YouTube is a huge platform that can be used to build your brand and create content. The site offers a variety of different ways for you to promote your videos and generate income from them. However, in order to monetize your channel and earn money from your content, you need to reach certain milestones. One of the most important is acquiring 4,000 watch hours on your YouTube channel.
Many YouTube creators have spent a year or more trying to achieve this goal. It’s an achievement that is well worth the time and effort, though, because it allows you to apply for the YouTube Partner Program and monetize your videos with ads.
You can easily check your watch hours on YouTube by visiting the YouTube Analytics tab and clicking on the video you want to view the watch hours for. This is a good way to monitor how far you’ve come in accumulating the 4,000 hours you need to become a member of the YouTube Partner Program, as well as seeing how your videos are performing overall.
If you have a lot of videos, you can also use the YouTube “Time Watched” feature to track how much time people are spending watching your videos. This is helpful if you’re trying to encourage viewers to watch your videos for longer durations, as it will help you determine if your strategy is effective.
Creating long, engaging videos is one of the best ways to increase your watch hours on YouTube. These videos are more likely to rank higher in search and get promoted on the platform’s homepage and in the Suggested Video sidebar.
The best way to do this is to create videos that are engaging and have a unique topic. For example, if you’re a chef and you’re sharing cooking tips with your audience, consider creating a video that is about preparing a meal from scratch.
Another great way to increase your watch hours on YouTube is by publishing a new video as a “premier” or live-stream. These videos are like a “watch party” for your new video, and they’re sure to generate initial views that you can leverage in the future.
When you publish a premiere, YouTube will live-stream it to viewers at the time you set. The live-stream will only last for a limited amount of time, but this can be a great way to build interest in your content and get your audience excited about your new videos.
Adding a “Watch Me” button to your videos can also help you increase watch hours on your videos. This will encourage viewers to subscribe to your channel and watch your videos more frequently, which is a great way to build engagement with your audience.
You can also get your audience engaged with your videos by making them participate in giveaways and other interactive activities. These activities can generate additional views and watch time on your videos, which are key to reaching 4,000 hours. watch hours youtube