Have you ever thought about what YouTube channel memberships are? In this article, Mid-Man will share everything you need to know about YouTube membership, from how they work to how content creators can use them to make their channels more popular and profitable. Let’s get started!
1. What are YouTube channel memberships?
YouTube channel membership enables top followers and subscribers to support their favorite content creator. One can create multiple membership tiers in exchange for unique member-only benefits.
At its core, YouTube membership is a subscription-based service that allows content creators to provide exclusive perks and benefits to their most loyal fans, known as “members.”
Here are the perks of YouTube channel memberships:
- Behind-the-Scenes Content: show your creative process.
- Custom Emojis and Badges: design unique ones for your membership tiers.
- Early Access: give early access to videos.
- Virtual Meet & Greets: chat one-on-one or in small groups.
- Exclusive Live Streams: host streams just for members.
- Interactive Content: quizzes, challenges, or contests.
- Members-only community posts: share exclusive posts, pictures, or polls.
- Advanced Training/Webinars: offer deep dives into specific topics.
2. What benefits are available for your YouTube channel members?
YouTube channel memberships offer several benefits beyond just generating income. Here’s a breakdown:
- Exclusive Content: Creators can share special content like behind-the-scenes footage, early access to videos, and members-only live chats, which helps in building a more engaged community.
- Stable Revenue: Memberships provide a steady income through monthly subscription fees from dedicated fans. This financial stability allows creators to focus more on creating quality content.
- Enhanced Interaction: Members-only posts and live chats enable creators to interact more closely with their audience, fostering a deeper connection.
- Attracting Partners: A successful membership program can attract brands and other creators for collaborations, sponsorships, and branded content opportunities.
- Valuable Feedback: Engaged members are likely to offer useful feedback and suggestions, helping creators refine their content and better understand their audience.
- Personalization: Memberships allow for different tiers with varying perks, such as custom badges, emojis, or discounts, catering to different audience segments and enhancing their experience.
3. Downsides of YouTube channel memberships
- Cost for Viewers: Not all viewers may afford or want to pay for memberships.
- Exclusivity: Memberships can create a sense of exclusivity that might alienate non-members.
- Content Commitment: Maintaining exclusive content can be challenging, especially with other responsibilities.
- Revenue Sharing: YouTube takes a 30% cut of membership fees, which is relatively high.
- Algorithm Dependence: Changes in YouTube’s algorithm can affect content visibility and revenue.
- Managing Expectations: Handling member requests and expectations can become overwhelming.
- Subscription Fatigue: Viewers may experience fatigue from too many subscription services.
4. Requirements to qualify for YouTube channel memberships
Creators must meet the following requirements to allow membership on their YouTube channels:
- The channel should have at least 1000 subscribers.
- The creator should already be a member of the YouTube Partner Program.
- The channel should be active in a location where YouTube is currently available.
- The channel is not set as made for kids, and there aren’t many videos set as such.
- The channel should contain little to no ineligible content.
- The creator must follow YouTube’s terms and policies.
- The creator must be at least 18 years old.
- Videos set as made for kids or videos with music claims are considered ineligible.
Remember that once you enable YouTube channel memberships, you must meet certain qualifications to remain active.
You can’t just create whatever content and perks you want for your subscribers. You must follow YouTube’s guidelines, which can be quite limiting.
For example, you cannot offer 1:1 meetings, contests for only a subset of your members, or downloads of YouTube content.
Go to your YouTube Memberships page to find out if you are eligible. It will show you which requirements you have met and which you have yet to complete.
5. How to set up a channel membership on YouTube?
Setting up a channel membership is easy and only takes a few minutes once you meet the requirements mentioned above. Here’s how you can turn on the membership feature on your channel:
Step 1: Go to the YouTube website and click “Log In” to access your account.
Step 2: Next, click your profile picture in the top right corner of the screen. Select “YouTube Studio” from the options.
Step 3: Go to the left side menu and scroll down until you see the “Earn” option. Click on it to proceed.
Step 4: Once on the monetization page, go to the top menu and click on “Memberships.”
Step 5: Once on the new page, navigate to the “Set Up Your Memberships Offer” section.
Step 6: Click the “Start” button on the panel to create membership tiers for viewers to sign up for. You must follow the instructions, and YouTube will do the rest.
6. How do YouTube channel memberships work?
YouTube channel memberships allow users to support their favorite content providers through a monthly subscription. Members receive special benefits and bonuses in exchange, depending on the tier they select.
As of July 2023, You can offer different tiers or levels of perks to your audience. You can create up to 6 different levels, with each level including between 1 and 5 perks. Prices rise as the number of perks increases. Therefore, the more your audience pays, the more perks they get.
Most channels have multiple membership tiers, which can range from 2 to 5. Each tier has its own set of benefits, see the list below for some of the options available.
7. How much does YouTube pay for channel membership?
Now that you understand how YouTube channel memberships work, one pressing question remains: what is YouTube channel membership price?
YouTube memberships start at $4.99. Subscribers benefit from a basic level of perks. However, the membership system’s flexibility allows for upgrades to higher tiers, each with its own unique price point and additional benefits.
When a new member joins, the creator receives 70% of the total amount, with YouTube taking the other 30%. This means if a user pays $5 for a membership, YouTube keeps $1.50 and the creator receives $3.50.
This revenue-sharing arrangement ensures a fair distribution between content creators and the platform, with YouTube covering transaction costs, giving creators both transparency and financial incentives to engage with their audience via this membership system.
8. Who should use YouTube channel memberships?
To determine whether YouTube channel memberships are the best way to monetize your videos and connect with your audience, consider your current personal brand and business goals.
YouTube channel memberships are ideal for creators with:
- A lot of YouTube subscribers
- Audience members who like to interact on YouTube
- A strong and well-known personal brand.
- A desire to monetize without creating a full-fledged business.
Take YouTube Big Think as an example:
FAQs
How to cancel YouTube channel membership?
Sign in to YouTube and navigate to youtube.com/paid_memberships. Locate the membership you wish to cancel, click “Manage membership,” then choose “Deactivate” and select “End Membership.” Your membership will then be canceled.
What is the difference between YouTube channel membership and premium?
YouTube Premium doesn’t have ads, so creators get paid based on how many times people watch their videos. In a paid membership community, on the other hand, creators get paid based on the type of membership they offer.
Is YouTube premium free channel membership?
If you have YouTube Premium, the first month is free. Use a browser to get to the channel and click “Join.” It costs $10 a month after the first month.
When Will I Be Charged for a YouTube Membership?
When you start a YouTube Membership, you’re charged the monthly fee immediately. Subsequent payments will be charged on the same date each month.
This article explains how YouTube channel memberships can be a useful tool for making money on YouTube, while also emphasizing the importance of considering more advanced options for those looking to take their YouTube channel to the next level. Don’t forget to choose Mid-Man to buy the best YouTube channels!
