When Does YouTube Pay You?
Introduction
Every single minute, a whopping 500 hours of videos land on YouTube. With the platform becoming a goldmine, creators are turning their passion into paychecks. Take Mr. Beast, for example, pulling in an estimated $82 million in the last year.
With its increasing popularity, everyone around the corner is starting their own YouTube channel, gaining views and subscribers and boosting engagement. Getting a million views has become a no big deal these days! But the crucial question is, “When does YouTube Pay you?”
YouTube does have a payment cycle, and understanding when and how often does YouTube pay is a vital factor for creators. Whether you're in it for fun or aiming to build a new income stream, let's learn everything you need to know about making money on YouTube. And there’s a bonus! We have five savvy tips to maximize your earnings.
When Does YouTube Pay You For Your Content?
Well, the journey to earning money through your YouTube channel involves a bit of patience and effort. On average, YouTube stars earn about $60,943 annually or $29 per hour for a standard 40-hour work week.
If you're a YouTuber, you earn money from ad views, not video views. To give you an idea, here's a simple table that shows what an average YouTuber might make depending on the number of ad views they get.
So, here’s a practical tip- Don't expect to start earning right after setting up your channel! YouTube has some requirements. To qualify for monetization through the YouTube Partner Program, you need a minimum of 1,000 YouTube subscribers and 4,000 watch hours in the past 12 months.
Hitting these numbers might sound like a task. But there are multiple ways to do it. It could be
- 4,000 viewers watching one hour of your content,
- 8,000 viewers watching 30 minutes,
- Or even 240,000 viewers watching just one minute each.
Remember, your earning potential is directly tied to your audience metrics. YouTube compensates content creators based on how many views an advertisement gets and how long viewers engage with it. So, the more subscribers, viewers, or watch hours you have, the higher your earning potential.
Your Road to YouTube Riches
In the third quarter of 2023, global YouTube advertising revenues hit 7.95 billion U.S. dollars, marking a solid 12% increase from the same period in 2022. However, there's a significant gap between what the top earners pull in and what the average YouTuber makes.
So, when does YouTube pay you on average, and how much YouTubers can really make from creating videos? It's a bit of a puzzle; the key lies in understanding the monetization mechanics. These include
- Joining the YouTube Partner Program
- Understanding YouTube monetization Vs Google Adsense
- Other monetization features
- Affiliate Marketing
- YouTube Shopping and Merchandise Sales
- YouTube Super Chat & Super Stickers
- Channel Memberships
Let's break down these mechanics and explore every detail in there.
How to make the most of the YouTube Partner Program?
Let’s say you've hit the 1,000-subscriber and 4,000-watch-hour milestones on your YouTube channel! Now, it’s time to talk about making the most of the YouTube Partner Program (YPP).
To start, remember that the YPP is the exclusive gateway to getting paid on YouTube. But it's not just about numbers; there are a few other checkboxes to tick.
- You must reside in an eligible region,
- Hold a Google AdSense account,
- Be strike-free on Community Guidelines, and
- Stick to YouTube’s monetization policies.
Once you're in the YPP club, it's time to make money on ads. YouTube Partners typically get around 55% of their channel's ad revenue. Making money on YouTube requires effort, but with over a million channels in the YouTube Partner Program, it's a proven source of passive income globally. To cash in, here's a quick guide:
- Understand AdSense, Google's payment program for YPP creators.
- Choose your preferred monetization methods, decide how ads appear on your videos, and set default ad formats.
- Ensure your content aligns with advertiser-friendly guidelines.
- Use YouTube Self-Certification to self-rate your videos, helping YouTube make monetization decisions swiftly and accurately.
YouTube Monetization vs. Google AdSense - Any Difference?
Making money on YouTube slightly differs from using Google AdSense, though the underlying concept remains the same—showing earnings and ad revenue.
With YouTube monetization, you have more say in the ads displayed, ranging from video ads to overlays, banners, and sponsored cards. This allows you to customize the user experience by turning off specific ad types you don't want to show.
On the other hand, Google AdSense, used for displaying ads on websites or YouTube channels, offers less control, and the ads tend to be more general. Advertisers pay for clicks or impressions, sharing revenue between Google and the YouTube channel owner.
For YouTubers looking to tap into Google AdSense, setting up a free account is the first step. Linking it to your YouTube account gives you control via the dashboard, allowing you to manage the types of ads on your videos and track your YouTube income.
Now, YouTube AdSense has some requirements:
- Your content must be original,
- Compliance with AdSense policies, and
- You must be at least 18 years old to participate.
