From Zero to $1,180: A New YouTuber's First Month Monetized

From Zero to $1,180: A New YouTuber's First Month Monetized

In the ever-evolving landscape of content creation, YouTube remains a beacon of opportunity for aspiring creators. But how much can a new channel really earn? Today, we're diving deep into the experience of one artist who turned their unemployment into a budding YouTube career, earning $1,180 in just their first month of monetization.

Meet the Creator: @pikat

Our case study focuses on the YouTube channel @pikat, an art-focused channel that began its journey on Christmas Day 2023. In a remarkably short time, this creator went from zero to monetization, offering us a fresh perspective on the current state of YouTube earnings for new channels.

The Journey to Monetization

Timeline

• Start Date: December 25, 2023
• Monetization Requirements Met: January 26, 2024 (approximately 5 weeks)
• First Month of Earnings: Late January to Late February 2024

Meeting the Requirements

To be eligible for monetization, a YouTube channel needs:

1. 1,000 subscribers
2. 4,000 watch hours from public videos in the last 12 months

@pikat achieved these milestones in just 5 weeks, demonstrating rapid growth and engagement.

Content Strategy

The creator experimented with both long-form content and shorts, ultimately finding more success with longer videos. Here's a breakdown of their content during the first month of monetization:

• Total Videos: 11
• Long-form videos: 9
• Shorts: 2

Key takeaway: Long-form content outperformed shorts in terms of watch time and revenue generation.

Performance Metrics

In their first month of monetization, @pikat achieved:

• Views: Nearly 1 million
• Watch Hours: Almost 52,000
• Subscribers Gained: Over 31,000

These numbers are impressive for a new channel and contributed significantly to their earnings.

Earnings Breakdown

• Total Revenue: $1,180.18
• RPM (Revenue per Mille): $2.78

RPM represents the earnings per 1,000 views. An RPM of $2.78 is considered relatively low, especially compared to niches like finance or technology. However, it's important to note that art-related content typically has lower RPMs due to advertiser preferences.

Top Earning Videos

1. "What I did when art wasn't fun" - $178
2. "Don't make these shading mistakes" - $163
3. "How to draw chibies and find your style" - $145
4. "Artist reacts to PewDiePie's insane improvements" - $143
5. "How to upgrade your character designs" - $132

Interestingly, a mix of tutorial content and reaction videos performed well, suggesting a diverse content strategy can be beneficial.

Lessons Learned

1. Consistency is Key: Uploading multiple videos per week helped accelerate growth.
2. Focus on Long-form Content: While shorts can boost visibility, long-form videos drove more substantial watch time and revenue.
3. Diversify Content Types: Tutorials, reaction videos, and personal stories all contributed to the channel's success.
4. Patience with Monetization: The process of setting up AdSense and getting approved can take time. Be prepared for potential delays.
5. Niche Considerations: Art channels may experience lower RPMs compared to other niches, but can still generate significant income with high view counts.

The Reality of YouTube Earnings

While $1,180 for a first month is impressive, it's important to contextualize this success:

1. This level of growth is not typical for most new channels.
2. Earnings can fluctuate significantly month to month based on various factors.
3. Building a sustainable YouTube career often requires consistent effort over a long period.

Conclusion

@pikat's journey from unemployment to earning $1,180 in their first monetized month on YouTube is both inspiring and informative. It showcases the potential of the platform while also highlighting the effort required to achieve such results. For aspiring creators, this case study offers valuable insights into content strategy, growth tactics, and the realities of YouTube monetization in 2024.

Remember, every creator's journey is unique. While these results are exciting, they're not guaranteed. Focus on creating value for your audience, and with persistence and creativity, you too might find your niche in the vast world of YouTube.