You’ve mastered the YouTube algorithm. Your channel’s SEO is in tip-top shape. You’ve even decoded YouTube’s analytics. Now comes the moment you’ve been waiting for—it’s time to make some money doing what you love.

YouTube’s monetization policy changes from time to time and while that can seem scary, we promise you have nothing to fear. We’re here to walk you through the ins and outs of the entire YouTube monetization process. Equipped with knowledge straight from YouTube’s amazing community of creators, you’ll be ready to grow your channel in no time.

But first, let’s go through some of the basics of how to enable YouTube monetization. How do you even start?

How do I qualify for YouTube monetization?

First, to qualify for monetization, your channel has to have at least 4,000 hours of public watch time within the last year and at least 1,000 subscribers. This policy went into effect at the beginning of 2018 and is another way for YouTube to prioritize watch time (as opposed to view count, which was the platform’s previous focus).

In 2023 YouTube also added a new avenue to eligibility: at least 1,000 subscribers with 10 million valid public Shorts views in the last 90 days. Shorts are YouTube’s answer to the short-form video craze set in motion by the viral popularity of TikTok. Although 10 million views might sound like a lot, it’s more achievable than you’d think. Shorts tend to be under a minute in length, and (usually) involve less production, so getting there is far from impossible.

Since YouTube ultimately wants to keep users on the platform for as long as possible, watch time has become more and more valuable to creators. Luckily, we have a guide to help you start and grow your YouTube channel. Based on conversations in the r/youtubers and r/youtube subreddits, the 1,000 subscribers/4,000 hours of watch time benchmarks are actually pretty manageable! Plus, once you’ve implemented an effective SEO strategy, it won’t be long before you hit those magic numbers.

What counts as public watch time?

“Public watch time” is the total number of hours users have spent watching your channel’s public videos. Private, unlisted, or deleted videos do NOT count toward this number.

Tip: Do NOT try to game the system

As we’ve said before, do not try to game the system. Your monetization application could be denied if your channel shows any signs of engaging in “sub4sub” or “view4view” strategies. In other words, if you’re subscribing to other people’s channels in exchange for subscriptions to your channel, or watching other channels’ videos in exchange for watch hours on your own channel, YouTube could find out and deny (or disable) your monetization. So don’t do it.

YouTube is a search engine, just like Google, so sure, there are ways to improve your visibility, but if you do anything to game the system, YouTube’s advanced algorithm will catch it and penalize your channel. Engaging in shady YouTube tactics is a risky move and a waste of your time. Trust your creative instincts and focus your efforts on producing content that you love, and you’ll get the subscribers you deserve.

Prep your channel for monetization

Before start the process to monetize your channel, there are a few things you can do to make sure that your channel has the best possible chance of getting approved for monetization. It can take up to 30 days or 1 month for YouTube to review your channel. If your application is denied, you have to wait an additional 30 days to apply again, so don’t take any chances—you want revenue to start coming in as soon as possible. You can also appeal the denial within 21 days if you believe the decision was made in error.

One of the most common reasons that YouTube doesn’t approve monetization applications is duplication. If you’re confused as to why you got denied, carefully read the rejection email for a more detailed explanation of any policies your channel may have run afoul of. Next, comb over your content and check that none of your videos (including titles, descriptions, thumbnails, etc.) violate their monetization policy or community guidelines. Any videos that break the rules will have to be edited or deleted before you can be monetized. 

Now let’s talk about how to avoid this issue entirely. When using stock footage and audio, make sure that you have all of the right licenses in place. If you’re using Storyblocks content, this is actually very easy because each audio or video clip comes with a license that you can download at any time. It’s important to know where to have and understand these licenses even if you’re not monetizing your channel.

How to enable monetization on YouTube

You’ve reached the required number of subscribers and watch hours, and you’ve checked your channel for red flags—now what? It’s time to learn how to enable monetization on YouTube.

1. Sign into your YouTube account and access your Studio page.
2. Click Earn on the menu on the left.
3. Select Apply Now to begin your application.

4. Click Start to read over the application and accept the terms.

5. Now you can click Start to set up an AdSense account or connect your existing one.

The steps to apply are virtually identical for mobile devices, except you’ll be accessing Studio through the YouTube Studio app instead of the website. The app is available for both Android and iPhone.

Once you’ve completed the steps you’ll see In Progress in the Get Reviewed step, which means YouTube has received your application. A combination of automated systems and human reviewers will review your submission, as well as your channel as a whole, before approving or denying your application. The process typically takes about a month, but you can check on the review status anytime you want from the Earn section of YouTube Studio.

Before any channel can be monetized, it must undergo YouTube’s scrutiny to ensure it aligns with the site’s advertiser-friendly content guidelines, terms of service, and more. Once monetization is activated, creators have to adhere to certain standards to keep the money flowing. YouTube restricts certain types of content from being monetized through advertising, including some topics around violence, harmful acts, hate speech and many more. Inappropriate language can also be grounds for demonetization, and as with any content on YouTube, monetized content must comply with all community guidelines.

Wait for monetization approval

Unfortunately, monetizing on YouTube isn’t as simple as clicking a button. It typically takes up to a month for YouTube to review an application. However, a backlog does build up from time to time. This is important to keep in mind since it means that you probably won’t be able to start generating revenue for at least 30 days. All you can do is continue to hustle during this waiting period. 

Keep posting regularly (the YouTube algorithm rewards channels that post consistently), make sure you’re still focusing on SEO, and remain engaged with your audience. If you allow your channel to lag during this time, it could really hurt you in the long run. Your channel can always benefit from additional subscribers and watch time—both of which can open up new revenue streams in addition to monetization.

