How to Monetize YouTube Shorts: A Guide for Creators

Short-form videos are everywhere, and they’re a serious way for creators to earn. TikTok has its Creator Rewards Program, which builds on the Creator Fund. Instagram offers Subscriptions as a way for creators to make money. And YouTube Shorts is connected to the YouTube Partner Program.

If you’re interested in making money from your Shorts, keep reading, and we’ll explain how YouTube Shorts monetization works and what you’ll need to get started.

How YouTube Shorts Ad Revenue Sharing Works

YouTube handles ad revenue for Shorts differently than for regular videos, but it's a pretty straightforward process once you know how it works. Instead of ads appearing directly on your video, the revenue from ads shown between Shorts is pooled together. This pool is based on the combined views of all Shorts and is then shared with creators. This method lets every creator in the YouTube Partner Program earn from ads, even if they don’t have ads placed directly on their videos.

Here’s how the Creator Pool works:

1. Ad revenue from Shorts goes into the Pool. This covers payouts to creators and the cost of licensing music.
2. If your video doesn’t include music, all of the revenue from views goes into the Pool.
3. If you use music in your video, the revenue is split between the Pool and the copyright holders of the music tracks.
4. The total in the Pool is then distributed to creators based on the share of total views they’ve earned.

For example, let’s say you’re set to earn $800 from your Short, but you used two music tracks. The revenue would be divided: $400 for you and $400 for the music publishers, based on the 50/50 split.

Can You Make Money Off YouTube Shorts? YouTube Shorts Monetization Requirements

Yes, but there are a few basic things you need to have in place. First, you’ll have to be in a location where the YouTube Partner Program is accessible, have two-step verification enabled, and an active AdSense account. But beyond that, there are specific YouTube Shorts monetization requirements:

• Your channel must have either 1,000 subscribers and 10 million public Shorts views in the last 90 days, or 
• 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 valid public watch hours on regular videos.

You’ll also need to follow YouTube’s rules to start earning. Some key points to remember:

• You can’t upload someone else’s work and make money from it, including clips from TV shows or movies. But if you remix someone else’s content, like using the Shorts Remix feature, it’s okay as long as you add something new. Otherwise, your videos need to be your own creation.
• Your content must meet YouTube’s Terms of Service, Community Guidelines, Copyright rules, and Google AdSense policies. Your videos should also be suitable for advertisers, according to YouTube’s monetization rules.
• You must have a clean account, with no Community Guidelines strikes.

Once you’ve met all these requirements, you’ll need to accept the Shorts Monetization Module to start earning ad revenue from your Shorts.

How to Get Started With YouTube Shorts Monetization

As we’ve said, you’ll need to opt into the Shorts Monetization Module. This set of terms lets you share in the revenue from ads in the Shorts Feed. Even if you’re already part of the YouTube Partner Program, you won’t earn anything until you accept these terms.

Here’s how to monetize YouTube Shorts:

1. Access YouTube Studio, then navigate to the Earn tab in the left-hand menu.
2. Select Get Started for each module and read through the terms. To monetize your Shorts, make sure to accept both the Shorts Monetization Module and the Base Terms.
3. After accepting the Shorts Monetization Module, you’re all set to earn from ad revenue and take the next step in monetizing your content.

How Much Money Are We Talking About?

The amount you can earn from 1,000 views typically falls between $0.01 and $0.06. This varies based on factors like the location of your viewers, how many views your Shorts get, and other variables. However, this alone is unlikely to be a major source of income, so consider diversifying your revenue streams to maximize earnings.

The reality is, even with a million views on your Shorts, you might only make $50 to $60.

Before jumping into Shorts with hopes of big earnings, consider these factors that will influence how much you can make:

• The location of your audience matters. Some countries have higher ad rates, but finding the right audience is trickier than it sounds.
• The niche you focus on plays a big role in your earnings. Certain topics bring in higher ad rates, but chasing those for the sake of money will limit your creative freedom.
• Engagement is what really drives better ad placements. Not every video will go viral, and even experienced creators know this.

