How to Make Money on YouTube Shorts

YouTube Shorts are much more than a way to get quick views, they're a powerful engine for building a community and generating real income. This guide breaks down exactly how you can turn your short-form vertical videos into a sustainable revenue stream. We'll cover everything from the official YouTube Partner Program to clever strategies that let you earn money without ever relying on ad revenue.

How YouTube Shorts Monetization Works: The Official Path

In early 2023, YouTube rolled out its official monetization path for Shorts creators through the YouTube Partner Program (YPP). This was a game-changer, moving beyond the temporary "Shorts Fund" and creating a sustainable ad-revenue model. Here's what you need to know.

Step 1: Meeting the YPP Eligibility Requirements

To start earning directly from YouTube, you first need to be accepted into the YPP. The platform offers two primary paths to qualify. You must have:

• At least 1,000 subscribers on your channel.
• AND one of the following:
  • 10 million valid public Shorts views in the last 90 days.
  • 4,000 valid public watch hours on your long-form videos in the last 12 months.

The 10 million views threshold might seem daunting, but viral Shorts can rack up views incredibly quickly. For many new creators, hitting the Shorts view count is a much faster route into the YPP than accumulating 4,000 hours of watch time on longer videos.

Step 2: Understanding the Shorts Ad Revenue Sharing Model

Once you're in the YPP, you can turn on monetization for Shorts. The way YouTube calculates your earnings is a bit different from how it works for traditional long-form videos. Don't worry, it's simpler than it sounds.

1. All Revenue is Pooled: YouTube gathers all the money generated from ads that appear between Shorts in the Shorts Feed. This creates one big pot of money called the "Creator Pool."
2. Music Licensing is Paid First: From that pool, YouTube first pays for music licensing fees. They work with music partners, so if you use a popular track in your Short, this step covers the cost. The more music used across all Shorts, the more comes out of this initial pool.
3. Your Share is Calculated: The remaining money in the Creator Pool is then allocated to monetizing creators. Your portion is determined by your share of the total views from all monetizing creators. If your Shorts accounted for 1% of all eligible Shorts views in your country, you'd be allocated 1% of the Creator Pool funds.
4. You Get 45%: The final step is the revenue split. Creators keep 45% of their allocated share from the Creator Pool.

It's important to set realistic expectations. The revenue per 1,000 views (RPM) for Shorts is typically much lower than for long-form content. You might make a few cents to a few dollars per thousand views. Therefore, relying solely on Shorts ad revenue is a numbers game - you need massive volume to make a significant income this way. Most successful creators use Shorts as one piece of a much larger monetization puzzle.

Beyond Ad Revenue: The Most Profitable Shorts Strategies

The real money on YouTube Shorts often comes from indirect monetization. Think of your Shorts not just as a final product, but as highly effective commercials for your other income streams. The views you get are valuable because they build an audience you can direct elsewhere.

1. Drive Traffic to Your Long-Form Content

This is arguably the most powerful strategy for any YouTuber. Long-form videos have much higher RPMs thanks to multiple ad formats (pre-roll, mid-roll, etc.). Shorts are the perfect trailer to get people to watch them.

• Create "Teaser" Shorts: Clip the most exciting, shocking, or valuable 30-second segment from a longer video. Add a simple text overlay like, "Full breakdown in my latest video!" and guide them to your channel.
• Use the "Related Video" Feature: YouTube allows you to link a long-form video directly from your Short. It appears as a clickable button at the bottom of the screen with your video's title. Use a clear verbal call to action: "To see the full process, click the link down here!"
• Example: A cooking channel posts a 45-second Short showing the final, delicious-looking lasagna. The creator says, "Want my secret recipe to get the perfect cheese pull every time? The full step-by-step tutorial is linked below."

2. Master Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is when you promote another company's product or service and earn a commission on any sales made through your unique link. Shorts are fantastic for delivering quick, authentic product recommendations.

• How it Works: Find products you genuinely use and love. Sign up for the company's affiliate program (Amazon Associates is the most popular place to start). You'll get special links that track sales back to you.
• Implementation in Shorts:
  • Product Reviews: A 60-second "Does this viral gadget actually work?" Short can be highly engaging.
  • Tutorials: A beauty creator could make a Short titled, "My 3 favorite products for glowing skin," and feature three items.
  • "Top 5" Lists: A fitness influencer could share "My Top 5 Healthiest Snacks from Amazon."
• Where to Put Your Links: You can't put clickable links directly in the Shorts video. Instead, place them in a pinned comment, your channel's bio link, or in the description of a "related video" you link to. Always be clear and tell your audience exactly where to find the links. For example, say "All the products I used are linked in the top comment!"

