘groom a dog at home’ and ‘how to groom a dog’. The results (below) show that search popularity for both terms spiked between March and April, the early lockdown period in the U.S.

You don’t have to be a well-known YouTuber like Zak to capitalize on these trends. Newer creators can do it too.

There are channels like Groomers Pro, which has only been around for two years, that earned more video views by posting relevant, trending topics. For example, in a video titled, “

Tips & Tricks to Grooming your Dog at Home During the Covid-19 Lockdown

”, Groomers Pro snagged over 3,000 views. Of course, the channel still needs to attract 1,000 subscribers to be eligible for monetization, but videos like the at-home grooming one can help the Groomers Pro reel in more viewers, and thus, more money.

The Turtle Girl: Monetizing Reptilian Care

Pets of all types bring joy to their owners, and reptiles are no exception. 

, a channel with 47.3K subscribers, uploads videos about how to care for pet turtles.

How to Take Care of Your Turtle’s Shell

,” The Turtle Girl uses her knowledge of reptiles to teach viewers the basics of shell maintenance:

The Turtle Girl is very passionate about what she does; you can hear her casually dropping scientific terms and advice in her tutorials. If you have an undying pet obsession like hers, it’s time to do something with that enthusiasm (and get paid for it).

For example, The Turtle Girl makes money by placing advertisements in her videos. This form of YouTube monetization is the industry standard, and that’s where most YouTubers start when they want to make money on the platform.

However, once you’ve done that you can always take your earning potential to the next level. Like The Turtle Girl, you can become an Amazon Associate, which is an affiliate marketing program. It allows content creators to advertise products from Amazon.com, and they earn referral fees when customers use their affiliate links to make purchases. The Turtle Girl uses this program to make more money, in addition to a Patreon of exclusive, pay-to-view content.

People own all sorts of pets, so no matter which kind you’re passionate about, you can find your specific tribe of enthusiasts on YouTube. They’ll not only give you a sense of community but help to support you monetarily, if your videos brighten their lives.

Our Pets Health: Turning Animal Tips to Into Cold, Hard Cash

 channel is run by Dr. Alex Avery, a veterinarian whose been in practice since 2006. On his channel of 16.8K subscribers, he shares advice on how to care for dogs and cats, as well as preventing the common diseases they develop.

Dr. Avery is a trained medical professional, which adds undeniable credibility to his videos. This allows him to dispel common misconceptions about pet illnesses and share the truth about what’s happening inside an animal’s body.

For example, in the video below, Dr. Avery explains why a cat might experience weight loss. Because he has years of medical experience to lean on, he opens the video by stating, “It’s not worms, OK? Repeat after me. My cat is not losing weight because they’ve got worms.”

If you’re the type of animal expert that has factual, licensed advice just swirling around inside your head, bring that knowledge to YouTube. Making videos about pet care, training, or grooming will be simple for you because all you have to do is share the credible information you already have.

Dr. Avery is doing that while also earning money from YouTube. First, he makes money by monetizing his videos with advertisements. Then, like many YouTubers, Dr. Avery is an Amazon Associate who shares his affiliate links in the description of every video.

So now you know: Pet enthusiasts and hobbyists aren’t the only animal lovers who make money on YouTube. You can run a general practice and make money with a YouTube Channel too.

Extra Ways to Make Money Online as a Pet Enthusiast

Creating a YouTube Channel is a great first step toward making more money online. But once you’ve done that, you’ll have an audience of subscribers that may want additional ways to connect with you. When you reach that amazing level, you can start thinking about extra monetization efforts, such as:

Administering pet health consultations via video conference

Making your pet an influencer on Instagram and securing brand deals

Starting a pet blog (with advertisements)

Licensing photos of your pet on Shutterstock, Getty, etc.

Creating and selling online obedience courses for pets

Selling pet food, toys, and other merchandise online

So, are you ready to get started? Create your YouTube Channel today, and you’ll be one step closer to making more money online as a pet enthusiast.

