Many creators are spinning their wheels on YouTube Shorts, sometimes launching multiple accounts, getting a few hits, and then hitting a wall. Others see Shorts as a dead-end, convinced they’ll never match the earning power of long-form videos. But plenty of YouTubers have already proven that idea wrong.
So, what stands true, and what is the secret to breaking out of that cycle and turning Shorts into a steady stream of income?
Let’s dig in and see.
YouTube introduced the revenue stream for Shorts creators on February 1, 2023, officially giving them a cut of ad money. But there’s a catch: you’ve got to be part of the YouTube Partner Program (YPP) and sign up for the Shorts Monetization Module in YouTube Studio. Once that’s done, ads running between Shorts in the feed start filling your earnings pool.
Now, here’s where things get interesting: Shorts monetization isn’t the same as long-form videos. Instead of a direct ad split, Shorts creators get 45% of the revenue from Shorts views, while YouTube holds onto 55%, covering platform fees and music licensing costs (because copyrighted tunes don’t come cheap).
Want to start making money from Shorts? Here's what it takes to unlock monetization and start getting paid:
First up, you’ve got to join the club. To qualify for the YPP, you’ll need 1,000 subscribers along with one of the following conditions:
Basically, prove you’ve built a community or you're consistently dropping viral content.
The views you rack up before opting into the Shorts Monetization Module? They don’t count toward revenue sharing, so don’t sleep on accepting it!
No shortcuts here. Your channel has to follow the rulebook:
Joining YPP isn’t the final step; you also need to opt into a separate Shorts Monetization Module in YouTube Studio. Only the views that roll in after this are eligible for ad revenue, so don’t skip it.
YouTube’s cracking down on lazy reuploads. To get paid, your Shorts must be original: no copied clips, reaction-free montages, or TV snippets. Only content with real creative effort counts.
Plus, only genuine engagement (views that follow YouTube’s rules) will push you closer to that 10M-view milestone or contribute to your earnings.
You can unlock Fan Funding features once you hit 500 subscribers and have at least 3 public uploads, but if you're aiming for full Shorts ad revenue sharing, you'll need to meet the higher requirements listed earlier.
In a nutshell, YouTube Shorts creators can get a slice of the monetization pie, but the recipe comes with its own rules.
Mr. Clabik has developed a system for creating viral YouTube Shorts that’s so effective, it probably deserves its own fan club. Built on 12 key principles, his approach ditches guesswork in favor of actual data. Instead of throwing spaghetti at the algorithm wall, he analyzes trends in YouTube Studio and adapts what’s already working. If a video gains traction, he doesn’t just celebrate, he doubles down and films a few more like it while the internet’s still warm.
His secret weapon is engagement. He starts every Short with a punch of humor, surprise, or borderline melodrama because boring intros are a one-way ticket to scroll town. He keeps it tight at 8–10 seconds, the video equivalent of a shot of espresso – short, sharp, and impossible to ignore.
Clabik runs on visuals and vibes, performing each scene naturally like your effortlessly cool friend who somehow nails everything in one take. When newbies ask how to start, he doesn’t suggest uploading one lonely video; he recommends dropping a batch like a content ninja.
His growth plan? Two Shorts a day. With the goal of reaching global audiences, he leans on visual storytelling because powerful ideas don’t need subtitles. And just like a content wizard with a long-term spell, he links Shorts to long-form videos to keep viewers coming back for the next chapter.
He treats content like a business, batch-produces like a boss, and ignores the peanut gallery. His results are built on cold, hard analytics and a healthy obsession with what works. To anyone coasting on complaints instead of content, he’s got one question: “What did you create today?”
If you want to follow Mr.Clabik’s growth strategy, SubSub Analytics can become a game-changer.
This tool layers your internal metrics with real-time market data, helping you spot the trends that are gaining traction right now. Instead of guessing what to post next, you can back your content strategy with actual data on what’s pulling views across your category.
Need to know what’s getting attention on similar channels? SubSub benchmarks your performance against your competitors automatically. Views, likes, comments, subscriber growth – it’s all pulled together so you can see exactly where you stand and what others are doing right.
You can even find your top competitors using keyword-based discovery. From there, SubSub helps you track trending Shorts by region and category in real time, giving you the edge to jump on what’s about to explode before everyone else does.
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Additionally, with the YouTube Stats & Analytics Tool, you can instantly explore top-performing channels across 130+ countries and 22+ content categories. Whether you're curious about what's trending in Brazilian fitness or want to see which Japanese tech channels are pulling massive engagement, SubSub lets you dive in with precision.
It’s a wide-open platform: sort by most viewed, most subscribed, filter by country, and lock in on your niche. Enabling strategic discovery, this tool allows you to identify the channels and creators leading the pack in specific regions and niches; you can reverse-engineer what’s working, spot content patterns early, and position your Shorts to ride the next wave.
Getting monetized through Shorts is a different ballgame. Instead of the 4,000 watch hours needed for long-form videos, Shorts require 10 million views in just 90 days—and no, those views won’t help with long-form eligibility.
Creators can’t start making money from Shorts until they’ve enabled the Shorts Monetization Module in YouTube Studio. Long-form monetization, on the other hand, is automatically part of the standard YouTube Partner Program (YPP).
Shorts ad revenue goes into a monthly pool, and payouts depend on your share of total views. After music licensing fees are deducted, creators receive 45% of the remaining revenue. Long-form videos, however, follow a more direct ad revenue split.
Shorts are quick vertical clips capped at 60 seconds, while long-form videos can be any length and format, giving creators more flexibility for in-depth content.
