YouTube Shorts Monetisation: A Complete Guide for Creators

Much like tech companies that find ways to profit from their inventions, Shorts creators are constantly on the lookout to turn their creative sparks into income. Let's explore how YouTube Shorts monetization works, diving into the strategies and algorithms that drive the conversion of digital content into earnings.

YouTube Shorts Monetization Criteria

To qualify for full monetization, creators must meet the following YouTube Shorts monetization requirements:

• 1,000 subscribers on their channel.
• either 10 million valid public Shorts views in the last 90 days or 4,000 valid public watch hours of long-form videos in the last 12 months.

Requirements for the YouTube Expanded Program

The YouTube Partner Program (YPP) is designed to help creators monetize their content and grow their channels. By joining the program, creators gain access to various resources, including monetization features such as advertising revenue, channel memberships, Super Chat, and merchandise shelf. You require: 

• 500 subscribers on your channel.

• Three valid public uploads and three million valid public Shorts views in the last 90 days (or 3,000 valid public watch hours of long-form videos in the past year).

Content Eligibility for YouTube Shorts Monetisation

For your video to qualify for ad monetization on Shorts, it must not have:

• Non-original content: Unoriginal Shorts refer to content that lacks originality or creativity, including unedited clips sourced from movies or TV shows belonging to other creators. This could also involve reuploading content from fellow creators on platforms like YouTube or other platforms without adding any value or originality. Additionally, compilations that merely aggregate existing content without contributing original material are considered non-original Shorts.
• Artificial views: Fake views of Shorts occur when views are generated through automated click or scroll bots rather than genuine viewer engagement. These artificial views artificially inflate a video's view count, misleading both creators and advertisers.
• Views inconsistent with advertiser-friendly content guidelines: It refers to content that violates YouTube's guidelines regarding suitable content for advertising. This includes content containing inappropriate or controversial themes, language, or imagery that may not be suitable for advertisers or may violate community standards. Such content may result in demonetization or other penalties imposed by YouTube.

Ad Formats Eligible for YouTube Shorts Monetisation

Revenue sharing on YouTube Shorts applies to ads viewed between videos in the Shorts Feed. Unlike long-form video monetization, which includes various ad formats, Shorts revenue sharing exclusively encompasses ads displayed within the Shorts Feed.

Certain types of views and associated revenue are excluded from the Creator Pool, including views from non-monetizing creators, ineligible Shorts, and ads displayed on navigational pages within the Shorts player.

Additional YouTube Shorts Monetization Requirements

Regardless of the monetization program, creators must also:

• Understand and comply with YouTube's Monetization policies.
• Live in a region where the program is available.
• Be 13 years of age or older.
• Ensure their channel doesn't have any active Community Guidelines Strikes.
• Enable 2-step verification for their Google account.
• Have an active AdSense account.

💡Related read: YouTube Shorts Dimensions, Durations & Mistakes to Avoid

How to Monetize YouTube Shorts

To start monetizing YouTube Shorts, creators can follow these steps:

1. Sign in to YouTube.
2. Navigate to YouTube Studio by clicking on your profile picture and selecting YouTube Studio. Click on "Earn" in the left menu.
3. If eligible, click the "Apply" button to initiate the monetization process. Otherwise, click "Get Notified" to receive notifications when eligibility requirements are met.
4. Review and accept the Base terms.
5. Link your existing AdSense account or set up a new one if necessary.
6. Wait for YouTube to review your application, which typically takes about a month.
7. Once approved, return to the Earn section of YouTube Studio and accept the Shorts Monetization Module.

Creators can access estimated daily Shorts Feed ad revenue through YouTube Analytics. 

Source: VidIQ

Mechanism of YouTube Ad Revenue Sharing

Understanding how ad revenue sharing works for Shorts is essential for creators aiming to maximize their earnings. The process involves four key steps:

• Pooling Shorts feed ad revenue: Each month, revenue from ads in the Shorts Feed is aggregated to reward creators and cover music licensing costs.
• Calculating the creator pool: Revenue from Shorts Feed ads is allocated to the Creator Pool based on views and music usage across monetizing creators' Shorts.
• Allocating the creator pool: Revenue from the Creator Pool is distributed among monetizing creators based on their share of total views from Shorts in each country.
• Applying revenue share: Monetizing creators retain 45% of their allocated revenue, irrespective of music usage in their Shorts.

Source: YouTube Help

How Much do YouTube Shorts Pay

While YouTube Shorts offer monetization opportunities, the earnings may vary. Creators typically earn revenue based on the number of views, with revenue per thousand views (RPM) ranging from $0.05 to $0.07. Additionally, YouTube Shopping revenue and fan funding through Super Thanks offer alternative monetization options.

💡Related read: vidyo.ai Helps Marketing Manager Boost YouTube Subscriptions by 150%

Additional Strategies for Monetizing YouTube Shorts

Here’s how to monetise YouTube Shorts beyond relying solely on ad revenue:

1. Diversifying revenue streams

• Merchandise sales: Promote branded merchandise or products related to your content.
• Channel memberships: Offer exclusive perks to subscribers through channel memberships.
• Affiliate marketing: Partner with brands to promote products or services, earning commissions on sales.

2. Leveraging sponsorships

Collaborate with brands or sponsors for sponsored content opportunities within your Shorts.

3. Crowdfunding

Engage your audience through crowdfunding platforms like Patreon or Kickstarter to support your content creation efforts.

4. Direct monetization

Offer premium content or services directly to your audience through platforms like Patreon.

💡Related read: How to Start a Podcast Channel on YouTube for Free

Takeaway

While YouTube Shorts monetisation presents its challenges, creators can overcome them by meeting eligibility criteria and exploring diverse revenue streams beyond ad monetization. 

You can also maximize your earning potential and build sustainable careers by repurposing your videos short form content for Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn with our video editing tool, vidyo.ai.

Try vidyo.ai today to repurpose content 2x faster with half the effort.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What types of content are ineligible for Shorts monetization?

Content featuring unedited clips from copyrighted sources, artificially generated views, or content violating advertiser-friendly guidelines is ineligible for Shorts monetization.

2. How often does YouTube distribute revenue from Short ads to creators?

YouTube distributes revenue from Short ads to creators on a monthly basis, with a portion allocated based on the creators' Shorts views relative to the total views.

3. Can creators earn more from Shorts through alternative monetization methods besides ad revenue?

Yes, creators can explore various alternative monetization methods such as merchandise sales, sponsorships, crowdfunding, and direct monetization to augment their earnings from Shorts.

4. What steps should I take to activate Shorts ad revenue sharing?

To activate Shorts ad revenue sharing, monetizing partners must accept the Shorts Monetization Module. Once accepted, revenue sharing applies to eligible Shorts views from the activation date onwards.

5. How much do YouTube Shorts pay for 1000 views?

The payment for YouTube Shorts can vary widely and depends on several factors, including the location of the viewers, the engagement level of the audience, the length of the Shorts, and the type of ads displayed. Generally, creators earn revenue from ads shown on their Shorts through the YouTube Partner Program.

6. Do YouTube Shorts count towards watch hours?

Views from YouTube Shorts do not count towards the watch hours needed for your main channel's monetization.