Introduction

As a budding content creator on YouTube, one of the most significant milestones is the ability to monetize your content. YouTube partners typically need to meet certain prerequisites—1000 subscribers and 4000 watch hours within the last 12 months—to start the process. But what about the thousands of views you gained before you were officially monetized? Do they count for earning money?

Understanding Monetization Requirements

Maintaining a YouTube channel goes beyond the simple act of uploading videos. YouTube requires creators to meet specific metrics, including having at least 1000 subscribers and a certain amount of watch hours over a 12-month period. This setup ensures that creators can offer quality content that meets YouTube's standards before being allowed to make money through ad placements.

Views Before Monetization

It is important to clarify that views you receive before reaching the monetization threshold are not included in your ad revenue. Monetization on YouTube only applies to interactions with your content after you are officially accepted into the YouTube Partner Program. Therefore, the 10,000 views you had before monetization will not contribute to your earnings. Future views, once monetization has started, are what generate revenue, assuming ads are enabled on your videos.

The Revenue Sharing Model

Once you are monetized, YouTube’s revenue-sharing model kicks in. When ads are displayed on your videos, YouTube shares a percentage of the ad revenue with you. This means that you only start earning money once your content begins to show ads, and you qualify for monetization. The other 60% goes to YouTube, with the remaining 40% shared with you if the ads are effective and viewed.

Steps to Monetization

Before you can monetize your content, you need to pass additional scrutiny. YouTube closely reviews your channel to ensure compliance with their policies, such as avoiding copyright infringement and adhering to community guidelines. This review process might take anywhere from three to four weeks. Once your channel successfully passes this review period, you can apply for the Partner Program. After approval, you will see ads on your videos, and you start receiving payments based on the view duration and the type of advertisements shown.

Conclusion

Understanding the nuances of YouTube monetization is crucial for content creators. While the views you gained before monetization don’t directly contribute to your earnings, they play an important role in the overall engagement and ranking of your content. The key is to focus on growing your subscriber base, viewer engagement, and adhering to YouTube’s policies to eventually reach the monetization threshold. Once you do, the journey toward sustainable revenue through YouTube ads begins.