If you’re a new YouTube creator, you might not know what subscribe means on the platform. It may sound silly, but many people are creating videos and still don’t know the lingo of YouTube.
We’re going to share our insights from experts that will help you master this whole “subscribe” thing and start growing your subscribers.
What Does Subscribe Mean on YouTube?
When you see a creator saying, “smash the subscribe button,” they’re asking you to hit the subscribe button underneath the video. You’re asking the person to “subscribe” so that they:
- See your latest videos
- Can easily navigate to your channel
- Continue watching your content
Subscribers have their own feed, and if they sub to your channel, they’ll see your latest videos listed – if they’re not older than other people on the list.
Subscribe Does NOT Mean Be Notified
One of the most common misconceptions that we see new creators have is that when a person subscribes to their channel, they assume that the subscriber will be notified of the new content they post.
But subscribe and receive notifications are two very different things.
If someone doesn’t click the bell button, they won’t receive all notifications. The person will receive personalized notifications, which may not alert them to your newest videos. An additional click on the subscriber button and choosing “All” is necessary to ensure that the person is notified of your latest content.
What Does Google Say About “Subscribe”?
Google owns YouTube, and they have a lot to say about what subscribe means, which you can find in their YouTube Help community.
What Google explains is that people subscribe when they want to:
- See more content from a certain creator or channel
- New videos will show up in a person’s Subscriptions Feed
- Highlights are sent to the person as a notification as a default
If you know how to promote your YouTube channel properly, you’ll be well on your way to convincing more people to hit that subscribe button.
But what does a subscriber do for you in the long term?
A lot of subscribers will help you start to make money as a creator, so you can begin making more content and maybe even make a living on the platform in the future.
How Subscribers Help You Make a Living on YouTube?
You know what subscribers are, but why are they important? How do they help you make a living with your YouTube channel?
Here’s why it’s crucial to focus on growing your subscribers on YouTube.
1. They Help You Monetize Your Channel
Subscribers are the ticket to monetizing your channel on YouTube. Sure, you can make money in a ton of different ways with your channel, but the simplest and most straightforward option is through ads.
But in order to join the YouTube Partner Program and start monetizing your channel, you have to meet YouTube’s requirements:
- Have 1,000 subscribers and 4K watch hours over the last 12 months, OR
- Have 1,000 subscribers and 10M public Shorts views within the last 90 days
As you can see, having subscribers is a big deal in YouTube’s eyes. And if you want to start generating ad revenue with your channel and videos, you need to hit the 1K subscriber mark.
2. They Provide Consistent Views
When people subscribe to your channel, they get notified of your new content and are more likely to watch your new videos. After all, they subscribed for a reason – they love your videos.
Naturally, the more subscribers you have, the more views you will get on a consistent basis.
And once your channel is monetized, those views translate to cash. There’s no guarantee that your subscribers will watch every video, but every view counts.
Plus, those views that they do provide will also contribute to your watch hours. If you’re not yet monetized, your subscribers can help you reach that last requirement of 4K watch hours.
3. They Can Help You Earn Money in Other Ways
There are so many ways to make money from YouTube without AdSense, and your subscribers will help you maximize this revenue.
How else can you make money with your channel?
- Super Thanks
- Channel Memberships
- Super Chat and Super Stickers
- Affiliate Marketing
- Brand Sponsorships
- Selling Merchandise
You can promote these alternative income streams to your subscribers through your video descriptions and in other ways.
Your subscribers are your biggest fans and will be more likely to support you through product purchases and fan funding.
4. They Help You Build a Brand and Community
Brands are built on YouTube every day. A lot of creators are short-sighted when it comes to their channel because they view it as only helping them on YouTube. But if you’ve heard the name MrBeast, PewDiePie and thousands of others, it’s because they’ve built a brand.
Loyal subscribers on YouTube will follow you to:
- TikTok
- Other social channels
If you create a product or offer a service, your branding will make it much easier to begin generating sales. Your brand is one of the most powerful tools that you can create, and that’s exactly what YouTube offers: a place to build a brand and community.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Has the Most Subscribers on YouTube?
Currently, YouTuber MrBeast has the most subscribers – over 271 million. T-Series, a music channel from India, comes in second with 266 million subscribers. Many of the other channels that top this list are for kids.
Do Creators Buy Subscribers?
Yes, many YouTubers buy subscribers, but this is one secret they don’t want you to know about. The truth is that growing a channel is hard. Even when you have thousands or hundreds of thousands of subscribers, you may need a little boost to jumpstart your channel.
Buying subscribers is the quickest and most effective way to kickstart your channel’s growth, whether you’re just getting started or have hit a plateau.
Can You Make Money with Just a Few Hundred Subscribers?
Yes, you can make money with your YouTube channel if you only have a few hundred subscribers. You can generate income through affiliate marketing, merchandise sales and even brand deals. Often, these income streams have no subscriber requirements, so you can start making money ASAP.
