How To Get 4000 Hours Of Watch Time On YouTube (Small YouTuber)

 

With the new rules YouTube has implemented on the platform you now have to have 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 hours of watch time (240,000 minutes) to be a partner and get monetized on YouTube. The 1,000 subscribers actually isn't the hard part it will take time but with consistency you will make it. But getting 4,000 hours of watch time is the hard part. If you break it down you will be able to digest it better.

4,000 hours of watch time broken down into 12 months is 333.333 so you need 334 hours of watch time a month or more. I was lucky because I was doing YouTube very heavy at the time and Mukbang videos were super popular so I barely made it but I was able to get the 4,000 hours. I have slowed down since 2017-2018 on YouTube but here are some things you can do to reach this goal to get monetized:

Record Longer Videos

Yes! Instead of those 3-5 minute quick uploads try to make your uploads 10 minutes or longer. It gives you more of a chance to get more watch time with each viewer that clicks your video

Create Playlist

Separate your videos into categories and make playlist. I have a playlist for every genre of video I've ever made Mukbang, Vlog, DIY even one that just Random. You never know who might want to watch all your Story Times or just Vlogs. Plus a playlist will play every video in that playlist so someone might watch 10 videos straight of you cooking!

Leave Comments

Leaving comments is a great way to communicate with other YouTubers like yourself. I like to leave comments on smaller channels. There is a greater chance they will come back and leave a comment also. It doesn't matter if they do or don't your now being seen in the comment section. You never know who might click on your channel so make sure your comments are good not just "Nice Video" take the chance to say something witty or conversational.

Promote Your Channel

Tell people you do YouTube! You don't know how many times I told people I do YouTube and they look up my channel right in front of me and start watching (It's kind of weird when people do that) People are nosey and want the tea. They want to know what you are doing on YouTube it's curiosity. So don't be shy! Even get a hat or a t-shirt made and wear it to an event. Order or make some cheap cards with all your info on it (YouTube, Blog, Depop, Online Store) pass them out wherever you go! You'll be surprised at the people that will support what your doing.

Collab With Other YouTubers

I don't care if a person has 5 subscribers and you have 15 don't worry about that. The focus should be on consistent content. The more you collab with other people the more your getting exposed to different audiences. If the person has a bigger platform that's great but even if you have the same amount or they have less subscribers I would still take the opportunity to work with another YouTuber for exposure and experience. Who knows you might have a ongoing relationship after you make content.

Use End Cards

When your watching a YouTube video at the end there are these boxes that come up that go to your other videos and back to your channel. You have to add them to the end of the video when your uploading in your YouTube dashboard. It's very easy and I suggest to put them on every video. Instead of your video ending and going to another channel there is a higher chance of the viewer staying on your channel to see what else you have to offer.

Share On Social Media

This is a big one! You can definitely drive your own traffic with social media. Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, Facebook, Pinterest there are so many ways to promote your channel on all of these platforms. After every upload there should definitely be a little promotion of the video afterwards. Even send it in a text message alerting the person your video is posted. But don't be annoying and spam that can get you blocked. 

Go Live

Livestreaming is huge right now! And it's a great way to get more views and videos. Live works for you in two ways. You get the views and watch time from the people on the livestream in real time then if you keep the video you will get playbacks from viewers who missed it and want to see what happened. Livestreaming was a big way I was able to get my 4,000 hours I would livestream like every night.

There it is (8) ways I got to 4,000 hours of watch time on YouTube! If you have any other ways please feel free to leave a comment. Thank you for reading and let's get these hours people!