Video content has grown in popularity for the last few years. This is because modern audiences love to consume video content more than text-based content.
In fact, in 2023 alone, people watched over 17 billion minutes of YouTube videos – and they are hungry for more.
For budding YouTube content creators and digital marketers, this is the right time to grow and monetize your YouTube channel. However, the monetization part is hard.
Knowing the latest YouTube monetization requirements in 2024 is essential, especially if you want to earn money from YouTube.
In this blog, I will share YouTube's new monetization policies. I will also highlight how you can monetize your channel, and some tips to avoid potential setbacks.
What is YouTube Monetization?
Simply put, YouTube monetization is the process of making money from your YouTube videos. If you’re eager to establish yourself as a reputed YouTube content creator, you need to know the YouTube monetization requirements.
To monetize your channel, you need to meet specific criteria and join the YouTube Partner Program (YPP).
You need to create quality content to ensure proper monetization without any roadblocks. Moreover, you also need to promote your YouTube channel.
What are the latest YouTube Monetization Requirements?
With YouTube's recent statement, content providers have reason to cheer. The new YouTube channel monetization requirements, which went into effect on June 13, 2023, will create unprecedented opportunities and accessibility.
Let's examine these increased standards more closely to better understand the changes that can help you monetize YouTube channel.
1. Subscriber threshold: 500 subscribers
Previously, YouTube content creators needed to have 1,000 subscribers on their channel. This was one of the most daunting YouTube monetization requirements.
Getting 1,000 subscribers may sound easy. But believe me when I say it’s the most challenging part. It took me six months to acquire just 1,000 subscribers.
Fortunately, YouTube has significantly lowered the bar with the latest monetization changes. Now, you can apply for monetization as long as your channel has 500 subscribers.
However, the subscriber threshold is not the only requirement to monetize your YouTube videos or channel. This brings us to the second requirement.
2. Upload frequency: 3 uploads within 90 days
Consistency is essential for developing a successful YouTube channel. The new YouTube rules stress the necessity of making regular posts.
To be eligible for revenue, you must create at least three legitimate public uploads within 90 days. Pay close attention to this point, as failing will result in rejection.
Maintaining an active presence and continuously providing great content to your audience will help you meet YouTube's expectations. It can also boost your chances of monetizing your channel. This way, you can grow your YouTube channel easily.
3. Watch hours: 3000 watch hours in one year
Engagement has always been important on YouTube, and with the new requirements, view hours will play an even larger role.
Previously, creators had to accrue 4,000 view hours during the last year to qualify for income. But, this has now been decreased to 3,000 watch hours.
This measure motivates artists to create engaging material that captivates viewers. Moreover, you will be relieved from creating more videos to meet the criteria.
4. Shorts views: 3 million views in 90 days
YouTube Shorts, the platform's short-form video genre, has taken the internet by storm.
To enable revenue through Shorts, creators must gather three million legitimate YouTube Shorts views within 90 days instead of 10 million public views in 90 days under the previous policy.
It provides an exciting chance for producers to explore the possibilities of public short views and use their brief and snappy format to catch the audience's attention and generate revenue.
Content creators can monetize their channels earlier in their journey by re-evaluating and reducing the standards for YouTube short monetization.
How to check YouTube Monetization Requirements?
How do you know whether your videos meet YouTube's monetization requirements?
You may determine whether you've completed the first two YouTube monetization requirements in two ways.
1. Check your YouTube channel
Log in to your YouTube channel and navigate to YouTube Studio. Your dashboard should provide a live count of how many subscribers you have.
To discover how many hours people have spent watching your videos, click on your channel analytics. Then, select the “Overview” option. You must change the date at the top to reflect the last 12 months.
After you've changed the date, check out the “Watch time (hours)” tab above the graph in the center of the screen. There, you'll see how long people have spent watching your films.
