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Get 4000 Watch Hours with This Simple Step

#Social Media Marketing
2025-07-11 15:469 min read

Content Introduction

This video discusses the challenges newcomers face on YouTube, particularly the difficulty of achieving 4,000 hours of watch time needed for monetization, a target only about 3% of channels reach. The host introduces strategies utilized by successful creators to boost watch time, including the recent ability to link shorts to longer videos. The 'billboard method' is highlighted as an effective way to funnel viewers from shorts to long-form content, while the 'flood method' focuses on linking all shorts to the latest uploads. The video emphasizes that updating shorts can significantly increase views, aiding in achieving the monetization requirement faster. Tools like TubeBuddy are also suggested for mass updating of video links. Lessons from successful channels exemplifying these techniques are shared, motivating viewers to implement these strategies for their own growth.

Key Information

  • New YouTubers face the challenge of reaching 4,000 hours of watch time for monetization, with only about 3% of channels achieving this.
  • There is a simple strategy used by top creators to boost watch time, which involves linking shorts to their longer videos.
  • This linking method can funnel traffic from popular shorts to long-form videos, increasing overall watch time and aiding in achieving monetization.
  • In late 2023, YouTube allowed creators to link shorts to other videos, enabling a direct pathway to their long-form content.
  • Creators should update links on their successful shorts to direct viewers to their latest long-form uploads for maximizing viewership.
  • The 'billboard method' involves using shorts as advertisements for long-form uploads, significantly enhancing visibility and traffic.
  • The 'flood method' allows creators to link their entire back catalog of shorts directly to their latest long-form videos, driving substantial view traffic.
  • Tools like TubeBuddy's related video manager can automate the process of updating links for multiple shorts in bulk, saving creators time and effort.

Timeline Analysis

Content Keywords

YouTube Monetization

New YouTubers face the challenge of reaching 4,000 hours of watch time to get monetized, which is difficult as only 3% of channels achieve this.

Growth Strategies for YouTubers

Top creators use strategies to boost watch time for smaller channels, including creating both long-form videos and shorts, which can help reach monetization.

Billboard Method

This method involves linking popular shorts to long-form videos, effectively using shorts as advertisements to drive views to longer content.

Funnel Traffic

Creators can funnel traffic from shorts to long-form videos by linking them, helping track watch time more effectively for monetization.

TubeBuddy

A tool that can help manage video links efficiently, allowing users to bulk update links from shorts to long-form videos quickly.

Traffic Source Analysis

Analyzing traffic sources can reveal the effectiveness of linking shorts to new uploads, enhancing engagement and views.

Reviving Old Videos

Creators can apply techniques to revive older videos and increase views, similar to past successful strategies.

Related questions&answers

What is the main challenge faced by new YouTubers?

Every new YouTuber faces the seemingly impossible challenge of reaching 4,000 hours of watch time to get monetized.

What percentage of YouTube channels achieve monetization?

Only about 3% of an estimated 114 million YouTube channels ever reach enough subscribers and watch time to get their channel monetized.

What is the billboard method in YouTube strategy?

The billboard method uses short videos as advertisements to direct viewers to long-form videos, effectively boosting watch time.

Why are shorts significant for YouTube creators?

Shorts can generate a lot of views and traffic, but the watch time on those shorts does not count towards monetization. Only long-form video watch time does.

How can creators link shorts to their videos?

Creators can link shorts to other videos, which must be public and on their channel, to funnel traffic to long-form content.

What is the flood method mentioned?

The flood method involves linking all past and current short videos to the newest long-form video, creating a surge in views for that video.

How do creators typically update links in their videos?

Creators can manually edit each top-performing short to update the links or use tools like TubeBuddy’s related video manager to streamline the process.

What advantage does using TubeBuddy offer to creators?

TubeBuddy allows creators to easily update all their shorts to link to a new long-form video in bulk, saving time and effort.

What should creators do if they have many shorts to update?

They can use the TubeBuddy tool to select a target long-form video and update all their shorts at once, focusing on a manageable amount.

What is a strategic way to drive traffic to new videos?

Linking older shorts to newly uploaded long-form videos can drive significant traffic as the shorts continue to accumulate views.

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