YouTube Shorts is a video format that has taken the platform by storm. It is not just a mere feature or a section, but a great tool for advertising, promotion and monetisation. It opens up a world of possibilities that regular videos on the service do not offer.
Whether you want to make money with YouTube Shorts, use this tool to boost your marketing strategy or simply cash in on the trend while it is hot, this article will show you how. You will discover that YouTube Shorts monetisation is more rewarding and flexible than on other platforms, such as TikTok.
What are YouTube Shorts?
YouTube Shorts are a tool for creating and sharing short videos that last up to 60 seconds. They are similar to the popular content on TikTok, the Chinese social network that sparked a new wave of video consumption. After TikTok’s success, other industry giants followed suit: first Meta with Reels, then Google with Shorts.
The tool was designed mainly for mobile users, who make up 70% of all visitors to the world’s most popular platform (excluding search engines) and 25% of all mobile web traffic. That’s why it has a vertical orientation that suits the smartphone screen. However, Shorts are also accessible and uploadable from desktop, laptop and tablet devices, although it might be less convenient.
Shorts for YouTube are a way to attract and engage the new generation of zoomers who prefer this format. They are also a smart strategy to expand the functionality of the platform: promoting musicians (who can post their tracks in Shorts and get paid for them), featuring brands (through mentions) or creating a new channel for advertising (that is different from the usual videos). Shorts can also be used to announce longer videos on the creators’ channels, solving multiple problems at once.
Technically speaking, Shorts are either regular videos that are trimmed to 60 seconds (and usually last no more than 15 seconds) or videos like Reels, that is, a visual sequence with a separate sound track. This makes the creation of such content much easier.
You don’t need to be a blogger or know how to present the material live. Basic editing skills and a viral idea are enough. Yes, viral content is boosted by Shorts much better. You can earn more from it, not only because the platform’s algorithms push it to the trends faster, but also because the users themselves respond to Shorts better. It makes sense, since they only need to spend 15 seconds to watch it, not 20 minutes. Short videos always get more views, it’s a no-brainer.
How YouTube Shorts Work
YouTube Shorts have a dedicated tab both on the mobile app and the desktop version. However, while you have to tap on it on the mobile app, you just need to scroll down the screen on the homepage on the desktop version.
You can also choose a category from the left vertical menu.
The way you browse through short videos is the same as in TikTok. They play one after another, with occasional ads. By the way, the ads in Shorts are different from those on YouTube. They are not in-stream inserts, but full-fledged advertising videos that appear in the viewer’s feed. They don’t have a mandatory skip limit, so advertisers should make their ads interesting enough to avoid being skipped.
Shorts have a standard vertical orientation with a 9:16 aspect ratio. They also have a minimum resolution requirement of 720p, which is higher than for regular videos.
The format serves as a kind of supplement, a separate category. Statistics show that users don’t watch Shorts mixed with regular videos. They allocate time for both types of content. Therefore, this category will be developed independently. It is interesting to note that Shorts views don’t have a strong influence on this indicator for regular videos on the same channel. But we are more interested in the indirect impact. After all, if you get a million views on Shorts and the channel has a video with a few hundred views, it is obvious that at least 0.1% of people will visit the channel directly after the video. And that’s a thousand new users. Even if only one video brings them in. And figures of a million are not rare here, views are accumulated quickly, as in TikTok. Statistically, the growth rate of a video with a similar positive reaction from the audience in Shorts is much higher than in regular videos.
Shorts:
Are easier and faster to create;
Promote better;
Allow content to be updated quickly;
Attract separate traffic from the rest of the content;
Show YouTube channel activity, which positively affects its ranking.
Popular YouTube Shorts Topics
YouTube Shorts are, as we’ve mentioned, the equivalent of content on TikTok. So, the videos are highly driven by trends. There are many categories that fit the Shorts format very well. They are worth focusing on. Yes, if you’re a viral marketing genius, you’ll be able to come up with an idea that will set your own trend for others to copy. But in most cases, it is more logical to use ready-made themes that get millions of views without the author’s involvement. And most of the videos are made in such a way that anyone with basic video-making skills can handle.
Recipes. Yes, Shorts are perfect for food bloggers of all kinds. The focus is not so much on the recipe, but on the process of cooking, preferably as mouth-watering as possible. A half-minute clip with a photogenic dish is guaranteed to be on trend.
