The Ultimate Guide to YouTube Shorts Monetization in 2025

Short-form videos have become very popular because of the audience’s short attention span and desire to consume content as quickly as possible. According to Hubspot’s 2024 Video Marketing Report, short-form video content has a higher return on investment (ROI) and receives more engagement than any other type of video. It makes them important and profitable for brands and content creators alike. You might think TikTok is the only platform that has them, but Instagram and YouTube also have successful short video programs. Learning how to monetize YouTube Shorts can help your business or you as a content creator grow enormously. This article explains more about YouTube Short monetization, how it works, and how to turn your content into a new revenue stream.

So let’s get started!

Understanding YouTube Shorts Monetization

• What Is YouTube Shorts Monetization?
• How Does Monetization Work for YouTube Shorts?
• Steps to Qualify for YouTube Shorts Monetization
• Revenue Streams for YouTube Shorts Creators
• Maximizing Your Earnings From YouTube Shorts
• Success Stories: Creators Earning From YouTube Shorts

What Is YouTube Shorts Monetization?

If you’re a creator of shorter videos on YouTube, you’ve definitely asked yourself, “Can YouTube Shorts be monetized like long-form videos?” Since they are a relatively new format on the site, the YouTube Partner Program (YPP) did not initially include Shorts. But today, the answer is yes! YouTube offers several ways to make money off of short videos. What does it mean? Simply put, creators can monetize their videos on YouTube Shorts through ads and other features specific to short-form videos. But it’s not quite like the traditional way that YouTube makes money.

How Does Monetization Work for YouTube Shorts?

YouTube’s Shorts Monetization began in 2021 with the YouTube Shorts Fund. The original goal of the $100 million fund was to get people to use the platform’s new video format. The primary goal here was to recognize and reward YouTubers whose short videos had the highest engagement rates. The YouTube Shorts fund was a temporary solution, and the company developed a permanent strategy to make money off of YouTube Shorts. With the launch of YouTube Shorts ad revenue in February 2023, this fund was eventually discontinued. How do Shorts make money now? Ads are displayed between Shorts in the feed, and creators get a cut of the revenue depending on how well their videos do. It depends on how many views your Shorts content gets each month. In other words, your revenue will be more proportional to the number of views your Shorts have compared to other artists. On average, YouTube Shorts pay per 1000 views is between $0.03 and $0.07. This approach allows creators to earn even without in-video ads.

In addition to ads, YouTube Shorts can make money through features like “Super Thanks,” which lets viewers pay directly to support creators, and by using YouTube’s overall revenue model, such as YouTube memberships that give users access to special content and other benefits.

This change in monetization has increased YouTube’s support for various video types and created a new revenue source for artists who concentrate on short-form material.

Steps to Qualify for YouTube Shorts Monetization

However, not everyone who uploads Shorts can profit from their views. So, how can you get monetized on YouTube Shorts? The first step is to become one of the millions of creators who have joined the YouTube Partner Program. Read on to learn the steps to join and begin monetizing your Shorts.

Eligibility Criteria for the YouTube Partner Program

The YouTube Partner Program has two levels, each with specific requirements. Let’s examine each one one by one.

Fan funding access

This access allows creators to sell products on YouTube. Additionally, it grants access to fan-funded features like paid channel memberships, Super Chat, Super Stickers, and Super Thanks. You need at least one of the following to apply to the study:

• 500 subscribers, plus three public posts in the past 90 days, and three million valid public Shorts views in the past 90 days.
• 500 subscribers and three public posts in the past 90 days, plus 3,000 valid public watch hours on long-form videos in the past 12 months.

Ad revenue and fan funding access

In addition to fan funding, creators also earn ad revenue (including YouTube Short monetization) and revenue from YouTube Premium subscribers. To apply to the program, you must have one of the following:

• 1,000 subscribers, plus 10 million public Shorts views in the past 90 days.
• 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 public watch hours on long videos in the last 365 days

However, completing these two steps does not ensure that you will be able to begin YouTube monetization Shorts. To be eligible to apply for the YouTube Partner Program, you must first complete a few additional steps. What you must do is:

You can log into YouTube Studio at any moment to see how close you are to being eligible and to request notification when you do. Once you’ve hit all the milestones, submit an application to YPP. YouTube will assess your channel and determine if you qualify within a month.

How to Meet the Monetization Threshold for Shorts

After getting into the YouTube Partner Program, you must accept the Shorts Monetization Module to begin earning money. To turn it on, do this:

1. Sign in to YouTube Studio.
2. In the left menu, select Earn.
3. Click Get Started to review and accept each optional module’s terms. To monetize Shorts specifically, accept the Base Terms and the Shorts Monetization Module.