If you want to get more insights into YouTube then make sure to download vidIQ. Over 1 million creators use vidIQ to help with keyword and competitor research, channel audits, and so much more. 

And if you’re serious about growing your YouTube views and subscribers, sign up for exclusive access to the 

. Learn how to launch a successful YouTube Channel in just 30 days.

Pets are not only wonderful and amazing but if you have enough knowledge about a certain animal you can turn that expertise into revenue via YouTube 🐈 🐕 🦝

This is How Pet Enthusiasts Are Making Money on YouTube

Although TikTok doesn't share specific stats about its users, it's been estimated that over 500M people are active on the platform, with the most growth across India and other parts of Asia. Did you know that the app has been downloaded by 1 in 7 people in Thailand alone!

Available in 75 languages, TikTok has proved to be fertile ground for would-be influencers and creators looking to build an audience and a community around their content. The app has been downloaded over 1.2 billion times, with 

41% of TikTok users aged between 16 and 24

. That’s an audience actively primed for even more social media consumption, and a massive opportunity for creators to build upon.

But while TikTok-famous teens are basking in the views and followers their videos generate, outside of third-party brand deals, there’s still no way to monetize content on the app. While there is advertising on the platform, no ads are run directly against videos uploaded by creators, so there's no way to benefit from a percentage of that revenue, as is the case with YouTube.

Of course, generating revenue on YouTube via AdSense isn’t a walk in the park these days, but creators still have that financial opportunity open to them. But even the most popular TikTok accounts don’t have anything like the amount of subscribers the top channels on YouTube attract, and for many TikTok uploaders, they are starting from scratch when it comes to building a following on YouTube. But it can be done, and here are three quick tips to kick you off:

3 Ways to Migrate Your TikTok Audience to YouTube

#1 Build Upon the Content That Made You Popular on TikTok

While lip-synching, or dancing around to the latest Arianne Grande release may have generated a healthy following on TikTok, it isn't going to get you far on YouTube. At all. Apart from the issue of using copyrighted content (which is absolutely an issue on TikTok and will lead to a takedown if you’re caught), tuning in to see you do the same old thing but on a different platform is going to get very old, very fast.

However, the chances are that you built your TikTok following based on your personality and quirks, and that is a fantastic head start for any creator. On YouTube, viewers may come for the content, but they will stay for the creator, and if you’ve been successfully publishing video content elsewhere and have an understanding of what your audience likes, that’s a hugely transferable skill. But you need to be willing to learn about what works, which takes us on to our next tip:

There are many similarities between TikTok and YouTube. Both are platforms to watch and engage with content, but like any other video creator, you’re going to need to evolve and significantly up your game if you want to succeed on YouTube. Yes, you’ll bring some of your audience with you, but to grow your subscriber base and generate the kind of views and engagement needed to generate on and off-platform income.

Determine what your YouTube goal is. Just wanting to be famous really won’t get you very far, and certainly isn't the best long-term strategy. It sucks to hear but those superstars you all know on love have put years and years of work into the platform - it didn't happen by accident.

Understanding how the YouTube algorithms works, what content to create, and how to optimize that content while growing your community takes time, patience, and skill but if you make a start now, using the resources provided 

, you’ll be going in the right direction.

#3 Give Your TikTok Fans a Reason to Follow You to YouTube (and Ask Them To!)

This may be the most obvious tip in the world but if you have a YouTube channel, 

! Fans can’t follow you if they don’t know where else you live on the Internet.

OK, now that’s out of the way, think about how you can encourage your TikTok audience over to YouTube. You can always ask them of course, that never harms. But also think strategically about why they should follow you and offer up that incentive. YouTube allows you to upload videos that are 15 minutes long (longer if you are a verified channel) so post teasers on TikTok for that extended content.

Give your followers a taste of what to expect on YouTube and be consistent about it so it becomes part of your publishing strategy. It’s best practice for any creator to “

” so you get the maximum bang for your buck.

