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

It couldn’t be easier to delete a video from your mobile device, you just need to make sure you have the YouTube app installed and you are signed in to your account.

From the main screen tap your profile image in the top right-hand corner and go to ‘Your Channel’

Click on ‘Videos’ in the top hand navigation bar to bring up a list of your content

Tap the three dots to the right of the thumbnail and title to see the ‘Delete’ option.

You can also delete videos via the official 

Tap the ‘Option’ button in the top left and go to ‘Videos’

Find the video you want to delete and then tap on it

This will take you to the videos edit page - there is a pencil icon at the top, tap on that

Then swipe to the advanced tab and then scroll all the way to the bottom of this screen and you should find the ‘Delete’ option.

Do You Really Need to Delete That YouTube Video?

YouTube clearly states that there is no way to undo this permanent action. So think very carefully about deleting any video as not only will you lose all of the comments and engagement from that video, but you will also lose all of the views and Watch Time too.

 because you want to monetize your content, really think about what effect deleting a video might have if it has contributed in any way towards that goal.

Also, if you’re thinking of deleting a video just because it has a copyright or community strike against it, know that it won't get rid of that strike. If you have a 

, you're much better off using one of YouTube's official tools. There's a full tutorial on how to use it here (only via desktop though):

And finally, if you are embarrassed by your older videos, then watch the videos we first published on the 

. They're not fantastic, but we're proud of them because they're all part of our YouTube journey to where we are now.

Now, if you're much more interested in creating new content and growing your channel, then make sure to grab vidIQ for either your iPhone or Android device. It is free so just search for “vidIQ” on the Apple app and Google Play store.

If you want 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.

Have you ever wanted to delete a YouTube video quickly but only have access to a mobile device? If the answer is yes, we show you how!

How To Delete a YouTube Video On a Mobile Device (Android or iOS)

Most Youtube creators know that analytics are a critical part of growing your YouTube channel. We tend to focus on real-time views, watch time, retention but is that enough?

 shares with us 5 Advance Analytics that every YouTube Creator should be focused on in order to really take the channel to the next level!

End screen elements clicked (Bonus: Playlists Strategy)

, has been featured by FOX, Forbes, BBC even YouTube themselves as his team trains other creators and business leaders to master the YouTube platform and use it as a place to spread messages that change lives. Their clients have organically grown by over 14 billion views and 61 millions subscribers under their guidance. Today he lives in Cincinnati, Ohio, with his wife and seven children

Make sure you follow Tim for more YouTube insights here:

https://www.youtube.com/user/videocreatorstv

Listen to this episode which is about the 

5 Critical Mistakes Revealed From Hundreds of YouTube Channel Audits

TubeTalk has been informing video creators and marketers since 2014, and is one of the most respected and listened to podcasts in the online video industry. Don't foprget to 

 on your favorite podcast application so you never miss an episode!

You can also find the complete list of all the 

Besides the basic YouTube Analytics, what should every creator focus on in order to get more views and more subscribers? All is revealed on this week's TubeTalk:

5 Advanced Analytics EVERY YouTuber Should Know From Tim Schmoyer

The key to success on YouTube is to niche down so you dominate that topic on the platform. If you can provide golden content around a particular subject that viewers are looking for, perhaps even providing information they cannot get elsewhere, you are quickly going to build an engaged and loyal community around your channel.

, and he's done just that by publishing video content for newly injured wheelchair users. His channel, 

, is so inspirational and informative, he's just won a prestigious 

 in recognition of his work. So he's kind of a big deal as a creator.

Not only does Richard have an incredibly inspirational story, but he's got some amazing tips and tricks to share with us about creating content for YouTube. In this podcast you will learn:

How circumstances can lead to inspiration

How to focus on your audience and deal with haters

Click on the podcast links above to listen

 to Richard's advice, and don't forget to give his social channels a follow!

Want Even More YouTube OPTIMIZATION Tips?

How do you dominate your niche on YouTube? In this week's episode of TubeTalk, we talk to a creator who's done just that!

How to Dominate Your Niche on YouTube [Expert Advice]

Social distancing and lockdowns brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic have millions of people succumbing to another (albeit far less deadly) disease - cabin fever. To make matters worse, one of the common cures for this illness—live broadcasts of major sports leagues—is nowhere to be found.

