YouTube's Partner Program requires creators to reach 1,000 subscribers and either 4,000 valid public watch hours in the past 12 months or 10 million valid public Shorts views in the past 90 days before they can earn ad revenue — thresholds that exist to ensure a sustainable, engaged audience before monetization begins. Beyond ad-share programs, creators earn through brand sponsorships (paid mentions or dedicated videos), affiliate marketing (earning a commission on products promoted via trackable links), and selling their own digital or physical products. A media kit — a short document showing your audience size, demographics, engagement rates, and past brand work — is the standard tool creators use to pitch sponsorship deals professionally.