How To Monetize YouTube Shorts?

Are you looking to earn money through YouTube Shorts? Since its official launch, YouTube creators have started monetizing their YouTube Shorts and bring in more views on their channel. With video content of only 60 seconds, you can now monetize YouTube Shorts and make easy money with your YouTube channel.

So, how can creators monetize their YouTube shorts and earn money from them? What are the eligibility criteria for YouTube monetization? And how can small creators fund their channel using shorts? Our blog will delve into these tricky questions and more.

What are YouTube Shorts?

YouTube Shorts are short videos similar to Instagram and Facebook stories where creators can share their creative video content. It’s a fun way for creators to express and share themselves on the platform. As a user, you can simply tap on these videos through the YouTube app on your smartphone and swipe through to view more videos.

How Does YouTube Shorts Ad Revenue Sharing Model Work?

Earning money from ads on YouTube Shorts differs from revenue generated through long-form videos. Shorts ad revenue is split among the creators and music publishers providing music for those videos. Here’s how the revenue-sharing model on YouTube Shorts works.

1. Ad revenue pooled together: YouTube pulls in the total revenue earned through ads placed between videos in the Shorts feed.
2. YouTube calculates and adds money to the creator pool. This calculation depends on total views and music usage across all the Shorts videos.
3. If a creator doesn’t use music in their YT Shorts, they retain all of their respective revenue.
4. However, if the creator uses music, the generated revenue is split between the creator pool and music publishers as copyright claims for tracks used in the video.
5. The amount left in the creator pool is then distributed to the creators whose shorts are eligible for monetization. It is distributed based on a creator’s share of total Shorts views on the platform.
6. Out of the revenue share kept for distribution to the creator, YouTube pays out only 45% of the share and keeps the remaining 55%.

YouTube Shorts Monetization Requirements

Becoming a part of the YouTube Partner Program makes content creators like you eligible to access its revenue-generating streams. You can place ads on your channel’s videos, access fan-funding opportunities, and more. YouTube monetization isn’t rocket science.

Eligibility Criteria For YouTube Monetization Program

• Once you meet the YouTube Partner Program criteria, you can monetize your channel easily.
• You should be a resident in any region where this program is available and have an active AdSense account.
• You would need 1000 subscribers combined with 4000 public watch hours in the last 1 year.
• Or you would require 1000 subscribers combined with 10 Million shorts views in the last 90 days.
• More importantly, your videos shouldn’t break any community guidelines.

Other Methods to Monetize YouTube Shorts

There are other ways to make money from YouTube Shorts without relying on ad revenue. The choices include fan funding, YT Premium, BrandConnect, and providing exciting shopping features.

• You can join sponsorship and affiliate marketing programs to increase your revenue.
• Apart from this, you can even sell branded merchandise via YouTube shopping.
• Finally, YouTube also empowers fans to fund their favorite creators through super thanks, super chat, super sticker, and channel membership!
• But even for fan funding, you would need 500 subscribers, 3 public posts, and either 3 M short views or 3 K watch hours within the last 90 days.
• If you have 20 K subscribers, you can join the “YouTube Shopping Affiliate Program” where you will promote other creators’ brands in your shorts.
• If you aren’t eligible for fan funding or YouTube Shopping Affiliate Program, then you can use Patreon support too – Donation platform for your fans.

Understand YouTube Shorts Monetization Module

YouTube doesn’t allow you to monetize YouTube shorts and earn money from them if you don’t approve the Shorts monetization module. It is an official agreement between you and the world’s largest video-sharing network that allows you to earn money from ads and YT Premium. Even though you might be a part of the YouTube partner program, you will not earn money from YT shorts until you read and agree to their terms.

To approve the YouTube Shorts monetization module, follow these steps:

1. Sign in to your YouTube Studio.
2. Navigate to the ‘Earn’ option in the menu at the left.
3. Click on ‘Get Started’ on each available module
4. Read the terms and policies carefully and agree to the Shorts monetization module.

Note that the views gained on YouTube Shorts before you accept the Shorts monetization module are not eligible for revenue generation. You can earn money from YouTube Shorts only when you agree to the terms and conditions of the shorts monetization module.

Tips To Increase Views Or Watch Hours

• You can collaborate with trending YouTubers from your niche to increase engagement on your shorts.
• You can use YouTube Analytics through your YouTube Studio account to keep track of the number of views and no. of clicks you get on your Shorts.
• The Shorts report shows content trends, strategies, and tips to make your videos more entertaining.

Conclusion

YouTube is constantly updating its platform to better serve creators. Recently, YouTube expanded its monetization criteria to include more types of content that were previously excluded from its policies. Keep your short-form video content original to make it easily eligible for YouTube shorts monetization. Take advantage of these new updates and let your creativity go all out.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q.1 How do I turn on monetization?

Go to the YouTube Studio app on your smartphone, navigate to the bottom menu, and tap the ‘content’ button. Select the video you wish to monetize and click the ‘edit’ button. Tap the monetization toggle bar and turn it on.

Q.2 Can you monetize YouTube as a Beginner?

Yes. Beginner creators can monetize their channel by meeting the specific criteria of the YouTube Monetization program. Generally, most YouTube content creators in their beginner stages need to reach at least 1000 subscribers to really start making money from YouTube.

Q.3 How long does it take for YouTube to approve monetization?

Monetization request approval from YouTube usually takes a week to 1 month, depending on the number of working days and the review process.

Q.4 How to qualify for YouTube monetization?

To qualify for YouTube monetization program requirements, your YouTube channel must have at least 1000 subscribers and 4000 public watch hours in the past 12 months. Alternatively, you must have 10 million valid public watch hours on YouTube Shorts in the past 90 days.