No matter what your passion is, YouTube offers a variety of methods for making money. Obviously, the key here is knowing where best to focus your efforts.
You’ll be pleased to hear that video content has never dwindled, but only changed over time.
As content creators look to deliver shorter-form videos that hook viewers in pretty sharpish, it's no surprise YouTube Shorts have kept up with this trend.
According to The Atlantic, there are around 14 billion videos on YouTube, so, if you're looking to grab a slice of the action, you’re in the right place. Since YouTube shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon, now's the time to get involved in monetizing YouTube Shorts and your YouTube channel in general.
The key question is: do YouTube Shorts make money?
If they do, how much can you really earn? And what are some secret tips to boost your potential earnings?
Firstly, Can YouTube Shorts Be Monetized?
Put simply, yes, you can make money from YouTube Shorts.
As a content creator, the chances are you've tried your hand with all types of video content. You might have dipped your toe into other platforms to figure out whether short-form videos are for you.
While it's very different making money on TikTok versus YouTube, the world of YouTube Shorts is relatively new. YouTube Shorts were introduced in 2020, which means there's still plenty of room for content creators to experiment with the best ways to make money from them.
Whether you're already creating long-form videos or you're just starting a YouTube channel, this guide will give you the tools to get started.
Now, let's take a closer look at what you have to do to start making money from your YouTube Shorts.
How Much Money Do You Make From YouTube Shorts?
Whether you're looking to make YouTube your side hustle or add another income stream to your setup, YouTube Shorts can result in success. There are several ways you can make money with Shorts, including:
- Ad revenue
- Super Thanks
- Super Chats and Stickers
But more importantly, how much money can you make?
If you work hard, your channel can make a lot. However, this may not all come from Shorts.
Shorts revenue can vary from $0.01 - $0.06 per 1000 views, but ad revenue isn't the only way to monetize YouTube Shorts.
So, how much money can you actually make from YouTube Shorts?
As mentioned, the money you can make from Shorts can vary from $0.01 - $0.06 per 1000 views. Unfortunately, this amount is far lower than long-form videos, where you can earn anywhere between $1.61 and $29.30 per 1000 views, the average being $1.25 to $2.5.
On average, you would need approx. 25 million views to make $1,000. That sounds like a big task – but don’t get disheartened. Here’s how one of the top creators has monetized his YouTube Shorts.
Zach King – The Final Cut King
Zach King is one of the top video content creation earners, with over 39 million YouTube subscribers. His videos are predominantly magic tricks but he utilizes his video editing skills to create funny and unique content, with a humorous angle to his content.
For example, he visited famous landmarks to create edits such as turning Big Ben in London into a pocket watch. His viral content has amassed millions upon millions of overall views.
King shared his YouTube Shorts earnings shortly after YouTube launched Shorts monetization:
In a period of six days, King earned $343.32 from 35,652,976 YouTube Shorts views.
You might be thinking, that doesn’t sound like a significant amount, but the short-form videos take considerably less time to make compared to his long-form videos. So, YouTube Shorts is a good additional revenue stream for him.
Also, when you factor into the equation that once these Shorts have been created, they will continue to receive views, the recurring income makes them very worthwhile.
From the data he shared, you can see his Shorts varied from $0.01 to $0.03 RPM (Revenue Per Mille).
The content Zach King has uploaded onto Shorts covers a range of topics, from fixing a flat tire to getting free meals, so not as niche as some topics that would pay a higher RPM.
King’s net worth is estimated at around $13 million, so what is his secret?
He diversifies his revenue streams by creating content and uploading it across different platforms. In addition to YouTube, he also monetizes TikTok, where he has 82.2 million followers, and Instagram (29M followers). He started on Vine, where he became one of the top video creators on the platform.
King has adapted his strategy to optimize marketing trends, using the most profitable platforms and aligning his content to the latest consumer demands. It is safe to say that if he thinks YouTube Shorts is worth putting in the work, it is a good platform for content creators to use.
Ultimately, your best bet to maximize your income is not to rely solely on ads. Look for other revenue streams to supplement this, including subscriptions and digital products. You could blend YouTube Shorts with long-form content, tutorials, and even live streams.
