Ready to make money with YouTube Shorts? It makes total sense to explore this side of YouTube because gaining momentum here is much easier than with long-form videos.
After all, many of us spend a large portion of our time on YouTube swiping through Shorts nowadays because it’s bite-sized, low-commitment content.
But all that extra attention comes with a trade-off because Shorts are worth almost 10-20 times less than long-form videos from a monetization point of view.
Still, the viral nature and massive exposure of Shorts lead to more recurring revenue. So, let’s look at how you can earn money with this YouTube format and how Pollo AI plays a role.
Understanding How YouTube Shorts Monetization Works
In the past, the only way to qualify for YouTube monetization was 1000 subs and 4,000 public watch hours. Then, the YouTube Partner Program started to accommodate Shorts creators.
Now, if you have 1000 subscribers and hit 10M views in 90 days, then you can start monetizing with Shorts. Either way, whichever path you take will make you eligible.
Most new creators go for the second option because gaining momentum with YouTube Shorts is much easier. But matching these numbers isn’t all that’s needed to get approved.
You also must ensure that your video content complies with YouTube's monetization policies. For example, the most common issue is often music copyright.
If the music isn’t royalty-free or licensed, then don’t use it. Another issue is branded content. You must always disclose if you were paid to feature a product using #ad or #partner tags.
Even with approval, you still need the Shorts to perform well to earn any revenue. This means posting consistently (at least 4-5 times) per week.
Moreover, you need appealing hooks that grab attention in the first few seconds. And if it fits, you should try to use trending audio from YouTube’s music library.
Looking at all this, should you focus on YouTube Shorts alone? No. Shorts will help you start monetizing quickly, but long-form videos are what will ultimately grow your YouTube channel.
If you need help producing viral Shorts, you can try using the Pollo Agent tool to ease the workload. Having said that, there are several ways to profit from Shorts, so let’s dig deep.
#1. Monetize with YouTube Partner Program (YPP)
The most obvious path to earning money is the YouTube Partner Program, which lets you get paid via AdSense for ads placed on your Shorts.
But it’s different from how ad revenue is made with longer videos. While YouTube keeps 45% of the revenue share from long-form videos, it keeps 55% of the revenue share from Shorts.
So, how much do Shorts creators make? You can typically expect to earn between $0.03 and $0.10 for every 1,000 views. In comparison, long-form videos can net $30-$40 per 1,000 views.
You also have to consider how Shorts earnings are impacted by factors like viewer location, channel niche (finance & B2B pay more than entertainment), use of copyrighted music, etc.
#2. Start Leveraging Brand Deals
The good thing about brand deals is that they are not restricted to YPP’s earning requirements. You won’t need 1000 subscribers to start earning money from Shorts.
Since these negotiations are made directly with the brand, even a YouTube channel with 500 subs can work with small brands and earn anywhere from $50-200 per upload.
And as your channel gains more views and subscribers, you can partner up with larger brands for more money. All you need is a solid media kit to showcase your value and rates.
You can even use tools like Pollo AI’s promo video maker to prototype unique concepts that you want to pitch to brands and secure new deals.
#3. Using Super Chat and Super Thanks
If you use livestream on Shorts, you can use Super Chat and let viewers pay for their live comments to be highlighted on screen. But first, you need to qualify for the YPP.
Alternatively, you can use Super Thanks to allow viewers to purchase thank-you animation messages. Like Super Chat, it also requires you to be a part of the YPP.
The benefit of using these features is that the payment split with YouTube is 70%-30% in your favor. So, you can make a fair amount of revenue from it.
To maximize income, you will need to build a loyal community of viewers who will engage with your livestreams often. So, try to focus on giving audiences a fun livestream experience.
#4. Create Channel Memberships for Loyal Subscribers
Using YouTube channel memberships can be a great way to connect with your subscribers and earn revenue by providing audiences with exclusive benefits.
You can offer them access to behind-the-scenes clips, members-only videos, early-access videos, etc. It can even be a great place to experiment and tease fun video concepts.
For example, you can create all kinds of unique and exciting gaming Shorts that will entertain viewers by using Pollo AI’s game character combat tool.
All you need is to charge a small membership fee. And the best part? YouTube lets you keep 70% of the revenue, making it a solid opportunity if you have a loyal community.
#5. Expand Into Digital Product/E-commerce Sales
Whether you sell art, clothing, digital products, courses, or any other type of e-commerce merchandise, you can use YouTube Shorts to reach new potential customers.
Given how Shorts have their own dedicated feed, they are continuously exposed to new audiences that may not have even been aware of your YouTube channel.
This lets you bring more visibility to your products and attract potential customers, even among non-subscribers, much more easily than using long-form videos.
A simple way to capitalize on this is by using the Pollo AI ad generator to produce professional YouTube Shorts that showcase your products in different places, settings, etc.
#6. Funnel Shorts Viewers Into Your Long Videos
The most popular way to monetize YouTube Shorts is by using them as lead magnets. Compared to Shorts, long-form videos earn anywhere between $1-$30+ per 1,000 views.
With Shorts bringing in significantly less revenue, you should focus on turning the huge number of new viewers they pull into loyal subscribers via the ‘Related Video’ feature.
This lets you link Shorts to long-form videos in your channel, making it easy to rack up the views that come with higher RPMs. All you need is an impactful scene from the original video.
As long as it can grab the audience's attention from the start, it should do well at piquing their curiosity and make them want to see the rest.
#7. Connect Shorts with YouTube Shopping
With YouTube Shopping, you can use product tagging to add links to certain clothing or items in your Shorts. The good thing is that this is an audience open to discovering new products.
And since fast-scrolling viewers on Shorts won’t need to leave the app and are likely to make impulse purchases, this increases the chances of multiple sales.
You can explore different ad formats like showcases, demos, tutorials, or even behind-the-scenes clips that will appeal to viewers and compel them to convert.
Just be sure to use appealing visuals that creatively complement the specific products you are selling. This will reinforce the idea that the tagged item is too enticing to pass up.
#8. Include Links In Shorts For Affiliate Marketing
We know that Shorts can drive a lot of viewer traffic, which is why it can be an ideal YouTube format for creators looking to earn money via affiliate marketing.
Even with little to no subscribers, YouTube Shorts can help you achieve thousands, if not millions, of views and start making money from affiliates in no time.
What you need is a short but compelling video that showcases the product. The key here is to start the video with an impactful hook and reel them in with an engaging pitch.
But most importantly, you must be clear about what you want viewers to do. In this case, remind them to click on the affiliate links you placed in the pinned comments and description.
Conclusion
There you have it. To turn YouTube Shorts into a money-making engine, you need at least 1000 subs and to hit 10M views in 90 days. But the good news is that it’s not as hard as it sounds.
Viewer reach and engagement are usually very high on this feed. You just need to create impactful video content and leverage it to get those views up to viral levels.
And if you’re ever stuck or feeling overwhelmed, try out Pollo AI’s image-to-video tool. You can quickly test out new visual ideas that will help stimulate your creativity!