3. Land Brand Deals and Sponsorships

Brands are investing heavily in short-form video creators. They don't just care about subscriber counts, they care about engagement and community trust. Consistently creating high-quality Shorts in a specific niche makes you an attractive partner.

• Build a Niche-Specific Audience: A brand selling sustainable home goods wants to partner with a creator who focuses on eco-friendly living, not a channel with a random assortment of comedy skits, gaming clips, and recipes. Consistency shows brands you have the specific audience they want to reach.
• Create a Media Kit: This is a simple one or two-page document introducing your channel. It should include your audience demographics (age, gender, location), key stats (average views, engagement rate), and your rates for different types of content (e.g., a dedicated Short, a 3-Short series).
• Reach Out: Don't wait for brands to find you. Make a list of companies whose products you love and that align with your brand. Find their marketing department's contact info and send them a professional email pitching a partnership idea.

4. Sell Your Own Products or Services

This is the holy grail of creator monetization because you control the entire process and keep most of the profit. Shorts are an amazing tool for building trust and proving your expertise before ever asking for a sale.

• Digital Products: An artist could post Shorts of their digital painting process, then sell their Procreate brushes or custom art presets. A productivity expert could share quick tips, then sell a detailed Notion template or e-book on time management.
• Physical Products (Merch): Once you have a loyal community, you can sell branded merchandise like t-shirts, mugs, or hats. Creators often build inside jokes with their community and put them on merch.
• Coaching or Consulting: A business consultant could post daily Shorts with advice for small business owners. Impressed viewers looking for more personalized help might then book a one-on-one consulting call.
• Courses: A fitness coach can use Shorts to show quick workout moves or share nutritional advice, building authority that leads viewers to purchase their full-body fitness course for a more structured program.

Crafting Shorts That Convert Views into Cash

Getting views is only half the battle. You need a content strategy designed to attract a target audience and guide them toward a monetary action. Here's how to do it.

1. Nail the First Three Seconds

The hook is everything in short-form video. The viewer is scrolling endlessly, and you have just a moment to stop them. Start with immediate action, a provocative question, a surprising statement, or a visual that makes them curious. Don't waste time on long intros or fancy title cards.

• Bad Hook: "Hey everyone, welcome back to my channel. Today I wanted to show you something really interesting..."
• Good Hook: "Here are three decorating mistakes almost everyone makes..." (starts by showing the first mistake immediately).

2. Tell a Complete Micro-Story

The best Shorts have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Even in 45 seconds, you can present a problem, show the process of solving it, and reveal the solution. This structure keeps viewers satisfied and more likely to stick around for the entire video, which is a great signal for the YouTube algorithm.

3. Master the Call to Action (CTA)

You can't make money from indirect methods if you don't tell your audience what to do next. Your CTA should be clear, simple, and direct.

• "For the full tutorial, click the related video right here."
• "Link for this awesome gadget is in my pinned comment."
• "Follow me for more daily tips on [your niche]." This helps grow your audience base for future monetization.
• "Comment 'GUIDE' below if you want my free checklist." This is a great way to drive engagement and deliver a lead magnet.

4. Be Hyper-Consistent

The key to growing on Shorts is momentum. Aim to post at least one Short per day, or at a minimum 3-5 times per week. This consistency trains the algorithm to know what your content is about and keeps you top-of-mind with your audience. Planning your content in batches can help you maintain a steady pipeline without burning out.

Final Thoughts

Earning a living from YouTube Shorts is entirely possible, but it requires a strategic approach. Think beyond direct ad revenue and start viewing your Shorts as the top of a marketing funnel that draws a loyal audience toward higher-value offerings, from affiliate products to your own services.

Staying consistent on Shorts while also managing content for Reels, TikTok, and other platforms can easily become overwhelming. At Postbase, we designed our platform for the reality of modern creators. We allow you to plan, schedule, and publish all your short-form video across every key platform from one unified, visual calendar. This way you can maintain your posting rhythm and focus on what's important: creating amazing content.