Other Monetization Features
Of course, the most common way Youtubers make money is through ad revenue. It’s either through Watch Page ads or Shorts feed ads. But beyond the obvious avenue of ads, YouTubers have a variety of methods to generate income. Here are some features and strategies to monetize content on your YouTube channel:
Affiliate Marketing: Join affiliate programs for products your loyal audience will likely purchase. You can promote these products in your YouTube videos, including your affiliate link in the description. Also, you will earn a commission when viewers click your link and make a purchase.
YouTube Shopping and Merchandise Sales: Eligible creators can utilize YouTube Shopping to showcase their own products from stores and other brands. Additionally, setting up your own merch like t-shirts, mugs, and more can increase your brand's net revenues.
Joshua Slice, the creator of Lucas the Spider, has transformed his beloved character into a plushie, selling more than 60,000 units and generating over $1 million in profit within just 18 days.
YouTube Super Chat & Super Stickers: During live streams, Super Chat lets viewers tip you, creating a virtual tipping jar. Super Stickers and animated images in live chat add another interactive element. Ensure your YouTube account is set up for advertising.
Channel Memberships: Viewers pay a monthly fee to become members of your channel, enjoying perks like exclusive content and access to a private Discord server. With 1,000 subscribers, you could earn $50-$100 per month. YouTube takes a cut, but channel memberships are a great way to diversify income beyond ads and sponsorships.
How Much Do You Get Paid on YouTube?
Determining your exact YouTube earnings isn't straightforward, as various factors come into play. While we can provide an estimate, your actual revenue on YouTube depends on:
- Video Views: The more views your videos get, the higher your potential earnings.
- Audience Engagement: A highly engaged audience tends to contribute to higher earnings.
- Video Topics: The subject matter of your videos, especially if it's trending or advertiser-friendly, can impact monetization.
- Monetization Method: How you monetize your content will influence your earnings.
- Location: Your geographical location can also affect your earnings.
Primarily, creators make money on YouTube through ad revenue, with the top 3% making around $16,800 annually.
How much does YouTube Pay per Ad?
YouTube, owned by Google, compensates creators based on ad views, not video views. Interestingly, you still earn money even if a viewer skips the ad. In the marketing realm, we gauge success by ad impressions. The average YouTuber makes around $0.01 to $0.03 per view—translating to $10-30 per 1,000 views.
Influencer Marketing Hub says the average income per 1000 ad views stays at $18.
Ads can appear on the video page, and your earnings aren't solely dependent on video views; you get paid for every ad the viewer sees. So, even if they decide not to watch your YouTube content, each ad view contributes to your potential earnings.
How much does YouTube pay for 100k views?
It’s a common question YouTube creators raise - how much does 100k views on YouTube pay? Well, as we explained earlier, if 1,000 ad views on YouTube gets you an average of $18, your 100k views on YouTube money must be $1,800. Now, let’s assume you receive 100,000 YouTube views daily; your projected yearly income can go up to $6,570.
How many Subscribers do you need for monetization?
While your subscriber count can hint at your YouTube earning potential, the real game-changer is watch time and actual viewership. More subscribers mean more people to share your new videos with, but the true income drivers are the watch time and the number of viewers your videos attract.
Take Ali Abdaal, one of the most successful YouTubers in education. Despite having over 3 million subscribers and only a little difference in the number of views, his revenue varies greatly between the two YouTube videos:
Video 1: 9 Passive Income Ideas
- Views: 9.8 million
- Watch Time: 1.1 million hours
- YouTube Revenue: $191,258.16
Video 2: How I Type Really Fast
- Views: 8.2 million
- Watch Time: 487,400 hours
- YouTube Revenue: $25,143.17
These metrics emphasize the challenge of predicting YouTube earnings solely based on subscriber numbers. It's the engagement and time spent watching that truly impact your revenue.
What's in the Cash Basket for Your New YouTube Channel?
Once you activate monetization on your channel, you can enable ads from Google and its partners on your YouTube videos, sharing the revenue they generate. Please understand that there are no guaranteed amounts or assurance of payment under the YouTube partner agreement.
Pro Tip: You can use YouTube Analytics to check your estimated revenue for insights into your potential earnings.
However, keep in mind that monthly estimated revenue is subject to adjustments. It occurs due to
- Invalid traffic,
- Content ID claims or disputes,
- Specific ad campaign types.
YouTube Payment Methods
YouTube provides creators with different ways to get paid, making it easy and quick to access their earnings. Once you earn money, YouTube pays it to your AdSense account.
From there, you can withdraw your money through direct deposit or checks. It's all about giving you flexibility in accessing the money you've earned on the platform.
Pay Frequency
YouTube pays creators their monthly earnings, but there's a catch – you must first hit a minimum payment threshold of $100. Once you reach this milestone, YouTube processes your payment the following month. For instance, if you make $100 in January, you'll get your money by the end of February.