But all is not lost! Major League Baseball (MLB) is running tests on a couple of brand-new virtual solutions on 

, and the results are extremely promising.

MLB: Live Streaming Fan Favorites During Lockdown

To fill the void left by an indefinitely delayed season, MLB is turning to streaming video game versions of America’s favorite pastime. This action has created a positive trickle-down effect in the industry ecosystem, giving sports fans something to bet on, and sports media outlets games to cover.

The most engaging online content MLB has produced so far comes from the '

'. Representatives from each of the 30 MLB organizations are managing the controllers for their respective virtual teams, battling hard for the championship.

The impromptu league is livestreaming contests (and trash talk) on Twitch and YouTube.

While enjoying the baseball action they crave, fans are also receiving added comedic value from emerging personalities like New York Yankees reliever Tommy Kahnle and young San Diego Padres star Fernando Tatis Jr.

The broadcast format could use some fine-tuning. For example, the MLB Network commentators will need more practice to avoid cutting off the athletes’ excited outbursts. Still, it’s easy to see how the Players League could stick around even when on-field baseball returns.

Baseball on Twitch: MLB's Dream Bracket Win

Another way the MLB is reaching out to its fans during the COVID-19 pandemic is with a 

 simulation tournament. Using renowned simulation platform 'Out of the Park Baseball 21' (OOTP), MLB put together all-time great rosters for each team, as well as a Negro Leagues All- Star team and a squad of the best current players who are 25 years old and below. (Twitch video now deleted).

Hypothetical teams competed in seven-game series, which streamed live on Twitch and MLB.com. The finals took place on May 4 and 5, in the wake of the Players League championship. That made the first week of May 2020 a content bonanza for MLB enthusiasts.

Some of the games even had live commentators (journalist Jon Morosi and broadcaster Scott Braun). It’s surreal to see legendary players like Babe Ruth step up to the plate against star pitchers today’s fans grew up watching. Plus, OOTP’s algorithms make this tournament possibly the most legitimate test to date for proving which MLB team has the greatest all-time roster.

OOTP’s graphics aren’t ideal for viewing, but the unpredictability makes the games exciting nonetheless. Who knows, maybe the Dream Bracket’s success will lead to a deep-fake simulation league with visuals that rival live-action broadcasts.

The Players League and Dream Bracket simulations are more than placeholders for sports fans.

recent episode of the Joe Rogan Experience

, comedian Tom Green reminded viewers that one of the greatest periods in history, the Renaissance, immediately followed the bubonic plague.

MLB’s online streaming efforts provide hope that something similar will occur after COVID-19.

 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. 

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

The COVID-19 crisis has ravaged the sporting world, but MLB is adapting with Twitch and YouTube streams that could live long after the pandemic ends.

How MLB Is Using Live Streaming to Combat COVID-19

Creators can run into all sorts of problems regarding copyright issues on YouTube if they don't fully understand the licensing rules behind using audio, images, or other video content created by others.

There a million reasons why YouTubers shouldn't use ANY content that wasn't created by themselves or their teams or wasn't properly licensed through the official channels. And no, '

' isn't always a viable defense, and neither is pasting a 'this content doesn't belong to me' disclaimer into your YouTube description. If you're using content for your own videos and haven't obtained permission from the rightful owner you are in for a world of pain.

Repeat offenders (those with three copyright strikes) face the termination of their channel, a catastrophic blow for any creator who has put the time and effort into building YouTube views, engagement, and subscriber growth.

For every creator who deliberately uploads content that either doesn’t belong to them or isn’t properly licensed, there are, of course, other creators who believe they are acting in good faith. The good news is that YouTube recognizes that and alongside the 

, the platform is introducing an awesome new tool to the new Studio dashboard.

New YouTube Copyright Tool: Assisted Trim

In an update to the new YouTube Studio, the platform has rolled out a tool called 

, which aims at providing creators with a quick and easy solution to a copyright claim. In a 

, YouTube confirmed the tool will allow creators to remove a copyrighted section of a video without having to take the whole video down. That's awesome news for anyone who has received a claim because of music or a TV show playing in the background, or because they used a small clip of media that wasn't actually theirs to use.