“Before” / “After” videos. Any transformation that has a striking difference between the object before and after the change. This is often used for content on makeup, creative retouching, drawing, cosplay and dozens of other genres.
Motivational quotes. Simple, cheap, trending. You only need to find a suitable video sequence or even a static picture (watch out for copyright) and add a motivational statement with a potential for “deep meaning” to it. Such videos in YouTube Shorts are very popular and users “devour” them by the dozens a day. The great thing about them is that they require almost no cost to create, plus they can be produced by the hundreds. But the competition in this category is also very high.
Outfits. You don’t need to be a fashion designer to choose a good outfit. And some of the popular bloggers don’t even buy clothes or accessories for their looks, they rent them or shoot directly in the store.
Humorous videos. The main engine of short videos in any social network, YouTube is no exception. And the standards for humour in Shorts are much lower than in full-length videos.
Clips. Movies, TV shows, anime, games – anything goes. And often such videos, surprisingly, are not subject to copyright infringement sanctions. It is enough to pick a popular movie, anime or Triple-A game, select the right moment and the video is ready. Advanced option – editing with a musical background, something in the style of short MV, AMV.
Dancing. They came from TikTok and established the very concept of trends in this social network. They are also very well promoted through Shorts. But for this the author needs to be a blogger in the full sense, to film themselves. Editing skills and intelligence, alas, are not enough.
Lifehacks, ways to make money. Quick tips, effective ways to make money. Due to the popularity of such videos, Shorts have become a great tool for promoting various affiliate offers. Gambling with all its categories comes to mind. This includes full-fledged gambling and betting with secret strategies, ways of betting, review of bonus programs. Did you know that you can drop a direct referral link to bookmakers in Shorts? Now that you know, the prospects are clear.
Now let’s see some examples of how this works in practice. Take a look at this simple recipe for a low-calorie breakfast that you can whip up in no time. Nothing fancy, but it still got over 5 million views.
Check out this example of a video based on a movie. The creator just cut one scene from the movie and uploaded it to Shorts on their channel. As a result, he got almost 8 million views, spending no more than 15 minutes on the content. Yes, the service might flag such a video with the infamous “yellow dollar”, but it doesn’t matter. The creator of the channel is simply driving traffic to the online cinema service, where this movie can be watched in full. With 8 million views, even with a CTR of 0.1%, he will get 8 thousand conversions. And if the conversion rate after that is at least 3%, that’s 240 registrations with a payment of around $5. That’s $1200 from one video, 15 minutes of work.
Here’s another recipe and a lifehack in one. Again with over 7 million views, where the creator shows how to make his favourite sandwich. And at the same time, he is promoting his own catering business. He is bound to get a lot of customers.
Next up, an example of anime clips. The number is more modest, less than half a million, but don’t forget that such clips are made in bulk. You can post 5-10 of them every day if that suits your promotion strategy.
And finally, an example of our favourite category: how to make money on YouTube Shorts as an affiliate marketer. Let’s take the gambling niche. Again, the numbers are more modest, but this Shorts got almost 100,000 views. That’s hundreds of clicks with a dozen conversions, considering that the creator made a rather weak content. If the strategy is good (and it is good in the video), the conversions will be much higher. And in gambling, as you know, they pay much more for making a deposit than in online cinemas. And the payouts from such a video to the marketer will be hefty. And this, we remind you again, is one Shorts.
Who Can Benefit from YouTube Shorts
The answer is easy – anyone. YouTube Shorts can be a money-making option for any segment. Let’s take a look:
Vloggers – they can use Shorts as a mini version of their regular videos, as well as a way to tease upcoming content and attract a new audience;
Product or merch sellers – they have countless ways to showcase their products, highlight their features and benefits and persuade their viewers to buy;
Educators – they can create short and engaging lessons on various topics, from languages to science or art, and appeal to learners of all ages and levels;
Promoters and advertisers – they can leverage brand mentions, which are one of the most stable ways to earn money on Shorts, and post direct promotional videos (plus native mentions) once they reach an average of 10,000 views;
Affiliate marketers – they can tap into any niche or category (except for the strictly prohibited ones, but there are always workarounds) and generate leads and conversions with compelling offers and calls to action.
How does YouTube Shorts Monetization Work for Creators?
