Are you creating short-form video content and want to secure an additional source of income? YouTube Shorts are your answer. In case you haven’t heard of YouTube Shorts, this content format is YouTube’s take on short-form videos that rival your other favorite platforms, like Instagram and TikTok.
But, unlike Reels and TikTok, YouTube is stepping up its game and giving you the chance to monetize your Shorts content, which can help you make more money from the content you’re already creating.
Are you wondering how you can start earning money on YouTube Shorts? We’re sharing our top tips and tricks to help you boost your video views, get accepted into the YouTube Partner Program, and start monetizing your content.
What are YouTube Shorts?
YouTube is the latest social media platform that’s made the move to short-form video content with YouTube Shorts. Inspired by the popularity of platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels, Shorts provides users with a dedicated space to create and share videos up to 60 seconds long.
Much like other short-form video content platforms, YouTube Shorts allows you to create and edit content within the platform. YouTube even gives you the ability to add sounds from the platform’s music library along with animated text.
In the same way users interact with long-form YouTube videos, Shorts viewers are able to share, comment, like, dislike and subscribe to your channel all by viewing your Shorts videos.
How can you monetize your YouTube Shorts content?
As a content creator, brand, or business, you want to be able to make money on social media if you’re posting consistently. As luck would have it, YouTube offers monetization options to Shorts creators through its YouTube Partner Program (YPP).
The YPP gives creators the chance to access YouTube’s resources like Creator Support teams and monetization features, including revenue sharing from ads displayed on your content. Once you’ve met some of the requirements, like living in an eligible country and having no community guidelines strikes on your content, you can see if you’re eligible to join.
Shorts creators will need to meet one of these requirements to start monetizing their content. Once you’ve been accepted into the YPP, you can earn 45% of ad revenue from videos. Here’s what you need to do:
• Garner 1000 subscribers with 4000 valid public watch hours in the last 12 months, OR
• Get 1000 subscribers with 10 million valid public Shorts views in the last 90 days.
If you’re not yet eligible for the YPP, then YouTube makes it super easy to keep track of if you turn on ‘Notify me when I’m eligible’ in the Earn section of YouTube Studio. Once you’ve met the eligibility criteria, YouTube will send you an email, so you can start monetizing your Shorts content.
Best practice tips and tricks for monetizing your YouTube Shorts
If you’re just starting out on YouTube Shorts or you’re looking to boost your video views to become eligible for the YPP to start making money off YouTube, then we’re sharing our top tips for creating viral Shorts.
1. Use trending sounds
Since short-form video content has taken over social media, trending sounds have become a staple in this content format.
Trending sounds are super important on TikTok, Instagram Reels, and Shorts, helping you boost your discoverability, landing you more video views and ultimately becoming eligible to monetize your content.
So how do you find trending sounds on YouTube? Much like your TikTok FYP or your Instagram Explore page, YouTube has a dedicated Shorts tab. Spend some time scrolling through the Shorts tab and picking up on any trending sounds, formats, and ideas that are constantly popping up, and jump on those trends quickly.
Plus, you can browse other Shorts creators related to your niche to get some inspiration and ensure you’re always on top of the content that others in your industry are creating.
2. Harness hashtags
Hashtags are an essential part of boosting the visibility of your content on any social media platform. And, they’re also an important part of Shorts content too. Hashtags help people searching for ideas, inspiration, and entertainment land on your content.
Spend some time researching popular broad hashtags and more specific niche hashtags related to your industry or type of content. If you’re trying to expand your reach even further, you can use specific location-based hashtags too.
For example, if you’re showcasing a behind the scenes vlog, make sure to tag the cities or suburb locations so that people searching for the same places will find your videos.
3. Create engaging thumbnails
Thumbnails are what draw viewers in. They allow potential viewers to get a good understanding of what your video is about and can make or break whether someone clicks on your video or scrolls past it.
So, make sure you’re creating specific thumbnails for each of your Shorts videos by using attention-grabbing and scroll-stopping imagery alongside your videos. You can even draw viewers in by presenting an enticing title or question to drive views and engagement.
4. Make your titles enticing
One piece of the puzzle is your thumbnails, and the other is your title. You’ve got to create enticing titles that will have viewers interested in learning more about your videos.
Your YouTube Short videos have a better chance of getting noticed and played if you’ve got a compelling title that can give viewers a short summary of what they can expect to get from your videos. Plus, don’t forget to add #shorts in your title for maximum visibility.
5. Get straight to the point
If you’re used to creating or watching long-form video content on YouTube, you’re likely familiar with long introductions at the very beginning of the video, which give a teaser of what’s to come. Since Shorts are short-form video content, you’ll have to throw the idea of intros out the window.
Don’t waste precious time with a lead-up to your YouTube Short, instead get straight to the point and jump right in. The shorter and more concise your videos are, the more likely people will watch your video all the way through which helps you get eligible for the YPP.
6. Create a Shorts playlist
Want to boost the views of all your Shorts videos in one go? Creating a YouTube Shorts playlist on your channel is a great way to ensure every single Shorts video you create is watched when someone finds your channel.
By creating a Shorts playlist you can group together all your Shorts videos in one simple and accessible place, which makes it easier for viewers to watch all of your videos and helps you get a tonne more views.
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