YouTube Monetization in 2025: How to Monetize Your Channel (Guide for Small Creators)
YouTube’s monetization system in 2025 gives small creators more opportunities than ever to earn money from videos and Shorts.
Ever dreamt of making money on YouTube? You’re not alone! YouTube monetization simply means earning income from your YouTube videos – and by 2025, it’s more achievable than ever for beginner YouTubers and small creators. In this guide, we’ll break down YouTube monetization requirements 2025, explain how to monetize both long-form videos and YouTube Shorts, and share friendly tips (with real examples) to help you start earning. Grab a snack, and let’s dive in with a casual, narrative walkthrough of monetizing your YouTube channel!
YouTube Monetization Requirements in 2025 📈
First, let’s talk about the basic hurdles you need to clear to monetize your channel. To join the YouTube Partner Program (YPP) – which is the main way to earn from ads – you traditionally need to hit two key milestones :
1,000 Subscribers: You need at least 1,000 people subscribed to your channel. This shows you have a real audience who enjoys your content.
4,000 Watch Hours: You also need 4,000 valid public watch hours on your long-form videos in the past 12 months. This means people have collectively watched 4,000 hours of your content in the last year. (Keep in mind, watch time from YouTube Shorts doesn’t count toward this 4,000-hour goal .)
Alternatively, YouTube offers a second path if you create Shorts: you can qualify with 10 million valid public Shorts views in the last 90 days, plus the same 1,000 subscribers . Yes, that’s 10 million – short videos can rack up views quickly, so the bar is high but achievable for viral short content.
✅ Latest 2025 Update: The good news is YouTube has lowered the bar for new creators in many regions. In 2023, YouTube introduced an expanded YPP with earlier access to monetization features . Now you can start unlocking some monetization tools with: 500 subscribers, 3 public video uploads in the last 90 days, and either 3,000 watch hours (past year) or 3 million Shorts views (90 days) . This new threshold (500 subs + 3k hours/3M Shorts views) gives you access to fan-funding features like channel memberships, Super Chat, Super Stickers, and more – even before you hit the full 1000/4000 requirement . It’s a huge boost for small creators! (Note: These expanded criteria are rolling out country by country , so check if it’s available in your region.)
In summary, as of 2025 the core YouTube monetization requirements are:
Full YPP (ad revenue sharing): 1,000 subs + 4,000 hours (last 12 mo.) OR 1,000 subs + 10M Shorts views (90 days) .
Expanded YPP (fan funding only): 500 subs + 3 uploads (90 days) + 3,000 hours or 3M Shorts views (90 days) . (This unlocks monetization features like memberships and Shopping, but ad revenue sharing only starts once you reach the full YPP criteria .)
Don’t Forget the Rules & Policies🛡️
To monetize on YouTube in 2025, creators must follow strict content and copyright policies – meeting the rules is just as important as hitting subscriber or watch hour goals.
Meeting the numbers is half the battle – you also must follow YouTube’s monetization policies and guidelines. That means no community guidelines strikes, adhere to copyright rules, and only upload advertiser-friendly content . Keep your nose clean (no cheating with bots or reused content) and enable two-step verification on your Google account to keep it secure . Essentially, play by the rules and YouTube will reward you when you hit those milestones!
Monetizing Long-Form Videos vs. YouTube Shorts 🎬➡️📱
Now that you know what it takes, let’s explore how monetization works for traditional longer videos versus YouTube Shorts.
Long-Form Videos (Regular YouTube uploads): Once you’re in the YPP, you can turn on ads for your videos. You earn money whenever viewers see or click on those ads. Longer videos (8+ minutes) can have multiple ad breaks, which can increase your revenue. Creators typically earn anywhere from $1 to $30 per 1,000 views (RPM) on long videos depending on their niche and audience . Also, longer videos might attract higher watch time per viewer – helping you reach that 4,000-hour requirement faster.
YouTube Shorts Monetization: Shorts are those vertical, under-60-second videos. Monetizing Shorts works a bit differently. Shorts views don’t add to your 4,000 hours, but if you hit 10M Shorts views in 90 days you can qualify for full YPP via the “Shorts route” . Starting in 2023, once you’re in the YPP, YouTube began sharing ad revenue from ads shown between Shorts in the feed . Important: The ad revenue from Shorts is pooled and split among creators, so the payout per view is much lower than for long videos. Reports show creators earning around 1–6 cents per 1,000 Shorts views (yes, just a few pennies) . For example, 1 million Shorts views might earn on the order of only $10–$60 . So, Shorts can explode your subscriber count and view counts, but they’re not a big money-maker per view compared to longer content. Think of Shorts as a great tool for growth – they can hook new viewers who might then watch your longer videos or subscribe.
Bottom line: A balanced strategy often works best. Use Shorts to gain quick exposure and subscribers, and long-form videos to provide depth, watch time, and better ad revenue. In fact, many creators repurpose content: e.g. take highlights from a long video and post them as Shorts to attract viewers, who then check out the full video. (Pro tip: This cross-pollination can speed up your journey to both 1,000 subs and 4,000 hours!)
Tips to Meet YouTube Monetization Milestones 💡
Reaching 1,000 subs and 4,000 hours (or those new 2025 criteria) might feel daunting, but you can do it with a smart approach! Here are some actionable tips and friendly advice for new creators:
Create Consistently (and Start Small): Consistency is everything. Aim to upload videos on a regular schedule (say, one or two per week). Regular uploads keep viewers engaged and attract new ones. Don’t worry about perfection in the beginning – even top YouTubers started with simple videos. Just get content out there and improve as you go.
