Education & Courses for YouTube Creators - Creator Academy YouTube
Earn money through YouTube branded content, presented by YouTube BrandConnect
Branded content involves a collaboration between a content creator and brand, with the goal of raising awareness of a product or service. Through brand deals, creators can earn by endorsing a brand they think their audience will be interested in. We'll cover more on navigating brand deals and what you need to know before making branded content.
- Estimated time to complete: 15 mins
- Level: “I’ve never tried branded content before.”
- How to qualify: YouTube BrandConnect criteria here
- Date published: June 16, 2020
Know when fair use applies
Identify when you need copyright permission as you upload to YouTube and when exceptions might apply to copyright law.
- Estimated time to complete: 20 Min
- Level: “I'm relatively new to fair use”
- Date: November 5, 2019
Support your music career with YouTube
Build your presence and fanbase on YouTube, understand how monetization and copyright work, and ultimately, grow your music and career.
To complete this course: First, sign in, then finish the lessons at your own pace and pass the course exam with 75% to get your letter of completion.
Activate your nonprofit on YouTube
At YouTube, our mission is to give everyone a voice and show them the world. We want to help people share and build community through their stories. This includes your stories, which bring awareness to social issues and inspire action.
Did you know that 1.5 billion people are logged in and coming to YouTube every single month? That’s the equivalent of one in every five people around the world! On average, our viewers spend over an hour a day watching YouTube on mobile devices alone.
YouTube enables you to reach a large and passionate audience who can help amplify your cause through their social networks. Whether you’re new to the platform or trying to take your channel to the next level, you’ve come to the right place.
We’ve designed this course in the Creator Academy specifically for nonprofits. You’ll learn ways to tell your stories on YouTube through video and capture viewers’ attention with emotion. We’ll also give you quick tips for fine-tuning your channel and getting the most out of YouTube.
YouTube’s built-in tools can help you connect with your viewers, improve your video performance, and even fundraise. We’re excited for nonprofits to captivate and activate supporters on YouTube by leveraging the power of storytelling to reach more than 88 countries around the world.
Ready? Check out these lessons—and join the Creator Community to start discussions with other nonprofits!
To complete this course: First, sign in, then finish the lessons at your own pace and pass the course exam with 75% to get your letter of completion.
Create great content
Ready to grow and sustain a loyal audience on YouTube? Start with a creative foundation and strong, workable ideas.
To complete this course: First, sign in, then finish the lessons at your own pace and pass the course exam with 75% to get your letter of completion.
Key Strategies for Success
Looking for tips on how to maximize your potential on YouTube? These best practices resources will provide you with content and production-focused tips that can guide you as you create future content!
Earn money With Super Chat & Super Stickers
Super Chat and Super Stickers provide another way to monetize your channel while also engaging with your community. In this module, you'll learn about how Super Chat and Super Stickers work, and be able to decide if/how to use these features as part of your channel offerings.
- Estimated time to complete: 15 mins
- Level: “I’ve never used Super Chat or Super Stickers before”
- Eligibility:
- 1,000 subscribers
- Member of YouTube Partner Program (YPP)
- Locations available: List of eligible countries here
- Date published: May 7, 2020
Need more help with Super Chat and Super Sticker? Check out the Help Center!
Heads up: When you set your audience as “made for kids”, we'll restrict certain features to comply with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and other applicable laws. When this happens, live chat won’t be available on individual videos or live streams, including the use of Super Chat and Super Stickers. Find out more here.
Use comments to connect with your community
Once you’ve established your mission statement and gained fans, you’ll want to connect with them in fun, positive ways. Comments are designed as a way to deepen the connection with your audience. This lesson will teach you about the different features available to help you to keep your community positive and safe for you and your fans.
- Estimated time to complete: 15 Min
- Level: “I've used comments a few times”
- Numbers of subs to qualify: No minimum required
- Date published: November 25, 2019
Heads up: When you set your audience as “made for kids”, we'll restrict certain features to comply with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and other applicable laws. When this happens, comments won’t be available on individual videos or live streams. Find more here.
YouTube’s Community Guidelines
Let’s get started! YouTube’s policies help keep everyone safe. Get an introduction to the rules and guidelines so you can keep your channel in the clear and then deep-dive into each specific guideline.
Interact with Audiences with Community Posts
Community posts are lightweight engagement tools that allow Creators with at least 1,000 subscribers to get closer to fans beyond video. Through different content types, you can both give fans a deeper look into your world and express your creativity.
They’re visible to anyone who goes to your Community tab and also reach Subscribers in their Subs feed or notifications if they’re opted in. In this lesson you will learn how to set up and use Community posts to effectively engage audiences.