Thank you for reading our tips. Now please enjoy the best video that has ever been uploaded to TikTok. You're welcome:

If you want to take your YouTube channel to the next level and 

 then make sure to download vidIQ. Join over 1 million other users and use vidIQ to help you research YouTube, analyze videos, audit your own channel, and take actionable steps 

Are you building a fanbase on TikTok but want them to follow you to YouTube? Take a look at our tips for migrating your audience.

3 Ways to Turn TikTok Followers into YouTube Subscribers

Artistic creation, such as painting, knitting, and card making, has been an unpaid hobby for millions of people over the years. But today, many expert crafters and artists are using their skills to start lucrative businesses, such as paint and sip companies and shops that sell decorative home goods.

However, this is only the beginning when it comes to diversifying your income as an artist. Once you have a business, taking it to the internet is the next logical step. This is a crucial decision that opens a world of e-commerce perks, such as online selling, affiliate marketing, and brand sponsorships.

Of all the platforms you could use to make this transition, YouTube is undoubtedly the best. The video-sharing platform allows you to connect with like-minded viewers, such as people who want to be better artists. And whenever these viewers watch your videos, you can make money through AdSense revenue.

But to reach this milestone, you have to understand the YouTube space and what it means to be a creator. You have to learn what worked for successful YouTubers, 

Once you’ve done that, you’re free to start filming, crafting, and making money. If you’re wondering how that last part comes to fruition, check out these three artists and the creative ways they’re making money on YouTube.

Painting with Jane: Popular Live Streams, Patreon Sign-ups, and Products Galore (Income Streams)

, specializes in acrylic painting. Nature is her muse, and viewers can watch step-by-step tutorials for painting various outdoor wonders, from cliffside lighthouses to desert sunsets.

However, all of these amazing tutorials were pre-recorded until three months ago. That’s when Jane started going live on YouTube, adding in-the-moment painting tutorials to her video collection. The videos, which range in style from watercolor to acrylic, are compiled in a convenient playlist called “

.” In one such video from that playlist (below), Jane shows more than 29,000 viewers how to paint a forest filled with birch trees, in spring:

Due to the current pandemic, Jane streamed this tutorial at home, away from her studio. Nevertheless, she’s still finding creative ways to make money from her YouTube content. In addition to AdSense revenue, Jane has four more income streams attached to the tutorial above: affiliate links, a video sponsor, a Patreon subscription link, and a link to buy her custom paint brushes. In just one video, that amounts to five money-making opportunities.

All this magic takes place in the description section of Jane’s live-streamed videos. In that area, she shares a link to her website, which is where all of her affiliate links are housed. When customers use those links to purchase art supplies, Jane earns a commission.

Her Patreon is also listed to encourage a more consistent steam of income. When viewers navigate there, they’ll find monthly subscription plans that house exclusive content from Jane: bonus videos, more live paintings, Q&As, viewing parties, and more.

Her last two income streams (brand partnership and product line) may take a while for new creators to achieve. After all, Jane has been on YouTube since 2014 and currently has 261K subscribers. However, it’s a goal worth shooting for, and Jane is proving that fine artists can make money on YouTube too.

Jennifer McGuire Ink: Greeting Card Courses

 is a respected crafting channel that currently has 385K subscribers. Jennifer, who is a stamping enthusiast and crafting instructor, uploads videos about how to make handmade greeting cards.

Jennifer has monetized her channel, so she does earn AdSense revenue from her videos. That certainly helps to expand her income, as she shares tons of free tips and tricks about card making each week. But what if you, as a crafting creator, wanted to make even more money? How do you do that when you’re giving away a large chunk of your expertise for free, or are only collecting Adsense revenue?

