Are you taking advantage of YouTube’s creator-focused features?

2025 has seen a lot of exciting for YouTube creator features, and there’s more on the horizon.

Earlier this year, YouTube CEO, Neal Mohan, outlined significant updates coming to YouTube throughout 2025. These updates are focused around how creators make money, grow their channels, and use AI tools (within the scope of YouTube AI rules and best practices, of course). Here we are, half way through 2025 and if you aren’t taking advantage of these new features or gearing to do so, you’re falling behind. But it’s not too late!

In this post, we’ll recap what’s new in YouTube for 2025 and lay out why these updates are important for current and aspiring YouTubers, especially those looking to diversify their income streams beyond traditional ad revenue.

More ways to earn on YouTube

Many creators dream of turning their YouTube channels into full-time careers, but relying solely on ad revenue can be challenging. The good news is that YouTube has recognized this and is working to expand monetization options. In 2024, over fifty percent of channels earning five figures or more did so through sources other than ads and YouTube Premium. This year, YouTube is making strides to facilitate even more ways for creators to earn money.

• Improved channel memberships: YouTube is enhancing its membership feature, allowing creators to offer exclusive perks to their subscribers.
• Enhanced shopping features: Creators will soon have better tools to sell merchandise directly through their channels.
• New brand partnerships: YouTube is introducing innovative ways for creators to partner with brands, expanding their revenue options.
• Courses: A long-awaited feature is the introduction of courses, allowing creators to sell educational content directly on the platform, similar to platforms like Skillshare. Creators will retain the majority of the revenue from these courses.

Additionally, for podcasters, YouTube has become the leading service for podcast listening in the United States. The platform is set to roll out new tools aimed at enhancing monetization for podcasters and making it easier for audiences to discover new podcasts.

Changing viewing habits

How audiences consume content is evolving (or devolving?) ye olde television surpassed mobile as the primary device for YouTube viewing in the U.S. This shift has led to increased watch time, with many channels seeing a significant portion of their views coming from TV audiences. Given this trend, YouTube encourages creators to tailor their content for TV viewers.

Strategies for TV audiences

To ensure content performs well on TV, YouTube recommends three key strategies:

1. Be sharp: High-quality video is essential. While not everyone may notice the difference, those who do appreciate the extra detail that 4K video provides on larger screens.
2. Be bingeable: If viewers are already tuning in on their TVs, provide them with more content to watch. Focus on creating longer, compelling stories or series that keep viewers engaged without unnecessary padding.
3. Be browsable: The channel pages on TV are significant real estate. Ensure that your home tab highlights your freshest and most popular videos and playlists prominently.

YouTube is also testing interactive features for TV, including a second screen experience that allows viewers to interact with content via their phones and a “watch with” feature that enables creators to provide live commentary during events.

The role of AI in content creation

As creators continue to explore AI, YouTube is taking notice. While generative AI models and large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT and Claude get all the attention, many creators see AI as a means to streamline their workflow rather than to generate content from scratch.

YouTube is focusing on developing AI tools that empower creators. One notable improvement is the rollout of auto dubbing, which allows creators to translate their videos into multiple languages with ease. This feature will soon be available to all creators in the YouTube Partner Program, potentially expanding their audience significantly. Statistics show that over 40% of watch time on dubbed videos comes from viewers choosing to listen in a different language.

New AI tools and improvements

YouTube is also enhancing existing AI tools:

• Dreamtrack: This tool enables creators to generate unique soundtracks for their shorts using text prompts and is receiving a significant update.
• Dreamscreen: A tool that allows creators to generate AI-generated image and video backgrounds will also see improvements.
• AI brainstorming tools: The Inspiration tab in YouTube Studio will now provide full video outlines, title suggestions, and thumbnail ideas, making the planning process easier for creators.
• Smart recommendations: YouTube is using AI to analyze viewer behavior more effectively, helping content reach the right audience faster.

Conclusion

With these new features for 2025 and beyond, YouTube continues to demonstrate its focus on enhancing the creator experience. By diversifying revenue streams, adapting to changing viewing habits, and leveraging AI tools, creators can expect a more robust platform that supports their growth and success.

For more insights and tips on growing your YouTube channel, sub to TubeBuddy on YouTube stay tuned to the TubeBuddy blog.

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