Are you looking to monetize your streaming content? Do you have what it takes to reach affiliate status on YouTube?
We dive into all the requirements on to how to reach affiliate status on YouTube.
Wait, YouTube has an affiliate program?
Ok, you got us. YouTube doesn’t have an affiliate program in the same way that Twitch does. Or at least it isn’t called an affiliate program. Which also means you don’t really hit an “affiliate status,” so to say.
YouTube’s “affiliate” program is called the YouTube Partner Program, or YPP. The YPP works like an affiliate program, though, and allows creators to monetize their content by adding “ads” and cutting into YouTube’s advertising revenue.
But joining the YPP isn’t an easy feat. Accepting the fact that you’ll need to sell out to buy better gear to create better content is the easy part. The challenge is getting to a point where you qualify for the YPP program.
We review the requirements of the YPP and all the restrictions associated with joining YouTube’s ad-sharing program.
YouTube’s YPP requirements
First, you’ll need to hit YouTube’s “partner” status threshold before reaching affiliate status. This includes: Having 4,000 hours viewed in the last 12 months. These must be valid hours viewed, as in, YouTube will verify the IP addresses that view your content, so you and your friend re-watching your greatest hits from your gaming PC won’t do the trick.
Have 1,000 or more subscribers. Yes, this one is a steep hill to climb. However, there are some great resources to learn more about gaining subscribers. Discord, in particular, is a great place to start. You’ll need to visit Discord to create an account and search for streaming communities. The Small Streaming Community is an excellent resource for new streamers. The host there does an incredible job and facilitates a healthy place to talk about streaming, with advice coming directly from small streamers.
Live in a region where the program is available. This means Russia is out. Sorry folks. We already miss Nix Ru.
Have no active Community Guidelines strikes against your channel. And if you’re unfamiliar with how the strike process works, we highly recommend you get acquainted sooner rather than later. Just 3 of these in 90 days can result in your channel getting shut down permanently.
Have an active Google Adsense account. You’ll need to have this account connected to your YouTube account. And this is why we highly recommend you become familiar with Community Guidelines early on. Google is picky about what content it is willing to associate with. Google owns YouTube, so expect similar types of restrictions in the Community Guidelines.
To give you an idea of how picky Adsense/Google is, this site still does not receive Google Adsense revenue (but we don’t do it for the money, no biggie, Google – lol, not). And we’re happy to share why because it may impact you as a live streamer.
Because we use images from live-streaming sites and promotional photos for entertainment (hence, what’s “streaming this weekend”), Google will not display ads for fear of copyright violation.
It doesn’t matter that we adhere to a rigorous Fair Use policy in our use of these images, which are exempt from copyright restrictions; Google will always default to its quality thresholds, whether you are following the law or not. This means that if the content isn’t yours, whether you can legally use it or not, Google probably won’t give it a pass.
It’s a bummer, it doesn’t seem fair, but that’s the hand you start with here. So if you’re going to use a jam to bring you in, you’d better read up on getting DMCA-free music for your live stream before porting over a tune from Apple Music.
Something to think about when you choose content to provide commentary on.
Applying to the YPP
If you’ve made it this far, then you’ve met these thresholds and are aware of the requirements already for affiliate status (why are you reading this?). Or, you’re like us and put things like this on a dream board and start chipping away. Either way, here’s how you apply.
How to apply for affiliate status on YouTube
Sign in to your YouTube account. You’ll need to ensure that 2-step verification for your Google account is turned on. Right-click on your profile picture and select YouTube Studio. In the menu on the left, click Monetization.
One neat thing YouTube offers if you haven’t met the partner qualification thresholds is a feature you can set to have Youtube notify you when you’re eligible. So if you’re at 500 subs and want to stop chasing the money to focus on content, tell YouTube to notify you when you qualify and then dive into all the requirements.
Next, you’ll have to sign Google partner terms. After you’re done, click Get Reviewed. From there, YouTube will put you in a queue to verify all the program requirements and notify you of your account affiliate status within a few weeks.
Unfortunately, Google/YouTube doesn’t have the kind of customer service that you may expect to help you through this process. In our experience with Google, we get a pretty vague email when we’re advised one way or the other. In most cases, if a decision is approved (Adsense isn’t the only Google service we use), you’ll get a reference to review the Community Guidelines or related Google policies.
So if you haven’t become familiar with these by now, you’ll have to. Again, this is why you should build your content around compliance with these policies. Think of it as a local ordinance or state law for the web. Regrettably, you won’t hit affiliate status or maintain it if you don’t adhere to the rules.
Conclusion
Reaching “affiliate status” on YouTube (the YPP) is every content creator’s dream. But it takes work. In addition to following advertising and copyright-related policies, you’ll need to become familiar with accessibility, finance, scheduling, and more. But if you love what you do and want to do it well, learning these policies is a positive step toward creating better content and finding a way to turn your passion into something that generates revenue.
Looking to reach affiliate status on Twitch? Rocket past affiliate status on Twitch with our quick guide!