Short-form content is everywhere now—on Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram Reels, and even Facebook. So, it's not surprising that YouTube, the video giant, has adopted a short format.
YouTube Shorts are vertical videos that are 60 seconds or less. Unlike long-form YouTube videos that are best produced with a camera and free editing software, YouTube Shorts can be filmed, edited, and hosted on the YouTube platform entirely through your smartphone.
For content creators, this might seem overwhelming. Do you really need to contend with another content type to grow your audience? We think so. This guide shares how to make YouTube Shorts with guidance on how to make this type of short-form content work for you, even as a complete beginner.
What are YouTube Shorts?
YouTube Shorts are short, vertical videos on the YouTube platform. They're designed to be easy to watch, fitting the trend of quick, mobile-friendly content popularized by social media platforms like TikTok.
Shorts appear on the user’s homepage and mobile app, in notifications for channel subscribers, in Google search results, and on smart TVs and game consoles. The YouTube algorithm tracks your interactions, such as likes, shares, and comments on the content you watch, and recommends similar Shorts to you.
Why you should make YouTube Shorts
Engage younger audiences
YouTube Shorts were launched to compete with TikTok videos and attract a younger audience. Reports show that TikTok has more Gen Z users than Instagram, and one in four users are under 20 years old. To capture this demographic, you can create Shorts that resonate with the quick-scrolling habits of younger viewers.
Capture short attention spans
The average American adult’s attention span is about 8.25 seconds. Shorts, which max out at 60 seconds, have become a popular source of entertainment for YouTube users. You can easily drive viewers from your Shorts content to your YouTube channel where they can watch longer videos.
YouTube Shorts are being heavily promoted on the platform. That means there's a good chance your Shorts will get views.
If you already make short-form content, uploading Shorts should be an easy way to boost your YouTube views. But if long-form is more your speed, Shorts can be used as bite-sized teasers to direct new viewers to your more in-depth videos.
Adapt to platform changes
YouTube Shorts has over 1.5 billion logged-in users each month. It’s quickly becoming a powerful way for YouTube to keep users on the platform.
YouTube is also suspected of pushing Shorts to a wider audience than long-form videos. Reddit users have chimed in, with one user stating they get thousands of views from Shorts, but only 45 views from a regular video on a good day. This trend suggests that YouTube is committing to the growing demand for short-form content.
How long are YouTube Shorts?
YouTube Shorts have a minimum duration of 15, but can be up to 60 seconds long. They’re designed to be quick and easy to watch, similar to other social media video formats like Instagram Reels and TikTok.
How to make YouTube Shorts: 4 easy steps
Download the YouTube app
Record your Shorts footage
Edit and refine your video
Upload videos to YouTube Shorts
Step 1: Download the YouTube app
To make a YouTube Shorts video, download the YouTube app on your phone, which is available on both Android and iOS for iPhones. On the YouTube homepage in the app, tap Create (the “+”) button at the bottom of your screen to take you to the creator portal.
Step 2: Record your YouTube Shorts footage
Once in the YouTube portal, you’re given a ton of options, like effects, music, speed, green screen, and filters. The built-in video recorder breaks your video into 15-second chunks, but you can change the video length option by just holding the record button.
If you want to erase the last section you recorded, but not the whole thing, you can always hit the Undo button to remove the last 15-second section.
Step 3: Refine your video
Once you’re happy with your recording, tap Next (a small check mark at the bottom right) which will take you to the editor page. Here you can adjust your recording length, add text, voiceover, or tweak the volume of your sound or music.
Step 4: Upload YouTube Shorts
Once you’re satisfied, hit Next again. That will take you to the final page where you can add captions and subtitles, choose your thumbnail, and select your audience before you tap upload. Be sure to use the hashtag #Shorts when you upload to make sure YouTube prioritizes your video in the Shorts category.
And remember, if you’re feeling overwhelmed by editing on your smartphone, you can always edit in the Descript app on a Mac or Windows desktop—it’s an easy way to create polished short-form content, add automated subtitles, and it can automatically export in the correct format for YouTube Shorts.