YouTube also gives creators the option to unlock “fan funding” features where regular viewers can directly support their channel financially, either through one-time donations or recurring memberships. This is done through YouTube’s Commerce Product Module (CPM), and it’s a great way for creators to earn extra income through community support. Fan funding features are only available to members of the YouTube Partner Program, and each are subject to their own requirements. Check out YouTube’s support page on this topic for more details on eligibility.

Monetization through YouTube Commerce Products

Channel memberships

Similar to Patreon (see below) but run exclusively through YouTube, Channel memberships enable supporters to join your community through regular monthly support, earning members-only perks in the process. This can include anything from badges and emojis to exclusive videos only available to members. It’s a great way for creators to connect more with their fan bases while generating some regular monthly revenue.

Once your channel is monetized, you can enable memberships via your YouTube Studio page. Click Earn on the left menu, then click the Memberships tab (which will only be clickable if your channel is eligible). Then just click the get started button and follow the instructions.

Super Chat & Super Stickers

Super Chats and Super Stickers are a popular avenue through which fans can show their appreciation for a channel during livestreams. Both allow a fan to purchase a customized chat message that will rise above the other viewers’ comments and can even be pinned to the top of a video’s chat feed. To activate Super Chats and Super Stickers, you first have to accept the CPM. Then click Earn on the left menu and navigate to the Supers tab to get started.

Super Thanks

Once known as Viewer applause, Super Thanks are another way for fans to support their favorite creators. For a small donation, users can purchase a special one-time animation that will appear on your videos, along with a personalized message of support. You can activate Super Thanks using the same steps to activate Super Chats and Super Stickers, and remember as with all fan-funded monetization options you must first accept YouTube’s CPM.

Other ways to earn money on YouTube

Monetizing through YouTube is only one of the ways that you can make money on YouTube. There are actually several others, but enabling YouTube monetization is a great, fairly easy entry point. The subscriber and watch time threshold for YouTube ads is pretty low, so it allows your channel to pick up steam when it’s still in its infancy. As you continue to gain more followers and increase watch times, however, you should consider additional monetization options—especially if you have a very loyal and engaged audience.

1. Patronage

Patreon is one of the most popular online patronage platforms for YouTube creators. Patreon allows your loyal followers to pay a certain amount of money each month for access to exclusive content. You can have multiple tiers of patrons, providing them with anything from behind-the-scenes footage to completely new content (that non-paying members can’t see). Some YouTubers give their patrons access to videos a day early, others even throw in some one-on-one time with the creators themselves. Patreon is a fantastic option for creators with a loyal fanbase. More often than not, that loyalty is gained through consistent communication and engagement with your followers.

Ko-fi is another popular service creators can use to monetize their fanbases, whether through “tip-jar” one-off donations, monthly support, or even setting up a storefront to sell merchandise and earn commission.

2. Merchandise

People love merch. But before you start printing 1,000 t-shirts for all 1,000 of your subscribers, test the waters a bit. Ask your audience if they’re interested in buying merchandise from you. You can suggest types of merchandise and even ask them to comment with products that they’d like to buy. Selling merch is especially great if you and your followers use specific lingo, catchphrases, or have inside jokes. Once you start selling merch, you can also include it in contests, giveaways, or even add it to one of your Patreon tiers. 

YouTube Shopping is an easy way to get your merch in front of your biggest fans, but you’ll need to be in the YouTube Partner Program first. Then all you have to do is connect your external storefront with YouTube Shopping and you’ll be a lean, mean merch peddling machine!

3. Affiliates

The good news is that it’s pretty easy to get into an affiliate program. The earnings are just lower than what you’d receive with a paid sponsorship. Once you sign up for an affiliate program with a specific brand, you’ll receive a unique link or discount code that your followers can use when shopping with that brand. Every time your link or code is used, you’ll earn a small commission. Mention the affiliate code in your videos and also include it in your video descriptions to maximize earnings.

4. Product Features

Product features are a great stepping stone toward paid sponsorships, but they may not result in actual cash. As you start gaining a larger following, brands might send you their products to feature and/or review in your videos. Free stuff is great, right? You don’t even have to wait for brands to reach out to you—go ahead and pitch yourself to potential sponsors. Just make sure that you pitch to companies that make sense for your channel (although, you may start receiving random product feature requests along the way).

5. Paid Sponsorships

Paid sponsorships are the goldmine for making money on YouTube. This is when brands pay you to mention or endorse their product in your videos. We’re going to be completely honest with you—this is a hard goal to reach. But it is never too early to start pitching yourself to companies. Engage with them on social media, show them how you would help their brand, and provide examples of successful product sponsorships or affiliate programs you’ve done in the past. Even if you haven’t quite hit the desired subscriber count yet, you’ll still put yourself on brands’ radars. Again, just make sure that the companies you seek out make sense for the content you produce.

Hustle, Hustle, Hustle

Monetization can be a tricky game, but just remember to keep up the hustle! You’re in it for the long haul, so make content that you are truly passionate about. YouTube creators are some of the busiest people out there, so set yourself up for success by using high-quality stock footage along with templates for After Effects, DaVinci Resolve, Premiere Pro, and Apple Motion. If you use Premiere Pro or After Effects, you can access our plugin to bring our entire library right into your editor. Don’t skimp on the audio, either—viewers appreciate sound effects and music that match the tone of the video (and it’s all royalty free, so you won’t have to worry about copyright strikes).

In video production, your time is just as valuable as your money, so save on both with an unlimited stock media subscription from Storyblocks.

Browse stock footage

Editor’s note: This post has been updated with additional information. It was originally published on April 1, 2021.