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| GOOGLE’s YouTube Partner Program offers video makers the opportunity to monetise their labour of love. |
Launched in 2007, the programme works on a shared revenue model where YouTube splits the advertising profit with the owner of content.
Although it was introduced six years ago in the United States and other parts of the world, it only made its way here last year. Under the programme, content creators have to agree to run Google’s ads along side their videos in order to get a cut from the ad revenue.
YouTube takes 45% of the revenue, leaving the rest for the user. Even if the viewer skips the video after five seconds — and it is not possible to skip a video before this — the user will still get the profit, as Google still counts it as an impression.
It cannot be determined how much a creator makes from every view as YouTube’s parent company, Google, does not make the figures public.
“Cost per clicks are different for each country so we cannot reveal them,” says Zeffri Yusof, Google’s head of communications and public affairs for Malaysia, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
While it is as easy as clicking the monetise button to start being a partner with YouTube, there are several conditions that need to be fulfilled and everything is listed on its community guidelines.
Firstly, the videos must be an original production and cannot have elements of copyrighted works including snippets of music without prior permission from the copyright owner.
YouTube also warns users to toe the line especially when their content touches sensitive issues.
While it respects a person’s right to have an opinion, it frowns upon those using the video-sharing site as a soap box for hate speeches.
A line in the community guidelines reads “We do not permit hate speech, that is speech which attacks or demeans a group based on race or ethnic origin, religion, disability, gender, age, veteran status and sexual orientation or gender identity.”
If you think that YouTube will never find if you put up content that violates its guidelines, think again.
Apparently, dedicated YouTube staff members will review flagged videos and if they breach any of the rules, they will be removed.
Your account will also be terminated if you repeatedly violate the guidelines and you won’t be allowed to create a new one.
There is a little leeway though. Google understands that while some videos do not violate the guidelines, they may be inappropriate for younger viewers so these videos have to be age-restricted by the uploader so that it can only be viewed by those age 18 and above.
YouTube also helps content creators improve their skills at YouTube Creators Hub which offers tools and resources for users to produce better content and increase their fan base, and many Malaysians are already taking advantage of it.
“There is a steadily growing community of Malaysian YouTubers and the awareness for the most part is there. In fact, YouTube is so popular here it is second only to Google as a search destination,” says Zeffri.
