Shorts bring people in; titles and thumbnails decide whether they watch. Test both before paying for ads.
Basics
How many people use YouTube?
Billions of people log in each month, YouTube says, and Shorts average more than 200 billion views a day.[1]
How do you grow a YouTube channel?
Make Shorts, and write titles and thumbnails people choose.
| Step | YouTube's advice |
|---|---|
| Short, front-loaded titles | Viewers may see only part of a title, so put the key words first |
| Simple, large thumbnails | Thumbnails show differently on each device; don't make them complex |
| Test titles and thumbnails | Try up to 3 versions; the one with the most watch time wins (not for Shorts) |
| Make Shorts | Shorts average over 200 billion daily views |
When can you join the YouTube Partner Program?
Once you have 1,000 subscribers and either 4,000 public watch hours in a year or 10 million Shorts views in 90 days, you can apply to the YouTube Partner Program. YouTube reviews the whole channel before accepting it.[4]
Advanced
Can you advertise on YouTube?
Yes, through Google Ads video campaigns, in skippable and non-skippable ads, in-feed, bumper, Shorts and masthead formats.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Paying per view | Skippable ads charge when someone watches 30 seconds (or the whole ad) or interacts |
| Paying per impression | Non-skippable and bumper ads charge per thousand impressions |
| Hosting | Your ad video must be on YouTube |
Sources [5]
What can you do with YouTube's API?
Read channel and video data, search and upload videos through the YouTube Data API, within a daily quota of 10,000 units. Most reads, searches and uploads cost 1 unit each, with separate limits of 100 searches and 100 uploads a day.[6]
Which paid options on YouTube are worth it?
Tests and Shorts cost nothing; pay for ads once a video holds viewers. The order is our view.
| Option | Cost | What it buys |
|---|---|---|
| Title and thumbnail tests | Free | More watch time from the viewers you already reach |
| Shorts | Free | Discovery by new viewers |
| Video ads | Your budget | Views from people who don't know you yet |
Where else should you claim your YouTube name?
Wherever customers look for you next. Check it on YouTube, Instagram and the .com at once.