Still, it’s worth a shot.

Why Is Monetization Disabled on My Channel?

If your YouTube monetization is turned off, there could be a few reasons behind it:

• If you’re trying to monetize videos you don't have the rights to, that could cause problems. If you're unsure, check YouTube's Copyright FAQ to make sure you’re good to go. You should also understand how fair use works.
• If your videos don’t meet YouTube’s guidelines for what’s suitable for ads, they may turn off monetization across your entire channel. This can happen if your content includes harmful or offensive material that advertisers avoid.
• If you haven’t accepted the latest YouTube Partner Program terms, you may lose access to monetization.

If you’ve violated YouTube’s monetization policies, it could lead to a permanent ban on earning money from ads across all your accounts. If your monetization is paused, though, it usually just means you need to link an active, approved AdSense account to get things going again.

Do YouTube Shorts Make Money If Your Channel Isn’t Eligible?

If your channel doesn’t qualify for the YouTube Partner Program, you won’t be able to make money from ads or YouTube Premium on your Shorts. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t still make money from your content.

You can also earn money through options like collaborating with brands or creating sponsored content, as well as using YouTube’s Super Thanks, Super Chats, and Super Stickers if your channel is eligible for those features. 

Affiliate marketing is another option that doesn’t require channel eligibility. You can promote products or services in your videos without any direct partnership with the brand by using affiliate links. And when viewers make a purchase through your link, you earn a commission.

Additionally, platforms like Patreon, Substack, Memberful, and others let you offer exclusive content to your audience in exchange for monthly subscriptions. Essentially, you create different membership tiers, upload private content like videos or articles, and then sell digital products. You’d be surprised how many people are willing to pay for exclusive content, not just for the perks, but simply to support the creator.

Whatever additional revenue streams you end up using, try to keep building your audience and engaging with your viewers so that when you do become eligible, you’ll be ready to start earning.

Turn Your Videos Into Shorts With AI Video Cut

Creating YouTube Shorts doesn’t have to take a lot of time. AI Video Cut makes it simple to turn your existing content into engaging, high-quality Shorts. 

• The tool picks out the best parts of your videos and turns them into Shorts.
• It adjusts your content to the vertical layout needed for YouTube Shorts or any other format you prefer.
• Captions are created automatically, so you don’t have to spend extra time editing.

Here’s how it works:

1. Upload your video or paste the link.
2. Set the clip length and pick an aspect ratio.
3. Choose the number of clips you need.
4. Decide if you want captions and select a style.
5. Click Submit, and your video will be processed.

YouTube Shorts vs. TikTok Monetization

To get into the TikTok Creator Fund, you’ll need to hit some benchmarks: 100,000 views in the last 30 days and at least 10,000 followers. But what you actually earn depends on a mix of factors, including how real those views are and the level of engagement your content sparks. Also, you need to be based in certain countries — the US, UK, France, Germany, Spain, or Italy — to join in.

On top of that, TikTok offers a tipping feature where your audience can send you money directly. They’ve teamed up with Stripe to handle payments, and you get the full value of the tip, minus processing fees. But to qualify for tips, you’ll need at least 100,000 followers and be over 18.

One area where TikTok has an edge over YouTube is definitely the tipping feature. But TikTok has more limitations when it comes to geographic access, so YouTube Shorts may have a bit more flexibility.

It might feel like a lot to add another short-form video platform to your routine, but YouTube Shorts is definitely worth it, especially if you’re looking to make money from your content. If you’re already posting long-form videos on YouTube, Shorts fits right in. Use different formats, like vertical videos, and it’ll help your content perform better in YouTube's algorithm.

To make growing your account and reaching monetization goals easier, try creating one piece of short-form content and sharing it across all the platforms you use. Now that you know how many watch hours to monetize YouTube Shorts, how to turn it on, and everything else, you’re ready to take things to the next level.