Youtube Shorts Monetization
- YouTube Shorts Monetization
- YouTube shorts Monetization requirements
- Content engagement conditions
- The reality of monetization for YouTube Shorts
- Tips on Ineligible Content
YouTube Shorts Monetization
For the last decade, long-form content has been an original way to post videos on YouTube. However, things changed with the invention of YouTube Shorts as a form of content to compete with TikTok and Instagram Reels. #Shorts have gathered over 400 million videos across 23M channels for its lifespan borrowed the concept from TikTok as other platforms do, fighting for viewer engagement and trends. YouTube Shorts monetization roles are different from long-form content, and today we are going to talk about that difference, the rules, and the policy to follow.
YouTube shorts Monetization requirements
According to YPP (YouTube Partner Program) here is a short recap of points to follow from the whole list:
- You have to be 18 years old and above or have parents to accept the terms and set up AdSense YPP for payment.
- You have to upload one Short minimum for the last 180 days.
- Your content should be original and not break the codes of conduct of the platform
- You have to be situated in regions allowed by YouTube policies
- Enable 2-Step Verification
- No community Guidelines strike
When you meet all of those requirements for YouTube shorts monetization you will be invited to apply for the YPP where you agree with the terms and set up the AdSense program on top of that which is how YT is going to pay you. And then YT will review your channel which takes up to a month but usually not longer than a week. If you got accepted, the 1st thing you want to do is go to your upload defaults and turn on the Monetization option and all the types of ads. However, you still need to meet certain criteria in regard to your content engagement to actually earn.
Content engagement conditions
Before April 11, 2022, you have been limited to $10,000 to earn from shorts even if the video goes viral. Starting from this date, YouTube created a Fund of $100M to support content creators and extend over the limits. However, there was no ad supporting yet until the reach of February 1st, 2023 where it starts to look like this in comparison between long-form content and Shorts:
Long term content
- 1000 subscribers
- 4000 watch hours over the past 12 months
So as you reach 1K subs it is not that challenging to get 4K hours of watch time if your content is worthy, furthermore, this number could be made if you create just one video that shines with uniqueness over that time.
Shorts
- 1000 subscribers
- 10 Million valid public Shorts views over the last 90 days
The conditions for newcomers may look harsh. Invented in February 2023 these conditions were dignified as ‘New ways to earn on YouTube’ which you must sign and accept on the platform in the Earnings section for Shorts in your YT studio. The number of 10M views over 90 days looks distracting, but this meant to raise YouTube above competition and get TikTok out of the business. Even though the numbers are big, and the time is short, let us see how you can skyrocket without putting much effort and not breaking the rules of YPP at the same time.
The reality of monetization for YouTube Shorts
Even if 10M for 90 days sounds extreme, in reality, YouTube's algorithm is heavily promoting Shorts for their own survival competing against TikTok, and they are pretty successful with it as more and more content creators are switching to YouTube from other video hosting platforms.
Tips on Ineligible Content
As we have mentioned earlier, the YPP wants you to post original content, such as unedited clips from movies or TV shows, or re-uploading other creator’s content from other platforms with no content added. Which in reality says where the opportunity lies, as they do not prohibit using the content from other content creators if you add your own contribution to it such as comments, criticism, etc. That is why the fights between channels are so regular on YouTube where creators criticize each other and that gather a lot of views. Hence, you can use that strategy with Shorts and post non-original videos by making them original with your own content added with the voice-over comments, and webcam, and this won’t demonetize you. So you do not have to be a natural entertainer or get out of your comfort zone showing your face on camera to earn on Shorts, as many channel shows growth using other’s content and simply commenting over it and maybe using some transitions and effects in the clip. This concept is called ‘Fair use’ which we recommend mastering if there is no other way around it.
Author
IT entrepreneur and co-founder of VJump. His passion is travel photography, within which, he has already visited 75 countries. Photos taken during his travels are actively posted on his social networks. For example, his Instagram account has more than 1 million followers.
In addition, his documentary short film Terra del Fuego was awarded more than 30 international awards and certificates at film festivals worldwide.