Both Shorts and long-form videos must comply with YouTube’s monetization policies, but Shorts face extra scrutiny when it comes to reused content due to their bite-sized nature.
Ultimately, Shorts monetization offers an alternative path, prioritizing high view counts in a short window, while long-form videos rely on extended watch time – each catering to different content styles and audience behaviors.
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Here’s the ultimate playbook for turning YouTube Shorts into a money-making machine:
Once you hit the YPP entry requirements—1,000 subscribers plus either 4,000 watch hours or 10 million Shorts views in 90 days—you unlock ad revenue sharing. Ads in the Shorts Feed generate pooled revenue, and your cut depends on your portion of total views. If you use music, you split earnings with rights holders; go music-free, and it's all yours!
When YouTube Premium subscribers watch your Shorts, you score a slice of their monthly fee, just like long-form creators cashing in on premium views.
Once inside the YPP, you can tap into fan-funding features, including:
Shout out products or services in your Shorts, drop affiliate links in descriptions or pinned comments, and pocket commissions when your viewers make purchases.
Team up with companies for sponsored content – whether you're reviewing, promoting, or subtly featuring their products, brands are willing to pay for exposure. Negotiation skills = $$$.
Launch your own merch line (think shirts, mugs, or even quirky socks) and link to your online store in Shorts descriptions or comments. Eligible creators can also showcase items using YouTube's built-in merch shelf.
Encourage fans to support you via platforms like Patreon, offering exclusive content or perks in exchange for ongoing financial backing.
Use Shorts as a gateway to direct viewers to long-form videos, since traditional YouTube videos tend to generate higher ad revenue, or push traffic toward your monetized platforms.
Got something awesome to sell? You can link your store (like Shopify, Spring, or Spreadshop) through YouTube Studio and unlock the power to showcase products directly in your content.
When uploading a video, going live, or tweaking a Short, you’ll see the option to tag products – just pick items from your connected shop. These tags show up as tappable icons or subtle overlays that let viewers browse and buy your stuff without ever leaving the YouTube app.
It’s a smooth way to turn views into sales without disrupting the flow.
SubSub is a full-stack creator platform built to help you unlock new income streams, automate your hustle, and build a reliable, scalable creator business from both short-form and long-form video content.
SubSub helps you turn your Shorts into serious income through:
If you’re grinding on Shorts, you know that hitting views isn’t enough. To actually monetize, you need a plan, data, and the right tools to scale. That’s what the SubSub Partner Program delivers.
It connects you with monetization pros who give actionable guidance on how to grow your channel, make smarter content, and tap into premium earning opportunities, beyond just YouTube’s Shorts Fund or ad revenue.
Shorts are great for building a fanbase fast, but how do you actually earn from it? That’s where SubSub Fan Funding flips the script. Instead of waiting for CPMs to add up, you let your fans chip in directly.
Whether it’s one-off tips, memberships, or exclusive content, SubSub makes it dead simple to turn viewers into paying supporters.
Once you set up your own branded Fan Funding page, you can offer bonus content and perks to supporters. Accept donations, sell digital goods, and run your own membership program.
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Turn your live streams into a revenue machine — something that works even better if your YouTube business goes beyond Shorts (like using Shorts as a teaser to long-form videos). SubSub Live lets you run automated livestreams using your own content. That means more engagement, more donations, and more monetization, without going live.
Upload a playlist of videos, schedule them to stream around the clock, and let the system do the rest. While you're off the clock, your channel keeps earning.
You keep viewers engaged, which can drive both subscriptions and fan funding. This also allows you to maximize every piece of content without doing extra work.
Lastly, with the SubSub Wallet, you get instant access to your earnings, whether it’s coming from YouTube, fan funding, or brand deals. No more waiting 30 days. No more juggling platforms, not to mention you can track income from all sources through a user-friendly earnings dashboard.
If you want to earn money from Shorts, your videos need to be uniquely your own and follow YouTube’s rules and standards.
It’s smart to tap into various revenue sources to boost your income. For instance, combine YouTube’s monetization features with outside platforms and strategies to make the most of what your Shorts can offer.
If you want to make your life easier, SubSub is giving you the tools to monetize every angle of your Shorts journey. Whether it's expert guidance, direct fan support, or automated live streams, your content starts working for you around the clock.
Yes, absolutely. YouTube Shorts can earn money through ad revenue sharing, where ads shown between Shorts in the feed are pooled and distributed to creators based on view share. You can also monetize through fan funding, Super Thanks, channel memberships, and YouTube Shopping, depending on your eligibility and setup. Shorts are no longer just a growth tool—they’re a real revenue stream.
To monetize YouTube Shorts, your channel must be part of the YouTube Partner Program (YPP). That means you need at least 1,000 subscribers and either 10 million public Shorts views in the past 90 days or 4,000 watch hours from long-form videos in the past 12 months. Your content must also follow YouTube’s monetization policies, including originality, advertiser-friendliness, and community guidelines.
Long-form videos earn money primarily through ads placed directly on the video—pre-roll, mid-roll, and display ads. Revenue is split with creators based on how many views their Shorts get and how much viewers engage with the ads. These videos also allow for more ad placements, which typically results in higher earnings per view.
In contrast, YouTube Shorts rely on a pooled system where ad revenue is distributed among creators. Ads run between Shorts in the feed, and the total revenue is distributed among eligible creators based on their share of total views. This model means you’re not earning from ads on your specific video, but from the overall performance of Shorts across the platform.
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