My Experience Making Money with YouTube Shorts

Creating short, engaging videos felt daunting at first. Yet the appeal of making money with YouTube Shorts drew me in.

What you Read

I will share how I began, the strategies I used, the challenges I faced, and actionable tips to help you on your own path to monetizing short-form content.

Making Money with YouTube Shorts – My Experience

Why I Chose YouTube Shorts

I had been creating traditional YouTube videos for some time, but noticed the rapid rise of short-form content.

Viewers loved quick tips, behind-the-scenes snippets, and bite-sized entertainment.

The idea of making money with YouTube Shorts intrigued me because it promised to leverage a newer format with potentially high reach.

Plus, I saw peers sharing success stories – channels exploding in subscriber counts, brand collaborations, and revenue via the Shorts Fund or ad revenue once eligibility criteria were met.

Early on, I researched “making money with YouTube shorts” and related terms like “YouTube Shorts monetization,” “short-form video earnings,” and “passive income YouTube Shorts” to understand what others were doing.

But I wanted to document my own journey and share authentic experiences rather than copy generic advice.

Getting Started – Setting Up for Success

1. Choosing a Niche:

My channel focused on quick productivity hacks and lifestyle tips.

Picking a clear niche helped me stay consistent. If you have an existing channel, think of complementary Shorts topics; if new, select a theme you’re passionate about.

2. Optimizing Channel and Branding:

Channel art & name consistency: I ensured my banner and icon matched my main brand so viewers recognized me whether they saw a Short or a long-form video.

Profile links: I linked to my website and related playlists, so traffic from Shorts could flow deeper into my content ecosystem (helpful for SEO and retention).

3. Equipment & Tools:

While Shorts can be shot on a smartphone, I invested in a ring light and a basic microphone to improve production quality.

Clear audio and well-lit visuals boost retention, which ties into favorable performance in YouTube’s algorithm.

Understand Monetization Paths

When wondering about making money with YouTube Shorts, I identified several revenue streams,

YouTube Shorts Fund & Ad Revenue Share:
- Initially, YouTube introduced the Shorts Fund to reward creators monthly based on performance.
- Later, they expanded eligibility for ad revenue sharing when channels meet criteria (e.g., 1,000 subscribers + 10 million Shorts views in last 90 days).
- I tracked updates from YouTube’s Creator Insider channel to stay current.
Channel Memberships & Merchandise:
- As my subscriber base grew via Shorts, some viewers explored my longer videos.
- That increased watch time and qualified me for channel memberships and merch shelf integration.
Affiliate Marketing & Sponsorships:
- I experimented by weaving brief, authentic product mentions into relevant Shorts (e.g., productivity tools).
- I disclosed affiliate links and placed more details in the pinned comment or in video description when possible.
External Traffic & Leads:
- My Shorts invited viewers to download a free resource on my website (e.g., “3 quick productivity tips, link in bio”).
- Though shorter formats limit clickable links inside the video, I used end screens on longer videos and profile links effectively.

Craft Engaging Shorts

1. Hook in the First Seconds

My first challenge was retaining viewers beyond the first 2-3 seconds.

I opened many Shorts with a question or bold statement: “Want to double productivity in 30 seconds?”

This immediate value proposition encouraged viewers to watch fully, signaling strong engagement to YouTube’s algorithm.

2. Concise, Clear Content

Given the 60-second limit, I planned scripts carefully,

Bullet-point structure: Jot down 2-3 main points.
Visual variety: Combine talking-head clips with text overlays and quick cuts.

Captions: Many viewers watch without sound; adding clear captions improved completion rates.

3. Thumbnails and Titles

Shorts often autoplay in the feed without visible thumbnails, but when shown in the Shorts shelf or channel page, a clear, compelling frame helps.

I selected a contrasting frame with readable text overlay (e.g., “Productivity Tip #1”).

For titles, I naturally included my keyword phrase once: e.g., “making money with YouTube shorts: 3 quick lessons” or “How I started making money with YouTube Shorts.”

4. Consistency and Frequency

I published 3-4 Shorts weekly, experimenting with topics within my niche.

Consistency signaled to the algorithm that I was an active creator. Over time, I spotted which themes resonated and refined accordingly.