How to create YouTube Shorts on desktop with Descript
You don’t need to reinvent the wheel and plan an entire recording session when making YouTube Shorts, nor work from the confines of a tiny mobile screen. Video editing apps exist to help you create YouTube Shorts from a computer—including Descript.
Descript is an AI-powered video editor that’s compatible with Mac, Windows, and most browsers. Here’s how to use it to produce YouTube Shorts:
Step 1. Sign up for your free Descript plan.
Step 2. Launch the video editor in your browser, or through the Mac/Windows app.
Step 3. Create a new video project.
Step 4. Drag and drop your video footage into the new project.
Step 5. Wait for Descript to generate the automated transcript. The software allows you to edit text to edit video, so if you can edit a Google Doc, you can edit YouTube Shorts in Descript.
Step 6. Edit your video. Every Descript plan comes with Underlord—an AI-powered video editing assistant. Use it to remove unwanted background noise, eliminate filler words, or edit for clarity.
Step 7. Click the rectangular button in the video preview to resize your video to 16:9—the ideal resolution for YouTube Shorts.
Step 8. Use the automatic captions feature to turn your transcript into on-screen subtitles. Play around with the font, positioning, and style of your captions to keep them on-brand with other YouTube content.
Step 9. Once you’re happy with your Shorts, save the video as an MP4 file and upload it to your YouTube channel.
Descript can also fill in the more tedious parts of YouTube Shorts uploading. Its generative AI tools can write a video description for you, as well as social media captions that you might use to promote your new YouTube content on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, or Facebook.
How to create YouTube Shorts by repurposing existing content
Chances are, you already have a library of content that would suit your YouTube account. For example, if you’re a musician in need of YouTube video ideas, you can take snippets of your latest songs or behind-the-scenes glimpses into your creative process, and make Shorts out of them.
The best part? You don’t need to comb through your backlog of content to find Shorts-worthy moments. YouTube video editors like Descript can automatically find the best video clips and resize them to the 9:16 aspect ratio template. Here’s how to do it:
Step 1. Find the video project in Descript. (Or, if you’re just starting out with Descript for the first time, you can import existing YouTube videos into the video editing dashboard).
Step 2. Use the AI editing suite to edit your video if you haven’t done so already.
Step 3. Click Underlord in the right-hand menu.
Step 4. Find the Repurpose section and choose Create clips.
Step 5. Choose how many YouTube Shorts you want to create and the duration of each. Then, choose from the different layouts and templates. Descript will use this information to pick out the most interesting or entertaining parts of your long-form video and convert each clip into a new project for you.
Step 6. Edit the new YouTube Short using the AI features you already know and love inside Descript.
Step 7. Export your clip as an MP4 file and upload it as a YouTube Short.
Making YouTube Shorts: 6 key best practices
1. Grab the viewer’s attention immediately
The instinct for a user to scroll away when they see a new video is strong, so grab new audiences in the first five seconds if possible. The best way to do that is to tell viewers what the Short is about.
Use a headline or title in your video, or even just a quick on-screen or voiceover introduction. Unless you’re revealing a shot of you about to base-jump off a skyscraper, chances are your video may not keep folks from scrolling without an intro.
Notice how the creator @tylerbenderr uses the headline “Almond mom goes to EREWHON” in the following Shorts. It’s concise, but viewers can understand what the video will be about before even clicking through.
2. Keep things concise
While TikTok and Instagram Reels allow videos of around 3 minutes, YouTube Shorts caps theirs at 60 seconds flat, which gives you less runway for rambling and forces you to stick to the point. If you can keep your video shorter, even better. The app automatically records in 15-second blocks, so keeping track as you film is easy.
3. Have a goal for your content
Are you hoping to boost subscribers on your YouTube channel? Lead viewers to a more in-depth video on the same topic? Encourage people to visit your website or buy your product? Keep your goal in mind so that your Shorts are consistent and lend some cohesion to your video content.
