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.

Getting Views

How To Get More Views on YouTube

Getting thousands or even millions of YouTube subscribers is a dream for most creators. In the articles below, we'll show you how to turn casual viewers into long-term fans. 

Subscribers

YouTube Subscribers

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.

Monetization

How To Make Money on YouTube

Want to see how your channel is performing? Read these YouTube analytics articles to discover what's working and what isn't. You'll learn how to identify which videos have the most Watch Time, clicks, audience retention, revenue, and more.

Analytics

YouTube Analytics

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.

Watch Time

YouTube Watch Time

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.

Tips & Tricks

YouTube Tips & Tricks

At vidIQ we have incredible insights into what viewers are searching for on YouTube. Not only can we confirm the top keywords being searched for, we can also show you how you can leverage that interest to create content around trending topics and tentpole events. That's going to give you a clear edge over other creators!

Insights

YouTube Insights

Your In-Depth Guide to Building a Successful YouTube Channel

If you're grinding for hours on each video and still seeing 12 views, including your replays, you're probably wondering: is YouTube too saturated to grow anymore?

That question haunts new creators more than the dreaded "0 views" screen. You put your heart into a video. You meticulously script, shoot, edit, and upload—and then? 

 Meanwhile, big creators are burning stacks of cash for thumbnails, and you're wondering if there's even any oxygen left in the room.

In the video above, Rob talks about all of it. Not in theory. Not with sugar-coated optimism. But with the raw, data-backed reality and the tools you can use to beat it.

How to Build the Right Mindset for YouTube Success

Over 20 million videos are uploaded to YouTube every single day. 

It's not just your niche that feels crowded—it's the whole platform. Even established creators are feeling the heat. Channels that used to pull 500K views per video are now seeing half that. The landscape has shifted dramatically, and the old playbook of "just upload consistently" isn't cutting it anymore.

But here's where it gets interesting. YouTube is thriving. It just hit a historic benchmark—12% of all TV streaming time in the U.S. That's more than Netflix. More than Disney+. It's not that people aren't watching YouTube—it's that they're not watching your video yet.

On top of that, most new creators don't actually create—they copy. You see what works in your niche and replicate it, hoping for similar results. But what you're really doing is blending into the crowd. In a saturated space, sameness is a slow death.

The platform isn't dying; it's evolving. And that evolution means a different approach from creators who want to break through the noise. Stop asking, "Is YouTube Saturated?" That's the Wrong Question. Instead, ask "Am I doing enough to stand out?"

Let's examine how creators breakthrough in oversaturated niches. Take the content space—arguably one of the most overcrowded areas being YouTube. Yet some creators manage to grow rapidly even here.

The secret isn't revolutionary content. It's revolutionary consistency in presentation. Successful creators develop visual and emotional signatures that become instantly recognizable. They use specific color schemes, maintain consistent fonts, and develop a visual language that viewers begin to associate with quality content.

This isn't about expensive production values or professional graphic design. It's about making deliberate choices and sticking to them. When someone scrolls through their subscription feed, your thumbnail should feel like seeing a familiar face in a crowd.

: Open your channel in incognito mode. Scroll through your thumbnails like a stranger would. Do you look like everyone else? If so, you've got work to do.

We've all cursed the algorithm at some point. 

: The algorithm doesn't find viewers for your video. It finds videos for viewers.

Your job is to make content that keeps people watching. That starts with a clear hook, tight editing, and a reason to stay till the end. The algorithm watches how viewers behave with your content. So think like a viewer.

Would you click your own thumbnail? Would you stay past 30 seconds? Would you share that video with a friend? If the answer is "maybe not," start there. The algorithm isn't mysterious—it's responsive. It amplifies content that audiences engage with and buries content that doesn't hold attention.

A lot of creators hit plateaus not because they aren't talented—but because they're inconsistent. And no, we're not talking hustle culture here. This isn't about 4 a.m. wake-up calls and burnout-as-a-badge-of-honor. It's about clarity and commitment.

