This is a post to encourage the small YouTube community. I created a new YouTube channel in 2013 with zero knowledge on how to make a YouTube channel or how to start a YouTube channel. My path in growing a YouTube channel has not been a smooth or sucessful journey.
My YouTube Channel
The vast competition from top YouTube channels and no knowledge of You Tube were super overwhelming to me. I only watched YouTube videos, I didn’t know how to make YouTube movies. What is a niche..itch? I barely learned how to use iMovie as my movie editor. My YouTube upload over the years were a combination of how to, diy, tutorial, and vlog videos. It was really nice to learned how to make money on YouTube. I got my first and only $100 paycheck from google a few years ago. In the latest YouTube Policy update I was quickly demonetized from the you tube partner program. It made me super irritated and upset.
YouTube channel motivation
I didn’t know how to grow YouTube channel. My YouTube subscriber count remains very low. My emotions have been a huge roller coaster as if I had a huge YouTube channel. Like most you tubers, I had great emotional attachments in creating a YouTube channel. Comparing top YouTube channels with small YouTube channel, small youtube channel didn’t equal less frustrations. I decided to collected and summarized of my 6 years experience into a video to encourage small you tubers. My slogan is “One step forward is one step closer to your goals.” I haven’t quit after 6 years. So, my fellow small you tubers, keep creating and you will move forward.Â
I received my first YouTube demonetized video notification. It seems YouTube has an automated system that goes through new videos to check for content that is not suitable for most advertisers. I am 100% sure I didn’t have any inappropriate content. So I clicked the “Review Request” button next to my video. Shortly after the message show up in the “Monetization” tab within my video.
Monetization status:
Limited or no ads due to content identified as not suitable for most advertisers.
Review requested. Right now we are only able to review videos with at least 1,000 views in the past 7 days. We’ll review your video once it reaches that threshold.
YouTube Video Demonetized to Monetized Experiment Results
I didn’t think my video view would reach 1,000 in the near future so I decided to do an experiment. I wanted to see if I can correct the cause of demonetization on this YouTube video.
You can see what I did in the following video to try to correct the problem. I uploaded this YouTube video on February 1, 2018 at 4:25 PM.
The next day I took the screen shot of my video manager below on 2018-02-02 at 12.42.12 PM. Unlike the Original Demonetized Video the Edited Video stayed monetized, which means the experiment was successful! Blurring a suspected culprit and re-uploading the video did the trick.
Conclusion: YouTube’s Automated Video Screening System is Super Sensitive
I didn’t expect YouTube to actually review my video because of the 1,000 views threshold. However, YouTube did review the Original Demonetized Video and re-monetized my Original Demonetized Video after finding no fault of mine.
Everything was too smooth to be true. My Experimental Video, “Youtube Video Demonetized to Monetized Experiment (2018)”, was demonetized the next day after upload. The reason I made this Experimental Video was because I thought I wouldn’t get any help from YouTube any time soon, so I took matters in my own hands. My Experimental Video content was simple. It was my honest attempt to find and fix the cause of demonetization on my YouTube video and record the process. Unless YouTube doesn’t like any topics related to Monetization and Demonetization, I don’t see what is wrong with the content of the Experimental Video.
So my conclusion is YouTube’s automated video screening system is super nit picky about subject matters and images in your videos. Response time from YouTube Support is varied. You could get a fast response after you ask for a “Review Request” or you will have to wait a while until you reach the 1,000 video view threshold. It’s uncertain for me since my first video was corrected very quickly in less then a day but for the second demonetized video I have not received a response or seen any correction in more then a days wait. I will post an update when I do (or don’t) get a response.
Update February 4, 2018 at 4:30 PM:
On Friday, February 2, 2018 my Experimental Video was demonetized. Two days later it is back to monetized. Once again this experiment confirms, if you didn’t violate any terms or policies, YouTube Support will check your video manually by a live person. It can range from a few hours to a few days before the matter can be resolve. Fortunately you do not have to reach the 1,000 view threshold for YouTube Support to kick in. This 1,000 view threshold was another kick in the face when I read it. I am happy to know YouTube is helping small creators even though their threshold message can drive small creators nuts. Hang in there, just hit the “Review Request” button and wait it out.