In Jennifer’s case, the answer was to post general hacks on YouTube and save specific (paid) advice for another platform. For example, in the video below, Jennifer shares general 

time-saving hacks for two cardmaking processes: die-cutting and stamping

That video is a general overview of quick tips. However, on Jennifer’s website, she sells courses that cover specific topics in cardmaking, as opposed to her generic instruction on YouTube.

There are courses on color theory for card designers, how to make watercolor designs, and the art of crafting holiday cards. Viewers can access these courses through a website link in the description of her videos, so it’s a great example of how YouTube promotion can fund outside ventures. In that same section, Jennifer even shares affiliate links to purchase the tools and materials used in her videos.

Crafting doesn’t have to be an unpaid hobby. If you’re great with your hands and have an eye for design, teach others what you know on YouTube.

Bella Coco: Crochet Subscription Boxes Plus Knitted Goods

 uploads crochet tutorials. Her channel of 774K subscribers is filled with step-by-step tutorials on popular stitching patterns, such as the double waffle, the granny square, and the spider stitch.

In one such video (below) Sarah-Jayne focuses on the double waffle technique. Chain by chain, she shows viewers how to stitch the intricate pattern using vibrant, powder blue yarn:

But as we saw with Jennifer McGuire, Sarah-Jayne isn’t just crafting for fun. She’s earning Adsense revenue, plus utilizing four extra income streams to make money on YouTube.

The first is a monthly subscription box of knitting supplies. Scroll down to the description section of her YouTube videos, and you’ll quickly find a link to purchase the box. Each one comes with yarn, a crochet hook, a pattern book, and a special surprise for just £14.99. Not a bad way to expand your money pool as a creator, especially if you can get multiple sign-ups.

Sarah-Jayne also sells a how-to-crochet ebook and various knitted creations, such as hats, blankets, cushions, and scarves. And below her videos, there are affiliate links for viewers to purchase the stitching supplies used in each tutorial.

All these products and services are promoted via Sarah-Jayne’s YouTube channel. When you create your own crafting channel, you’ll have the same opportunity to monetize your content, then branch off into various money-making ventures.

Extra Ways to Make Money Online as an Artist or Crafter

Now that you know what other artists are doing to make money on YouTube, let’s explore a few more options. Across the web, there a plenty of ways to supplement your income using your crafting knowledge and expertise, such as:

Licensing your photographic art on Shutterstock, Getty, etc.

Starting an arts and crafts blog (with advertisements)

Giving private art instruction via Zoom, Google Hangouts, etc.

Seeking original commissions (paintings, knit creations, etc.) from your YouTube audience

Selling knick-knacks with your art printed on them (journals, mugs, etc.)

As you can see, the opportunities for artists are bountiful. Start by creating a YouTube channel to grow your audience, then reap the money-making benefits of video creation!

Artistic expression is deeply personal work, but you can still monetize it on YouTube. Here’s now.

Make Money on YouTube Like These Creative Crafting Gurus

In this post (and in the video above), we're going to guide you through what it takes to get 4000 hours of Watch Time on YouTube.

We're all adults here, so I'm not going to insult your intelligence and ask you why you want to get 4000 hours of Watch Time. It's obvious - it's the only way you're going to be able to monetize your content on the platform. 4000 hours of Watch Time was never a milestone for any creator until YouTube introduced it as a rule for 

. Now that YouTube has set that unique benchmark, let's find out what Watch Time is all about.

What Does 4000 hours of YouTube Watch Time Actually Mean?

In order for the 4000 hours of Watch Time to count, your videos have to be public. So that means you can't do a live stream, and then set it to unlisted. You also can't make videos and then six months down the line, delete them or set them to private. They have to remain public to count.

Also, you have to achieve that 4000 hours in 12 consecutive months. So, from today's date, going back 365 days. The videos don't need to have been published in the last 12 months, but they need to have been watched on your channel in the last 52 weeks.

But we have covered the 4000 hours topic to within an inch of its life 

 so please take time to watch if you want more details.

