How to Make Money with YouTube Shorts: A Beginner's Guide

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Disclosure: Some links in this post are my referral links or go to my own product, GoBeaug Links. If you join through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

How to make money with YouTube Shorts comes down to two paths: getting a share of ad money through the YouTube Partner Program once your channel qualifies, and using Shorts to send viewers to a page you own, where they can find your links, your offers and your email list. For most beginners, the second path matters more. Most Shorts earn very little from ads directly.

Quick answer: Post short, helpful vertical videos on one topic, on a schedule you can keep. Point viewers to your own link page. Ad money from YouTube only starts after you meet its Partner Program requirements, and even then it's usually small. The bigger value of Shorts is getting found by new people.

Key takeaways

• YouTube shares ad money from Shorts only with channels in the YouTube Partner Program, and the bar to get in is high.
• Most Shorts earn little from ads. Don't build your whole plan on ad money.
• The smart move is sending viewers from your Shorts to a page you own.
• You don't have to show your face, but you do have to stay consistent.

What are YouTube Shorts?

Shorts are quick vertical videos you can make on your phone. YouTube shows them in the Shorts feed to people who don't follow you yet. That makes them great for getting discovered.

But a Short is over in seconds. People swipe to the next one and forget who you are. Your job is to give them a reason to remember you, follow you or click.

A Short is like a flyer on a bulletin board. It gets attention. Your page is the store where business actually happens.

Can you get paid by YouTube for Shorts?

Yes, but only after your channel joins the YouTube Partner Program (YPP) and qualifies for ad revenue sharing. Here's what YouTube's own help pages say right now. These rules can change, so check the source before you plan around them.

The YouTube Partner Program requirements

According to YouTube's Partner Program overview, to get ad revenue sharing you need 1,000 subscribers plus one of these:

• 4,000 qualified watch hours on long videos in the past 12 months, or
• 10 million qualified Shorts views in the past 90 days.

Meeting the numbers doesn't guarantee you get in. YouTube still reviews your channel.

There's also a lower level. According to YouTube's expanded Partner Program page, with 500 subscribers, 3 public uploads in the last 90 days, and either 3,000 watch hours in the last 12 months or 3 million Shorts views in the last 90 days, you can apply for fan funding and Shopping features. That lower level does not include ad revenue.

How Shorts ad money is shared

Shorts don't get their own ads the way long videos do. According to YouTube's Shorts monetization policies, here's how it works:

1. Each month, YouTube adds up the money from ads that run between videos in the Shorts feed.
2. Part of that money covers music licensing. The rest goes into a Creator Pool.
3. The Creator Pool is split between monetizing creators based on their share of eligible engaged views.
4. Creators keep 45% of the revenue allocated to them, whether or not they used music.

Fake views from bots and views on non-original Shorts don't count.

The honest truth about Shorts ad money

Look at that 10 million views bar again. Most beginners won't get close for a long time, and many never will. Even channels that qualify usually earn little per view from Shorts. That's why I don't tell beginners to count on ad money. Count on Shorts to get you found.

How do you make money with Shorts before you're monetized?

This is where everyday people have a real shot. You don't need YouTube's permission to point viewers somewhere.

Send viewers to a page you own

Your channel belongs to YouTube. They decide who sees your videos and what the rules are. A page you own is different.

For over ten years I built my business around one company. When it shut down, my whole contact list went with it. That's why I always tell people: own your home base.

Put one link on your channel, your link in bio, and send people there. On that page they can:

• Read your blog posts.
• See the tools and programs you recommend.
• Join your email list so you can follow up.

New to this? Here's a simple guide to link in bio pages for beginners.

Share affiliate links the honest way

Recommend products you actually use. Put the link on your page, and always say when you earn a commission. Never promise viewers they'll make money.

Can you make Shorts without showing your face?

Yes. A lot of beginners, and a lot of people over 50, get stuck because they don't want to be on camera. Faceless options include:

• Screen recordings showing how to do something on your phone or computer.
• Text on screen over simple background video.
• Voiceover reading your tip while visuals play.
• Hands-only videos of you cooking, building or fixing something.

I use ElevenLabs for voiceovers and make real videos on my own YouTube channel too. Here's my full walkthrough on faceless short videos for beginners.

How do you stay consistent with Shorts?

Consistency beats talent here. One great Short won't build a channel. Many helpful ones might.

A simple routine

• Pick one topic you can talk about again and again.
• One tip per Short. Keep it simple.
• Hook them fast. Say what the video is about in the first second or two.
• Tell them where to go. End with a simple next step, like "the link is on my channel."
• Post on a schedule you can keep for months, not days.

I credit my 20 years at Burger King alongside UPS to a set daily routine. Same thing works with video. Pick your days, pick your time and show up.

Mistakes to avoid

• Reposting other people's videos. Non-original Shorts don't count for revenue sharing.
• Clickbait that doesn't deliver.
• Hiding affiliate links.
• Quitting after a few weeks because the numbers are small.

What I use to learn short-form video

I'm a member of Daily Income Method. Don't let the name fool you. It's not a promise of daily income. It's training on one skill: making short-form videos without showing your face. As listed when I wrote my review, it includes training and tools, a large reel library, script and hook resources, weekly coaching and a member community.

I like it because it teaches a real marketing skill you can use to promote almost anything. If that sounds like a fit, take a look at Daily Income Method here or read my Daily Income Method review. Check the current details before you buy. Results vary, and many people earn nothing.

Where my Shorts point

Every Short needs somewhere to send people. That's a big reason I built GoBeaug Links for everyday people, not tech people. It gives you your own link-in-bio page, your own blog, a business card and simple tools, so your Shorts have a home base to point to.

It's $40 a year at the founding price through January 1, 2027, and $120 a year starting January 2, 2027. No monthly fees and no auto-renewal. Take a look at GoBeaug Links here.

Frequently asked questions

How many views do you need to make money on YouTube Shorts?

To get Shorts ad revenue sharing, YouTube's help page says you need 1,000 subscribers and 10 million qualified Shorts views in the past 90 days (or 4,000 long-form watch hours in 12 months). Check YouTube's official page for current rules.

How much does YouTube pay for Shorts?

YouTube pools Shorts feed ad money each month, and creators in the Partner Program keep 45% of the revenue allocated to them based on their share of engaged views. For most beginners, that adds up to very little. Nobody can promise you an amount.

Can I make money with Shorts before joining the Partner Program?

Yes. You can send viewers to a page you own, share affiliate links you disclose, and build an email list. None of that requires monetization, though none of it is guaranteed either.

Do I have to show my face on YouTube Shorts?

No. Screen recordings, text on screen, voiceovers and hands-only videos all work. Just make sure your content is original.

How often should a beginner post Shorts?

As often as you can keep up for months. A steady schedule you actually stick with beats a burst of posts followed by nothing.

About the author

Sammy Beaugard (GoBeaug) spent nearly 30 years in logistics and UPS management and has been in affiliate marketing since 2012. He lives in Omaha, makes videos on his YouTube channel (@gobeaug), and still does gig delivery while he builds his online business. Go get paid.

Disclosure: I created GoBeaug Links and earn from memberships and referrals. Prices and pay plans can change; check the current details before you join. There's no guarantee of income, success or results. Results depend on your own effort, and many people earn nothing. Read the full disclaimer.