Our YouTube Channel Earnings From 10K Subs: First Full Month of Monetization

 Starting a YouTube channel is one of the most exciting journeys in today’s digital world. But, for many creators, the big question is, "How much can I earn?". After months of hard work, we reached 10,000 subscribers, got approved for monetization, and experienced our first full month of earning money through YouTube. If you're curious about what that looks like in terms of actual numbers and insights, you're in the right place.

In this blog, we'll break down how much we earned, what influenced those earnings, and what you can expect if you’re in a similar situation.

Setting the Stage: Our Channel’s Niche and Content Type

Before diving into the numbers, it’s important to understand the niche and type of content we create. Our channel focuses on [insert your channel's niche, e.g., tech reviews, travel vlogs, gaming, etc.], and we typically upload [how often you post, e.g., 2-3 videos per week]. Each video runs for about [average video length], and our audience primarily comes from [mention major geographies, such as the U.S., U.K., India].

Why does this matter? Because a channel’s niche and audience demographics have a huge impact on earnings. For instance, tech channels generally earn higher ad rates due to the type of ads they attract, while entertainment or vlog channels might earn a bit less, but make up for it with more views.

Monetization Eligibility: Reaching 10K Subs

To get monetized on YouTube, you need to hit two key requirements:

1. 1,000 subscribers
2. 4,000 watch hours within the last 12 months

While we hit the 1K mark a while ago, reaching 10K subs took time and consistent effort. Once we hit the monetization threshold, YouTube started running ads on our content, and we could finally start earning through AdSense.

Our First Month of Monetization: The Numbers

Now, let’s get to the part you’ve been waiting for: how much we earned with 10K subs in our first full month of monetization. Here’s a breakdown:

• Total Views: [Insert the total number of views for the month]
• Watch Time: [Insert watch time in hours]
• Average CPM (Cost Per Mille): [Insert CPM range, e.g., $3-$7 per 1,000 views]
• Average RPM (Revenue Per Mille): [Insert RPM range, e.g., $1.50-$4 per 1,000 views]
• Total Earnings: [Insert your total earnings, e.g., $300-$500]

The key number to focus on here is the RPM, which tells us how much we actually earn per 1,000 views after YouTube’s cut. CPM, on the other hand, reflects the total ad revenue before YouTube takes its 45% share.

Understanding CPM and RPM

• CPM varies greatly depending on the type of ads shown, the geographic location of your audience, and your channel’s niche. For instance, ads in the finance or tech space tend to have a higher CPM, while gaming or entertainment niches may have lower ad rates.
• RPM is the more relevant figure for YouTubers because it accounts for YouTube’s cut and only shows the actual earnings you receive.

Factors That Affected Our Earnings

Several factors played a role in determining how much we earned in our first month of monetization:

1. Audience Demographics: Our audience is primarily from [country], which has a relatively high CPM compared to countries like [mention lower CPM countries]. Advertisers are willing to pay more to reach viewers in higher-income countries, and this had a positive impact on our earnings.

2. Niche: Since we operate in the [insert niche], we benefited from a decent CPM, as advertisers in this space typically pay higher rates. For example, tech-related or educational content usually earns more than channels focused solely on entertainment.

3. Video Length: Longer videos (8 minutes or more) allow creators to include mid-roll ads, which can significantly boost earnings. We ensured most of our videos were long enough to qualify for multiple ads, increasing our total revenue.

4. Engagement: High engagement metrics such as likes, comments, and shares not only boosted our videos’ visibility but also helped improve our watch time, a critical factor in YouTube’s algorithm. The longer viewers stayed on our content, the more ads they saw, and the more we earned.

Other Revenue Streams

Ad revenue isn’t the only way to make money on YouTube. In fact, we were able to tap into additional revenue streams:

• Affiliate Marketing: We included affiliate links in our video descriptions, earning commissions from any sales generated.
• Sponsorships: Even with just 10K subs, brands in our niche reached out for potential sponsorships. We made [insert earnings from sponsorships].
• Merchandise (Optional): Though we didn’t sell merch this month, it’s a future possibility that could further diversify our income.

Lessons Learned: Key Takeaways

Here’s what we learned from our first full month of monetization:

1. Consistency is Key: Reaching 10K subs didn’t happen overnight. Posting consistently, staying active in the community, and optimizing content for search (SEO) helped us grow.

2. Diversify Income: Relying solely on AdSense revenue is risky. By incorporating affiliate marketing, sponsorships, and potentially merch, we’re building a more sustainable income stream.

3. Focus on Engagement: The more engaged your audience is, the more YouTube promotes your content, leading to more views and, ultimately, more revenue.

4. Be Patient: Earnings can fluctuate month to month. It’s essential to stay focused on the long-term growth of the channel and not get discouraged by occasional dips.

 What’s Next?

Our first month of monetization was a great learning experience, and while we didn’t earn a fortune, it was an exciting start. As our channel grows, we’ll continue to optimize our content, experiment with new formats, and build stronger relationships with our audience.

If you’re about to monetize your channel or are curious about what to expect, remember that every channel’s journey is different. Stay consistent, focus on providing value, and the earnings will follow!