YouTube Shorts have been a popular option for creators and viewers alike since its launch in 2020. However, it was not until February 2023 that YouTube introduced a way for creators to monetize their Shorts and earn money from their work. This new revenue sharing model replaced the YouTube Shorts Fund, a $100 million fund that was intended to reward the most engaging Shorts creators from 2021 to 2022.
There are four main sources of monetization for Shorts:
YouTube Shorts ad revenue sharing. This is the primary way for creators to earn money from their Shorts. YouTube shares a portion of the revenue generated from ads that are shown between videos in the Shorts feed with eligible creators. The share is based on a formula that takes into account the number of views, the music usage and the advertiser-friendly content guidelines.
YouTube Premium subscription revenue sharing for Shorts. This is another way for creators to earn money from their Shorts. YouTube pays a part of the revenue from YouTube Premium subscribers who watch Shorts with eligible creators. The share is based on the watch time of the Shorts.
YouTube Shopping. This feature allows creators to sell their products or merchandise directly from their Shorts. YouTube lets creators add product tags to their Shorts that link to their own websites or to third-party platforms like Shopify, etc.
YouTube fan funding. Creators can receive donations from their fans who watch their Shorts. YouTube enables creators to add applause buttons or Super Stickers to their Shorts that allow viewers to show their support and appreciation with a monetary contribution.
Shorts monetization has some differences from regular video monetization. For example, regular videos can have various types of ads, such as display, overlay, skippable, non-skippable, bumper and sponsored cards. Shorts only have one type of ad, which is shown between videos in the Shorts feed.
Also, regular videos can earn more money than Shorts, depending on the length, quality and topic of the videos. Shorts usually earn less due to the shorter duration, lower ad rates and higher music licensing costs.
A creator needs to meet one of the following criteria to be eligible for Shorts monetization:
Have at least 1,000 subscribers and 10 million Shorts views in the last 90 days.
Have at least 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours on long-form YouTube content in the last 12 months.
Additionally, a creator needs to accept the Shorts Monetization Module, which is a set of terms that allow the creator to earn from ads and YouTube Premium in the Shorts feed. A creator also needs to follow the YouTube channel monetization policies, the YouTube Community Guidelines, the YouTube Terms of Service, the YouTube Copyright and the Google AdSense program policies.
YouTube Shorts monetization is a new and evolving opportunity for creators who want to make money from their short-form video content. By understanding how it works and what the requirements are, creators can optimise their Shorts strategy and maximise their earnings potential.
Shorts Monetization with Music
You can also monetize your Shorts with music, thanks to Creator Music. This is a library that you can access from the Creative Studio of your channel. It offers a huge selection of songs.
Most of them are royalty-free stock music or sound effects that you can use for free and without any limits. You won’t face any bans or restrictions for using them. Some songs require a licence, with different levels of rights. Some are for personal use, others are for commercial videos. But you can also just use other royalty-free tracks, adding music that is not protected by copyright.
By the way, you can also make money by uploading your own songs to the library, and letting other content creators buy them.
However, this option is currently only available to US residents. The service promises to expand the functionality to other countries in the future.
How to Make Money with YouTube Shorts
There are many ways to monetize your Shorts, such as:
Donations. You can ask your viewers to support you with any means of donation. For example, you can use paid subscriptions on Patreon or include your card number or e-wallet in the descriptions.
Sponsored content. You can create videos that feature or mention a brand, product or service and get paid for it. You can also make videos that are specially ordered by a sponsor.
Traffic redirection. You can drive your viewers to other platforms or services. For example, you can direct them to your Instagram or TikTok account.
Account selling. You can grow your channel with a few successful Shorts and then sell it on a marketplace. You can find hundreds of offers and thousands of buyers, with prices ranging from a few dollars to a million.
Product selling. You can promote and sell your own products or merchandise through Shorts. The format is ideal for product reviews and recommendations.
Affiliate marketing. You can generate leads and conversions for any offer with Shorts. You can use simple techniques to entice your viewers to click on your link. For example, you can show clips of movies and reveal the title only on your link. You can leave out part of a story, video or news and direct them to your link for more. You can ask a question that triggers their pain points and give the answer on your link. The format allows you to insert an active link in the description, so you have a ready-made “call to action”.
YouTube Shorts Requirements
YouTube Shorts has a few simple technical requirements that you need to follow:
The resolution should be at least 720p or higher;
The orientation should be vertical, not horizontal;
The format should be MP4 only, if the source is different, you will have to convert it.
How to Upload and Post Shorts
You can upload Shorts from both desktop and mobile devices, but it’s easier to do it from a smartphone. You can use the YouTube mobile app, which has a convenient upload function. You just need to tap the button and record your video in real time. Then, it will be automatically uploaded to your channel. You need to give the app access to your camera first.
Surely, you can also upload a ready-made video from your phone gallery.
If you use a desktop, it will take a bit longer. You need to go to your channel tab and select YouTube Studio.
Alternatively, you can use the quick link in the upper right corner of the screen, which looks like a video camera.
Then, you need to select a file and upload it from your hard drive.
All videos under 60 seconds will be automatically converted to Shorts format. If you want to add music, your video must not exceed 15 seconds. Otherwise, the sound must be original, so you will have to add music at the editing stage.
To optimise your Shorts, it is important to add relevant hashtags to your description. They have a strong impact on your visibility and ranking. The main hashtag is #Shorts. The rest depend on your topic. But don’t use too many hashtags. Choose 5-6 main ones that are popular and related to your video.
How Often to Post Videos
The YouTube algorithm is not very transparent, but based on the feedback of experienced Shorts creators, one video every 1-2 days is a good frequency. Posting more often does not necessarily increase the chances of getting into the trends and getting more exposure. However, each video is promoted individually. Therefore, the quantity affects the potential performance.
On the other hand, posting less often than once every 2 days may trigger some “shadow” penalties and the ranking of the video may drop slightly. The longer the creator is inactive, the lower the potential reach in the users’ feed.
Therefore, we recommend planning your videos well in advance. You can prepare a lot of videos in one working day and use the scheduled publishing feature to post them for the next 5-10 days.
To do this, go to the Creative Studio, upload your videos according to the described scheme and before publishing them, go to “Set visibility” and choose “Public” access. In there, find the “Schedule” section.
You can publish your Shorts right away or you can choose any date and time. Set the date and time that suit you and save the changes.
Creative Ideas for YouTube Shorts
If you need some inspiration for your YouTube Shorts, here are some interesting ideas to get you started.
Tutorials. This is always a popular topic. You can teach something that you are good at or share some tips and tricks. There are hundreds of thousands of people online who want to learn from you, even if you are not an expert.
Reviews. You can give your opinion on books, movies, games or places. But the most trending topics are films and computer games.
Unboxing. This theme never gets old. You can show what you got in a package, especially if it is a gift or a surprise. People love to see what’s inside.
Slow motion. You can make any video more epic by slowing it down. You can capture some amazing details, movements or expressions that are normally too fast to notice.
Recommendation lists. You can suggest what to watch, what to read or what to do. You can also share your favourites or your personal rankings.
Tops. You can make a list of the best or worst things in any category, such as films, shows, anime or books. You can also explain why you chose them or what you liked or disliked about them.
Reactions. You can record your reactions to something funny, scary or shocking. You can also make a compilation of the most interesting moments.
Challenges. You can join or create a challenge that involves doing something difficult, fun or unusual. You can also use a hashtag to promote the challenge and invite others to participate.
Memes. You can create or recreate memes that are relevant, funny or original. You can also show your meme knowledge and skills by making references or jokes.
How to Increase YouTube Shorts Views
To boost your views on YouTube Shorts, you can follow some general tips that often work for this format:
Post regularly and consistently, don’t let your channel go stale;
Avoid violating the rules of the service, the “yellow dollar” can hurt your visibility;
Promote your new videos through the “Community” section, post a comment with a link;
Experiment with different lengths of your videos, try 10-20-30-60 seconds;
Cross-promote your channel and your videos on other social media platforms, announce your new videos on Instagram, TikTok, etc.;
Analyse the statistics of your views, identify the videos with the best performance and study the keywords from the description, the length and the nature of the video.
Conclusion
Making money on YouTube Shorts is already quite comparable to the alternative through regular video services. But they are much harder to promote. And for some categories, like affiliate marketing, YouTube Shorts is even more convenient. So don’t miss this opportunity to join the Shorts revolution and enjoy the benefits of the traffic from it. YouTube Shorts is the future of video content and you can be part of it!
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