Hey, đź‘‹ it's Jonathan -
This week's issue is sponsored by VidIQ. Ready to grow your YouTube channel and reach monetization faster? VidIQ’s powerful tools help you master catchy titles, perfect thumbnails, and optimize videos to beat the algorithm. Get your free trial here.
The YouTube Dream: From Zero to Monetization
Earlier this year, I set out to hit YouTube monetization. While I already earned affiliate income through my channel, I wasn’t earning from ads. Here’s what it took to make it happen.
- Requirements to Monetize:
- 1,000 subscribers
- 4,000 watch hours OR 10M YouTube Shorts views in 90 days
I had over 4,000+ subscribers but was 50 hours short of eligibility. My plan? Publish more videos, faster.
VidIQ played a huge role in my strategy. It helped me with:
- Topic and headline ideas
- Scoring my titles and thumbnails for better clicks
Within 60 days, I hit those final 50 hours and unlocked monetization!
Decoding the Algorithm: 7 Secrets That Worked
Here are the exact strategies that helped me boost views and revenue:
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Catchier Titles: Use tools like VidIQ to aim for a title score of 90+. More on how I do this below.
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Better Thumbnails: Skip text-heavy designs. Add short, bold text that grabs attention.
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Hook the Audience in 10 Seconds: Deliver an engaging opening that makes viewers stay. Use ChatGPT to help you come up with a catchy opening hook to draw the viewer into your video.
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Get to the Point in 30 Seconds: No fluff! Dive into the content immediately. Don't ramble but get to the point early in your video.
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Ask for Engagement: Invite likes and subscriptions halfway through the video. I will say something like: "Are you enjoying the content so far? If so, let me know! Hit the like button, subscribe, or even hit the bell notification so you'll be notified when a new video drops!"
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Use VidIQ’s Video Ideas Section: Find relevant topics your audience is searching for. When you connect your YouTube channel to the VidIQ tool it will suggest daily video ideas customized to YOUR channel!
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Leverage the End Screen Feature: Guide viewers to your next video with compelling teasers. This was BIG for me. At the end of your video, recommend another one of your videos that they should watch. Use the END SCREEN feature in YouTube channel to add this to your video (see image below).
The Thumbnail Trick That Doubled My CTR
At first, I used my video titles on thumbnails. Big mistake!
After switching to catchy, minimalist text, I saw my click-through rate soar.
Here’s an example:
Old Thumbnail: Title text and generic design – meh. VidIQ gave it a low score. Notice that the video has had 5,340 views, but that is over two years! (see image below)
New Thumbnail: Simple headline, eye-catching colors – winner! VidIQ gave it a high score. Notice that the video has 2,948 views already in just the first 15 days! (see image below)
That is the power of optimizing your titles and thumbnails! Try VidIQ for free to see how your own designs stack up.
Resources
Here’s what’s new this week:
- đź“š Free Kindle Books: Writing fiction & publishing tips. Grab them here.
- 🎥 New YouTube Video: "Best LinkedIn AI Content Writing Tool?" Watch now.
- ✍️ New Medium Article: "YouTube Payday Revealed." Read it here.
Here’s to your next video crushing it on YouTube!
Your Message Matters,
Jonathan Milligan
PS. Want to learn how to use my complete step-by-step YouTube system? I sat down recently and recorded an entire course from beginning to getting monetized. Until December 26th, you can grab it at 50% off with this special link.