As soon as you accept the Shorts Monetization Module, you can start sharing ad income and earnings on YouTube. Keep in mind, though, that only eligible YouTube Shorts make money from ads. The requirements for monetization are listed below:

• The Shorts must be original. It is impossible to make money from a video containing unedited clips from other films, movies, or other content creators’ videos. However, you can adjust it into a monetizable video if you alter it enough to make it noticeably different from the original.
• The Shorts should not have fake or artificial views. ‍
• The Shorts should be compatible with advertiser-friendly content guidelines. This includes avoiding content with inappropriate language, violence, adult content, dangerous acts, and more.

Revenue Streams for YouTube Shorts Creators

Businesses and content creators alike can benefit financially from understanding how to monetize YouTube Shorts.

Ad revenue is one of the main sources of income for YouTube Shorts, and artists who agree to the monetization module’s terms and conditions can earn money from their videos.

However, depending solely on advertisements can make YouTube Shorts’ earnings less than you’d expect. Relax, though; alternative means of generating revenue are available through the medium. Let’s take a closer look at each.

Ad Revenue: How It Works in Shorts

Advertisements between videos on the feed are how YouTube Shorts make money. The platform offers Shorts creators a revenue-sharing system based on the money made from the ads. It pools all Shorts ad revenue and then allocates a percentage to music partners and YouTube Shorts creators. The performance of each creator’s video determines how much money they make. This is the most popular monetization method on YouTube. It’s simple to do, and as long as you continue to produce high-quality, engaging content, you should be able to make passive income from this channel.

Basically, your share is based on a four-step formula. Here’s how it works:

Source: YouTube Help

• YouTube puts all of the revenue it makes from Short ads into one pool every month. Part of it goes to the artists, while the other half goes toward paying for music licenses. The former portion is called the Creator Pool.
• If a creator uploads a Short without music, all of the revenue from the views goes to the Creator Pool. But if a creator posts a Short with music, the money made is split between the music publishers and the Creator Pool.
• YouTube allocates a percentage of the total Creator Pool to each monetizing creator based on their share of total views in each country.
• Creators receive 45% of the revenue, and YouTube gets the rest. For example, if the Creator Pool gives you $1,000, you receive $450, and YouTube gets $550.

Brand Deals and Sponsorship Opportunities

Brand partnerships are another method of video monetization. Brands are looking for creators with a strong presence on YouTube Shorts more and more these days, since this format lets creators make creative and interesting videos in a dynamic format. So, instead of having YouTube sell ad space for you, you arrange sponsorship deals with brands directly. Most of the time, brands pay content creators to record and share reviews, endorsements, and other types of content.

If you’re creating Shorts, there’s no better time than the present to explore brand sponsorships. Get in touch with brands you want to work with and only agree to partnerships that are a good fit for your niche and content. Brands might even start to contact you if you have a significant following.

Using Affiliate Marketing With Shorts

Can you monetize YouTube Shorts without reaching out to brands? Absolutely! You can do affiliate marketing, for example. It is when you use affiliate links to promote a product or service in the comments or details of a YouTube Short. You get paid a fee when someone buys a product through your link. Many creators use well-known products or brands that resonate with their target audience. SendShort and Amazon Affiliate are the most popular programs. A lot of creators in all kinds of niches use these affiliate programs.

So, for instance, if you’re reviewing a laptop in your Short, you can add an Amazon affiliate link to that item in the comments. Anyone who clicks on the link and buys a computer gives you a fee.

Maximizing Your Earnings From YouTube Shorts

The golden rule for making money on Shorts is to create engaging, entertaining, and unique content. Take a look at the strategies you can follow to improve the viewership on your YouTube Shorts and increase your earnings.

Tips for Creating Engaging and Monetizable Shorts

Well, obviously, only top-notch content generates a lot of money. So, in order for artists to get the most from YouTube Shorts, they should make content that is both attractive and of excellent quality. Let’s share a couple of tips with you:

• Post consistently: To earn substantial profits from Shorts, you need to get millions of views. And to do this, you need to keep posting videos consistently. The more videos you upload, the more likely it is that one of them may become viral and attract a huge audience to your channel.
• Keep your content short and interesting: Strive for short, engaging videos that immediately grab people’s interest. People will quit watching your Shorts if they can’t get the main point in the very first few seconds.
• Hit the hottest music and sounds: Use trendy music and make new sounds to attract attention. By the way, if you don’t want to pay musicians half of your earnings, don’t ignore copyright.
• Use eye-catching thumbnails and titles: Having interesting titles and thumbnails can really help you get people to look at your content. The easiest approach to becoming good at this is to watch channels whose short videos have millions of views and try to match their style.

