Becoming monetized on YouTube is a significant milestone, often requiring dedication, strategy, and perseverance. It’s a milestone that less than 6% of YouTube channels achieve, yet many aspire to.
I launched my YouTube channel (@tiffofili) on 11/13/2023 and earned full monetization on 11/25/2024 with midway monetization granted on 9/5/2024. This to some would be considered “quick,” and although that term is relative, I have learned lessons along the way that may be helpful. I will share about my strategy, my assessments, and offer tips for anyone also looking to get monetized on their channel.
Here are the 12 lessons I’ve learned over the last 12 months since starting my YouTube channel and becoming monetized that can help you along your journey:
1. Consistency is Key
All YouTube coaches harp on the importance of consistency because it truly is the first step and is paramount to you meeting the requirements for monetization.
Regularly uploading quality content helps build an audience and boosts engagement.
Although “consistency” can vary from person to person, I would encourage a new YouTuber to commit to posting one lone form video per week, minimum. Developing a posting schedule fosters viewer loyalty.
2. Niche Selection Matters
Focusing on a specific niche can help attract a targeted and loyal audience. Although some people argue that in the beginning you shouldn’t hyper fixate on “niching down”, having a general vision on the desired direction of your channel will be useful in guiding your videos & thus channel.
It’s easier to grow when your content speaks to a particular group.
3. Content Quality Over Quantity
High-quality videos in terms of visuals, audio, and editing keep viewers engaged. In the beginning, the quality of your videos may need some improvement, but building & strengthening that YouTube muscle only comes from being consistent with filming, editing, and posting regularly. So don’t hold back and just do it, scared or under prepared.
Valuable content (informative, entertaining, or inspiring) drives watch time and subscriptions. I would focus on substance and value add of the content over the fancy editing and high production in the beginning stages.
4. Understanding YouTube’s Requirements
Once people realize the earning potential on YouTube, the next question is what the requirements are. To be fully a part of the YouTube Partner Program (YPP) you have to achieve 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 valid public watch hours within 12 months, or at least 10 million Shorts views in the last 90 day.
Although there is a midway requirement of 500 subscribers and 3000 watch hours, the level of monetization opportunities are limited until you become a full member of the YPP and can begin earning a portion of the Google Adsense revenue generated from Ads placed in your videos.
Familiarity with YouTube’s community guidelines ensures your content is compliant.
5. Engagement Builds Community
Responding to comments and encouraging likes, shares, and subscriptions create a loyal audience. Unless you become a huge youtuber where engaging with your community is logistically impossible, I encourage all content creators regardless of the platform to do their best to respond to comments, DMs, etc. Your audience is why you have a platform, so respect them by at least engaging when appropriate.
Also, calls-to-action (e.g., “Don’t forget to subscribe!”) can make a big difference.
6. Thumbnails and Titles Are Crucial
Eye-catching thumbnails and intriguing titles boost click-through rates. This is crucial because no one wants to spend all that time crafting an amazing video, only for it not to be seen because it’s not “packaged” well enough to encourage people to click on it.
Ultimately, consistent branding across thumbnails helps with recognition, but in the beginning stages, it is good to test out different types of thumbnail formats before to see what works for you and your channel.
7. Leverage Analytics
Understanding audience retention, traffic sources, and demographics helps optimize content. In the YouTube studio app, there is a plethora of information provided to creators that indicate how your content is performing, and if analyzed correctly, can promote improvement of your channel.
Analyzing which videos perform best allows for replicating success
8. The Power of Patience
Monetization takes time; initial growth can feel slow. For me, it took just over a year to become fully monetized, and the length of time to achieve this milstone really varies between creators. Your particular timeline can depend on your niche, the quality of your content, how often you post, how much effort you put in, and luck.
Yes, luck.
In my experience, the algorithm can randomly pick up one of your videos and push it out, which helps a lot. I’ve also found that incorporating YouTube shorts into your strategy can be effective in helping you grow, if done correctly, and used strategically.
There is no clear-cut time frame for monetization, and what may take 3 months for one person may take 5 years for another. Either way, celebrating small milestones keeps motivation high.
9. Promotion Beyond YouTube
Sharing videos on social media, forums, and communities increases visibility. I’ve always been a huge fan of leveraging your current audience on other platforms to inform them of your YouTube channel and encourage their support.
Collaborations with other creators can also. introduce your channel to new audiences.
10. Content Optimization
Keywords in titles, descriptions, and tags improve search rankings. Remember that YouTube is, in fact, a search engine, so to give your content the best chance to be viewed, it’s important to optimize how high up on search results they appear.
This goes back to making sure that packaging is good (title & thumbnail) in addition to the topic itself. People pay you with their time when they watch your videos, so you want to first get them to click, then ensure you’re adding some type of value when they do.
Playlists can encourage binge-watching and increase watch time.
11. Diversify Revenue Streams
Beyond ad revenue, explore sponsorships, affiliate marketing, channel memberships, building a Patreon, or selling merchandise. Although this is an area that could use some improvement on my personal creator journey, I do see the value of having multiple streams of income as a creator. If the goal is to eventually make money on YouTube, I’d start with the end goal in mind and treat it like a business from day one. This means optimizing your bios, channel banners, profile pictures, remaining consistent, and having that the faith that one day it will be a profitable business.
12. Stay Authentic
Authenticity builds trust, and viewers tend to connect better with creators who stay true to themselves. It makes content creation easier and more enjoyable when you are yourself and can use your own unique voice as a superpower along the process.
Although it can be tempting, I would avoid chasing trends that don’t align with your brand or goals. Trust that the people who are meant to find you will and that your community, regardless of how big or small, will rock with you and appreciate your authenticity.
What part of your journey to monetization stands out the most? I’d love to hear about your unique experiences!
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To watch the YouTube video where I further break this topic down, you can click here:
Dr. Tiffany Ofili Porter 