This new feature will highlight the segment of the video directly relating to the claim, offering the creator the opportunity to remove it and release the claim against that segment.

YouTube also provided a handy visual clue as to the three ways creators can remove any copyright-claimed segments. You'll have the choice of trimming the offending clip, muting any audio that is in dispute, or replacing the audio portion entirely with a new (licensed or license-free) song or backing track:

Of course, trimming a segment out of a video can lead to nasty-looking edit, but YouTube confirmed it's working on "adjustable endpoints" for claimed content within the Assisted Trim tool. This feature should give the creator the means to provide a much more polished final product once the claimed content has been removed.

Alongside this nifty new tool, YouTube also confirmed other changes to how creators can manage copyright claims in the New Studio. Channel owners will be able to access more information about any copyright strikes straight from the YouTube Studio dashboard, including:

Which party submitted the copyright takedown notice

The actions you need to take to resolve the strike

YouTube will also provide the creator with the specific description of the copyrighted work as provided by the claimant of that work. The platform also promises many more updates to come in 2020 regarding copyright claims and how to resolve (and avoid) them.

Want to know more? Take a look at the video below:

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 

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

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

YouTube has a new tool that allows creators to quickly remove any content that's subject to a copyright claim without having to take their whole video down.

How to Manage Copyright Claims in the New YouTube Studio

It’s been an incredibly disruptive and turbulent past few months, what with the 

, and the coronavirus pandemic. But at last, we have some great news: Firing someone for being gay or transgender is now officially illegal in the U.S.

On June 15th 2020, the Supreme Court ruled that the 

 totally protects workers against this type of discrimination. It’s a decision that couldn’t have come at a better time because right now, it’s 

. And to commemorate that fact, millions of people are celebrating the decision, with LGBTQ communities across the country are attending (often virtual) parties, parades, workshops, concerts, and more.

But while there are celebrations to be had, Pride Month has its own deeper historical significance. One of which is to memorialize the 

, which set a firecracker under the gay liberation movement.

On YouTube, the result of these triumphs is clear. Every day, more creators feel empowered to celebrate their sexual/gender identity before millions of viewers. It’s an incredible thing to witness because hands down, there’s no greater joy than living an authentic life.

To celebrate those who do that extremely well, we’re here to uplift some amazing YouTubers. Coming right up, here are three creators who make the LGBTQIA community proud, day in, and day out.

 is a transgender activist, as well as a talented illustrator. On her YouTube channel, she boldly uploads videos about race, sex positivity, gender, art, and more.

Never one to shy away from tough conversations, she makes videos most people wouldn’t have the nerve to share on the internet, such as “

” and “Am I Too Sex Positive” (see below).

It’s fearless content like this that makes Kat Blaque a gift to the LGBTQ community. One of her best contributions is her ability to champion transgender women while refusing to succumb to one, constricting identity.

For example, Kat is a Black trans woman, but as you’ll discover when watching her videos, she doesn’t feel the need to choose one identity over the other. And while the world may want that, Kat is not giving in to societal pressure. In the intro of her video, “Do I Even Belong In The Black Community?”, she states:

“I think sometimes when you’re LGBTQIA+ and you’re Black, you feel like you have to choose between being Black or LGBTQIA. You feel that way because a lot of Black people’s attitudes toward it is, ‘Oh, we don’t do that.”

. Judging by her content, she seems to be secure in her Pride - and the LGBTQ community needs people like her to look up to.

vlog channel with over 9.3M subscribers and 2B views

, long-time YouTube creator Joey Graceffa runs a 

 with 2.65M subscribers. Almost daily, he uploads fun streams from popular titles such as Minecraft, Roblox, and The Sims.

Joey, who identifies as gay and who came out publically in May 2015, uploads insanely fun gameplay.

One thing that stands out about Joey and his videos is that you don’t have to be a hardcore gamer to enjoy them. He mostly plays Minecraft, and seasoned gamers as well as newcomers will appreciate the light-hearted commentary in his streams.