If you've only got 5 hours a week to give to YouTube, that's not a limitation—it's your blueprint. The key is being intentional about how you spend that time:

Stick to it like clockwork. Put it on your calendar. And tell someone. Accountability is underrated—post your goals publicly, join a community, even hire a coach. But do something to stay consistent. Because in YouTube, momentum isn't just helpful. It's everything.

Creative Compound Interest: The Secret Sauce

Viral growth isn't luck. It's the end result of compound creative effort. Here's how it works in practice.

Better thumbnail design leads to more clicks. More clicks generate more data about what resonates with your audience. More data informs better scripting and pacing decisions. Better pacing results in higher watch time. Higher watch time triggers stronger algorithm recommendations. And the cycle repeats, each iteration building on the last.

The 12 Best YouTube Thumbnails People Love to Click On

But here's the part most people skip over: It takes time. Most creators quit at video 4 or 5 because they didn't blow up. But here's the truth: You're still in tutorial mode. Give it 3 to 6 months. That's 12 to 25 videos. If you're not improving, reassess. But if you are? Then you're not a beginner anymore. You're a builder!

YouTube in 2025 is not the same YouTube of 2015. Back then, you could upload a shaky vlog or a basic tutorial and find an audience. Today, it takes more. More clarity. More consistency. More craft.

But also? More opportunity. The audience is bigger than ever. The tools are better than ever. The path to monetization is clearer than ever. The question isn't whether YouTube is saturated. Are you ready to do what it takes to stand out in the crowd? 

Man overwhelmed with endless streaming options

Is YouTube too saturated to grow in 2025? Discover the truth about YouTube saturation, why most creators struggle, and how to stand out in a crowded platform with branding, consistency, and smart content strategy.

Has YouTube Become Saturated?

As a short-form creator, you're probably wondering if you can monetize your YouTube Shorts like long-form creators monetize their videos. 

YouTube has several paths for monetizing short content, and this guide explains all of your options.

One of the best ways to monetize your Shorts is through the YouTube Partner Program (YPP). Upon joining, you have access to all of YouTube's money-making tools, like the ability to place ads on videos or monetize your audience directly through fan-funding.

There are two ways to enter the YPP (you only need to choose one!).

Upload 3 public videos in the last 90 days.

Get 3,000 public watch hours in the last 365 days or 3 million public Shorts views in the last 90 days.

 from long-form videos in the last 365 days or 

If you mainly produce Shorts or a mix of long and short videos, aiming for 1,000 subscribers plus either 10 million Shorts views or 4,000 watch hours is a smart path to join the YPP.

 will earn advertising revenue. So, do these four things to stay in the clear:

YouTube's Advertiser-Friendly Content Guidelines

Avoid using unedited clips from movies and TV shows that you don't have rights to.

Avoid uploading another creator's content without adding a new perspective or transforming the content.

Monetizing YouTube Shorts Through Ads: A Quick Rundown

 is a bit different from monetizing a regular YouTube video. Notably, all Shorts revenue is split between different parties, including the creators who make them and the music publishers who provide songs for those videos.

The four steps of YouTube Shorts monetization 

 all of the Shorts ad revenue on its platform.

 how much money goes to the creator pool, which depends on views and music usage across all Shorts. If creators use no music in their Shorts, they retain all of the revenue at this point. If they use music, the revenue is split between the creator pool and music publishers.

 the ad revenue to monetized Shorts creators. This is based on a creator's total share of Shorts views on the platform, whether that's 5%, 10%, 15%, etc.

Can You Monetize YouTube Shorts Without 1,000 Subscribers?

If you're just starting out on YouTube, getting 500 subscribers is a quick way to join the YPP and monetize your Shorts. You won't earn ad revenue, but you can monetize most of your content — Shorts included — through fan-funding tools.