Promoting Your Shorts Across Platforms

Do not limit your YouTube Shorts to the platform only. Despite being as old as time itself, the rule remains completely applicable across all platforms. To increase views and subscribers on YouTube, try cross-promoting your short videos on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter. Additionally, sharing even little snippets from your Shorts may encourage visitors to watch the entire video on YouTube. This will create hype around videos and attract more viewership from other platforms.

Using YouTube Analytics to Optimize Performance

Are YouTube Shorts monetized on your account? If so, you should always check YouTube Analytics to see how well your videos are doing. There are a lot of tools available, but there are a few of essential indications that deserve your whole focus:

• Views: Keep track of the total number of views of your Shorts, as well as which format gets the most viewers.
• Viewing Time: It is important to keep track of the total time that viewers spend watching your Shorts. This will make it easier for you to see how engaged and in-depth your audience is with your material.
• Engagement rate: Just like with long videos, look at the ratio of views to interactions like likes, comments, and reposts. In this manner, you can see what kind of content interests your audience and motivates them to act.

Regularly reviewing your analytical data lets you quickly adjust your content approach, which isn’t a secret. If some types of Shorts do better than others, you might want to focus on those or related formats to attract more viewers, increase profits, and improve the channel’s overall statistics.

Success Stories: Creators Earning From YouTube Shorts

Many creators have successfully monetized their Shorts, showcasing the potential of this format. Let’s look at some cases to inspire you.

Case Studies: How Creators Monetized Shorts Successfully

Sarah Sullivan

Sarah is the host of a popular cooking channel on YouTube, where she gives tips, tricks, and easy recipes. She has more than 500,000 subscribers, and her main sources of income are:

• Ad revenue: Her main source of income comes from YouTube adverts, with a cost per thousand views (CPM) of approximately $4.50.
• Sponsored content: Sarah’s videos are frequently supported by brands in the food business. She earns an extra $6,000 every month from her two sponsored videos, which she charges $3,000 each.

https://youtube.com/shorts/rjYd8zAolpo?si=t9MRS-gBg43hnQxe

Spaceboy Shorts

James uses Twitch to broadcast himself playing well-known video games such as “Fortnite” and “League of Legends.” A steady 10,000 people tune in to watch him. The source of his income is:

• Subscriptions: Streamers receive 50-70% of the membership price from Twitch, which comes in three tiers: $4.99, $9.99, and $24.99.
• Donations: James also receives donations from his fans through services like PayPal and Streamlabs. On average, these payments amount to $500 each month.
• Bits: Viewers can send “Bits” as a form of currency, and James earns an average of $300 in Bits monthly.

https://youtube.com/shorts/5zv9QE6ejdQ?si=5BpmNIto1jWhVQEe

Lessons Learned From Top Shorts Creators

Here is a collection of all the finalized advice you need to expand your Shorts channel and increase your chances of making money with YouTube Shorts. Follow these strategies, and you’ll be able to reap the fruits of YouTube Shorts monetization.

• Join the creator pool: If you want to make money from your Shorts on YouTube, you need to be part of the YPP creator pool and use the ad revenue-sharing feature. Your total video performance determines how much money you earn through the creator pool.
• Create high-quality content: If you want more views, post better stuff. Produce visually appealing, well-edited, and generally excellent content that connects with your target audience to increase your engagement and, by extension, your earnings.
• Use YouTube’s built-in monetization tools: Although there are other ways to make money with YouTube Shorts, like working directly with businesses, you should use the tools that come with the site that let you earn money from views and engagement. You can utilize these capabilities to sell your own products, make memberships, and pick where ads will appear.
• Partner with other creators: Working together with other creators can help both of you reach a wider audience. If you want more exposure on the internet, teaming up with other creators is a great way to do it.
• Embrace brand partnerships: You can become an influencer and negotiate your own terms by forming a partnership with a brand. Instead of YouTube deciding how much money you make as an influencer, you get to choose.
• Join affiliate programs: Promote products in your Shorts and include affiliate links to earn commissions on any sales.
• Engage with your audience: If you want to make more money with YouTube Shorts, engaging with your audience is key. Getting people to follow you by responding to their comments on your videos can help you build a loyal customer base that will watch your videos again and again.