Strategies That Boosted Views and Earnings

Trend Leveraging: I monitored trending audio or challenges relevant to my niche, e.g., a trending background sound adapted to productivity themes. Riding trends gave an initial uplift.
Cross-Promotion: I shared Shorts on Instagram Reels and TikTok (tailored to platform specs), expanding reach and funneling viewers back to my YouTube channel.
Engaging CTAs: Even in 30- to 60-second videos, I added a verbal/text prompt: “If this helped, follow for more tips” or “Check the link in bio/description for a detailed guide.” This modest CTA nurtured community growth without feeling pushy.

Playlists & Series: Grouping related Shorts into a “series” (e.g., “30-Second Productivity Hacks”) encouraged binge-watching, boosting total watch time.
Data-Driven Iteration: I reviewed YouTube Analytics weekly: retention graphs, traffic sources, and audience demographics. For example, if a certain style clip retained 80% vs. another at 40%, I leaned into the better format.

Tracking Analytics and Adjusting

YouTube Studio’s Analytics were necessary,

View Duration & Retention: For Shorts, completion rate matters. I targeted >70% average retention.
Subscriber Growth from Shorts: I tracked which Shorts drove net subscriber gains.

Geography & Demographics: Understanding where viewers were helped tailor language and cultural references.
Traffic Sources: Discovering if Shorts surfaced via Home feed, subscriptions, or suggested videos guided my optimization.

When a Short underperformed, I asked: Was the hook weak? Was the topic too generic? Was the editing too static? I then tested tweaks in the next video.

Overcoming Challenges

Algorithm Changes: YouTube occasionally updates its Shorts policies or eligibility for ad revenue. To handle this, I joined creator communities and followed official announcements. Flexibility was key.
Creative Burnout: Constant ideation for bite-sized content can feel draining. I maintained a swipe file of ideas, jotted whenever inspiration struck, and occasionally repurposed older long-form topics into concise Shorts.

Monetization Delays: Early on, earnings from the Shorts Fund arrived irregularly. I treated this as supplemental income while focusing on building sustainable revenue via multiple streams (affiliate links, sponsorships).
Viewer Expectations: The Shorts audience craves novelty. Repeating the same format too often led to plateaued views. I balanced consistency with fresh approaches, sometimes adding storytelling elements or surprising visuals.

Tips for Aspiring Creators

Start with a Clear Goal: Define why you are making Shorts, brand awareness, channel growth, direct earnings, and tailor content accordingly.

Research Keywords & Topics: Use tools like YouTube search suggestions to find what people seek. For example, search “making money with YouTube shorts” to see related queries (“tips,” “My experience,” “earnings”). Address these naturally in your content and descriptions.
Optimize Descriptions & Tags: Even though Shorts are short, include a concise description (1-2 sentences) with relevant keywords and a link to longer tutorials or your website. Tags remain useful for context.
Engage with Comments: Respond to viewer questions or feedback. Engagement can signal community activity and encourage return visits.

Invest in Basic Editing Skills: Smooth cuts, text overlays, and good pacing retain attention. Free editing apps on mobile can suffice initially.
Leverage Analytics Early: Don’t wait until you have thousands of views. From the first uploads, check which videos get more engagement, then focus efforts there.
Diversify Monetization: Relying solely on the Shorts Fund can be risky. Build email lists, offer downloadable resources, or integrate affiliate promotions when relevant.

Stay Updated: The landscape for short-form monetization evolves. Regularly check YouTube’s Creator Insider, the YouTube Help pages, and reputable creator forums for policy changes.

Conclusion – Reflecting on Making Money with YouTube Shorts

My experience making money with YouTube Shorts has been a journey of experimentation, learning, and gradual growth.

By focusing on niche-driven, high-retention content, optimizing titles and descriptions for search intent, and diversifying revenue streams, I transitioned from uncertainty to a steady supplemental income.

If you’re considering making money with YouTube shorts, remember: start small, remain consistent, learn from analytics, and adapt to changes.

Authenticity and value-driven content resonate most, so let your unique perspective shine in each Short.

With patience and strategic effort, you too can unlock the potential of short-form videos and build a rewarding pathway to monetization.

Read: How to Make Money on YouTube Without Making Videos: My Personal Journey