For example, with just 500 subs, you can collect 

 revenue on your YouTube Shorts. These are "video tips" ranging from $2 to $50 that your fans can send to support individual videos.

 are an option as well, especially if you love streaming on YouTube.

When you host a vertical or horizontal live stream, viewers in the live chat can reward you with monetary donations ranging from $1 to $500. These can appear as Super Chats — colorful comments pinned to the top of the live chat — or as Super Stickers, which are fun, digital animations that appear on the screen.

Channel Memberships offer exclusive perks, such as members-only videos, badges, Community posts, emojis, and livestreams, to a creators' super fans. It's a great way to make money, but did you know that you can get your YouTube Shorts monetized through channel memberships? 

After all, Shorts count as videos too! You can make these exclusive to your members just like regular, horizontal content.

How Much Money Will You Earn from Shorts?

Are YouTube Shorts monetized in a sustainable way? Can they become a side hustle or help you quit your day job?

YouTube Shorts monetization options comparison

We'd have said it's hard to make decent money from Shorts only a year ago, barring times when you get a nice chunk of revenue. For example, we got 

 for a vidIQ Short that got 468,500 views.

The content performance dashboard showing we earned $16.61 from YouTube Shorts

With recent updates on advertisements, RPM on our Shorts has seen an impressive 150% increase. So, for every 1000 views we are getting $0.10 revenue, without any external changes like location of viewers, topic of videos, etc.

This hasn't happened overnight. YouTube has steadily increased Shorts revenue on the vidIQ channel throughout the year. It seems like advertisers have finally found the sweet spot for their products in the Shorts ecosystem as other creators have also talked about experiencing similar surges on their channel. Watch Rob discuss all of that in the video below!

It's easier than ever to become a monetized Shorts creator, but you'll need 

Getting to Know the Shorts Monetization Module

If you want to earn from YouTube Shorts, start by approving the Shorts Monetization Module in your YouTube Studio. This agreement lets you earn money from ads and YouTube Premium in the Shorts Feed. Even if you’re part of the YouTube Partner Program, you won’t see any earnings from Shorts until you agree to these terms.

Select Get Started for each available module

Read and agree to the Base Terms and the Shorts Monetization Module

Keep in mind that views accumulated before accepting won’t earn revenue. Your earnings start only after you agree. This makes it a smart move to opt in as soon as you meet the requirements.

OK, so getting into the YPP to monetize your Shorts is a real challenge. You either have to go viral a lot or face the difficult task of earning 1,000 subscribers plus thousands of hours of watch time.

. There are other ways to make money from Shorts, and one of those golden opportunities is through

When a brand sponsors you, they’re paying you to advertise a product or service in one of your videos. That could be a new line of laptops, the latest leggings from Lululemon, or even a squeegee that removes pet hair from dirty carpet.

Here’s an example of a sponsored Short. In this video, actress Eliana Ghen advertises Vita, a mobile video editing app.

If you’re looking at this video and thinking, 

You don’t need millions of views and subscribers to 

 —just the right audience and a strong YouTube resume.

 said they plan to invest in short-form content more than they did in 2024.

Brands are excited to partner with short-form creators, who bring 

2.5 times more engagement than long-form videos.

As for that last detail, don’t just take our word for it. 

“At the end of the day, most brands don’t want to partner with you and feel like the only thing you’re good at is long-form video,” Moore says. “They want to feel that you may have some flexibility to create different types of content.”

Read this post to avoid the common mistakes YouTubers make while pitching brands

Not every Short qualifies for earning revenue. YouTube has clear rules on which videos can make money. For example, clips taken from movies or TV shows, repeated content from others, or compilations without any new spin won’t earn revenue.

Also, Shorts longer than one minute with claimed content are off the list for monetization. This is a key point if you plan to use material from other sources.

If your Short includes third-party material or is remixed, views could be shared with the rights owners when calculating revenue. As of now, only music content changes this share; other types do not affect it.