How to Keep track of 4000 Hours of YouTube Watch Time

If you want to keep track of your Watch Time hours, YouTube Studio has a dedicated page in the left-hand navigation panel called ‘Monetization’. This will show you both subscriber and Watch Time progress.

Alternatively, if you want to keep tabs on your Watch Time, subscribe account, and other channel stats, anywhere on YouTube, 

, and you'll get this awesome realtime stats bar. No need to worry about the price either, this one's on us, completely free.

Why 4000 Hours of YouTube Watch Time is a Major Creator Goal

With that all being said, let's get into mindset. This is something I frequently talk about with creators who have these types of goals in mind. If you start a YouTube channel with the sole intention of getting 

4000 hours of Watch Time, and 1000 subscribers,

 and then monetizing your content, then I'm afraid to say, the majority of you are never going to make it.

First of all, you're thinking far too much about yourself, as opposed to your audience. Second of all, it's too big a goal to achieve when you first start out on YouTube.

__4000 hours of Watch Time is a lot. It's 240,000 minutes or to put it in another way, it's a single person watching your content continuously for 166.6 days. __

If you publish your first video on YouTube, and you get just an hour of Watch Time out of it, over the first week, I would be pretty satisfied with that. Not going to lie - 4000 hours of Watch Time is hard for a reason.

YouTube wants as much data as possible out of your content so that it can trust you with their advertising partners. Remember, it's not YouTube who's paying you directly, it's those advertisers. YouTube essentially is a middleman in this case, and it needs to make sure that the content it broadcasts on its platform doesn't create controversy. There has been a whole ton of that in the last decade.

__And this is where we've ended up, 1000 subscribers, 4000 hours of Watch Time. __

Now, some people may disagree with this but I believe YouTube doesn't owe you anything. They allow you to broadcast your content to a global audience for free. When you are, over time, able to prove yourself to your audience and YouTube, then yes, let's start making some money together. But don't see monetization as an entitlement, see it as a privilege. Work for it, earn it, respect it.

Why Evergreen Content is the Key to Watch Time Success

Take a look at these stats. They are real-time view counts for some of our best performing videos on the vidIQ YouTube channel. Notice anything in particular? Take a look at the publish date:

Almost all of these videos were published more than six months ago, and yet today they still bring in thousands of daily views for us. These videos work for the channel days, weeks, months, even years after I've published them.

You've probably heard of these types of videos before. They are evergreen content, and we've done a very detailed case study into how we implemented that strategy into our channel:

To get discovered on YouTube can be quite difficult. One of the ways to do that is for your content to appear in the search results. If you can answer questions, provide valuable information on topics people are searching for, especially if those topics are recent, for example, the latest software update on a game, new beauty products, the latest tech, etc, you can establish yourself in the search for those topics.

And depending on the shelf life of that topic, your videos can last longer in terms of getting views, and Watch Time. It may not be as sexy as viral content that gets you lots of views in a very short space of time. But if you get it right, you can see your videos generate consistent views over a long period of time.

We've seen this happen many times on our YouTube channel. And once you have 5 or 10 pieces of evergreen content, you'll soon see your views graph go up and to the right, and you'll rapidly start chasing those 4000 hours of Watch Time.

How Live Streams Can Accelerate Watch Time Hours

If you're a user or follower of VidIQ, you’ll know that every Tuesday, we do 

 where you submit your YouTube channel, and we give you constructive criticism.

When we first started doing these live streams two years ago, we were getting maybe 50 to 100 people watching them. Now we get on average between 600 and 700 people. And every time we check our live stream analytics, we see Watch Time bombs!

if 600 people watch a two-hour live stream, that's 1200 hours of Watch Time

. Now I can't promise you those types of numbers, and I wouldn't even recommend it doing live streams when you first start your YouTube channel, because the chances are, you might not get a single person joining you on it.

Want to get 4000 hours of Watch Time on YouTube so you can begin to monetize your content? Find out how with our new guide!

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