Hi friends, welcome! The sole purpose of my blog and channel is to keep things fun and positive. My topics are diverse and come from my daily life. At the core all topics have one common goal, “obstacles are opportunities.â€
First Time Contacting YouTube Creator Support is Confusing!
Today my mini obstacle is to “Send an Email to YouTube Creator Supportâ€.
I received the YouTube notice about loosing my YouTube Partner Program Status. Immediately I wrote a two page complaint email to YouTube expressing my dissatisfaction with the new YouTube Partner Program Threshold. I hit the “reply” button. My email bounced right back with delivery failed status! I couldn’t believe I can’t even vent. My feelings were frustration and confusion. It took a few days but my steam eventually cooled off.
With big changes in the YouTube Partner Program Threshold small creators deserve and need answers to our questions! I tried harder to find an email contact for the YouTube Creator Support. I followed YouTube Help’s directions to get connect to a YouTube Creator Support representative. But the directions given were not accurate and did not lead me to a contact email. The inaccuracies led to more research and confusion. I am guessing they don’t want to make it easy for us to reach them.
Where’s the YouTube Creator Support “Email” option?
It took me a while to finally stumble upon the email contact form. I am sure other small creators will have a mutual need to ask questions. So I thought I’d share my findings with fellow small creators. With an YouTube Creator Support email form at your disposal, you can vent or scream at them all you want. Maybe even try to squeeze the last bit of information from them so you can reach the new 2018 threshold. Whichever you prefer. It took way more effort then necessary to find their “Email†option. I hope this video can spare you the headaches, time and hoops I had to jump through to find their email form.
Keep creating and fighting for your dreams! Hit that subscribe button to super charge my motivation. Your support is what keeps me going. Thanks and see you around.
Did YouTube’s email make me angry or confused? I can’t decide. Both emotions fused into one. If you are a small creator with low subscription and watch time you may receive the same letter from YouTube. What was your first reaction? Here’s a small quote from my email.
” Under the new eligibility requirements announced today, your YouTube channel, Focus Positives, is no longer eligible for monetization because it doesn’t meet the new threshold of 4,000 hours of watchtime within the past 12 months and 1,000 subscribers. As a result, your channel will lose access to all monetization tools and features associated with the YouTube Partner Program on February 20, 2018unless you surpass this threshold in the next 30 days. Accordingly, this email serves as 30 days notice that your YouTube Partner Program terms are terminated.”
It will be nearly impossible for me to reach the threshold by next month and the odds of loosing all the monetization tools and features are great. I know a lot of small creators like me who received the email from YouTube are upset and have many worries. One that stood out for me was the possibility of loosing the custom thumbnails feature. A custom attractive thumbnails is absolutely essential in building audiences. We definitely don’t want to loose that. We will know by the deadline. I don’t want to lament on YouTube’s disrespect for small creator and just get straight to a solution that will help and ease small creator’s worries. Here’s my video tutorial to stop YouTube from taking the custom thumbnail feature away from you.
My Video Experiment Update
I think I have outdone myself! After I uploading my video ALL THREE default thumbnails are showing my customized thumbnails. Rest assure you can definitely keep your customized thumbnails if YouTube takes it away on 2.20.2018! You won’t need to upload a single custom thumbnail again. Show some love and encouragement. Support small creators in reaching YouTube’s new threshold of 1,000 subscribers and 4,000hrs of watch time! A subscription or simply watching some videos is much appreciated.
This screenshot is from my YouTube Dashboard.
This screenshot is from my iPhone.
The default thumbnail is slightly blurry compared with the other customized thumbnail. It may have something to do with the quality of the video. My earlier default thumbnails were very clear. I will have to experiment more on the export settings and update you. If we do end up loosing the customized thumbnail feature all default thumbnails would be the same resolution. I’d choose a blurry customized thumbnail over no customization any time.
If you don’t meet the threshold yet, keep working to make original content and build your audience. Here are some resources that can help you grow your channel:
