The monetization of content on platforms like YouTube has become an attractive opportunity for creators to generate additional income. Particularly, the new YouTube Shorts offer an exciting chance to share creative content and earn money at the same time. In this guide, you will learn everything essential that you need to know in order to successfully earn money with your YouTube Shorts. We will take a look at the requirements, the monetization possibilities, and the key guidelines that you need to follow.
Key Insights
- You need to be in the YouTube Partner Program to earn money with Shorts.
- Monetization has specific requirements such as 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 hours of watch-time.
- The earnings are split 55:45 between YouTube and you as the creator.
- Certain types of content are excluded from monetization.
Requirements for Monetization
In order to earn money with YouTube Shorts, you must first be part of the YouTube Partner Program. This means that your channel must be monetized.
To qualify for the partner program, you need at least 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 hours of watch-time in the last 12 months. Once you meet these criteria, you can submit your monetization requests in the YouTube Studio.
If your channel does not violate any guidelines, monetization is usually approved within a few days to a week. It is important not to upload copyrighted movies or music from artists, as this can cause issues with monetization.
Once you are in the partner program, you must accept the monetization terms. To do this, go to the YouTube Studio and click on the red notification at the top right prompting you to accept the terms.
After accepting the terms, you can start earning money with your Shorts immediately.
Understanding Earnings from YouTube Shorts
A critical point to understand is the distribution of your earnings. YouTube keeps 55% of the Shorts earnings and pays you 45%. However, this split changes if you use licensed music.
If you use licensed music in your Shorts, you must give up a portion of your earnings – specifically, half. For example, if you upload a Short with a music track, you will only receive 50% of those earnings.
On the other hand, if you do not use music or only use royalty-free music, you earn the full amount. Another point is that if you use multiple music tracks in a Short, the earnings are proportionally divided. With two tracks, you would only keep one-third of the earnings.
Your payout occurs once you have reached at least 70 €. If you earn less in a month, the amount will accumulate for the next month.
You can view your earnings under the Creator Shorts Panel, which will be available starting February 1st.
Which Shorts are not Monetizable?
It is important to know that not all Shorts are eligible for monetization. Certain content is excluded from monetization. These include, for example:
- Short videos from movies or series.
- Content lacking originality or compilations of others' material.
In addition, content that has already been published on other platforms such as Instagram Reels or TikTok cannot be monetized. Furthermore, fake or artificial views will result in the disapproval of monetization.
Last but not least, Shorts that violate YouTube's policies are also excluded from monetization. This includes content showing violence, drugs, or other criminal activities.
Summary
In this guide, you have learned how to earn money with YouTube Shorts. From the requirements for monetization to the distribution of your earnings and the content you should avoid – all the key information has been covered. Use these tips to quickly and effectively get started with your YouTube Shorts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the requirements to earn money with YouTube Shorts?You must be in the YouTube Partner Program, have at least 1,000 subscribers, and 4,000 hours of watch time.
How much of the revenue does YouTube retain?YouTube retains 55% of the revenue from Shorts and pays out 45% to you.
What happens if I use licensed music in my Shorts?If you use licensed music, you must give a portion of your earnings – usually half.
What is the minimum payout amount?The minimum payout amount is €70.
Which content is excluded from monetization?Content such as short videos from movies, compilations without originality, and videos that violate the guidelines are excluded.