- Estimated time to complete: 20 mins
- Level: “I’ve never used Community posts”
- Number of subs to qualify: 1,000
- Date published: November 25, 2019
Heads up: When you set your audience as “made for kids”, we'll restrict certain features to comply with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and other applicable laws. When this happens, Community Posts won’t be available on individual videos or live streams. Find more here.
Establish your fanbase
Building a community on YouTube helps deepen your connection with viewers and help turn them into fans for long-term channel growth. This lesson provides tips and best practices to establish those fans and keep them regularly tuning in to your channel.
- Estimated time to complete: 20 minutes
- Level: "I'm new to building a community on YouTube"
- Numbers of subs to qualify: No minimum required
- Date published: November 25, 2019
Earn money with ads - Part 2: Making advertiser-friendly content
If you choose to earn money with ads, be sure to understand our advertiser-friendly content guidelines. Brands and advertisers are sensitive to the content that their ads show alongside. By understanding how advertisers think, you can make informed decisions when creating content.
- Estimated time to complete: 20 mins
- Level: “I’ve never had ads run on my channel before”
- How to qualify:
- Accepted into YPP
- Follow our ad-friendly guidelines
- Date published: May 7, 2020
Need more help with ads? Check out the Help Center!
The quickstart guide to YouTube
Let’s get started! We’ll show you how to quickly set up your channel, upload videos, and align your branding. Plus, we’ll walk you through some important guidelines for being part of the YouTube community.
First, sign in, then finish the lessons at your own pace and pass the course exam with 75% to get your letter of completion.
Brand deals
Working with brands can be an alternative revenue stream for YouTube creators and an opportunity to introduce new products and services to their audience. Learn strategies for how to find and reach out to brands that your audience will love and what to do once you’ve been hired.
To complete this course: First, sign in, then finish the lessons at your own pace and pass the course exam with 75% to get your letter of completion.
Going after long-term success on YouTube
YouTube is an evolving platform, and similar to other forms of media, trends change over time—just like your interests will likely change too. Long-term success on YouTube requires creators to be nimble and pivot creatively throughout their YouTube careers. This course offers a roadmap to help you sustainably grow on YouTube for the long term. You’ll learn tangible advice for evaluating your channel (and your well-being), exploring new creative ideas, making your video production efficient, and expanding your reach through collaborations.
To complete this course: First, sign in, then finish the lessons at your own pace and pass the course exam with 75% to get your letter of completion.
Protect your copyrighted content on YouTube
Know your options to protect your content on YouTube using the available tools and distinguish between available enforcement methods.- Estimated time to complete: 20 Min
- Level: “I know a little about protecting my content on YouTube”
- Date: November 5, 2019
Earn money with ads - Part 1: How ads work
If you’re looking to earn money with ads, you’ll want to understand how ads work and how advertisers think about ads on YouTube. Understanding how creators, viewers and advertisers work together will help you get an idea of whether or not making money with ads makes sense for your channel.
- Estimated time to complete: 20 mins
- Level: “I’ve never had ads run on my channel before”
- How to qualify:
- Accepted into YPP
- Follow our Ad-friendly guidelines
- Date published: May 7, 2020
Need more help with ads? Check out the Help Center!
Respond to Content ID claims
Navigate the content ID dispute process and tools available to resolve claims.- Estimated time to complete: 25 Min
- Level: “I'm new to Content ID”
- Date: November 5, 2019
Earn money with Channel Memberships
Channel memberships let your viewers support your channel through monthly payments in exchange for member-only perks.
- Estimated time to complete: 15 mins
- Level: “I’ve never used memberships on my channel before”
- Eligibility:
- 1,000 subscribers
- Member of YouTube Partner Program (YPP)
- Date published: May 7, 2020
- All perks offered to channel members must comply with YouTube’s Terms of Service, Community Guidelines and channel memberships policies.
Need more help with membership eligibility? Check out the Help Center!
Respond to copyright takedowns
Navigate copyright takedowns and the tools available to resolve strikes.- Estimated time to complete: 25 Min
- Level: “I'm new to copyright takedowns”
- Date: November 5, 2019
Making videos for social change
Creators on YouTube are in a unique position to generate positive social impact by creating meaningful dialogue around current topics and issues. Get the tools to help communicate your message on YouTube.
To complete this course: First, sign in, then finish the lessons at your own pace and pass the course exam with 75% to get your letter of completion.
Unlock your gaming channel
Set your gaming channel up for success with these tools and techniques.
Disclaimer: Different game publishers have different rules around how their games can be used and/or potentially monetized on YouTube. Make sure you understand the terms and conditions for any game footage that you plan on uploading.
