Remember the good ol’ days of Twitter? Back when it was all about fleeting trends, witty memes and endless scrolling? Well, those days are officially over.

Since Elon Musk’s $44 billion acquisition and subsequent rebranding last year, X has undergone a significant metamorphosis. Notably, the platform now shares advertising revenue with content creators, a strategic move aimed at reigniting interest in the brand.

In fact, the payouts started rolling out in August last year, and X users have been proudly flaunting screenshots of their earnings ever since. X CEO Linda Yaccarino noted that $20 million had already hit creators’ pockets early this year, demonstrating the company’s commitment to fostering a thriving community.

Critics, however, argue that the eligibility bar is pretty high. With already established and stable monetization models like the YouTube Partner Program (YPP), you may wonder if it’s worth the switch. If you are still doubting whether you should sign up to the revenue sharing program, we will recap it below so you can make an informed decision.

What’s X’s Ad Revenue Sharing Program?

The X’s Ad revenue-sharing program operates on a principle almost similar to that of YouTube. Typically, you profit from earnings generated by ads shown in the replies of the threads you pen.

However, there is a twist. While most social media platforms calculate ad revenue based on the number of views, X focuses on verified user’s organic impressions. These are the number of times your content is displayed to other users regardless of whether they engage with it or not.

Think of it like a billboard on a busy highway. You get paid every time someone sees your content, even if they don’t stop to read. This approach levels the playing field for text-based creators, giving them a fair shot at monetization on a platform where views don’t always tell the whole story.

But, as with any innovation, questions abound. While impressions are a valuable metric for determining the type of content that resonates with users, some worry about potential manipulation. Clickbait headlines and spammy tactics might flood the platform, sacrificing quality for inflated reach.

To address such and maintain the integrity of its Ad Revenue Sharing Program, X has implemented a rigorous onboarding process for creators.

So, Who is Eligible?

To qualify for the program, you must meet the following criteria:

1. Be aged 18 or older with at least 500 followers
2. Subscribe to X Premium (formerly Twitter Blue) or be a verified organization/affiliate
3. Have cumulative organic post impressions of at least 5 million within the last three months

Note: X Premium costs a non-refundable $8 per month or $84 per year on the web, with prices varying by region. For instance, in Kenya, this will go for Ksh 1,100/Ksh 11,600 respectively. You can find the full pricing details in the X Help Center.

Prerequisites

Once you’re eligible, you’ll need the following:

1. Stripe Account: X uses Stripe for secure and easy payouts. Check here if it’s available in your country before signing up.
2. Adherence to Ads Revenue Share Terms: Understand and comply with X’s terms and conditions regarding revenue sharing including the X Rules and Creator Monetization Standards. Breaching them could disqualify you from the program.

How Does the Program Work

Now, assuming you meet the eligibility requirements, here’s how X’s Ad Revenue Sharing Program works:

1. Head to the “Monetization” section in your X app (side menu on iOS/Android, overflow menu on web).
2. Click the “Join and Set Up Payouts” button and you’ll be redirected to Stripe.
3. Sign up for a free Stripe account to receive your ad revenue share. It’s quick and easy!
4. Stripe also serves as your hub for transferring funds to your external bank account. Link it to your preferred account for smooth payouts.
5. Once accepted, you’ll automatically receive regular payouts as long as you generate more than $10 in ad revenue.

X Subscriptions

The Ad revenue sharing program isn’t the only benefit of X. The platform has introduced X Subscriptions, a feature that allows you to offer exclusive content to your subscribers for a monthly fee. Think bonus posts, direct interactions, and subscriber-only X Spaces for your most loyal followers.

But perhaps the real star of the show is the subscription badge. This will shine next to your subscribers’ names, making them easily identifiable when interacting with your profile. It’s a symbol of honor for their support.

Joining is simple: be at least 18 years old, subscribe to X Premium, have a minimum of 500 followers, and demonstrate consistent activity in the last 30 days. Once opted in, you’ll get 97% of subscription revenue until $50,000, and a generous 80% thereafter.

X Tips

If you’re familiar with TikTok’s live gifts, you’ll find X Tips a familiar concept. The feature (iOS and Android exclusive for now) allows your followers to send you cash gifts as a token of appreciation for your content. It’s a direct and instantaneous way for them to support you beyond just likes and shares.

To set up X Tips, follow these simple steps:

1. Head to your Edit Profile and tap Tips (it’s off by default).
2. Agree to the X General Tipping policy to activate Tips.
3. On the Tips settings screen, flip the Allow Tips switch to On.
4. Choose your preferred third-party service(s) for receiving Tips.

And the best part? X doesn’t take a dime. You keep 100% of the tip. And of course, the third-party payment service you choose may impose a fee.

For your followers, the process is equally uncomplicated. They simply need to tap the Money icon on your profile and they’ll get directed to the payment platform. However, they must be over 18 years old to participate.

Beyond the Financial Aspects

While the financial incentives are undoubtedly appealing, X’s transformation goes beyond monetary gains. The sole requirement? Become an X Premium subscriber.

Take for instance the long-standing lament of the edit button. Typos and incomplete thoughts haunted the platform, leaving users frustrated and their ideas stranded. Now, X Premium grants you a golden hour, where you can polish your published posts with a limited number of edits.

And that’s not all. You can craft epic 25,000-character posts tenfold leap from the previous limit. Or, weave your story with 3-hour videos up to 8GB on iOS and X.com.

Twitter to X

In a nutshell, X is no longer a microblogging platform. It has evolved into a refuge for content creators, providing them with new avenues for expression, revenue, and community building.

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