YouTube Shorts Monetization Requirements
To get started making money with YouTube Shorts, you're going to need to join the YouTube Partner Program (YPP). From here, you'll have access to the platform's money-making tools, giving you the ability to:
- Place ads on your content
- Monetize your audience through fan-funding
Now, let's break down how that works and what it requires to monetize your YouTube Shorts successfully.
While Whop makes it easy to maximize your earning potential on YouTube, here are two routes you can take to start making money via the YouTube Partner Program:
Fan-funding
This route requires:
- Gaining 500 subscribers
- Uploading 3 public videos in the last 90 days
- Getting 3,000 public watch hours in the last 365 days or 3 million public Shorts views in the last 90 days
Ad revenue and fan-funding
Or, if you're looking to earn ad revenue and take advantage of fan-funding:
- Gaining 1,000 subscribers
- Getting 4,000 public watch hours from long-form videos in the last 365 days or 10 million public Shorts views in the last 90 days
Once you've joined the YouTube Partner Program (YPP), only eligible YouTube Shorts will start earning ad revenue. To avoid getting into YouTube's bad books, make sure you:
- Follow their Advertiser-Friendly Content Guidelines
- Avoid using unedited clips from TV shows or movies you don't have the rights to
- Avoid using another creator's content without a new perspective
- Don't pay for automated/fake views
What is considered a 'Short'?
Much like the short-form videos we're familiar with on TikTok or Instagram, YouTube Shorts are vertical videos that are 60 seconds or less.
However, recent news released by YouTube has explained that starting October 15th, 2024, Shorts can be up to three minutes long.
How Does YouTube Shorts Monetization Differ?
Earning ad revenue via YouTube Shorts is a little different from your usual YouTube video.
For example, revenue from Shorts is split between different parties, including the creator and music partners who provide tracks for those videos.
The best way to show how this monetization is broken down is seen below.
It is essentially a four-step process:
- YouTube pools all of the Shorts ad revenue on its platform.
- YouTube then calculates how much goes to the creator pool, which depends on views and music usage across Shorts. If no music is used, the creator keeps the revenue generated. If they do use music, it is then split between the creator pool and music publishers.
- YouTube distributes the ad revenue to monetized Shorts creators. This is based on a creator's total share of Shorts views on the platform, whether 5%, 10%, etc.
- Creators keep 45% of their revenue share.
Can You Monetize YouTube Shorts Without 1,000 Subscribers?
Yes, you can. If you're just getting started on YouTube, building 500 subscribers is the quickest way to get involved with the YouTube Partner Program to monetize Shorts. However, you won't be able to earn ad revenue.
You will be able to monetize most of your content, though - Shorts included - through fan-funding tools:
Collecting Super Thanks
The best way to get started is to build up your channel to 500 subscribers and make the most of fan-funding tools in the YPP. Building a relationship with your audience is key since 500 subs will allow you to collect 'Super Thanks' revenue from your YouTube Shorts.
Put simply, these are tips from your audience, ranging from $2 to $50.
Receiving Super Chats and Stickers
Many YouTube Shorts creators are keen to maximize their earnings through a variety of YouTube methods - including streaming.
Hosting a live stream on your channel with a loyal audience can earn you Super Chats and Stickers. These donations (or essentially 'tips') range from $1 to $500.
Earning through Channel Memberships
Looking to create exclusive content? Both your regular videos and YouTube Shorts can be monetized through Channel Memberships. Here, members will be able to view exclusive content, badges, livestreams and more.
Plus, Shorts offer an extra dose of variety to your members, so it's not all about your usual horizontal content.
Collaborating with other creators
The chances are, you have your favorite creators you look to for certain types of content. This could vary greatly, whether you want the latest tech reviews, a burst of comedy, or maybe a lifestyle-focused Short.
If there's a creator or two that resonates with what you're doing, why not join forces? Collaborating with other YouTube creators can also expand your reach and engagement. This will allow you to tap into their subscriber base while offering fresh, collaborative content.