To complete this course: First, sign in, then finish the lessons at your own pace and pass the course exam with 75% to get your letter of completion.
Staying well and avoiding burnout
Self-care is an important practice within any career, including being a YouTube Creator. Learn tips for staying healthy, balanced, safe, and efficient with your time and channel, so that you don’t burn out.
To complete this course: First, sign in, then finish the lessons at your own pace and pass the course exam with 75% to get your letter of completion.
During your shoot
It’s time for your shoot. Captivate your audience with interesting shot composition. Use lighting effectively to set the mood. And learn how to record sound like a pro.
First, sign in, then finish the lessons at your own pace and pass the course exam with 75% to get your letter of completion.
Get your music channel started on YouTube
Learn to set up a channel, promote your music, encourage fans to tune in, and take your channel to the top of the charts.
To complete this course: First, sign in, then finish the lessons at your own pace and pass the course exam with 75% to get your letter of completion.
Manage copyright permissions
Identify when you need copyright permission as you upload to YouTube and when exceptions might apply to copyright law.
- Estimated time to complete: 20 Min
- Level: “I'm new to copyright permissions”
- Date: November 5, 2019
Target your audience
Every audience is different. Learn how to reach the viewers you want and make your channel a daily destination for them.
Before your shoot
A lot of planning goes into a successful YouTube video. Before pressing ‘record’, find out what equipment works best for you, how to turn your idea into a story, and what other steps you can take to be ready for your shoot.
First, sign in, then finish the lessons at your own pace and pass the course exam with 75% to get your letter of completion.
360-degree video and virtual reality on YouTube
360-degree video and virtual reality are changing how audiences can experience video. This course will get you acquainted with this new technology, help you decide whether producing videos in 360 is right for your channel and offer some tips to get started.
To complete this course: First, sign in, then finish the lessons at your own pace and pass the course exam with 75% to get your letter of completion.
Develop a beauty channel
Beauty and fashion videos on YouTube range from helpful tutorials to personality-driven series. Many successful beauty and fashion channels adopt existing strategies and formats, but often the most successful take a unique approach to their subject that allows them to stand out from the crowd.
To complete this course: First, sign in, then finish the lessons at your own pace and pass the course exam with 75% to get your letter of completion.
YouTube for Music Partners
YouTube is the best place for fans around the world to discover and share music. We want to help labels, publishers, and other music partners make the most of YouTube’s large and diverse audience—to reach more fans and add revenue.
We’ve designed this course in the Creator Academy for music content owners who have access to Content ID. You’ll learn about scalable tools and expert strategies to deliver your music content and manage your digital rights on YouTube.
Creating inclusive content on YouTube
We’re going to cover tips on how your YouTube channel can help foster greater inclusion, and show you how your channel can be a force for good.
- Estimated time to complete: 20 Min
- Level: “I'm new to creating inclusive content”
- Date: November 5, 2019
Build a business on YouTube
We’ll share insights for turning your YouTube channel into a business. Learn about setting up your business, defining and communicating your brand, scaling up your business with more resources, and promoting your brand through media opportunities.
To complete this course: First, sign in, then finish the lessons at your own pace and pass the course exam with 75% to get your letter of completion.
Live streaming on YouTube
YouTube Live lets you connect and engage with your audience in more meaningful ways. Whether you’re new to live streaming or looking to enhance your live streaming experience, this course offers tools and strategies to help you be successful.
To complete this course: First, sign in, then finish the lessons at your own pace and pass the course exam with 75% to get your letter of completion.
Grow your community
Find long-term success by building a loyal fanbase. Socially engage with your audience on and off YouTube to see results.
To complete this course: First, sign in, then finish the lessons at your own pace and pass the course exam with 75% to get your letter of completion.
Building a global channel
Share your stories with a global audience. Channels geared towards worldwide audiences often see an uplift in key metrics like watch time and subscribers. You can increase accessibility of new and existing videos with platform tools that translate and transcribe them. Additionally, certain types of videos tend to be more relevant to all audiences. Learn strategies to boost the visibility of your channel to audiences around the world.
To complete this course: First, sign in, then finish the lessons at your own pace and pass the course exam with 75% to get your letter of completion.
Welcome to YPP (What do I need to know once I am accepted into YPP?)
Welcome to YPP! Now that you are part of the YouTube Partner Program, we’ll cover what you need to know, policies and guidelines to be aware of, and monetization options if you’re looking to earn money with your channel.
- Estimated time to complete: 10 mins
- Level: “I’m new to the YouTube Partner Program.”
- How to qualify: You’ve been accepted into YPP
- Date published: May 7, 2020
Need more help with YPP? Check out the Help Center!
