With over 2 billion monthly active users, Facebook is one of the largest social media platforms in the world. As such, it also presents a major opportunity for content creators and publishers to monetize their content through Facebook’s monetization programs.
Facebook offers several monetization options like in-stream ads, branded content, fan subscriptions, and more. However, you need to meet certain eligibility criteria set by Facebook to monetize your content on the platform.
What are the requirements to monetize on Facebook?
Here are the key requirements you need to fulfill to be eligible for Facebook monetization:
- You must have a Facebook Page and not just a personal profile.
- Your Facebook Page must have at least 10,000 lifetime followers.
- Your Facebook Page must have at least 600,000 lifetime video views.
- Your Facebook Page must have at least 5,000 engagements in the last 60 days.
- Your content must comply with Facebook’s Partner Monetization Policies.
- Your content must be original and owned by you.
- You must follow and comply with Facebook’s Community Standards.
Let’s look at each of these requirements in more detail:
1. Have a Facebook Page
To monetize your content on Facebook, you need to have a Facebook Page and not just a personal profile. This is because Facebook’s monetization programs are available only for Facebook Pages.
So the first step is to convert your personal account into a Facebook Page or create a new Facebook Page from scratch. You can create either a public figure Page or a media company Page on Facebook depending on the nature of your content.
2. Have at least 10,000 lifetime followers
Your Facebook Page must have a minimum of 10,000 lifetime followers to be eligible for monetization. This threshold ensures that your Page has an established audience before you can start monetizing.
Lifetime followers refer to the total number of followers your Page has garnered organically over time. Paid or fake followers don’t count towards this metric. Try to build an engaged community of real followers around your Page to cross this threshold.
3. Have at least 600,000 lifetime video views
In addition to the follower requirement, your Facebook Page must also have at least 600,000 lifetime video views across all your video posts.
This view count should be achieved organically and not through paid promotion. Only native video views on your Facebook Page count towards this threshold. Views on other platforms like YouTube or your website do not count.
4. Have at least 5,000 engagements in the last 60 days
Facebook also looks at how engaging your recent Page content has been. To qualify, your Page must have at least 5,000 engagements in the last 60 days.
Engagements refer to actions like reactions, comments, and shares on your Page content. Having strong engagement signals that people are interested in your content.
5. Comply with Facebook’s Partner Monetization Policies
All monetized content on Facebook must comply with the platform’s Partner Monetization Policies. These policies prohibit certain types of content like:
- Violent or graphic content
- Hate speech
- Illegal activity promotion
- Clickbait or sensational content
- Sexually suggestive content
Review these policies thoroughly to ensure your content does not violate any terms. Non-compliant content can lead to demonetization.
6. Content must be original and owned by you
All the content you seek to monetize on Facebook must be originally created and owned by you. You should not monetize copyrighted or plagiarized content.
When you apply for monetization, Facebook may ask you to provide proof of ownership. Having written content, recordings, and creative assets to substantiate your claim will help.
7. Comply with Facebook’s Community Standards
In addition to the monetization policies, you must also comply with Facebook’s Community Standards to be eligible for monetization.
These cover areas like graphic violence, adult nudity, harassment, and regulated goods. Violating these standards can lead to Page restrictions or bans which disqualify you.
So carefully go through the community standards and ensure your content and activity on Facebook meets the requirements.
How do I check if I’m eligible?
Here are a few ways to check if your Facebook Page meets the monetization eligibility criteria:
Page Insights
You can use Facebook’s Page Insights tool to track your lifetime Page followers and lifetime video views. Just go to your Page, click on “Insights” in the left menu and view the “Followers” and “Video Views” metrics.
Page views
Check your recent Page views in Insights to gauge if you are getting 5,000 engagements in the last 60 days. You can further segment engagements by type – likes, comments, shares, etc.
Policy review
Do a self-audit of your content against Facebook’s monetization policies and community standards to ensure compliance.
Test eligibility tool
Facebook also has an eligibility checking tool where you can input your Page username to test if you meet the criteria. It provides a breakdown of where you meet or fall short of the requirements.
What if I don’t qualify for monetization?
If your Facebook Page does not meet the eligibility criteria yet, here are some tips to grow your audience and views to qualify over time:
- Optimize your content for the Facebook algorithm – Post at optimal times, use relevant keywords, add captions, etc.
- Cross-promote content across Facebook, Instagram, and other channels.
- Run polls, quizzes, giveaways to drive more engagement.
- Collaborate with others in your niche to access their audience.
- Consider running video or Page like ads to accelerate growth.
- Analyze competitor Pages in your niche for inspiration.
Conclusion
Earning money from your content on Facebook is a major milestone. But before you can access Facebook’s monetization programs, your Page needs to meet the platform’s eligibility requirements.
Focus on growing your followers, views, and engagement organically. Produce engaging content consistently that delivers value to your audience. Observe Facebook’s monetization and community standards diligently.
Meeting the eligibility criteria requires effort and patience. But once you gain access to monetization, the revenues from Facebook can be well worth the wait.