Hey there, beautiful souls! ✨
Today I’m pulling back the curtain on something many content creators are curious about but might be too shy to ask directly: how long does it really take to get monetized on YouTube, and what can you actually expect to earn once you get there?
If you’ve been following my content journey, you know I’m all about transparency. The glamorous side of content creation gets plenty of airtime, but the nitty-gritty financial reality? Not so much. So consider this my contribution to demystifying the process for anyone just starting out or contemplating taking the YouTube plunge.
The Video Version
Before we dive deeper, here’s the video where I break down my entire monetization journey and share actual numbers from my first six months of being monetized. If you’re more of a visual learner, start here, then continue reading for additional insights and reflections:
What Does «Getting Monetized» Actually Mean?
For those who are brand new to the YouTube ecosystem, let’s start with the basics. Getting «monetized» means YouTube has approved your channel to display ads, allowing you to earn revenue from your content. By the end of 2022, YouTube updated their requirements to include different paths for long-form content creators versus Shorts creators:
For long-form content (traditional YouTube videos):
- 1,000 subscribers
- 4,000 watch hours
For Shorts creators:
- 1,000 subscribers
- 10 million Shorts views
Meeting these thresholds doesn’t automatically guarantee riches (spoiler alert: far from it!), but it does open the door to start generating some income from your creative work.
My Timeline to Monetization
I posted my first video on this channel in October 2020 and achieved monetization status in June 2021—roughly nine months later. From what I’ve observed in the creator community, this was actually pretty quick; most creators take anywhere from one to two and a half years to reach monetization requirements, with the average hovering around 18 months.
How I Got There Faster
I’ll be completely honest: I had an advantage that new creators typically don’t have. By the time I launched this English-language channel, I had already been creating content for over ten years—starting with my blog back in May 2010 and later adding a Spanish-language YouTube channel in 2015.
This meant that when I posted my very first video here, I already had an audience of about 150 subscribers ready to support me. Not all of my Spanish-speaking followers made the jump to this English content, of course, but that initial foundation certainly helped.
Two key strategies propelled me toward monetization:
- Creating highly searchable content: My second video was an NYC apartment tour—a topic that consistently performs well on YouTube. People are naturally curious about how others live, especially in notoriously expensive cities like New York. This video contributed significantly to my watch time hours.
- Collaborating with other creators: Working with other content creators who had established audiences helped expose my channel to new viewers. One collaboration with a popular Argentine creator became my most-viewed video, generating over 24,000 views and approximately 1,200 watch hours—about a quarter of what I needed for monetization!
The Reality Check: My First Six Months of Earnings
Now for the part most creators are hesitant to share—the actual numbers. Here’s a month-by-month breakdown of what YouTube paid me during my first six months:
- June 2021: $3.48 (partial month, monetized on June 15)
- July 2021: $3.87
- August 2021: $9.44
- September 2021: $4.12
- October 2021: $6.52
- November 2021: $4.00
- December 2021: $3.52 (posted zero videos this month)
Grand total for six months: $35.00
Hardly quit-your-day-job money, right? But understanding why the numbers looked this way is important.
The Geography Factor: Why My CPM Was Low
A major factor in my modest earnings was the geographical location of my viewers. Since many of my initial subscribers came from my previous Spanish content, they were primarily located in Argentina and other Latin American countries.
This matters because advertisers pay significantly less for ad impressions in these markets compared to the US or Europe. My average CPM (Cost Per Mille, or what advertisers pay per thousand impressions) during these six months was just $7.88—considerably lower than the $10-40 CPM that channels with primarily US-based audiences might enjoy.
So while my pre-existing audience helped me reach monetization faster, it actually worked against me once monetized since it resulted in lower-paying advertisements.
My Top Earning Videos
Of the $35 I earned during these first six months, here’s what generated the most revenue:
- NYC Apartment Tour: $7.00
- Long Island City Queens Guide: $4.31
- How to Work with Brands as a Small Creator: $3.00
- One Year Anniversary on YouTube: $3.00
- A Week in My Life in Germany: $2.00
Notice a pattern? The videos that performed best financially were those that either appealed to a US-based audience or covered topics with higher commercial intent (like working with brands).
What I Could Have Done Better
Looking back, there are definitely areas where I could have improved:
- Consistency: Even in my most active months, I only posted 3-4 videos. There were months like December where I posted nothing at all. For optimal growth, posting at least once a week would have been better.
- Strategic content planning: While I created content I enjoyed, I could have been more strategic about developing videos that would appeal to higher-paying ad markets.
- Audience building: I could have focused more deliberately on growing my audience in regions with better ad rates.
What This Means For You
If you’re just starting your YouTube journey, I want you to take away a few important points:
1. Be Realistic About Timelines
Getting monetized takes time—likely at least a year, possibly two or more. Even after monetization, don’t expect significant income right away. This is a marathon, not a sprint.
2. Start for the Right Reasons
If making money is your primary motivation, you’re likely to get frustrated quickly. The most successful creators start because they genuinely love creating content and have something meaningful to share.
3. Consider Your Target Audience
The geographical location of your viewers significantly impacts your earning potential. Content targeting audiences in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and Western Europe generally commands higher ad rates.
4. Consistency Matters
Regular uploads signal to YouTube that your channel is active and worthy of promotion. Try to establish a sustainable posting schedule that you can maintain.
5. Play the Long Game
Building a profitable YouTube channel takes years, not months. Focus on creating value, building connections with your audience, and improving your craft. The money will follow—eventually.
Final Thoughts
I want to emphasize that while my first six months of monetization didn’t exactly fund a lavish lifestyle, that wasn’t the point. Creating content has brought me opportunities, connections, and personal fulfillment that far outweigh the modest early paychecks.
Over time, as my channel has grown and my audience has expanded more into the US market, my revenue has increased significantly. But that growth came from consistently showing up, creating content I believed in, and nurturing genuine connections with my audience.
So if you’re sitting there wondering if you should start that YouTube channel—yes, absolutely! Just do it because you love it, not because you’re expecting overnight success or instant riches.
Are you a creator just starting out or recently monetized? I’d love to hear about your journey in the comments below! And if you found this breakdown helpful, please consider subscribing to my channel for more behind-the-scenes content creation insights.
Until next time,
Flor 💕
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