So, do YouTubers get paid if you skip ads? The answer depends. Today, we’ll cover if YouTube ads are important for creators and how you can support them.

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Is it OK to skip ads on Youtube? 

If you skip ads on YouTube, you’re in good company. A study by LaunchLeap discovered that 59% of millennials bypass skippable ads, which allow users to skip an ad after five seconds of watching. 

Does this make it okay to skip ads on YouTube? The simple answer is that’s up to you. Skipping ads on YouTube can impact the creators’ AdSense earnings, so if you’re trying to support your favorite creator, you may want to consider watching the ads. 

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On the other hand, skipping ads can save advertisers who you weren’t interested in money. YouTube doesn’t charge advertisers for the ad placement unless viewers watch the full ad or a significant amount of the ad. So, if it’s for a product you’re not interested in anyways, skipping the ad gives the advertiser’s ad a chance to sway someone more interested in their product. 

Do YouTubers get paid if you skip ads? 

Yes and no. YouTubers won’t get paid for skipped ads, but some situations may still lead to some AdSense earnings even when an ad is skipped. 

For starters, some ads, like non-skippable bumper ads, are only six seconds long, so the viewer doesn’t even have a chance to skip the ad. This means that the YouTuber will receive some AdSense for the view as long as the viewer doesn’t immediately hit the back button when the ad begins playing. Non-skippable bumper ads pay YouTubers based on CPM (cost per thousand impressions). For most niches, this is a relatively low rate. 

In other cases, ad views don’t matter. The advertiser isn’t paying for how long a viewer watches the ad but if they interact with the ad. These ads generally pay more.

In this case, there is no CPM (cost per thousand impressions). Instead, the rate is calculated based on if the viewer watches the entire ad, or more than thirty seconds of it, if it’s a long ad, or if they click on the ad. 

Unreliable AdSense

YouTube AdSense is notoriously unreliable, though. According to Brian Penny, Founder & CEO of Thought For Your Penny, YouTube pays him around $100 to $300 per month. His channel ClubhouseConvos has racked up over five million views in ten years. 

In his blog post about How Much Do YouTubers Actually Make?, he shares that YouTube has dramatically changed his CPM over the years. He shares, “I used to make more money per view for fewer views and it was a far smaller percentage of what they were actually charging the brands.”

In short, YouTubers don’t get paid if you skip an ad unless the ad is over 30 seconds long and you’ve watched 30 seconds or more of it. So, if you want to support your favorite YouTubers, consider watching their ads through or supporting them in other ways, such as buying their merch or subscribing to their Patreon. 

How to make people not skip ads on your YouTube videos 

There isn’t much you can do as a YouTuber to make people not skip Youtube ads, short of begging them to watch the ads, which may be annoying to your viewers. 

However, you can try the following to increase your earnings from YouTube ads: 

• Consider your ad placement. It’s common for YouTubers to have an ad at the beginning of the video, but you can also place ads throughout your video too. While we don’t recommend putting a huge number of ads throughout the video as this can frustrate viewers, a few well-spaced ads can dramatically increase your earnings. Keep in mind that a viewer who has watched 40% or more of your video is unlikely to be deterred by a short ad because they are already engaged with your content. 
• If nothing else, increase your views and improve the quality of your videos. This is a surefire way to increase how many people are watching your ads and how many people are willing to sit through a 30-second ad to continue watching your content. 

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Here are a few tips for brands looking to keep people watching your YouTube ads longer: 

• Don’t introduce your brand too early. You want to reel in your viewers before you present your brand. Otherwise, you risk not enticing the viewer enough to finish the ad. They may even feel that the ad is overly pushy and feel frustrated with the message. 
• Tell a story. While it’s important to have high-quality content, the story is even more critical to engage your audience. Your ad should immediately start with a story with a relatable problem, such as an employee trying to type out the perfect email or a freelancer trying to set up a website. 
• Start your ad with a question. Make it obvious what problem your product or service solves immediately. Viewers with the same problem will be far more likely to watch the ad through.

Other easy ways to make more money on Youtube 

So, how can you make more money on YouTube outside of YouTube ads? The possibilities are massive, but here are some of the most popular ways to monetize your channel: 

• Brand deals: Many brands are dedicating more and more of their marketing dollars to influencer marketing advertising. If you have a loyal audience, you may be able to reach out to brands about sponsored content or take on deals when brands reach out to you. 
• Membership subscriptions: Many creators have Patreons or memberships offered through YouTube that their most dedicated fans can sign up for. These memberships often offer exclusive content and other perks. The subscription model can quickly add up for the creator and create a more reliable income stream. 
• Affiliate marketing: If you already link products or services in your video descriptions, consider looking into affiliate links, which allow you to make a small commission if people purchase through the link. 
• Sell merch: Many YouTubers create merchandise, like t-shirts, tote bags, coffee mugs, notebooks, and more to sell to their fanbase. 

Conclusion 

We hope today’s piece on “Do YouTubers get paid if you skip ads?” answered your question. Generally speaking, YouTubers won’t get paid if you skip short ads or don’t watch longer ads until at least 30 seconds in. So, if you want to support your favorite creator, we encourage you to watch their ads or look for alternative ways to support them. 

Don’t forget to share this with any friends who may be asking themselves the same question! Leave us a comment down below about your favorite way to support creators and any tips you have for improving ad viewership.