Maybe your channel is known for being funny, or you give killer style advice. Think about what kind of content would resonate with your target audience and what would make them want to come back for more. If you can create something that viewers enjoy watching, they'll be more likely to stick around for future videos.
For example, music producer Jarred Jermaine’s YouTube channel is full of Shorts that educate and entertain viewers about all things music. The videos are simple. It’s just Jarred sitting in front of his computer with video and text overlays of different songs. He never speaks and mostly sits still.
However, Jarred posts new Shorts every single day, each one showcasing the origins and similarities between popular songs, viral moments in pop culture, and various bits of music trivia. This keeps followers coming back for more no matter what day of the week it is.
If you’re unsure how to keep up with the quick nature of YouTube Shorts, try using YouTube search trends to keep the content ideas flowing and give viewers what they want.
5. Make the video loopable
YouTube shorts loop automatically, so creating a video with a clean loop can keep people watching for over 60 seconds. Looping your content also shows extra attention and care that elevates an unpolished video to a professional one. We recommend using a professional AI video editor, like Descript, to line your frames up exactly for a clean loop.
6. Aim for exclusive content—not recycled versions of long videos
In a world where anyone can upload anything, authenticity sells. Instead of chopping up existing content (with picture quality that may end up looking like an ad), film original content on your smartphone instead, and don’t worry about it not looking like your high-def long-form masterpieces.
How to monetize YouTube Shorts
If you’ve started posting videos to your channel with the hopes of monetizing YouTube, here are four steps you can take to earn your first paycheck.
YouTube Partner Program (YPP)
The YouTube Partner Program allows creators to earn money from their content on YouTube, including Shorts. YouTube reports paying over $50 billion to its creators through YPP, reportedly paying between $13.03 and $15.34 for every 1,000 Shorts views.
The YouTube Premium Program offers a variety of revenue streams, including ad revenue, Super Chat, and revenue sharing from YouTube Premium. Creators must meet specific eligibility criteria to monetize Shorts, which include:
Located in the US, UK, Taiwan, Canada, or South Korea
500+ subscribers and 3 public video uploads in the last 90 days, plus
3,000+ valid watch hours in the last 12 months OR 3 million public Shorts views in the last 90 days
Brand partnerships and YouTube sponsorships
If you don’t want to depend entirely on YouTube, find brand partnerships or sponsors for yourself. You can make more money per video from partnerships than from ads. It's also a great way to build relationships with brands for repeat business.
Globally, brands are expected to spend more than $32 billion on influencer marketing in 2024. Plus, a whopping 92% of brands plan to increase their spending on creators in the same year.
A video creator like yourself can partner with brands to create sponsored content. You can find them on platforms like Klear or GRIN. Once you find a brand that aligns with your style and values, you can feature their products or services in Shorts, and get paid!
See how Jarred Jermaine partnered with Bose to promote the company’s BOSE QC Ultra Headphones. It’s an easy match because many of Jarred’s followers are music enthusiasts, which is an ideal market for Bose to promote in.
Channel memberships
YouTube channel memberships allow viewers to pay a monthly subscription fee to access exclusive YouTube content, perks, and badges. As with most YouTube-controlled monetization methods, there are eligibility requirements you must meet to sell channel memberships:
Your channel doesn’t have a lot of ineligible videos, like videos with music claims
You have accepted and are complying with YouTube’s terms and policies
Affiliate marketing
Affiliate marketing involves promoting products or services and earning a commission for every sale made through a unique affiliate link the seller provides. It allows you to earn money by recommending products you love. Affiliate marketing is performance-based, meaning the more effective the promotion, the higher the potential earnings.
For example, a tech reviewer might create Shorts reviewing or showcasing tech gadgets and include affiliate links in the video description, earning a commission for each sale made through those links. The average commission for an affiliate program is between 5% and 30%, so earnings can quickly stack up—particularly if you’re promoting expensive products or services through YouTube Shorts.
The beauty of short-form video is that your concepts don’t need to be too deep or complicated. Here are some ideas to get you started with YouTube Shorts.