Keep your Shorts eligible by creating original work or by adding enough new elements and always following copyright guidelines.

There are a few mountains to climb when monetizing short-form content, but don't worry! 

 Our blog has many tips and tricks to help you get 500 subscribers, 

 Just click the hyperlinks throughout this post to get a winning plan for YouTube success!

Now that you know how to monetize YouTube Shorts, let's take things up a notch and show you how to increase your views!

A smartphone displaying "Shorts Feed Ads" on its screen

Smartphone screen displaying Shorts Feed Ads page on keyboard background for marketing.

Learn how to monetize YouTube Shorts through the Creator Pool, fan funding, and more. Discover the requirements and strategies to profit from your short videos.

YouTube Shorts Monetization: How to Profit from Short Videos

Writing a description for your YouTube video is never a bad idea. It helps people understand your content and the value it holds, which leads to a better viewing experience. You can even place keywords in your description and possibly get featured on search pages. 

The only problem? Writing descriptions from scratch is time-consuming. And besides a basic summary of the video, what else goes in that big, empty box?

To answer that question, here's how to write descriptions for YouTube videos.

1. Get Ideas from a YouTube Description Generator

If you want to come up with descriptions fast and easy,  vidIQ has some tools to help you out. The AI description generator allows you to type in keywords that describe your video, see a few description options, and choose the right one for your content. Best of all, you get three free descriptions each month when you 

In the video above, Dan explains the benefits of the AI description generator by vidIQ, and the many ways it can help you! Here's how to get (and use) the AI Description Generator:

3. Give your video a title. If you have vidIQ installed, use our AI title generator to get a few suggestions.

4. Scroll down to the description box and find the AI Description Generator. Type in a few keywords that describe your video and click Generate.

5. Review the AI-generated descriptions (there are three). When you find a description you like, click Insert to add it to the video.

Once you've signed up to vidIQ, you'll see the 

 on the left-hand side of the webapp screen and you can use that to flesh out your ideas.

The Generate tab will help you with other aspects of the video as well like a catchy title, tags, 

, and a fully recordable script--all from a single prompt search! And, of course, you'll also get a relevant YouTube video description for your content.

2. Use the Right Keywords for YouTube's Search Engine

Do you know which keywords people will use to find your video? If so, add those terms to your video description. That will help YouTube determine what your video is about and display it on the right search pages. Your videos might even rank higher when keywords are in the title 

 into your summary, not poured. It's best to write like a human speaking to another human and add keywords sparingly to fall in favor of the YouTube algorithm.

YouTube video description for vidIQ channel

We used two keywords in the example above: "small channel on YouTube" and "more YouTube views." The summary sounds natural, and 

If you don't know where to start, read this guide to discover the best YouTube keywords.

YouTube never shows the full video description — at least not automatically. You could spend 30 minutes writing hundreds of words, but no matter what, viewers will only see the first few sentences. After that, a "show more" link allows them to keep reading.

Unfortunately, some viewers don't click on that. That's why it's a good idea to  put vital information in the first 100 characters, such as:

Example: On a search page, YouTube shows the first 90 characters of our video description.

But below the video itself, viewers see the first 160 characters.

To optimize your description in both areas, write an interesting 100 characters!

Did you know that the YouTube description box holds 5,000 characters? It's unlikely you'll need that much space, and no viewer wants to read paragraphs of text. After all, they came to watch a video.

That begs the question: What's the ideal YouTube video description length? There isn't an answer that fits all scenarios, but you can stop writing as soon as you've covered:

What viewers need to know about the video

Information related to the video (research you used, downloadable resources, etc.)

Have you ever read a YouTube description that didn't explain the video? You probably had no idea what to expect before pressing play, especially if the creator was trying to be funny, random, or aloof.

That approach may work with subscribers who already know you, but what about new viewers? They should be able to understand a video just by reading the title or description.

 You can be funny and authentic, but try to write descriptions that build upon the video title.

