Exploring the Process: How do You Get Paid on YouTube?
YouTube is one of the most popular video-sharing platforms in the world, boasting over 2 billion logged-in users every month. But have you ever wondered how these content creators actually make money? If you’re new to the platform or simply interested in the process, let’s dive into the question: How do you get paid on YouTube?
To start, it’s essential to understand that earning money on YouTube isn’t just about getting views. It’s a more intricate process encompassing various revenue channels such as advertising, channel memberships, merchandise shelf, and YouTube Premium revenue.
1. Advertising
The most common way creators can get paid is through advertising using the YouTube Partner Program. Once you get accepted into the program, you can start earning from ads served in your videos. These may be display ads, overlay ads, skippable and non-skippable video ads, or mid-roll ads
However, joining this program has some requirements such as having at least 1,000 subscribers, 4,000 viewed hours in the previous 12 months, and having an AdSense account. After meeting these requirements and getting approved, you’ll get a fraction of the revenue generated from the ads, which is finalized at the end of every month and paid the following month.
2. Channel Memberships
Your loyal audience can choose to pay for channel perks through memberships. Once you have more than 30,000 subscribers, you can enable this feature on your channel. It allows fans to pay a monthly recurring fee in return for badges, new emojis, and other exclusive perks.
3. Merchandise Shelf
YouTube allows creators to showcase their official branded merchandise directly on their video pages. If you’re eligible, this becomes a lucrative manner in which you can get paid on YouTube. The merchandise shelf can display products from Teespring, Spreadshirt, and many other merchandising platforms.
4. YouTube Premium Revenue
YouTube Premium is a subscription service that allows members to watch ad-free videos, access YouTube Originals, and use the platform’s background play feature. As a creator, you earn a share of the total YouTube Premium subscription fees based on how much time members spend watching your content.
It’s also worth noting that some creators earn money through “Super Chat” and “Super Stickers”- features where viewers pay to have their comments or stickers highlighted during live chat streams.
Lastly, creators also make money through the use of affiliate links, brand partnerships, and crowdfunding. Be aware of YouTube’s terms of service to make sure your income sources align with their guidelines.
So, how much can you earn? Understandably, this depends on many factors such as your channel’s audience size, engagement rate, your niche, and a host of other parameters. Popular YouTubers with millions of subscribers can earn significant incomes, but it requires patience, hard work, and creativity to reach that level.
In conclusion, how do you get paid on YouTube? The answer is through myriad ways. The reality is that successful YouTubers often juggle multiple income sources. They diversify their revenue to buffer against changes in viewership and YouTube’s ever-evolving policies.
Remember that creating a successful YouTube channel takes time, and so does earning a substantial income from it. The key is to focus on creating engaging content that attracts your audience, grows your channel, and opens the door for these revenue opportunities. From there, with a consistent approach and the smart use of the platform’s monetization features, earning an income on YouTube becomes achievable.