For a hassle-free payment experience, ensure your payment info on YouTube is accurate and up-to-date. This includes things like your address and how you prefer to get paid.
Monthly Payment Cycle
With AdSense, you get paid every month. Here's how it works:
- Throughout the month, you gather your estimated earnings.
- When the new month starts, these earnings become final and appear on your Payments page.
- If your total exceeds the payment threshold and no issues are holding up, you'll get your money between the 21st and 26th of the month.
Remember, the exact timing can vary based on your timezone, whether it's a weekend or holiday, and how you've chosen to get paid.
Payment Delays
While YouTube does its best to ensure you get paid on time, there might be occasional delays for different reasons, like technical glitches or unexpected situations. Don't worry; these delays are rare but can happen.
If there's a delay, YouTube will let you know either through your AdSense account or by emailing you.
To ensure everything goes smoothly, keep an eye on your earnings and stay in the loop with YouTube's rules. They have a handy Help Center with loads of info about payments and how things work, making it easy to understand and manage your earnings.
Supercharge Your YouTube Earnings with These 5 Tips
Your content needs to be valuable and easy for people to find. Whether you're making money through ads or trying out different methods, there are smart ways to boost your earnings on YouTube.
Create Long-form Content
To maximize your YouTube earnings, consider making videos over 8 minutes long. While there's no strict rule, this duration allows for mid-roll ads, offering more revenue opportunities.
Yet, keep it engaging; viewers won't stick around for a lengthy ad if the content lacks value.
For instance, Patagonia goes beyond showcasing its popular products in its longer videos; it uses them to highlight its core message of environmental conservation.
In the 12+ minute "WolfPack" video, Patagonia features the training journey of isolated trail runners, delivering an inspiring reminder of the brand's commitment to saving the planet.
Add a Call-To-Action
You've probably heard YouTubers asking you to "smash that subscribe button" at the end of videos. It may seem cheesy, but there's a smart reason behind it. Many successful creators use this call to action to boost their viewership.
When you guide your audience on what to do, they're more likely to do it. You can take this idea further by directing them to more money-making opportunities.
Take Brian Dean from Backlinko as an example – his videos always wrap up with a graphic pointing to the subscribe button, and he encourages viewers to comment on their favorite topics.
Diversify Your Monetization Strategies
Let's talk about boosting your other revenue streams by diversifying how you make money on YouTube. One awesome way is through online courses – it's like sharing your expertise and getting paid for it! Create comprehensive and engaging courses that cater to your audience's needs.
Whether sharing specialized knowledge, teaching a skill, or providing in-depth insights, online courses offer viewers a valuable and personalized experience. Check out FreshLearn, a platform that empowers coaches and educators to monetize their knowledge by effortlessly creating videos and selling online courses.
We streamline the process with user-friendly features, allowing you to focus on delivering high-quality content while seamlessly generating income.
Design an Irresistible Thumbnail
To grow your own channel, you've got to reach new eyes, and YouTube Collab is the way to do it. Collaborating with other YouTubers exposes your content to a fresh audience. Plus, creating exciting YouTube content all the time can be a challenge, but collabs make it easier.
By teaming up, you combine different themes, making it more interesting for both fans. Check out BuzzFeed and Purina's collaboration for a perfect example – it's a smart partnership that feels genuine and not just promotional.
Devote time for SEO
Making sure your videos get noticed on YouTube is all about YouTube SEO. It's like setting up organic traffic to find your content. Get it right, and your videos will show up in searches, rank high, and get suggested to the right audience.
Now, here's the breakdown of optimizing your YouTube SEO:
- Dig into keywords – put them in your video title, file name, and description.
- Hashtags and tags are your pals – use them in your video descriptions.
- Sort your video into the correct category.
- Insert subtitles or closed captions (CC) to your video.
Yoga with Kassandra keeps it simple by creating videos on a playlist called "5-15 min Yoga Classes." The playlist description adds extra keywords like "10-minute yoga" and "bedtime yoga," making it easy for viewers to find short yoga sessions
Wrapping Up
And there you have it – the answer to "When does YouTube pay you?" Google sends payments through AdSense to eligible YouTubers in the YouTube Partner Program every month, typically between the 21st and 26th. Just make sure you meet the $100 payment threshold. If you're aiming to have multiple revenue streams, growing your channel can also be a platform to promote other ventures.
Speaking of diversifying income, platforms like FreshLearn offer a fantastic opportunity. With over 13,000 creators worldwide earning more than $20M, FreshLearn enables you to turn your skills into courses, webinars, or workshops. And what more? You can access the platform for free for up to 25 sales.
Signing up is free, and we handle the rest – so why not give it a shot and be the next success story?
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