Quick tutorials and how-tos
Despite YouTube Shorts having a maximum length of 60 seconds, they still make for great tutorial videos. You can use the time to teach a skill or demonstrate a process in a minute or less. Some popular types of content in this area are:
Daily life hacks
Tech tips
Beauty and fashion advice
DIY projects
For example, want to make an origami hat? You’ll find the perfect Short on the @easyorigamiworld channel, where you can follow its step by step guide in under a minute.
React to trends and challenges
We're no strangers to the viral dance movements sparked by TikTok. With YouTube Shorts, you can share your responses and participate in these trends and challenges on YouTube. Trend-based content has a better chance of being shared and keeps your creator brand relevant and relatable.
Behind-the-scenes sneak peeks
Something as simple as a behind-the-scenes look at your video setup or a day in your life can go a long way, especially if you have an existing YouTube channel with polished content. You can use Shorts to tease upcoming uploads, or give a heads up when people can expect the next video.
This is popular amongst film enthusiasts like @FameFocus, who reveals green screen effects used in fan-favorite films like Pirates of the Caribbean.
”Ask me anything”
Another easy approach is to engage in trends and memes, like an AMA (Ask Me Anything) tag. You can even ask questions of your audience and have them respond via their own Shorts. Calls to action, advocacy of a certain cause, and promotion of material or products is a no-brainer here, too.
Teasers and previews
Got a big event launch coming up? Or dropping a new episode for your video podcast? Give viewers a sneak peek of what they can expect. Teasers and previews are a smart way to spark curiosity for your event and build anticipation.
Taboo Science’s host, Ashley Hamer, offers fans a sneak peek at episodes through YouTube Shorts. From her Science of Asexuality episode, Ashley promotes a clip of one thing everyone can learn from asexual people. If browsers come across the Short and like the content, they can further explore the Taboo Science channel page and podcast.
Reposting short-form content
Last but not least, consider reposting short-form content you may already be making for TikTok or Instagram Reels and move it onto this platform. Videos that may have gotten modest views on TikTok can be seen blowing up on Shorts, and it makes sense to broadcast your vertical videos on as many relevant platforms as possible.
Create YouTube Shorts in minutes with Descript
Getting the most out of your YouTube Shorts requires editing with the right tools. Here's what you need to do: Get Descript.
A key advantage of Descript over other video editing tools is that AI features are available in all free plans—including Underlord, a personalized video editing assistant that can limit the time you spend editing. If you have experience editing a doc, you can easily edit a video and use AI features in Descript.
Anyone can easily create YouTube Shorts in Descript using the following features:
Ask Underlord, the AI video editing assistant, to remove retakes, edit for clarity, and remove filler words
Use Find Good Clips to automatically highlight clips to use in YouTube Shorts
Add sound to your Shorts with royalty-free background music
Use generative AI to write a YouTube video description that’s optimized for SEO
Visual effects like filters, transitions, and animation overlays
Add subtitles to your Shorts to improve accessibility
Some of the world’s top creators rely on Descript to make viral YouTube Shorts. Join them today and take a free trial of Descript, where all premium features—including Underlord, the AI editing assistant—come as standard.
YouTube Shorts FAQ
How much do YouTube Shorts pay for 1,000 views?
YouTube Shorts pay creators based on a number of factors. While there isn't a fixed rate per 1,000 views, the average cost-per-mille is between $13.03 and $15.34.
How do I enable YouTube Shorts?
You need a YouTube channel to create YouTube Shorts. Once you’ve made yours, open the YouTube app to create a Short or upload an existing video of 60 seconds or less. Edit your Short using the built-in video editor, then add details and publish to YouTube.
Do YouTube Shorts make money?
Yes, YouTube Shorts can make money for creators through the YouTube Partnership Program The platform gives a 55% revenue share to creators, though you can also monetize Shorts through brand sponsorships, channel memberships, and affiliate partnerships.
How do YouTube Shorts appear?