Focus on a Niche You Love: Pick a topic or niche you’re passionate about, whether it’s tech gadgets, makeup, cooking, or gaming. A clear niche helps you attract a dedicated audience. Example: A small cooking channel that consistently posts easy 5-minute recipes can slowly build a loyal foodie audience. When viewers know what to expect from your channel, they’re more likely to subscribe.
Optimize for Clicks and Watch Time: Use catchy titles, clear thumbnails, and engaging intros to grab attention. Encourage viewers to watch longer by delivering value or entertainment throughout the video. High audience retention (people watching most of your video) signals YouTube to promote your content more, which means more views and watch hours. Also, don’t be shy to ask viewers to subscribe in your videos – a simple call-to-subscribe can remind those who enjoyed your video to support your channel.
Leverage YouTube Shorts for Growth: Shorts are your fast-track to exposure. A single Short that goes viral can net you thousands of new subscribers overnight. For instance, one creator reported that posting one Short every day for a week noticeably boosted his subs – one of his Shorts got 14K views, and “publishing Shorts certainly helped with the final push to 1,000 subscribers.” 🎉. Even if Shorts don’t pay much, they are fantastic for reaching new viewers. Use them to showcase quick highlights or tips related to your niche. Tip: If a particular Short performs well, consider making a full-length video on that topic to satisfy the interest of those new viewers.
Engage with Your Community: Reply to comments, ask questions in your video to prompt comments, and build a community around your channel. Engaged viewers are more likely to watch more of your content (boosting watch time) and share your videos. Going live occasionally or posting in the Community tab (once unlocked) can also deepen the connection with your audience. Loyal fans will help champion your channel’s growth.
Collaborate and Network: Team up with other small YouTubers in your niche. Collabs can introduce your content to another creator’s audience and vice versa. It’s a win-win and can accelerate subscriber growth for both parties. Just make sure any collaboration is a good fit and brings value to viewers.
Patience, Learning & Adaptation: Growing on YouTube can take time. If a video doesn’t perform well, don’t be discouraged – treat it as a learning experience. Pay attention to which videos get more views or higher watch duration, and try to repeat that success. Every creator’s journey is a bit different, but one trait common to those who succeed is perseverance. Keep learning (there are tons of free tutorials and the official YouTube Creators channel with tips) and keep adapting your content strategy.
Real-world reality check: It typically takes some time to hit these milestones. On average, it might take many months to a year of consistent effort to reach 1,000 subs. And even after hitting 1k subs, remember you need the watch hours or Shorts views. One creator hit 1,000 subs thanks to Shorts, but realized he was only about halfway to 4,000 hours of watch time – meaning he needed to focus on longer content to meet the full monetization criteria. So, if you find yourself in a similar boat (lots of subs from Shorts but low watch hours), start creating some longer videos to boost that watch time, or continue pushing for that Shorts view threshold.
More Ways to Monetize Your YouTube Channel 💰
Beyond ad revenue, YouTube offers creators multiple monetization features like memberships, Super Chats, and merch — all helping turn views into real income.
Once you meet the requirements and get monetized, congratulations – that green dollar sign will appear next to your videos! But ads aren’t the only way to make money on YouTube. As a new member of YPP, you can diversify your income with these features (especially useful as your channel grows):
Channel Memberships: Viewers can pay a monthly fee to join your channel as members, gaining special perks (like loyalty badges, custom emojis, or exclusive content). Even with a smaller audience, if you have super-fans, this can bring steady income and strengthen your community.
Super Chat & Super Stickers: If you do live streams or premieres, fans can purchase Super Chats or Stickers to have their messages highlighted. It’s a fun way for viewers to support you during live sessions (and for you to earn some extra cash).
Super Thanks: This is like a tip jar for regular videos – viewers can click a “Thanks” button and donate a few bucks, and their comment gets highlighted. It’s a neat way to earn from engaged viewers on any video, not just live streams.
Merchandise Shelf: If you have merchandise (t-shirts, mugs, etc.), YouTube allows eligible channels to showcase official merch right below your videos. Even as a small creator, you could design simple merch for your brand – your most loyal fans might love to buy something to support you.
Affiliate Marketing & Brand Deals: You don’t have to rely only on YouTube’s built-in monetization. Consider joining affiliate programs (promote products in your video descriptions and earn a commission per sale) or working with brands on sponsorships once your channel has some following. Even a channel with a few thousand subscribers can sometimes get free products or small sponsorships if you’re in a particular niche (for example, a tech gear company might sponsor a review video). Just be transparent with your audience when you do sponsored content.
Remember, diversifying income streams can make your YouTube venture more sustainable. Many full-time YouTubers earn through a combination of AdSense (ads), fan funding, merch, and sponsorships. You can start small – maybe add an affiliate link or two for products you truly recommend – and build up over time.
Conclusion: Ready, Set, Monetize! 🚀
Monetizing your YouTube channel is a journey, but every big creator starts somewhere. With YouTube’s monetization requirements in 2025, small creators have more opportunity than ever to start earning – even at 500 subscribers you can begin unlocking features . The key is to focus on creating great content and building an audience. Stay consistent, use Shorts and long videos to your advantage, and engage with your viewers.
Most importantly, don’t give up. The road to 1,000 subs and beyond might take time, but imagine the reward: getting that email saying “Congratulations, your channel is now monetized!” It’s absolutely achievable with patience and persistence. So keep experimenting, keep improving, and enjoy the process. Who knows – your channel could be the next success story we talk about!
Call to Action: Ready to turn your passion into profit? Start implementing these tips today. Hit that record button, upload your next video, and inch closer to your monetization goals. Whether you’re vlogging, gaming, teaching, or creating Shorts, 2025 is a great year to grow on YouTube. Good luck, and happy creating! 🎉
I’d love to hear from you if you have thoughts, comments or want to hear more about how we help creators grow their audience! email me anytime at andrew@gotrovio.com
