The Complete Guide: What to Do After Your YouTube Channel Gets Monetized

Dr. Anubhav Gupta
5 days ago
8 min read

Hitting the YouTube monetization threshold (1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours) is an exciting milestone. However, it does not automatically mean your earnings will skyrocket. On average, channels around this size might make just $50–$100 per month. Instead, it’s up to you to grow your audience, improve content quality, and explore new monetization strategies to truly increase your YouTube earnings. By understanding how ad revenue works (it depends on watch time and engagement), you’ll know where to focus your efforts.

Optimize Your Content & SEO

Your video’s metadata and presentation can make a big difference in reach and earnings. Use relevant keywords in your title, description, and tags so YouTube’s algorithm can match your video to viewers’ searches. Adding subtitles or closed captions is also valuable: transcripts help search engines index your content while improving accessibility. Craft eye-catching thumbnails with bold images (and minimal text) and clear, intriguing titles to maximize click-through rate (CTR).

Some key YouTube SEO tips:

Keyword-rich metadata: Use keyword-rich titles, descriptions, and tags. The algorithm relies on metadata (titles, tags, and descriptions) to recommend videos.
Subtitles and Captions: Add subtitles/closed captions. Captions not only help viewers but also give YouTube more text to rank your video.
Thumbnails: Create compelling thumbnails. Bright images with minimal text (show your face or a clear hook) greatly improve CTR.
Strong Intros: Hook viewers early. A strong intro in the first few seconds promises that the video will deliver on its title and increases watch time.
Cards and End Screens: Use cards and end screens. Adding cards and outro links to related videos keeps people watching longer.

Engage and Grow Your Audience

Building an audience is crucial after monetization. Uploading quality videos on a consistent schedule keeps viewers returning. Engage directly with your community: reply to comments, host live streams, and use community posts (polls, etc.) to build loyalty. Collaborations with other YouTubers in or around your niche can introduce your channel to new viewers. Always encourage subscriptions and notifications (for example, by pointing out your subscribe button) to grow your base.

Key engagement tactics:

Post regularly: A consistent upload schedule (weekly or biweekly) signals reliability and helps grow your subscriber base.
Interact with viewers: Thank fans in comments and live streams to foster a loyal community.
Collaborate: Partnering with similar creators exposes your channel to new audiences.
Optimize titles/thumbnails: Even after monetization, improving CTR with compelling visuals drives more views.

Diversify Your Revenue Streams

AdSense ad revenue is just one piece of the puzzle. As soon as you join the YouTube Partner Program, unlock additional income methods. Seek sponsorship deals with brands relevant to your niche and include affiliate links to products you trust. Many creators also make money by selling merchandise (t-shirts, mugs, etc.) to their fans. If eligible, enable Channel Memberships (fan subscriptions) or use Patreon: loyal viewers pay a monthly fee for exclusive perks.

Diversification strategies:

Sponsorships/Affiliates: Partner with brands or join affiliate programs to earn commissions from product promotions.
Merchandise: Sell your own branded gear (t-shirts, prints, etc.) to fans for extra income.
Channel Memberships/Patreon: Offer monthly fan tiers with exclusive badges, emojis, or early videos for a subscription fee.
Super Chats & Crowdfunding: Encourage donations during livestreams and set up Patreon/Buy Me a Coffee for viewer support.
Short-form content (Shorts): While Shorts pay less per view, they can spike exposure. Use Shorts to attract new viewers who can then subscribe to your longer, monetized content.

Leverage Analytics to Refine Your Strategy

YouTube Analytics provides a data-driven roadmap. The Revenue tab breaks down your earnings by video and income source (ads, Premium, memberships, Super Chats, merchandise). The Top Earning Content report shows which videos bring in the most money, helping you focus on high-return topics. Meanwhile, the Traffic Sources and Research reports reveal how viewers find your videos – which search terms, playlists, or external sites drive traffic. Monitor metrics like CTR and audience retention; if certain videos underperform, refine their thumbnails or titles next time.

Step-by-Step: Grow Your Revenue After Monetization

Audit Your Channel: Turn on monetization for all videos and connect AdSense. Check YouTube Analytics for your top-performing videos and main traffic sources.
Plan Your Content: Create a schedule with topics your audience loves. Aim for videos longer than 8 minutes so you can insert mid-roll ads at natural breakpoints.
Optimize SEO: Perform keyword research before uploading. Use target keywords in your title, description, and tags. Make sure your title and thumbnail accurately represent the video to improve CTR.
Engage and Promote: Always include a call-to-action (like/subscribe) and link to related videos via cards and end screens. Share your videos on social media or collaborate with other channels to expand your reach.
Diversify Income: Implement additional revenue streams. Add channel memberships or Patreon tiers with perks. Launch a merch store or join affiliate networks for products you endorse.
Review and Iterate: After each video, check performance. If a video underperforms, tweak its thumbnail or title. Double down on topics with high watch time and earnings. Stay updated on YouTube’s policies and trends to keep your strategy fresh.

Following these steps consistently will help turn that monetization milestone into real revenue growth.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the first thing I should do after my channel gets monetized?

A: Verify that monetization is enabled on all your videos and your AdSense account is connected. Then immediately focus on growth: improve your SEO, commit to a consistent upload schedule, and engage your existing audience. Remember, earnings depend on views and engagement – hitting the subscriber threshold alone isn’t enough.

Q: How can I increase my YouTube earnings after reaching 1,000 subscribers?

A: Diversify beyond ad revenue. Explore sponsorship deals and affiliate marketing, and consider selling merchandise or offering channel memberships. At the same time, improve your content’s performance with SEO best practices, engaging thumbnails, and clear titles to attract more viewers.

Q: Is getting 1,000 subscribers enough to earn a lot on YouTube?

A: Not typically. As noted above, channels with around 1,000 subscribers often earn only $50–$100 per month. To significantly boost earnings, you need to grow your viewership and watch time through the strategies outlined here.

Q: What are some effective YouTube monetization strategies?

A: Build multiple income streams. In addition to AdSense ads, use channel memberships, branded merchandise, affiliate links, and sponsorships. Also focus on maximizing watch time and engagement – for example, enable mid-roll ads in longer videos (over 8 minutes) to increase ad revenueHitting the YouTube monetization threshold (1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours) is an exciting milestone. However, it does not automatically mean your earnings will skyrocket. On average, channels around this size might make just $50–$100 per month. Instead, it’s up to you to grow your audience, improve content quality, and explore new monetization strategies to truly increase your YouTube earnings. By understanding how ad revenue works (it depends on watch time and engagement), you’ll know where to focus your efforts.