In one such video (above), fed up with the state of his Minecraft farm, Joey chops down a massive sugarcane field. As a viewer, seeing the giant stalks come down is immensely satisfying, but not as much as Joey’s reaction to it all.

 that's generated over 2.4M subscribers, and 333M views, Hannah Hart has a powerful platform to discuss, promote, and celebrate LGBTQ topics.

Much of her content videos speak directly to the LGBTQ+ community, including a Playlist titled 

 which, to date, houses 37 of those videos. Between topics like “

,” and "Perks of Dating a Girl," (below), the list of videos in this Playlist is pretty comprehensive.

That alone makes Hannah Hart an inspiring queer creator. She’s loud and proud about who she is (an engaged lesbian), and her content aims to either inform or entertain members of the LGBTQ community.

As Pride month continues, give the YouTube channels of these creators a visit, as well as any others that inspire you. These three are pretty awesome themselves, but there are plenty more to celebrate all year long.

Pride Month is a celebration of LGBTG+ voices and communities across the U.S. Let's take a look at some of the top LGBTG creators on YouTube.

3 LGBTQ+ YouTubers to Watch & Celebrate in Pride Month

For all the parents out there, how are your kids holding up? Are they growing restless with all the time spent indoors and need something exciting to do?

If the answer is yes, YouTube hears you, sees you, and wants you to know that help is on the way. To ease the disappointment of a summer indoors, the platform is launching 

, a learning program for kids to safely learn, grow, and have fun.

This virtual experience could replace in-person camps that temporarily closed due to the coronavirus. To that end, YouTube will provide a balance of fun content that inspires kids to stay active, as well as educational lessons to help them grow.

The platform will organize these video experiences into four categories: STEM, the arts, sports, and adventure.

YouTube’s science, technology, engineering, and mathematics camp is about learning and 

. For families with teenagers, the STEM for teens section contains videos on topics like space exploration, how to build a robot, and surprisingly, how to make a lemon battery. These videos come from a range of well-known channels. 

, and Adam Savage’s Tested (below) are just a few of the information hubs that will help teens appreciate STEM.

Additionally, Camp YouTube also has STEM content for children under 13. These younger students will learn how to cook up slime, where black holes come from, what happens to the human body in space, and more.

YouTube’s art camp is an exciting place for kids to explore their inner creativity. Some of the videos that stand out in the teens section include a creative writing workshop and a 10-day guitar starter course. For the videos catering to kids under 13, there are DIY challenges, lessons on drawing, cooking tutorials, and more.

In this section’s description, YouTube says the arts camp will foster self-expression, and that certainly seems to be the case. If any kid wanted to grow creatively, from a visual or performing arts perspective, this would be the place to do it.

It’s going to get noisy for this virtual 

, but that’s OK, right? It’s a good idea to move your nice rugs, coffee tables, and lamps out of the way, because here, you can expect everything from running drills to basic soccer moves.

The video content for both age groups is pretty exciting. On the teen side, a baseball history overview and football training tips are just two videos that could potentially hook young viewers. Also, there’s an ultimate kickball lesson that looks like an absolute blast for anyone, kid or adult.

One of the unexpected benefits of the sports camp is that it contains videos on meditation. You can find them in both the teen and under 13 sections, and YouTube did a great thing by adding this wellness content - especially when kids are cooped up inside.

 helps kids appreciate the natural wonders around them, big and small. They’ll learn about what to bring when going on a hiking trip, the fun activities they can do outdoors, nocturnal wildlife, and more.

While the goal of this camp is to bring the outside world inside, kids could take some of these lessons to the backyard too. There are photography adventure videos that kids could repeat in their own neighborhoods, as well as a guide for using binoculars.

The STEM, Arts, Sports, and Adventure sections make up the bulk of Camp YouTube, but the program has even more benefits, such as:

Campfire talks on race and discrimination

Break time clips that share snack recipes or craft ideas

Traditional summer camps are risky during a pandemic, but Camp YouTube is a great alternative to explore. It inspires kids to learn new things and get moving physically, which is exactly what summertime is all about.

After a long few months of lockdown and homeschooling, YouTube wants to bring the excitement back to learning with its new Summer Camp

How To Delete a YouTube Video On a Mobile Device (Android or iOS)

Carla Marshall

5 Advanced Analytics EVERY YouTuber Should Know From Tim Schmoyer

Liron Segev