YouTube is renowned as one of the most popular platforms online today because users can find valuable and educational content there. Therefore, more and more content creators are using YouTube to share their knowledge and experience with the world.
The YouTube platform offers content creators a powerful tool with a subscription option to monetize their videos. This option allows viewers to subscribe to the channel for a monthly fee to access exclusive benefits – such as early access to videos, additional content, and much more.
In this article, we’ll share a comprehensive guide to YouTube channel affiliation to explain everything – from how they work to how content creators can leverage them to build a more engaged and profitable community on their channels. Let’s get started!
What is YouTube Channel Membership?
In 2018, YouTube launched the “Channel Memberships” feature, enabling creators to sell their exclusive content to viewers. The basic idea behind this concept was to allow patrons to support their favorite channel. However, YouTube saw more potential in it and kept expanding this feature to make it more creator-friendly.
Now, this feature can be defined in two steps:
- First, any qualified creator can enable this feature on their channel.
- Second, they can convince viewers to pay a monthly fee to access their exclusive content.
Of course, YouTube gives creators a free hand to customize their channel membership. They can add tiers like Silver, Gold, Platinum, etc., and charge a different amount for each level. Many major league creators charge between $50 and $100 for their channel memberships. It allows them to make tons of money from the monthly payments and generative passive income besides ad sense.
You, too, can utilize this feature if you think your content is good enough that viewers will pay to watch it. But to do that, you first need to meet specific criteria set by YouTube for enabling channel membership. Learn about it in the following subheading.
How Does YouTube Channel Membership Work?
Subscribing to a YouTube channel works by offering different membership levels to users. Each level offers exclusive benefits that increase in quality as the price goes up. This is a model similar to the subscription option on the Twitch platform, where subscribers can access exclusive content from a creator.
Previously, YouTube set the price for each membership level, but as of December 2021, creators can offer up to 5 subscription levels and set each price level. For the implementation of an effective pricing strategy, it is recommended to have three membership levels: low, medium, and high.
For example, if you set the lowest membership price at $2.99 per month, you can attract more users at that level. In addition, you should offer one to five exclusive benefits at each level to make each of them attractive to subscribers. Therefore, implementing the right pricing strategy and exclusive benefits can help you monetize your channel and build a more engaged YouTube community.
Requirements to Qualify for YouTube Channel Memberships
To enable membership on their YouTube channels, creators have to meet the following criteria:
- The channel should have at least 1,000 subscribers.
- None of the videos on the channel should fall in the Made for Kids category.
- The creator should already be part of the YouTube Partner Program.
- The channel should be active in a location where YouTube is currently operating.
- The channel should have little or no ineligible content.
- The creator must comply with YouTube’s terms and policies.
- The creator must be 18 years or older.
If you wish to check whether you are eligible or not, go to your YouTube Memberships page. It will show you which requirements you have fulfilled and are yet to achieve.
Perks You Can Offer Via YouTube Channel Memberships
The main reason for creating subscriptions on YouTube is to allow loyal followers to see exclusive content from the creator that other users cannot see for free, as well as access to other exciting benefits. Here are some of the main benefits you receive by subscribing:
1. Personalized Emojis
Community members can access personalized emojis of the chosen content creator, which they can freely use in their live chats. The creator offers these emojis exclusively on their YouTube channel, and as creators gain more subscriptions, the platform allows them to add more emojis to their repertoire.
2. Member Badges
On the YouTube platform, badges show how long each user has been a paying channel member. Currently, six badges reflect different periods – such as the one that identifies new members or the one that recognizes those users who have been part of the community for a minimum of two years.
In general, YouTube provides a variety of generic badges to YouTubers, but they can share their customized badges as they wish and encourage their followers to use them.
3. Members-Only Posts
The YouTube platform has a personalized tab in each channel where content creators make updates, share messages, and publish exclusive photos and videos for their community. In this way, users have preferential access to this content by subscribing, as they belong to the creator’s community.
4. Exclusive Live Broadcasts
Channel memberships allow content creators to make live streams available only to paying members, and they can even select which type of member can view the stream. In addition, you can offer live broadcasts targeted to each membership tier, so users can select an option based on the amount they’re willing to pay each month.