Earn money selling merchandise
Merchandise is a great way to make money and keep engaging your community. In this course you’ll learn what it takes to develop branded merchandise and sell it through your channel.
- Estimated time to complete: 15 minutes
- Level: “I’ve never sold merchandise on my channel before”
- Eligibility:
- Member of YouTube Partner Program (YPP)
- Have more than 10,000 subscribers
- Date published: May 7, 2020
Need more help with merchandise? Check out the Help Center!
Head's up: When you set your audience as “made for kids”, we'll restrict certain features to comply with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and other applicable laws. When this happens, Merchandise shelves won’t be available. Find more here.
After your shoot
Get expert tips for selecting your editing tools and editing your videos like a pro. Also, find out how adding music and sound effects can further engage your audience.
First, sign in, then finish the lessons at your own pace and pass the course exam with 75% to get your letter of completion.
Get insights with YouTube Analytics
YouTube Analytics is your channel's pulse. Learn how to uncover trends to see what’s working and what's not. Find out who’s watching, what they like to watch, and which videos could make you the most money.
To complete this course: First, sign in, then finish the lessons at your own pace and pass the course exam with 75% to get your letter of completion.
Get discovered
Enhance your channel’s search and discovery potential on YouTube using metadata, collaborations, captions and promotions.
To complete this course: First, sign in, then finish the lessons at your own pace and pass the course exam with 75% to get your letter of completion.
Building an educational channel on YouTube
You can change lives by making educational videos on YouTube! YouTube is a powerful medium for learning because it’s accessible to worldwide audiences and hosts a diverse collection of learning videos. This course offers strategies for all creators interested in making educational videos on YouTube— whether you want to provide skill-building tips and help viewers advance their career, teach an online curriculum, make ‘how-to’ videos, or experiment with an entertaining learning series. Click into the lessons below to get started.
To complete this course: First, sign in, then finish the lessons at your own pace and pass the course exam with 75% to get your letter of completion.
Is your channel ready to earn money?
What does it mean to be in YPP? As part of the YouTube Partner program, you’re eligible to tap into multiple revenue streams, as long as you meet the criteria and they’re available in your country. You also have access to creator support and the copyright match tool. Learn more about the program, how it works and how you can apply to the program.
- Estimated time to complete: 15 mins
- Level: “I’ve never monetized on YouTube before.”
- How to qualify
- 1,000 subscribers
- 4,000 valid public watch hours over the last 12 months
- Availability in your country
- Follow all the YouTube monetization policies
- Have a linked AdSense account
- Date published: May 7, 2020
Need more help with YPP? Check out the Help Center
Express yourself with Stories
YouTube Stories are short, mobile-only videos that allow creators with 10,000 subscribers or more to personally connect with their audience in a casual, in-the-moment way. This course will show you how to create a Story and share best practices for using them to engage your fans.
- Estimated time to complete: 15 mins
- Level: "I'm new to Stories"
- Number of subs to qualify: 10,000
- Date published: November 25, 2019
Heads up: When you set your audience as “made for kids”, we'll restrict certain features to comply with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and other applicable laws. If your channel is made for kids, your channel won’t have Stories. Find more here.
Combine Community Features to Launch a New Video
So far you’ve learned how to use Premieres, Community posts and Stories. But how can you use them all together for deeper engagement with your community? This lesson gives you tips on how to incorporate all of these features into your usual channel workflow, and at each part of your video process. If you haven’t done so already, go back and check out the other lessons in this series that give you an overview of each.
- Estimated time to complete: 20 minutes
- Level: "I know the basics of Premieres, Community posts and Stories"
- Numbers of subs to qualify: 10,000 (to use Stories)
- Date published: December 9, 2019
Heads up: When you set your audience as “made for kids”, we'll restrict certain features to comply with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and other applicable laws. When this happens, live chat, Community Posts and Stories won’t be available on individual videos or live streams. Find more here.
Navigate copyright
Recognize what is copyright protected and how copyright law applies to YouTube.
- Estimated time to complete: 20 Min
- Level: “I'm new to copyright”
- Date: November 5, 2019
Build the hype with Premieres
Premieres are a feature that transform your next upload into an exciting release moment. They help you build excitement for your latest content by letting you join fans to watch your newest video in real-time while chatting and interacting with your community. This lesson shows you how to set up a Premiere and offers tips on making it a successful event.
- Estimated time to complete: 20 Min
- Level: “I’ve never used Premieres before”
- Numbers of subs to qualify: No minimum required
- Date published: November 25, 2019
Need more help with Premieres? Check out the Help Center!
Heads up: When you set your audience as “made for kids”, we'll restrict certain features to comply with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and other applicable laws. When this happens, live chat won’t be available on individual videos or live streams. Find more here.