YouTube Ads

YouTube is one of the most accessible ways to make a few extra bucks from the content you’re already creating. But unless your videos are pulling massive views, it’s not going to replace your salary anytime soon - and that’s OK. This is just one aspect of a larger monetization strategy.

What Is the YouTube Partner Program?

Before you can earn anything from YouTube ads, you need to join the YouTube Partner Program (YPP) (docs). It’s YouTube’s way of saying, “Okay, we trust you enough to run ads on your stuff.”

Once you’re in, YouTube will start running ads on your videos, and you’ll get a cut of the revenue. You can also unlock other features like channel memberships and merchandise, but ads are the first (and simplest) stream.

You can earn money from:

• Pre-roll and mid-roll ads
• YouTube Premium (revenue from paying subscribers who watch your videos)
• Channel memberships (paid subscribers for bonus perks)
• Super Chats / Stickers (if you stream)
• Merch shelf (if enabled)
• Overview of monetization features

Requirements to Join YPP

Getting monetized isn’t hard - but it’s not automatic either. You’ll need to meet some basic thresholds so YouTube knows you’re serious.

Here’s what you need:

• 1,000 subscribers
• 4,000 public watch hours in the last 12 months
  - or -
  10 million Shorts views in the last 90 days

You also need to turn on 2FA and not have any active guideline strikes.

Once you’ve crossed that line, go to YouTube Studio -> Monetization and apply. They’ll review your content, which usually takes under 30 days.

How You Actually Make Money

When you’re in the Partner Program, YouTube starts running ads on your videos. But how much you get depends on a few behind-the-scenes levers.

Each ad is sold via a real-time auction - advertisers bid to show ads to your audience. Some ads pay more than others depending on what your video is about and who’s watching it.

You earn 55% of the ad revenue, while YouTube keeps 45%.

There are two key metrics:

• CPM: Cost Per Mille - what advertisers pay for 1,000 ad impressions
• RPM: Revenue Per Mille - what you earn per 1,000 video views

Real Talk: How Much Is That?

If you get 10,000 views on a video, you might earn anywhere from $20 to $70 depending on your audience. Most IT, cybersecurity, or dev-related channels fall in the $4–$8 RPM range, which is solid.

Not bad - but not early retirement either.

What Impacts Your Revenue?

Your earnings don’t just depend on views. YouTube looks at your topic, audience, and how well your videos keep people watching. Here’s what matters most:

Your Niche (aka Topic)

Advertisers will pay more for certain topics. If you’re making videos about enterprise IT, cloud platforms, security tools, or automation - you’re in a high-value niche.

More valuable niche = higher ad bids = higher RPM.

Where Your Audience Is

Geography matters. Viewers from the US, Canada, UK, and Australia bring higher CPMs. If most of your audience is from regions like India or Brazil, your revenue per view will be lower.

Minimum Video Length

If your video is 8 minutes or longer, YouTube can insert mid-roll ads, which earn more than just pre-rolls.

Maximum Video Length

YouTube loves longer videos for ad revenue, but there’s a sweet spot. Most viewers start to drop off after 20–30 minutes, especially for technical topics. If your video goes past 30 minutes, think about splitting it into a series.

Here’s when to break it up:

• The topic naturally divides into steps or sections
• You notice viewers dropping off early (check YouTube Analytics)
• You want to target different keywords or audiences with each part

Shorter, focused videos keep people engaged and make it easier for you to cover more topics over time.

Audience Behavior

• Do people skip your video after 10 seconds?
• Do they watch until the end?
• Do they interact with it (like, comment, subscribe)?

Higher engagement means YouTube will show your video to more people - and may insert more (or better paying) ads.

How Payouts Actually Work

Once you’re earning, you’ll get paid through Google AdSense.

Here’s how it flows:

1. You connect an AdSense account to YouTube Studio
2. You set up your payout method (usually direct deposit)
3. Once you hit $100, they send the money the following month

Payouts usually happen around the 21st–26th each month.

Making the Most of Your Content

You don’t have to go viral. In fact, the best strategy for technical creators is to target niche, “searchable” topics:

• How-to videos
• Tool walkthroughs
• Comparisons (e.g. “Tailscale vs WireGuard”)
• Fixes for common errors

Even if a single video only gets 1,000–2,000 views a month, if you have 20–30 of those, the earnings start to add up - and stay consistent.

Here’s how to get the most from each one:

• Write good titles and thumbnails: Not clickbait, just clear. Use ChatGPT:
  "Improve this YouTube title for clarity and engagement: [your title here]"
• Use the description wisely: Include a real summary, relevant links, and your blog post if you have one.
• Add timestamps (chapters): Makes your content more user-friendly and shows up better in search.
• Point to your blog and GitHub: Cross-linking adds legitimacy and boosts visibility on both sides.

Common Pitfalls

It’s easy to accidentally trip over these. Here’s how to avoid them:

• Copyrighted music: Even a 3-second audio clip can kill monetization. Use YouTube’s own audio library or royalty-free tracks only.
  • Sources of Royalty-Free Music:
    • YouTube Audio Library
    • Epidemic Sound
    • Artlist
    • AutoJungle
    • FreeMusicArchive
  • Artists who specifically allow reuse:
    • Harris Heller or YouTube
    • Kevin MacLeod / Incompetech
    • Scott Holmes Music
    • Bensound
• “Reused content” strikes: Don’t recycle TikToks, use AI voiceovers without edits, or re-upload other people’s work.
• No Call To Action (CTA): Even just “If this helped, hit the Like button” at the end can help with engagement.
• Thinking ads are everything: YouTube ads are just one aspect of monetization. Don’t rely solely on them.
• Ignoring analytics: Use YouTube Analytics to understand your audience and improve your content.
• Not optimizing for search: Use relevant keywords in titles, descriptions, and tags to help people find your videos.
• Ignoring Shorts: If you’re eligible, Shorts can drive a lot of views and help you hit that 10M view threshold faster. They also have their own monetization options.
• Not engaging with your audience: Respond to comments, ask for feedback, and build a community around your content.
• Neglecting video quality: Good lighting, clear audio, and decent editing go a long way. You don’t need Hollywood production, but invest in the basics.

Beyond Ads: Stack Other Revenue

If you’re already building in public, ads are the tip of the iceberg. You can layer in:

• Affiliate links (e.g. to tools, gear, books)
• Sponsorships (once you’re consistently getting views)
• Promote your GitHub repos or your SaaS
• Direct traffic to a paid newsletter or course

Summary

Monetizing through YouTube ads is real - but it’s slower, smaller, and more tactical than most people think. If you’re an IT pro sharing useful content, it can absolutely work - but don’t build your whole plan around ad revenue.

• You need 1k subs + 4k hours (or 10M Shorts views) to start
• Tech content = higher RPM, but still modest unless you scale
• 8-minute videos unlock more earning potential
• AdSense pays once you hit $100, usually monthly
• Stack other monetization methods for real impact

If you’re already creating tutorials, walkthroughs, or explainers - getting monetized is just the next logical step.