On my chess youtube channel I have been posting instructional chess content for about the past 6 months. I enjoy making videos about chess and I consider it my "passion project".

Initially when I signed up I could immediately monetize the channel to display ads and get paid for those ads.

So...

It seems like free money, right? The issue I have with ads being displayed on my videos is that instead of the viewer viewing my content in a simple manner, they will begin to associate the ads, or annoyance of viewing ads, with my channel. I know I have done this for other youtube channels that display ads. In addition, the affiliate sales means that I made a positive recommendation on a product I know and have used myself.

I will be releasing my own product which will be a comprehensive chess course spanning 5 months and 150 videos. It will take the player from beginner to expert level in 5 months and cover everything they need to know in an hour long video a day. I like to keep everything clean, simple, and clear and taking ads off my youtube videos will provide a much better use experience for the small trade off of a couple of dollars.

I am happy with this trade and have learned to WAIT as long as possible to monetize. There is no rush. Good content and products take time and from my first video until now I have made leaps and bound in pedagogy and video quality.

Demonetizing my channel is a THANK YOU to my subscribers.

Your man,

Andrew