2. Check YouTube Sudio
Now, I will highlight a simple way to learn about your eligibility requirements for the YouTube Partner Program. I followed this same step before monetizing my channel.
On YouTube Studio, you may have noticed a “Monetization” tab on the left sidebar.
When you click that tab, you will get a notification indicating whether or not you are qualified to apply for the program.
It will show a message that states you are not qualified for monetization. Keep in mind that meeting the view time and subscriber requirements does not guarantee acceptance into the YouTube Partner Program.
Before applying for monetization on YouTube, you should familiarize yourself with the company's regulations.
The rules cover community standards, AdSense requirements, and other areas Google deems relevant.
You can also use YouTube Studio to track interaction metrics and decide the optimum time to post on YouTube to maximize views.
Can you get rejected from the YouTube Partner Program?
Yes, YouTube may reject your application when you fail to adhere to the YouTube monetization requirements and policies.
If you receive a rejection, YouTube will inform you which policy you failed to meet. If that’s the case, don’t worry.
You can apply for monetization after 30 days. Use this time to improve your content and your channel before re-applying.
For instance, you can tweak the video title, description, or tags to adhere to YouTube’s policy. If you have any specific videos causing problems, edit them or take them down.
How can you monetize on YouTube?
As mentioned earlier, monetizing your YouTube videos is a challenging and time-consuming process. But no need to lose your sweat.
As I had my own YouTube channel, I managed to monetize it pretty quickly. Here are some tips you need to remember for YouTube monetization requirements.
1. Create a Google AdSense account
YouTube monetization means familiarizing yourself with Google AdSense. Without proper explanation, you may fail to understand it.
To generate revenue from YouTube, you need to create an AdSense account and connect it to your YouTube channel.
AdSense is a network that allows advertisers to bid on your YouTube videos. Let’s see how AdSense can help you make money on YouTube.
However, there’s one important thing you need to remember. Do not visit the AdSense website to complete the sign up.
The regular signup page will ask you for a link to your website. This won’t be possible as YouTube is not a website.
Google stated that creating an AdSense account from the official website will not add value to your channel. Google will not approve your account, and you cannot monetize your channel.
Hence, make sure you use YouTube Studio to create your AdSense account. Consider paying close attention to the signup process.
Next, you need to specify the types of YouTube ads you're willing to place alongside your content. While you may want to jump in and start making money as soon as possible, be patient!
You must ensure that the ads in your content are appropriate for your target audience. If they aren't, you risk alienating their interests and beliefs. This will lead to a higher bounce rate, costing you important views and watch time.
You may specify the sorts of advertising that will play before a video from the settings. You need to set this correctly to monetize your channel successfully.
Thus, ensure it's set up to monetize both present and future videos. Once you've chosen these monetization options, you can alter them later.
2. Enable YouTube Monetization
After submitting your application, you must wait for a few weeks. Remember that this completely depends on your channel, demographic, and country.
For instance, monetization in America is comparatively faster than in India. Sometimes, YouTube takes extra time to scrutinize your channel properly.
Once you receive a positive response, you can enable monetization on your YouTube channel. To do so, go to YouTube Studio and choose “Enable Monetization.”
Keep in mind that you won’t find this option if your channel is not monetized. Clicking on it will further lead to on-screen instructions. Follow them properly, and you’re good to go.
3. Don’t neglect YouTube Monetization Requirements
Once you've been accepted for monetization, YouTube has a set of regulations you must follow. YouTube will monitor your channel consistently to verify that the video you make adheres to YouTube's criteria.
It's more than just meeting them throughout the application process; make sure you grasp YouTube's policies.
Make sure you never overlook the importance of adhering to the YouTube guidelines.
Failing to maintain community guidelines will not benefit your channel. Your channel may become demonetized, and in the worst case, you may receive a permanent ban.
4. Stay within the copyright policies
You may receive copyright strikes for numerous reasons. From using copyright-protected music or any video clip of some other YouTuber, getting a copyright strike is a nightmare.
