YouTube’s New Super Chat Feature
There are many ways to monetize a YouTube channel. Some creators are gaining fame through Patreon or Ko-fi while others are using YouTube’s fun Super Chat feature, which was launched in 2017.
While it may be a little too early to tell how this tool will impact a channel’s overall earnings, it is still a great option for those who want to stand out from the crowd of other viewers during live streams. The Super Chat feature allows viewers to pay for their comments to be pinned higher in the live chat window. The amount paid determines the length of time that a comment will be pinned. The highlighted comment changes color depending on the amount purchased.
Users must be 18 or older to use the feature. They also need a monetized YouTube Account with more than 4,000 hours of watched time. Additionally, the user must be in one of 95 countries where Super Chat funding is supported. The user must also have a credit card associated with their AdSense account, and agree to the Terms of Service. YouTube reserves the right disable this feature for harassing purposes.
It is difficult for anyone to be noticed by their favorite creators during live streams. However, if the viewer is able to grab the attention of their favorite creator with a Super Chat message, they will likely be mentioned and thanked for it in the following video. The viewer can also make use of the Super Stickers feature which highlights and pins animated sticker to the top chat with a specific color.
To buy a Super Chat, viewers can either tap the dollar sign during a live stream or open the YouTube app and navigate to a video that has Super Chat enabled. Once the video is loaded, users can choose an amount (upto $500 per day or $2000 per week), add their comment and click BUY AND SEND. Unlike regular comments, Super Chats and Super Stickers will remain visible until the end of the video.
While Super Chats and Super Stickers may seem like a small gesture, they can help motivate the average viewer to keep watching videos from their favorite creators. This can make a difference for smaller channels that are struggling to find an audience and gain stability in their careers. With the growing popularity of live streaming, it is essential that new viewers know how they can easily and quickly show their support to their favorite creators. It’s important that creators share information about how to use these tools on their social media channels and in their descriptions. The creators should also add a link to these instructions in the chat menu of their live stream so that users can access them easily. The entire community can then participate in the live stream and reward their favorite creators.