Are you looking to get 4,000 YouTube Watch Hours to monetize your channel? YouTube launched the YouTube Partner Program in December 2007. This program allowed creators to share in the ad revenue and gave access to various features. YPP opened endless opportunities for YouTubers by turning their passion into a profession.
According to the YouTube Partner Program eligibility criteria, a YouTube creator will need 4000 hours of YouTube watch time, more than 1,000 subscribers, and have their channel linked to their AdSense account. When your channel hits the criteria, YouTube will send you an email notifying you of your channel’s status.
This blog will help you get 4,000 YouTube watch hours, track them, understand why it is essential for a YouTube creator, and learn how to get more watch time and views on YouTube.
What does 4000 hours of YouTube watch time mean?
In simple terms, watch hours on YouTube means the total number of hours viewers have spent watching videos on your YT channel. Additionally, this also includes the replays and rewatches of each individual.
Reach 4000 hours=240,000 minutes, which is tough to crack. But, creators must accumulate these hours to monetize their channel.
How to track 4000 hours of YouTube watch time?
Tracking the progress to reach the goal of monetization is easy. Here’s how you can monitor the increase in watch time:
- YouTube Studio: Go to your YouTube Studio account and click Monetization. It will show you your subscriber count and watch time.
- Analytics Dashboard: Another way to gain detailed insight is to go to the Analytics section. This section will provide the total watch time over a specific period and show metrics like average view duration. The YouTube Studio is an excellent free resource for creators to analyze and tweak your content strategy to increase viewership and subscriber base. So, utilize YouTube Studio to your benefit.
How are 4000 watch hours calculated?
Now that you clearly understand how watch time is calculated and the ways to track the progress, let us get on to tell you how YT watch time works:
- Firstly, the videos on the channel are public. To complete the 4000 hours requirement, the main criteria is to upload videos available and seen by the public. Unlisted, private channel, or deleted videos do not contribute towards the 4000 hours metric.
- Secondly, the watch time gained through YouTube Shorts views in the Shorts feed does not count toward the 4,000 watch hour requirement.
- Lastly, YouTube calculates the watch time over a 365-day period. This means the watch hours accumulated in the immediate past year will be counted.
- Public live streams and their replays contribute to watch time as long as they remain public after streaming.
- Watch hours are measured based on rela viewing time.
How to get more watch time & views on YouTube?
Moving on, let us see some strategies to increase the watch time, which takes consistent effort and planning. Below, we have mentioned tips on how to get 4000 YouTube watch hours fast.
Evergreen content
Creating evergreen content is understanding what’s unique and trending on YouTube. Evergreen YouTube content is content that is relevant for an extended period. For example, videos like “how to fix a tube light,” “how to change a car’s tire,” etc., will be watched over the years by different people no matter when they were uploaded. People watch such helpful videos repeatedly; this will help you boost your watch time within 12 months. Evergreen content has the potential to increase watch hours.
Live stream
A YouTube live stream is another great way to increase your video watch time. Initially, you might get only 20 to 50 users, but with time and patience, you will see an average of 700 to 800 people watching your streams.
Imagine having 500 people watching your 2-hour live stream. That means you’ve got 1000 hours of watch time from one stream. If you continue this journey, you can quickly achieve the goal of 4000 hours of YouTube watch time. Now, remember that these numbers are hypothetical but achievable with high-quality content. You can also chat on YouTube Live, which can help you build a rapport with the audience. Super Chat is an excellent way to show appreciation towards your viewers and ask them for their support in reaching your goal. It is also a great way to build a loyal community of followers.
Optimize Video Length and Structure
Viewers prefer to watch longer videos on YouTube during their commute, office breaks, etc. Longer videos tend to increase the watch time. So, creating a strong hook at the beginning of the video within the 5-8 seconds can grab the viewer’s attention. Start with an engaging question with clear audio and visuals to maintain interest. Tutorials and cook-along videos generally increase the watch time. So, creating specific content that attracts the viewer’s attention significantly contributes to improving the watch time.
Use Playlist & End Screens
YouTube provides endless features and opportunities for your channel to increase the session time. So, it is recommended that the videos be organized into playlists. Group videos will encourage viewers to watch multiple videos in one sitting. You can create a part series that you can upload throughout the week in parts. This will enable the viewers to return to the channel to watch another video.
Another way is to add effective CTAs and end screens to the video to suggest relevant content for your channel. The smooth transition from one video to another can keep the viewers on your channel for longer, boosting your total watch time.
Promote Audience Interaction
Engaging and interacting with the audience can lead to conversations, which sends a positive signal to the algorithm and proves your content is valuable. Responding to timely comments, soliciting suggestions, and posing open-ended questions will foster engagement on the channel.
Some ways to improve channel engagement are encouraging community polls and using YouTube premieres to your advantage. Premieres are an excellent strategy to generate curiosity around new video announcements before they are published. This way, viewers know the exact time of the video launch, and you can interact with them in real time.
4 Tips to Get 4000 Watch Hours on YouTube Fast
Follow these strategies to hit the milestone faster than you think:
- Promote on all social media platforms: Sharing your videos on social media in the form of YouTube clips or teasers can attract more views and increase watch hours.
- Engage with the audience & add a CTA: Adding relevant CTAs that ask viewers to subscribe, like, and comment will guide them to other relevant videos on your channel, keeping them engaged with your content and increasing the total session time. Additionally, responding to comments and highlighting the most essential feedback will encourage viewers to engage with your videos, leading to improved watch time and retention.
- Optimize Intros: To improve the watch time, it is essential to include a solid intro that hooks the audience for the first 30 seconds of the video. The longer they stay, the more hours you collect.
- Repurpose Content: Analyze the performance of some of your most successful videos and try to create a mini-series or part-series around those topics. It is essential to develop smart content to attract higher watch time.
Conclusion
How to get 4000 YouTube watch hours may seem daunting, but with consistent efforts and promotional strategies, you can achieve the YPP requirement quickly. The primary key to reaching 4000 watch hours is to maintain consistency and engagement. It is essential to leverage the right strategies, such as creating playlists, utilizing Live streaming, and keeping track of and analyzing the performance of each video in YouTube Studio.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. How long did it take you to get 4000 watch hours on YouTube?
Reaching 4000 watch hours is different for every YouTuber. It depends on content quality, niche, audience engagement, retention rates, location, demographics, and upload frequency.
Q2. How many views to reach 4000 watch hours?
You need approximately 240,000 minutes to reach 4000 public watch hours. The number of hours viewers watch the video depends on the average view duration, which varies from creator to creator.
Q3. How many watch hours is 1 million views?
Many factors affect the watch hours to hit the goal of 1 million views. However, the estimated calculation can be between 16,667 to 83,333 hours.
Q4. Can I buy YouTube watch hours?
Yes, you can buy YT views to increase the average view duration. You can also focus on organic growth in combination with YouTube promotional services.
Q5. How many views is equivalent to 4000 watch hours?
There is no fixed number of views equivalent to 4,000 watch hours. But depending on the number of people who watch your videos, you will reach the goal faster. So, it is recommended to create longer videos and create playlists that are engaging to watch. For example, on average, your viewers watch 10 minutes of your videos, then you will need 24000 views.
