I was monetized on YouTube in just three months, and then, bam, I was placed in YouTube jail. Don’t worry; I’ll share all the juicy details about my journey, the lessons I learned, and how you can avoid the mistakes I made while growing your own channel.

For those who don’t know, the YouTube Partner Program is an excellent opportunity for creators like me—and maybe you too—to make money through ads, memberships, super chats, and more. To qualify, you need at least 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours in the last 12 months. Achieving this milestone might sound daunting, but with a clear strategy, it’s absolutely possible.

Why did I start YouTube? Perhaps you should consider starting a channel too. I began researching potential retirement activities since I have about 12 years left in clinical medicine. I saw YouTube as a platform to educate and teach online while exploring the possibility of generating revenue. While I’m not aiming to make a fortune in retirement, I do want a hobby that funds itself. YouTube offers a place for everyone—whether you’re sharing knowledge, marketing a business, or just having fun. If this resonates with you, you might want to give it a shot. I’m here to help you navigate the process.

One of the most common questions I get is, “How much money can you make on YouTube?” I was amazed when I learned that Doctor Mike, a young family care physician, earns over $10 million annually from his channel, which boasts more than 10 million subscribers. While my goals are much more modest, this inspired me to think big. My first major objective was to reach 50,000 subscribers quickly and apply for YouTube verification as a physician, lending credibility to my content.

Growing to 50,000 subscribers, however, was no easy task. Initially, I tried organic growth, but it was painfully slow—gaining perhaps one subscriber a week. That’s when I discovered YouTube’s promotion tool, a feature that works like Google Ads for videos. It places your content next to similar videos, helping attract new subscribers. I used this tool sparingly, promoting one long video and one short video, investing just $2 a day—$1 per video. The results were incredible. Within days, I reached 1,000 subscribers, and within three months, I hit the 4,000 watch-hour requirement and was accepted into the YouTube Partner Program.

Nine months later, I reached 100,000 subscribers—a milestone achieved by less than 0.5% of YouTube channels. I even received my silver play button, a proud moment for any creator. The cost of this growth was surprisingly low. On average, it cost me just five cents per subscriber through promotions, and when factoring in organic growth, the cost dropped to an incredible 2.5 cents per subscriber.

A common concern among creators is whether paid promotions hurt organic growth. YouTube’s account specialists reassured me that paid and organic growth are separate pathways, and my experience confirmed this. Some of my organically created content performed exceptionally well. For instance, a video on earthing and grounding garnered over 30,000 views without any promotion. Another short video featuring babies seeing for the first time with new glasses went viral, racking up 8 million views.

However, my journey wasn’t without challenges. At the six-month mark, I hit a creative roadblock. I became obsessed with making videos and eventually burned out. Needing a break, I turned to Fiverr to purchase pre-made YouTube shorts. While these videos were high-quality, they were widely used by other creators. YouTube flagged my channel for reused content, resulting in a three-month demonetization. I removed the offending videos, waited out the suspension, and was eventually reinstated into the Partner Program. This experience taught me the importance of originality and the value of learning from mistakes. YouTube wants creators to succeed, even if they stumble along the way.

After my suspension, I discovered artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT, which revolutionized my content creation process. AI allowed me to create videos quickly and efficiently, from scripting and voice cloning to editing. With these tools, I could produce high-quality shorts in minutes, drastically reducing my workload.

In my first month of monetization, I earned $139. Over nine months—excluding the three-month suspension—I made $633. My most profitable short earned $345, while my top long-form video on earthing and grounding earned $144. These videos continue to generate daily revenue, much like planting seeds that grow into trees. Over time, I’ve come to see my videos as an orchard, where each piece of content is a seed that will bear fruit for years to come.

In addition to YouTube ad revenue, I explored affiliate marketing. Through various programs, I earned $1,366, including $435 from Amazon’s affiliate program. Combining YouTube and affiliate marketing, my total earnings reached $2,375 in just six months of active monetization.

So, what’s the takeaway? YouTube is an incredible platform for sharing your expertise, staying sharp, and potentially earning an income. If you’re interested in learning how to grow your channel and avoid common pitfalls, I encourage you to take the leap. Whether you’re a professional, a hobbyist, or someone with a passion for sharing knowledge, there’s a place for you on YouTube. Subscribe for more tips and insights, and until next time, have a wonderful day!