YouTube Shorts appear in the Shorts section of the YouTube app, on the homepage, and can also be found on a creator's channel under the 'Shorts' tab.
Can I make YouTube Shorts on my computer?
Anyone can make a YouTube Shorts video from their computer with the Descript app for Mac or Windows. The software is jam-packed with AI features to make editing a breeze, including Underlord—an AI video editing assistant that can remove background noise, reformat your videos, and add automatic captions.
YA author and filmmaker. Her latest novel, Perfectly Parvin, won the SCBWI Honor and the latest film she edited, "This Land," Won Vimeo Staff Pick of the Year. She lives in Denver, Colorado, with her husband and daughter.
Short-form content is everywhere now—on Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram Reels, and even Facebook. So, it's not surprising that YouTube, the video giant, has adopted a short format.
YouTube Shorts are vertical videos that are 60 seconds or less. Unlike long-form YouTube videos that are best produced with a camera and free editing software, YouTube Shorts can be filmed, edited, and hosted on the YouTube platform entirely through your smartphone.
For content creators, this might seem overwhelming. Do you really need to contend with another content type to grow your audience? We think so. This guide shares how to make YouTube Shorts with guidance on how to make this type of short-form content work for you, even as a complete beginner.
What are YouTube Shorts?
YouTube Shorts are short, vertical videos on the YouTube platform. They're designed to be easy to watch, fitting the trend of quick, mobile-friendly content popularized by social media platforms like TikTok.
Shorts appear on the user’s homepage and mobile app, in notifications for channel subscribers, in Google search results, and on smart TVs and game consoles. The YouTube algorithm tracks your interactions, such as likes, shares, and comments on the content you watch, and recommends similar Shorts to you.
Why you should make YouTube Shorts
Engage younger audiences
YouTube Shorts were launched to compete with TikTok videos and attract a younger audience. Reports show that TikTok has more Gen Z users than Instagram, and one in four users are under 20 years old. To capture this demographic, you can create Shorts that resonate with the quick-scrolling habits of younger viewers.
Capture short attention spans
The average American adult’s attention span is about 8.25 seconds. Shorts, which max out at 60 seconds, have become a popular source of entertainment for YouTube users. You can easily drive viewers from your Shorts content to your YouTube channel where they can watch longer videos.
YouTube Shorts are being heavily promoted on the platform. That means there's a good chance your Shorts will get views.
If you already make short-form content, uploading Shorts should be an easy way to boost your YouTube views. But if long-form is more your speed, Shorts can be used as bite-sized teasers to direct new viewers to your more in-depth videos.
Adapt to platform changes
YouTube Shorts has over 1.5 billion logged-in users each month. It’s quickly becoming a powerful way for YouTube to keep users on the platform.
YouTube is also suspected of pushing Shorts to a wider audience than long-form videos. Reddit users have chimed in, with one user stating they get thousands of views from Shorts, but only 45 views from a regular video on a good day. This trend suggests that YouTube is committing to the growing demand for short-form content.
How long are YouTube Shorts?
YouTube Shorts have a minimum duration of 15, but can be up to 60 seconds long. They’re designed to be quick and easy to watch, similar to other social media video formats like Instagram Reels and TikTok.
How to make YouTube Shorts: 4 easy steps
Download the YouTube app
Record your Shorts footage
Edit and refine your video
Upload videos to YouTube Shorts
Step 1: Download the YouTube app
To make a YouTube Shorts video, download the YouTube app on your phone, which is available on both Android and iOS for iPhones. On the YouTube homepage in the app, tap Create (the “+”) button at the bottom of your screen to take you to the creator portal.
Step 2: Record your YouTube Shorts footage
Once in the YouTube portal, you’re given a ton of options, like effects, music, speed, green screen, and filters. The built-in video recorder breaks your video into 15-second chunks, but you can change the video length option by just holding the record button.
If you want to erase the last section you recorded, but not the whole thing, you can always hit the Undo button to remove the last 15-second section.
