YouTube Monetization Lowered Requirements: The Best Strategy to Get Monetized Faster.

Hey guys! Ed here from YT Tracker. In our previous article, we shared the exciting news about YouTube lowering the requirements to join the Partner Program.

YouTube Partner Program: New requirements

Both:

• 500 subscribers

• 3 public uploads in the last 90 days

And either:

• 3000 watch hours in the last 365 days

or

• 3 million Shorts views in the last 90 days

With the new monetization requirements, small YouTubers have a great opportunity to kickstart their careers and start earning money earlier.

Let’s go over the new strategy I would recommend you follow to reach these lowered requirements. The focus: Watch Hours. We’ll get into why I suggest this over the 3M YouTube Shorts Views and how you can get there.

Why Focus on Watch Hours and not Shorts Views:

When it comes to YouTube monetization, watch hours play a crucial role. It’s not just about the number of subscribers or views; watch hours indicate genuine viewer engagement and the quality of your content. The more time people spend watching your videos, the higher the chance of YouTube recommending your content to others. Therefore, focusing on increasing watch hours should be your primary goal.

Also note that logically with longer form content you’ll get more ad impressions once you get monetized and that will mean more ad revenue overall.

A Blue Print to Reach 3000 Watch Hours on YouTube

To maximize your watch hours and stay on track towards meeting the lowered requirements for YouTube monetization, it’s crucial to have a content pipeline that strikes a balance between consistency and sustainable growth. Here’s a suggested blueprint to follow:

1. Determine Your Time Availability

Assess your schedule and allocate dedicated time for content creation. Consider your other commitments and find a realistic number of videos you can produce per week without overwhelming yourself. It won’t be the same if you have 2 kids or if you are a student with a lot of spare time. You do you here.

2. Number of videos per week

Long-form content, typically ranging from 10-20 minutes or more, tends to accumulate higher watch hours. Think about a realistic number of videos you can shoot & edit per week. There is no point banking on quantity over quality. One well edited video which adds value is way better than 5 videos with poor editing that will get no views. So pick what’s realistic, and stick to it. Setting your own upload frequency strikes a balance between meeting the requirements within a reasonable timeframe and preventing creator burnout and stopping altogether which would lead nowhere.

3. Consistency is Key

Consistency not only pleases the YouTube algorithm but also helps you establish a healthy content production routine. By consistently releasing videos on specific days or times, you create anticipation among your viewers and train them to expect new content from you regularly. This routine will be crucial for long-term success on YouTube.

Leverage Shorter Videos Strategically

While long-form videos should be your primary focus, don’t completely neglect shorter videos. Occasionally incorporate shorter, punchy content, such as tutorials, quick tips, or behind-the-scenes glimpses. These can provide variety, engage viewers with quick bursts of valuable information, and act as supplements to your longer videos.

Remember, once you achieve YouTube monetization, the consistency and content production routine you’ve established will be instrumental in generating substantial income. Having a robust library of videos available for monetization will increase your ad impressions and potential revenue. So, keep up the great work and stay committed to your content pipeline!

Is Focusing on YouTube Shorts Views Harder?

While YouTube Shorts can be a fun way to create short and snappy videos, relying solely on Shorts for monetization might limit your long-term growth potential. It’s important to recognize the value of long-form content in fostering deep connections with your audience. By offering value through in-depth insights, tutorials, reviews or entertaining storytelling in longer videos, you can attract engaged viewers who are more likely to become loyal subscribers.

Getting millions of views on YouTube Shorts also depends on the viral factor of your content which unfortunately you have very little control over. So I personally see YouTube Shorts as the equivalent as a slot machine where the jackpot would be monetization, except the jackpot doesn’t get you a lot of money, but an entry to another game where you have to push long form content to make real money anyaway. See how we’re circling back to where we began: Watch Hours!

Three Ways to Monetize Your Content in the Lower Tier

Once you’ve met the requirements and gained approval in the lower tier of the YouTube Partner Program, exciting monetization opportunities await. We’ll explore three key avenues for generating revenue from your content:

1. Channel Memberships

Creating an exclusive community and offering perks to loyal subscribers through tiered membership levels can provide a steady stream of income.

2. Super Chat and Super Stickers

Engaging with your audience during live streams through Super Chat, where viewers can pay to have their messages highlighted, or Super Stickers, which add fun and interactive elements to the chat, can boost your earnings while fostering a sense of connection.

3. YouTube Shopping

If you have your own products or collaborate with brands, YouTube Shopping enables you to promote and sell merchandise directly from your videos, turning your channel into a revenue-generating online store.

How will YT Tracker help?

When you begin, 80% of the work you need to do is not give up. It’s true. Most people get discourage because their content doesn’t perform well when they start. But they miss the point. You can’t be good or great when you begin, you have to suck, embrace it, and learn from each video to make the next one better.

That’s what it takes to win at YouTube. If you don’t like what you read, you’re probably not cut for it. It’s hard work. But with the right weapons, you can get where you want to be. And YT Tracker needs to be part of your arsenal, espacially the next feature I’ll be adding to the app.

To help you track your progress and optimize your channel for monetization under the new requirements, I’ll be adding a dedicated tracker screen in YT Tracker. This feature will allow you to monitor your subscriber count, watch hours, uploads, and Shorts views all in one place with the new goals in mind.

Sneak peek!

Til next time! Peace!