I started a YouTube channel in 2018 but didn’t take it seriously until 2024. In this post I share the top 6 questions about starting a YouTube channel including how to get subscribers and watch hours for getting monetized, how to create good video titles, how much does YouTube pay for 1,000 subscribers, how to know what videos to make, and more. Keep reading to learn how to start and grow a YouTube channel in 2026!
VidIQ is the best app for starting a YouTube channel
When I discovered the VidIQ app for growing my YouTube channel verything changed.
Before VidIQ
Prior to using the VidIQ tools like keyword ideas, video optimization, and AI video formatting tools I wasn’t monetized. I was getting a lot of views and a decent amount of subscribers. I felt good about my content, but honestly it was a lot of work with no hope of monetization. I had no idea how I was going to get to the 1,000 subscribers AND 4,000 watch hours in 365 day. I was afraid my watch hours wouldn’t be close enough to get officially monetized.
In December 2024, I was at 125,000 views but making no Adsense revenue.
After VidIQ
That all changed once I start using VidIQ. I started with a free VidIQ trial and in just a few weeks after starting with the VidIQ app, I got monetized! My channel quickly grew subscribers and watch hours, and I got approved through Adsense to earn revenue on my content.
Top 8 Questions About Starting a YouTube Channel in 2026 – Answered!
Here are answers to the six most commonly asked questions about starting a YouTube channel and making money this year.
How to Get Your First 1,000 YouTube Subscribers
This is probably the most commonly asked question for YouTube creators who want to earn money with YouTube. In order to get approved for Adsense, your channel must have over 1,000 subscribers.
In this blog post VidIQ gives their insights to the best ways to meet this goal in 2026.
How to Get 4,000 YouTube Watch Hours
Watch hours are the hardest monetization milestone to hit and creators are constantly searching for answers. This was the hardest milestone for me to reach.
How to get views on YouTube
When I first started taking YouTube seriously in 2024, I hit algorithm success right away. I was so excited! But, this was hard to maintain. I was totally confused about what videos to make, what would be popular, and even how to edit videos quickly and well.
All of this mattered because those first few videos got me several hundred watch hours. This meant that if I wanted to meet the 4,000 watch hours threshold in the 365 timeframe, I had to get more watch hours – quickly. This is why I decided to try VidIQ with a free trial.
How to Get Monetized on YouTube
Once you meet the threshold for getting monetized, it’s time to apply for Adsense revenue. This is really important because you want to make sure you do it right to not get unapproved.
VidIQ shares a step-by-step walkthrough of the full monetization process in this blog post.
How Much Does YouTube Pay for 1,000 Subscribers?
Probably the biggest question creators want to know, especially before diving in deep into YouTube, is “How much does YouTube pay?”
My YouTube advice for how to make money on YouTube in 2026
In the screenshot below you can see that in the first year of being monetized I earned $478.
This isn’t really a lot of money in context of the amount of time I was spending making videos. HOWEVER, once I published these videos, I don’t just earn income in that year. These videos generate income as long as they get views and ads INDEFINITELY. Adsense pays me recurring revenue from work I did last year.
This is why I really love the YouTube business model. Some of these videos I made in 2024 are still my top earning videos!
In this blog post, VidIQ share more real earnings data from real creators so you can see a comparison.
If you want to see even more revenue from creators, you can download the VidIQ Chrome Browser Extension and get insights into every creator on YouTube’s likely revenue. Here’s an example of what this extension can tell you about a creator’s channel income, and even more:
How to Find Keywords to Grow a YouTube Channel
Ranking on YouTube starts with finding the right keywords. This is why I use VidIQ to this day. Coming up with content ideas is much easier when I can see what keywords are trending on YouTube, or if there is interest in the topics I want to make videos about.
Here’s an example of what VidIQ Keyword Tool looks like:
How to Write the Best YouTube Titles to Get More Views
Titles are something every creator obsesses over. This was, and still is, probably the hardest part for me in creating YouTube videos. The title is something you’re supposed to START with before even filming. I still struggle with this which is why I continue to use the VidIQ app to grow my YouTube channel.
Their title tool actually gives me title ideas that are likely to draw viewer engagment. And, with the VidIQ AI Chat Tool I can ask the app to help me with even more title creation ideas and to even create a content plan!
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