5. Live Chat for Members
YouTube offers subscribers the option of a members-only live chat that works similarly to the members-only live streams. The advantage of this is that although all followers can watch the content creator’s live streams, only subscribers can comment on the live chat. In this way, the platform allows the YouTuber’s community to maintain close communication by exchanging their ideas with one another.
6. Exclusive Content
The main advantage of YouTube channel subscriptions is undoubtedly the access to exclusive content since it allows paying viewers to know all the exclusive content shared by the creator that other users cannot see. This way, creators can publish videos that can be viewed only by the most loyal subscribers to ensure they have a preferential experience.
How to Turn on YouTube Channel Membership?
Once you meet the criteria for activating channel membership, it only takes a few minutes to enable the feature. Here’s you can turn on the membership feature on your channel:
Step 1: Open the YouTube website and “Log In“ to your account.
Step 2: Now, click your profile picture on the top right corner of the screen. Click on “YouTube Studio“ from the options.
Step 3: Navigate to the left side menu and scroll until you see the “Monetization” option. Click on it to proceed further.
Step 4: When you are on the monetization page, navigate to the top menu and click on “Memberships.”
Step 5: Once on the new page, locate the “Set Up Your Memberships Offer” section.
Step 6: Click on the “Start” button on the panel to set up membership tiers that viewers can sign up for. You have to follow the instructions, and YouTube will do the rest.
When to Use YouTube Channel Memberships?
YouTube channel memberships can be used by content creators if they need additional sources of revenue. This is because users who join your channel pay a monthly or annual fee to gain access to exclusive content and other additional benefits that are unavailable to unpaying users.
However, it is essential to consider that YouTube channel memberships are only suitable for some content creators – those who have a solid and committed subscriber base – before considering memberships on their channels. This is because a channel needs more subscribers, or if subscribers are not engaged with the content, there will not be enough demand to justify implementing channel memberships.
In addition, it is crucial to set a membership level that is affordable and attractive to viewers because if the price point is too high or the exclusive benefits are not valuable enough, the membership will not be considered appealing to viewers and will, therefore, not generate enough revenue for the content creator.
How Is a YouTube Membership Different from YouTube Premium?
Subscribing to a YouTube channel and subscribing to YouTube Premium may seem similar at first glance, but they have some essential differences that are necessary to know. A YouTube Premium subscription offers an ad-free experience across the entire platform so that users can enjoy uninterrupted ad breaks before, during, or after videos.
It also provides benefits –such as the ability to play videos in the background while using another application and the ability to download videos for offline viewing. The Channel membership offerings primarily consist of perks that grant you access to exclusive content and various channel-specific benefits.
Additionally, by subscribing to a channel membership, you are directly supporting the content creator. Some membership perks are access to personalized emojis for comments, exclusive behind-the-scenes content, exclusive chats with the content creator, and much more.
How Much Money Can You Make From YouTube Channel Memberships?
The amount of money a creator can make through memberships depends on the scale of their channel. For example, bigger channels with more subscribers can charge handsomely for their membership tiers and make more money.
But of course, there’s no rule that states that only significant channels can earn more money through memberships. There are many small channels with less than 100k subscribers that generate more revenue than many great channels. So, no one can exactly tell you exactly how much you can make by offering channel memberships.
Because there’s no limit to the memberships you can sell, which means there’s no limit to how much you can earn. Also, remember that the money you make from memberships is split 70% and 30% between you and YouTube. Therefore, try to sell as many channel memberships as you can to increase your cut in this deal.
Benefits of Using YouTube Channel Memberships
You might be surprised to know that YouTube channel memberships aren’t just good for making money. There are many other advantages that creators can get through this feature. Here are a few of them:
- Offering exclusive content to channel members convinces other viewers to show their patronage by becoming a member.
- Getting more channel members serves as social proof and increases the value of your channel.
- Enabling the membership feature reflects that your channel is a major one and attracts potential viewers to subscribe.
- Gives you a chance to connect with your patrons and thank them for supporting you.
Conclusion
YouTube channel memberships are an excellent option for those looking to exploit all the opportunities to make money with their channel. While channel memberships can be a simple and practical way to expand what you offer, you must also remember that if you want to build a long-lasting business free of algorithms and advertisers, you should explore the possibility of launching your independent video subscription platform.
This article provides valuable information on how channel memberships can be a helpful tool for making money on YouTube while highlighting the importance of considering more advanced options for those looking to take their YouTube channel to the next level.