Step 3: Refine your video
Once you’re happy with your recording, tap Next (a small check mark at the bottom right) which will take you to the editor page. Here you can adjust your recording length, add text, voiceover, or tweak the volume of your sound or music.
Step 4: Upload YouTube Shorts
Once you’re satisfied, hit Next again. That will take you to the final page where you can add captions and subtitles, choose your thumbnail, and select your audience before you tap upload. Be sure to use the hashtag #Shorts when you upload to make sure YouTube prioritizes your video in the Shorts category.
And remember, if you’re feeling overwhelmed by editing on your smartphone, you can always edit in the Descript app on a Mac or Windows desktop—it’s an easy way to create polished short-form content, add automated subtitles, and it can automatically export in the correct format for YouTube Shorts.
How to create YouTube Shorts on desktop with Descript
You don’t need to reinvent the wheel and plan an entire recording session when making YouTube Shorts, nor work from the confines of a tiny mobile screen. Video editing apps exist to help you create YouTube Shorts from a computer—including Descript.
Descript is an AI-powered video editor that’s compatible with Mac, Windows, and most browsers. Here’s how to use it to produce YouTube Shorts:
Step 1. Sign up for your free Descript plan.
Step 2. Launch the video editor in your browser, or through the Mac/Windows app.
Step 3. Create a new video project.
Step 4. Drag and drop your video footage into the new project.
Step 5. Wait for Descript to generate the automated transcript. The software allows you to edit text to edit video, so if you can edit a Google Doc, you can edit YouTube Shorts in Descript.
Step 6. Edit your video. Every Descript plan comes with Underlord—an AI-powered video editing assistant. Use it to remove unwanted background noise, eliminate filler words, or edit for clarity.
Step 7. Click the rectangular button in the video preview to resize your video to 16:9—the ideal resolution for YouTube Shorts.
Step 8. Use the automatic captions feature to turn your transcript into on-screen subtitles. Play around with the font, positioning, and style of your captions to keep them on-brand with other YouTube content.
Step 9. Once you’re happy with your Shorts, save the video as an MP4 file and upload it to your YouTube channel.
Descript can also fill in the more tedious parts of YouTube Shorts uploading. Its generative AI tools can write a video description for you, as well as social media captions that you might use to promote your new YouTube content on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, or Facebook.
How to create YouTube Shorts by repurposing existing content
Chances are, you already have a library of content that would suit your YouTube account. For example, if you’re a musician in need of YouTube video ideas, you can take snippets of your latest songs or behind-the-scenes glimpses into your creative process, and make Shorts out of them.
The best part? You don’t need to comb through your backlog of content to find Shorts-worthy moments. YouTube video editors like Descript can automatically find the best video clips and resize them to the 9:16 aspect ratio template. Here’s how to do it:
Step 1. Find the video project in Descript. (Or, if you’re just starting out with Descript for the first time, you can import existing YouTube videos into the video editing dashboard).
Step 2. Use the AI editing suite to edit your video if you haven’t done so already.
Step 3. Click Underlord in the right-hand menu.
Step 4. Find the Repurpose section and choose Create clips.
Step 5. Choose how many YouTube Shorts you want to create and the duration of each. Then, choose from the different layouts and templates. Descript will use this information to pick out the most interesting or entertaining parts of your long-form video and convert each clip into a new project for you.
Step 6. Edit the new YouTube Short using the AI features you already know and love inside Descript.
Step 7. Export your clip as an MP4 file and upload it as a YouTube Short.
Making YouTube Shorts: 6 key best practices
1. Grab the viewer’s attention immediately
The instinct for a user to scroll away when they see a new video is strong, so grab new audiences in the first five seconds if possible. The best way to do that is to tell viewers what the Short is about.
Use a headline or title in your video, or even just a quick on-screen or voiceover introduction. Unless you’re revealing a shot of you about to base-jump off a skyscraper, chances are your video may not keep folks from scrolling without an intro.
Notice how the creator @tylerbenderr uses the headline “Almond mom goes to EREWHON” in the following Shorts. It’s concise, but viewers can understand what the video will be about before even clicking through.
