My First Month of Monetization on YouTube: A Journey of Growth and Learning
As a new YouTuber, I was fascinated by the success stories of other creators, particularly those on a similar journey. Seeing how their channels grew over time and how monetization transformed their experience inspired me to share my own story. In this article, I will delve into my unique journey on YouTube, the evolution of my channels, and the financial aspects of my first month of monetization.
I am relatively new to YouTube, having launched my first channel, "Our Moving Castle," about a year ago, where I documented our travels in an RV with my husband and our cat. Living in an RV and trying to find a new permanent home during the pandemic led to countless experiences that I wanted to capture on camera. My personal journey into video creation began out of necessity as I sought a way to share these memories with family and friends.
Initially camera-shy and inexperienced in video editing, I took the leap when a friend encouraged me to share my insights about content creation and business strategies online. This conversation sparked the creation of my second channel, "Page Turner," where I primarily focused on helping aspiring creators launch their own online businesses.
My journey to monetization was not conventional. Each YouTuber's experience varies, but mine involved growing two channels simultaneously. After the initial struggles of gaining confidence on camera and learning video editing, I took my first step toward monetization by posting my first video on May 16, 2024—almost four months after setting up the channel. My first three videos gained modest traction, leading to 24 subscribers and 70.1 watch hours in just half a month.
To qualify for the AdSense monetization program, channels need at least 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours over the past 365 days. My first month’s performance left me far behind at just 1.7% of the watch hour target, indicating a slow start.
As my journey progressed, I refined my strategies in June, focusing on more targeted content aimed at aspiring content creators. I published four videos during that month, quickly gaining traction with my video "The Biggest Lie YouTube Coaches Tell," which unexpectedly went viral after I had taken a brief hiatus from promoting it.
By the end of June, I had increased my subscriber count to 203 and watch hours to over 328. Yet, my view duration dropped, highlighting a need for deeper engagement.
July witnessed a significant growth spurt where I uploaded more focused videos and gained 601 new subscribers, pushing my total to 804. My watch hours also surged to 1,567, indicating I was finally exceeding the required monthly pace for monetization.
Through August and September, I continued to build upon my strategy, reaching over 1,000 subscribers in August and gaining valuable insights regarding audience engagement. Although September was less fruitful in terms of watch hours than the previous month, I still broke through 1,000 subscribers, which was a significant milestone.
However, I faced a setback when trying to monetize my channel. When I applied for the AdSense program, the process was slower than expected due to complications with account verification. Even though I had hit the necessary milestones, I wasn't immediately able to start earning.
By mid-October, my AdSense account was finally set up, and November became my first full month of monetization. Surprisingly, I encountered a dip in views and impressions compared to prior months, even after posting an enormous number of videos—18 in total. Despite this, I earned $415 that month, demonstrating that even with fewer views, monetization was starting to yield results.
My earnings were influenced by several factors, including the RPM (Revenue Per Mille) and CPM (Cost Per Mille), which depend on market demand for ads adjacent to my content. The best-performing video that month generated $828, reflecting the variability in income based on content style and audience engagement.
Reflecting on my journey, I discovered that success on YouTube is a marathon, not a sprint. Each creator’s path is distinct, marked by unique trials and achievements. While my initial earnings were humble, I felt a sense of accomplishment transitioning from a creator void of monetization to seeing tangible financial rewards from my efforts.
Moving forward, I plan to enhance my content strategy, analyze performance data extensively, and engage my audience to boost both watch hours and subscriber counts effectively. I aspire to share updates in future videos outlining my ongoing growth and financial journey on YouTube.
In conclusion, monetization is just the beginning. I am eager to employ everything I've learned, continue building my audience, and explore the vast potential YouTube offers. Stay tuned for more insights into my journey!