Plus, diversifying your content a little can help you gain more subscribers and reach new audiences.
You might think that you need 10,000 subscribers to get seen, but this isn't always the case. If you've got a hot topic up for discussion, reach out to fellow creators and boost your visibility via their audience.
Is There a Quick Way to Get Started With Shorts?
There sure is. If you've already got plenty of long-form videos, why not repurpose them?
There's no reason why you can't repurpose content you've used on other platforms, either. Take a look at what's working on YouTube and get slicing up your Reels or TikTok content. By doing this, you’ll not only maximize your content’s reach but also increase the chances of monetization as your Shorts draw in more views.
Whether you're reviewing the latest tech or creating comedy sketches, cut those bad boys up into YouTube Shorts. This could help you to bring in new subscribers, as well as give current subs a variety of content to explore.
What About Brand Deals and Sponsorships?
A lot of people think that the only way to make money on social media is by going viral. Sure, that's great. But it isn't the only way...
As well as selling digital products or exclusive content, there's always room for more revenue.
Yep, you guessed it, with sponsorships and brand deals. When a brand sponsors you, they're paying you as a content creator to promote their product or service. You're basically acting like an affiliate.
Whether you're reviewing laptops or exploring the latest fashion trends, all kinds of brands want someone to showcase what they can do. While you build your audience, brands of all sizes are getting more and more excited to partner with short-form creators.
So, our best advice?
Show what you can do with YouTube Shorts. Hitting the right audience is key, you don't necessarily need millions of views or subscribers to get seen.
Your YouTube Channel Checklist
This guide has given you the lowdown on how to get started with YouTube Shorts. But if you want to go all in, there are a few things to remember.
Here's a few tips to get you crackin' on monetizing your YouTube Channel:
- 📷Upload regularly: YouTube favors creators who are regularly uploading new content. Straight away, you're setting your Channel up for success. Get as much content out as you can to start building your following
- 🤝Get into the YouTube Partner Program: This is key to monetizing your YouTube - shorts included. We've included exactly what you'll need a little further up
- 📜Don't break the rules: Be wary of YouTube's community guidelines, especially copyright infringement. You don't want to lose your channel
- 👍Get on Whop: As an entrepreneur, you naturally want to maximize your potential earnings. Whop works perfectly with YouTube to offer you the very best features to build, maintain, and grow your audience
- 💸Explore revenue streams: If you're able to set up merch and manage the logistics, go for it. But in the meantime, getting started with digital content is made easy with Whop
- How to Go Viral on YouTube: 12 Tips for 2024 (With Examples)
Leveraging analytics in YouTube Studio
One way to make more from YouTube Shorts is by studying your YouTube analytics.
YouTube Studio provides in-depth insights into your audience, including demographics, watch time and video performance. Once you get to grips with your analytics, you'll start to understand your viewers better.
If you quickly spot that certain content is performing well, create more. This will likely lead to more views, higher engagement, and more monetization opportunities. YouTube's algorithm will also appreciate you adding new content regularly.
Sure, the views are great. But engagement is just as important for turning your YouTube channel into a profit-making machine. Work to encourage comments, likes, and shares - and of course, follows.
Plus, it's important to engage with your subscribers. This may be through live streams or replying to comments, resulting in Super Chats and Stickers, memberships, and other donations.
Maximize Your YouTube Earning Potential With Whop
Ready to start monetizing YouTube Shorts? That's where the magic happens, with Whop. Create a central hub for your audience (aka, your whop) and start building your community.
From here, you can offer exclusive paid content, build subscriptions, and even funnel your audience into signing up for eBooks, courses and digital downloads.
Our platform can also help you gain support via tips, giveaways, and paid live sessions. While maximizing income with YouTube Channel memberships, Whop supports you in structuring your tiers or exclusive content across the two platforms however you please.
Sure, the YouTube Partner Program is great, but it may not be enough to maximize your monetization on its own. As a creator, it's crucial to manage your subscribers well, keeping your fans close to your content. This will ensure you not only build a loyal fanbase but also maximize your revenue potential.
Get started with Whop in minutes and monetize your YouTube channel.
