Congratulations! If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance you’ve reached the two important milestones you need to monetize your YouTube channel:
Now that you’ve reached those goals, it’s time to take the next step.
Keep reading for a comprehensive guide on how to apply to the YouTube Partner Program and start making money online.
If you want to earn revenue from ads run against your content, you'll need to apply to the YouTube Partner Program (YPP). Luckily, you can do that via your YouTube Studio; just follow the steps below to start the process:
If you need real-time guidance, watch our latest video about how to apply to YPP:
The monetization page will track your progress toward reaching 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 hours of Watch Time.
Once you've met the requirements, you'll see this glorious blue ‘apply now’ button:
Click it, and you'll be asked to complete the following three steps:
But before you do any of this, you need to take care of one crucial thing.
The first step of applying to YPP is checking your channel’s location settings. Basically, you need to make sure your channel is set to the right country so your application is processed smoothly.
A few weeks ago, we applied to monetize a Russian language channel. We'd previously set the channel’s country to Russia, but of course, this doesn't apply to the monetization aspects of the channel.
If you need to change the country listed on your channel, you can do that via the settings menu in the YouTube Studio, as shown below:
The next step in applying to YPP is carefully reviewing the terms of the program. Essentially, you are entering a business contract where both you and YouTube have responsibilities to make the partnership work.
If you’re under 18, get a parent or legal guardian to go through the application with you. This is extremely important because if you try to do the application alone, you’ll eventually get stuck in later steps (such as creating an AdSense account).
Next up, be aware that the documents YouTube presents you with don’t cover everything you need to know. There’s a collection of YouTube policies and guidelines, and you may agree to them unknowingly while applying to YPP.
To cover your bases, you should definitely watch this overview of YouTube’s community guidelines, and if you can, take the entire video course from the YouTube Creator Academy.
Lastly, give these two documents a read:
To get paid by YouTube, you have to create a Google AdSense account. When you connect this account to your channel, YouTube will send earned revenue from your AdSense account to your bank account.
Follow these steps to set it up:
If you already have an AdSense account, all you have to do is confirm that to move forward. You'll be asked to sign in to the account and connect your current AdSense account to your YouTube channel by clicking ‘Accept association’.
You may temporarily land on an AdSense page that wants to redirect you back to the monetization page. Go ahead and click ‘Redirect’ to finish your application.
And that’s it! You've successfully applied to the YouTube Partner Program, and now you just need to wait for YouTube’s decision.
So, exactly how long will YouTube take to review your application? According to YouTube’s support page, the official answer is ‘about one month.’
Read the platform’s statement below for more details:
Despite this waiting period, most creators get an answer much quicker. That was certainly true in our case when we monetized the Spanish and Russian vidIQ channels in just 60 hours. This Is how long the whole process takes on YouTube.
Once you’ve met the requirements for YPP, the application process isn’t too painful.
However, there are some things to be aware of before and after your channel gets monetized, such as:
Read more: Tax Filing Tips for US YouTube Creators
Now you know all the important details about applying to YPP and monetizing your channel. We wish you a speedy application, and as always, more views and subscribers!
YouTube offers more ways to earn money now. These options go beyond standard AdSense revenue. Check them out to help you monetize your YouTube channel:
After you join the YouTube Partner Program, review the terms in YouTube Studio. Each option has its own rules and revenue model. They are great additions if you want to learn how to apply for YouTube monetization in different ways.
Read More: How to Get 500 YouTube Subscribers and Unlock Fan Funding
If your YouTube monetization application is turned down, don't lose hope. You can make changes before you try again. Here are some clear steps:
If your first try is turned down, you can reapply in 30 days. For later rejections, wait 90 days. Use that time to improve your channel and learn the YouTube monetization steps.
If you want to take your YouTube channel to the next level and get more views on YouTube 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. Click here to install now!
YouTube normally takes around 30 days to review your application. Some creators have seen responses in as little as 60 hours. The time can vary based on how your channel meets the rules.
If your application is rejected, you can try again after 30 days. Use that time to fix any problems with your channel. For later rejections, the waiting period is 90 days.
Yes, an active Google AdSense account must be linked to your YouTube channel to receive payments. You can set one up during your YouTube partner program application.
Earnings depend on your niche, where your viewers are, and how engaged they are. For AdSense revenue, the split is 55% for you and 45% for YouTube. Other features, like Super Chat, have different splits.
Once you've applied for monetization, YouTube will review your channel even if your subscriber count falls below 1,000 during the review.
You must earn at least $100 for a payment to be sent to your bank. After reaching that threshold, it can take up to 60 days for the funds to arrive.
Lydia Sweatt is a writer who loves balancing her article/blog time indoors with a healthy dose of nature. She bikes, hikes, and identifies edible plants along the way.
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