Part 1/8:
My First Month of Monetization on YouTube: A Journey of Growth and Learning
As a new YouTuber, I was fascinated by the success stories of other creators, particularly those on a similar journey. Seeing how their channels grew over time and how monetization transformed their experience inspired me to share my own story. In this article, I will delve into my unique journey on YouTube, the evolution of my channels, and the financial aspects of my first month of monetization.
The Start of My YouTube Journey
Part 2/8:
I am relatively new to YouTube, having launched my first channel, "Our Moving Castle," about a year ago, where I documented our travels in an RV with my husband and our cat. Living in an RV and trying to find a new permanent home during the pandemic led to countless experiences that I wanted to capture on camera. My personal journey into video creation began out of necessity as I sought a way to share these memories with family and friends.
Initially camera-shy and inexperienced in video editing, I took the leap when a friend encouraged me to share my insights about content creation and business strategies online. This conversation sparked the creation of my second channel, "Page Turner," where I primarily focused on helping aspiring creators launch their own online businesses.
Part 3/8:
The Road to Monetization
My journey to monetization was not conventional. Each YouTuber's experience varies, but mine involved growing two channels simultaneously. After the initial struggles of gaining confidence on camera and learning video editing, I took my first step toward monetization by posting my first video on May 16, 2024—almost four months after setting up the channel. My first three videos gained modest traction, leading to 24 subscribers and 70.1 watch hours in just half a month.
To qualify for the AdSense monetization program, channels need at least 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours over the past 365 days. My first month’s performance left me far behind at just 1.7% of the watch hour target, indicating a slow start.
Growth Through Strategy
Part 4/8:
As my journey progressed, I refined my strategies in June, focusing on more targeted content aimed at aspiring content creators. I published four videos during that month, quickly gaining traction with my video "The Biggest Lie YouTube Coaches Tell," which unexpectedly went viral after I had taken a brief hiatus from promoting it.
By the end of June, I had increased my subscriber count to 203 and watch hours to over 328. Yet, my view duration dropped, highlighting a need for deeper engagement.
July witnessed a significant growth spurt where I uploaded more focused videos and gained 601 new subscribers, pushing my total to 804. My watch hours also surged to 1,567, indicating I was finally exceeding the required monthly pace for monetization.
Hitting Milestones
Part 5/8:
Through August and September, I continued to build upon my strategy, reaching over 1,000 subscribers in August and gaining valuable insights regarding audience engagement. Although September was less fruitful in terms of watch hours than the previous month, I still broke through 1,000 subscribers, which was a significant milestone.
However, I faced a setback when trying to monetize my channel. When I applied for the AdSense program, the process was slower than expected due to complications with account verification. Even though I had hit the necessary milestones, I wasn't immediately able to start earning.
Monetization Finally Kicks In
Part 6/8:
By mid-October, my AdSense account was finally set up, and November became my first full month of monetization. Surprisingly, I encountered a dip in views and impressions compared to prior months, even after posting an enormous number of videos—18 in total. Despite this, I earned $415 that month, demonstrating that even with fewer views, monetization was starting to yield results.
My earnings were influenced by several factors, including the RPM (Revenue Per Mille) and CPM (Cost Per Mille), which depend on market demand for ads adjacent to my content. The best-performing video that month generated $828, reflecting the variability in income based on content style and audience engagement.
Reflections and Future Plans
Part 7/8:
Reflecting on my journey, I discovered that success on YouTube is a marathon, not a sprint. Each creator’s path is distinct, marked by unique trials and achievements. While my initial earnings were humble, I felt a sense of accomplishment transitioning from a creator void of monetization to seeing tangible financial rewards from my efforts.
Moving forward, I plan to enhance my content strategy, analyze performance data extensively, and engage my audience to boost both watch hours and subscriber counts effectively. I aspire to share updates in future videos outlining my ongoing growth and financial journey on YouTube.
Part 8/8:
In conclusion, monetization is just the beginning. I am eager to employ everything I've learned, continue building my audience, and explore the vast potential YouTube offers. Stay tuned for more insights into my journey!