When YouTube issues a copyright strike, it asks you to either edit the video or take it down completely. Getting a copyright notice for the first time won’t affect your channel or its reach.
Let’s say you get another copyright strike. Fortunately, you’re still in the safe water. YouTube won’t take any strict action. However, things change with the third copyright strike.
The third strike will cause temporary or permanent problems on your YouTube channel. This includes low reach, less engagement, demonetization, etc.
So, you need to be careful. It’s best to use copyright-free music from NCS, SkiddleX, Neffex, etc. These music won’t ever get you in trouble. However, you can use copyrighted music by acquiring license.
If you do want to use a clip from another YouTuber, make sure you let them know. If they permit you to use it, you can do so. Moreover, they won’t report your video or give you a copyright strike.
Simply put, if you’re caught violating copyright policies, you may face harsh consequences, including:
YouTube will always inform you by email if you have violated a policy. If there’s any option available to prove your innocence, they will also provide you with that.
5. Maximizing your efforts with monetization policies
While your YouTube channel is your creative expression, you should avoid a few things if you want to utilize it to generate money on YouTube.
Sure, your fan following may enjoy your content's darker subject. But, if you go too far, you risk affecting the advertisers paying to advertise on your video.
If this happens, you may wind up with YouTube's framed yellow money symbol…But what is this, and how does it affect your possibilities for selling your content? Let's have a look.
6. What should you avoid while monetizing your channel?
Upon channel monetization, you will feel like you have accomplished something extraordinary. And the feeling is mutual. Even I was excited when I first received the monetization message.
You have worked hard on it. So, you don’t want it to go in vain, right? This is why you need to avoid certain things.
If you aren’t careful, you may end up securing a position on YouTube’s ‘yellow dollar sign’. Contrary to the name, it's the most devastating misfortune you can bring to your channel.
6.1. What is the Yellow Dollar sign and how to avoid it?
YouTube's yellow dollar sign informs potential advertisers that your video may not be acceptable to all viewers.
Consider it like a movie rating: if a film has inappropriate themes or language for younger audiences, it will be age-restricted.
If you see a yellow dollar symbol, YouTube has determined that your material is only appropriate for specific age groups or demographics.
This implies that certain advertisers (those whose target audiences cannot access your material) may be hesitant to post adverts on your channel, even if it has a high volume of views.
So, for some YouTube content creators, being conscious of providing age-appropriate content may significantly increase the income potential of their channels. In practice, this appears to include avoiding the following:
Now, eliminating (or, at the very least, limiting) these from your content is merely the beginning of ensuring that your channel can generate the greatest revenue through monetization.
What do you do when YouTube demonetizes your channel?
Now that we've discussed ways to avoid getting demonetized, what happens if you are? Don't worry; it's not the end of the world. You may get your YouTube video or account monetized again.
You will receive an email and message if your account, channel, or video gets demonetized. At this point, you will need to contact the YouTube Creator Support Team if you wish to report.
1. Can you get monetization back on your YouTube channel?
Yes, it’s possible. Just because you have been demonetized doesn’t mean your channel is completely dead. Here are some of the important steps you need to follow:
While the steps may look simple, they’re easier said than done. Sometimes, the process takes quite some time. The key is eliminating anything you’ve done wrong and creating a report.
2. Report in case of demonetization
You will receive an email and message if your account, channel, or video gets demonetized. At this point, you must contact the YouTube Creator Support Team to file a report.
A report allows you to challenge a decision or demonstrate that you have resolved the issues that led to your demonetization.
Ready to monetize your YouTube channel?
Creating and sharing videos is beneficial beyond brand recognition. It's also an excellent method to make money by monetizing your YouTube content.
Are you prepared to grow and monetize your YouTube channel? To start profiting on YouTube, start by branding your account.
Then, promote your channel to acquire more views on your videos. Remember that getting more YouTube views and subscribers will reveal new ways to earn money.