2. Keep things concise
While TikTok and Instagram Reels allow videos of around 3 minutes, YouTube Shorts caps theirs at 60 seconds flat, which gives you less runway for rambling and forces you to stick to the point. If you can keep your video shorter, even better. The app automatically records in 15-second blocks, so keeping track as you film is easy.
3. Have a goal for your content
Are you hoping to boost subscribers on your YouTube channel? Lead viewers to a more in-depth video on the same topic? Encourage people to visit your website or buy your product? Keep your goal in mind so that your Shorts are consistent and lend some cohesion to your video content.
Maybe your channel is known for being funny, or you give killer style advice. Think about what kind of content would resonate with your target audience and what would make them want to come back for more. If you can create something that viewers enjoy watching, they'll be more likely to stick around for future videos.
For example, music producer Jarred Jermaine’s YouTube channel is full of Shorts that educate and entertain viewers about all things music. The videos are simple. It’s just Jarred sitting in front of his computer with video and text overlays of different songs. He never speaks and mostly sits still.
However, Jarred posts new Shorts every single day, each one showcasing the origins and similarities between popular songs, viral moments in pop culture, and various bits of music trivia. This keeps followers coming back for more no matter what day of the week it is.
If you’re unsure how to keep up with the quick nature of YouTube Shorts, try using YouTube search trends to keep the content ideas flowing and give viewers what they want.
5. Make the video loopable
YouTube shorts loop automatically, so creating a video with a clean loop can keep people watching for over 60 seconds. Looping your content also shows extra attention and care that elevates an unpolished video to a professional one. We recommend using a professional AI video editor, like Descript, to line your frames up exactly for a clean loop.
6. Aim for exclusive content—not recycled versions of long videos
In a world where anyone can upload anything, authenticity sells. Instead of chopping up existing content (with picture quality that may end up looking like an ad), film original content on your smartphone instead, and don’t worry about it not looking like your high-def long-form masterpieces.
How to monetize YouTube Shorts
If you’ve started posting videos to your channel with the hopes of monetizing YouTube, here are four steps you can take to earn your first paycheck.
YouTube Partner Program (YPP)
The YouTube Partner Program allows creators to earn money from their content on YouTube, including Shorts. YouTube reports paying over $50 billion to its creators through YPP, reportedly paying between $13.03 and $15.34 for every 1,000 Shorts views.
The YouTube Premium Program offers a variety of revenue streams, including ad revenue, Super Chat, and revenue sharing from YouTube Premium. Creators must meet specific eligibility criteria to monetize Shorts, which include:
Located in the US, UK, Taiwan, Canada, or South Korea
500+ subscribers and 3 public video uploads in the last 90 days, plus
3,000+ valid watch hours in the last 12 months OR 3 million public Shorts views in the last 90 days
Brand partnerships and YouTube sponsorships
If you don’t want to depend entirely on YouTube, find brand partnerships or sponsors for yourself. You can make more money per video from partnerships than from ads. It's also a great way to build relationships with brands for repeat business.
Globally, brands are expected to spend more than $32 billion on influencer marketing in 2024. Plus, a whopping 92% of brands plan to increase their spending on creators in the same year.
A video creator like yourself can partner with brands to create sponsored content. You can find them on platforms like Klear or GRIN. Once you find a brand that aligns with your style and values, you can feature their products or services in Shorts, and get paid!
See how Jarred Jermaine partnered with Bose to promote the company’s BOSE QC Ultra Headphones. It’s an easy match because many of Jarred’s followers are music enthusiasts, which is an ideal market for Bose to promote in.
Channel memberships
YouTube channel memberships allow viewers to pay a monthly subscription fee to access exclusive YouTube content, perks, and badges. As with most YouTube-controlled monetization methods, there are eligibility requirements you must meet to sell channel memberships:
Your channel doesn’t have a lot of ineligible videos, like videos with music claims
You have accepted and are complying with YouTube’s terms and policies
Affiliate marketing
Affiliate marketing involves promoting products or services and earning a commission for every sale made through a unique affiliate link the seller provides. It allows you to earn money by recommending products you love. Affiliate marketing is performance-based, meaning the more effective the promotion, the higher the potential earnings.