6. Use Timestamps to Make Your Video Skimmable

If your video is longer than 20 minutes, some viewers will need extra encouragement to watch it. Luckily, YouTube creates automatic video chapters that let viewers skip around and find different scenes.

But if someone moves away from the video to read the description, you might consider adding timestamps to that area.

When someone clicks a timestamp, the video jumps to the chapter that's available in that time frame. To make this work in your description, type the exact time you want viewers to skip to, and bam — the timestamp becomes clickable.

7. Add Links to Your YouTube Video Description

After you've written the bulk of your description, it's time to add a few links. These should direct people to videos or websites that add more value to the experience while also boosting your channel's authority.

Research links that support your video content, such as studies or surveys

Affiliate links that allow viewers to buy products mentioned in the video

Viewers need a good reason to click on the links in your description box. So when you have a few links in mind, add a CTA nearby explaining why they should click something and what happens when they do.

Check out the example below. Two of our CTAs clearly explain the value behind the links we're pushing. With the first CTA, we want to help viewers 

 by watching another video on our channel. The second CTA expresses that if you want more YouTube guidance, it's wise to hit subscribe!

9. Put Hashtags in Your YouTube Description

Adding two or three hashtags to your video description is a fantastic idea. If you create content people love — and relevant hashtags are attached — you might see your videos at the top of a hashtag page.

Out of 63,000 videos and 11,000 channels, we managed to get two videos at the top of YouTube's #growyourchannel page. So don't skip this vital step!

Most people strive to make original content on YouTube, but that rule applies to more than just videos. If you're copying descriptions from one video to the next, that becomes repetitious — and entirely unhelpful.

 with repetitive content will be hard. YouTube checks everything when you apply to the 

11. Avoid Profanity, Hate Speech, and Spammy Links

Now that you know YouTube checks your video descriptions, try to write words that make people feel safe. You can start by following the 

, which denounce profanity, hate speech, spam, and more.

If the idea of writing descriptions from scratch sounds daunting, we have good news: You don't have to.

Here's the video description template we use for the vidIQ channel:

Section 1: Describe your video (don't forget to add keywords).

Section 2: Tell viewers what to watch next on your channel (add video link).

Section 4: Add other important links (website, social media, affiliate, etc.).

Section 5: Create a list of video timestamps.

And now, here's a written example of a video description. We paired it with the video, "If I Started a YouTube Channel in 2025."

DOWNLOAD THE WORKSHEET HERE 👉 https://vidiq.ink/YouTubeSuccessRoadMap 

START USING vidIQ TOOLS NOW 👉 https://vidiq.ink/grow 

In this video we look at how to start a YouTube channel and win on YouTube in 2025 to get more views, grow your channel and monetize your YouTube channel in 2025!

Close-up of hand writing with pen on blank spiral notebook on wooden desk

What goes in the description box for a YouTube video? You need the right links, trending hashtags, and an awesome summary of your video content. Read to know more!

YouTube Video Descriptions: How to Write Them Better In 2025

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.

Looking for ways to reach YouTube monetization faster? Use these 8 powerful tips to accelerate the journey in 2025.

Your In-Depth Guide to Building a Successful YouTube Channel

Has YouTube Become Saturated?

YouTube Shorts Monetization: How to Profit from Short Videos

YouTube Video Descriptions: How to Write Them Better In 2025

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

Kickstarting 2025: How to Set the Perfect YouTube Subscriber Goal

The Future of Video Creation: 9 YouTube Trends to Watch in 2025

25 YouTube Updates that Will Affect Your Channel in 2025

Poll Data: 10 YouTube Stats About the Small Creator Journey

Your Channel Refresh: How to Prepare for YouTube Growth in 2025

Top 10 Christmas Keywords on YouTube

How To Upload Videos to YouTube Creator Studio in 2025

12 Tips for Starting a YouTube Gaming Channel in 2025

How to Get Monetized on YouTube