I got MONETIZED as fast as I could - HERE'S HOW

Introduction

I recently received an email from YouTube confirming that my channel is now monetized. This is particularly exciting because I only started my channel six weeks ago! I documented the entire process, and in this article, I will share how I achieved this in such a short period.

The Journey to Monetization

To give you a bit of background, I embarked on this challenge to see how quickly I could get monetized on YouTube. My initial goal wasn't to get monetized for the sake of it; rather, it was to build a community of engaged viewers who were genuinely interested in the content I created.

Growing a YouTube channel is notoriously difficult, with countless creators putting in huge amounts of effort without success. When I researched how to monetize your channel, I noticed something: if I started from scratch, I could try out methods that do not necessarily align with conventional wisdom. For instance, I decided not to focus on searches, promotion outside YouTube, or chasing subscribers.

Setting Goals

The primary goal I set was to develop a community of "mega fans." These are the kinds of viewers who are likely to engage with content, watch videos to completion, and come back for more. I also aimed to achieve more unique return viewers in a 28-day period than I had subscribers. Return viewers tend to represent a strong community, and increasing that number could help my channel grow significantly.

Strategy for Success

I formulated a strategy centered on understanding traffic sources on YouTube, primarily suggested views, which often outperform search results. For this, I shifted my approach from making videos primarily for search optimization to creating engaging content aimed at actual viewers.

Building an Avatar

To create content that resonates, I developed viewer avatars by examining their fears, frustrations, interests, and demographics. This involved considering what potential viewers might care about in great detail. By understanding their needs, I could craft titles that appeal more to emotions rather than just algorithmic keywords.

For example, if I planned to make a video about recruitment, rather than using the generic title "How to Hire a New Recruit," I might create something more intriguing like "Doing This Repels Top Talent." Titles tailored to viewer interests tend to generate more clicks.

Content Creation

After pinpointing what my potential viewers wanted, I started developing a series of videos. I released a news-targeted video to kick things off, followed by content based on evergreen search terms and then addressing viewer frustrations. Not every video performed as expected initially, but some started gaining traction and gathering more views through browsing and suggested features.

Results

Six weeks later, YouTube emailed me the great news about my monetization status! The channel generated around £263 in ad revenue, a bit over $ 370. Importantly, my return viewer count exceeded that of my subscribers, and I received numerous sponsorship emails from brands interested in collaborating with me.

While my journey was successful, I must be honest: I actually started two different channels. The second channel followed a traditional search-based strategy. Despite ranking well and garnering a fair few views, it amassed zero subscribers after four months.

Takeaways

This experience underscores the importance of understanding your audience and creating content that resonates emotionally. It also highlights that niche selection and market research can significantly impact growth rates.

If you're serious about making impactful videos, consider focusing on viewer interests instead of chasing perfect algorithms. Remember, while the journey can vary based on prior experience and niche competition, refining your approach can lead to impressive results.

Keywords

• YouTube Monetization
• Community Building
• Viewer Avatar
• Suggested Views
• Content Creation
• Sponsored Videos
• Market Research

FAQ

Q: How long did it take to get monetized on YouTube?
A: It took six weeks to achieve monetization on my new channel.

Q: What was the primary goal for starting the YouTube channel?
A: The primary goal was to build a community of engaged viewers rather than just focusing on monetization.

Q: How did you determine what content to create?
A: I created viewer avatars to understand my audience's interests and frustrations, which helped in crafting engaging content titles.

Q: Did you promote your videos outside of YouTube?
A: No, I focused on creating content solely for YouTube and did not promote my videos on external platforms.

Q: What did the analytics look like after monetization?
A: After monetization, the channel generated approximately £263 in ad revenue, and my return viewers consistently surpassed my subscriber count.