For example, a tech reviewer might create Shorts reviewing or showcasing tech gadgets and include affiliate links in the video description, earning a commission for each sale made through those links. The average commission for an affiliate program is between 5% and 30%, so earnings can quickly stack up—particularly if you’re promoting expensive products or services through YouTube Shorts.
The beauty of short-form video is that your concepts don’t need to be too deep or complicated. Here are some ideas to get you started with YouTube Shorts.
Quick tutorials and how-tos
Despite YouTube Shorts having a maximum length of 60 seconds, they still make for great tutorial videos. You can use the time to teach a skill or demonstrate a process in a minute or less. Some popular types of content in this area are:
Daily life hacks
Tech tips
Beauty and fashion advice
DIY projects
For example, want to make an origami hat? You’ll find the perfect Short on the @easyorigamiworld channel, where you can follow its step by step guide in under a minute.
React to trends and challenges
We're no strangers to the viral dance movements sparked by TikTok. With YouTube Shorts, you can share your responses and participate in these trends and challenges on YouTube. Trend-based content has a better chance of being shared and keeps your creator brand relevant and relatable.
Behind-the-scenes sneak peeks
Something as simple as a behind-the-scenes look at your video setup or a day in your life can go a long way, especially if you have an existing YouTube channel with polished content. You can use Shorts to tease upcoming uploads, or give a heads up when people can expect the next video.
This is popular amongst film enthusiasts like @FameFocus, who reveals green screen effects used in fan-favorite films like Pirates of the Caribbean.
”Ask me anything”
Another easy approach is to engage in trends and memes, like an AMA (Ask Me Anything) tag. You can even ask questions of your audience and have them respond via their own Shorts. Calls to action, advocacy of a certain cause, and promotion of material or products is a no-brainer here, too.
Teasers and previews
Got a big event launch coming up? Or dropping a new episode for your video podcast? Give viewers a sneak peek of what they can expect. Teasers and previews are a smart way to spark curiosity for your event and build anticipation.
Taboo Science’s host, Ashley Hamer, offers fans a sneak peek at episodes through YouTube Shorts. From her Science of Asexuality episode, Ashley promotes a clip of one thing everyone can learn from asexual people. If browsers come across the Short and like the content, they can further explore the Taboo Science channel page and podcast.
Reposting short-form content
Last but not least, consider reposting short-form content you may already be making for TikTok or Instagram Reels and move it onto this platform. Videos that may have gotten modest views on TikTok can be seen blowing up on Shorts, and it makes sense to broadcast your vertical videos on as many relevant platforms as possible.
Create YouTube Shorts in minutes with Descript
Getting the most out of your YouTube Shorts requires editing with the right tools. Here's what you need to do: Get Descript.
A key advantage of Descript over other video editing tools is that AI features are available in all free plans—including Underlord, a personalized video editing assistant that can limit the time you spend editing. If you have experience editing a doc, you can easily edit a video and use AI features in Descript.
Anyone can easily create YouTube Shorts in Descript using the following features:
Ask Underlord, the AI video editing assistant, to remove retakes, edit for clarity, and remove filler words
Use Find Good Clips to automatically highlight clips to use in YouTube Shorts
Add sound to your Shorts with royalty-free background music
Use generative AI to write a YouTube video description that’s optimized for SEO
Visual effects like filters, transitions, and animation overlays
Add subtitles to your Shorts to improve accessibility
Some of the world’s top creators rely on Descript to make viral YouTube Shorts. Join them today and take a free trial of Descript, where all premium features—including Underlord, the AI editing assistant—come as standard.
YouTube Shorts FAQ
How much do YouTube Shorts pay for 1,000 views?
YouTube Shorts pay creators based on a number of factors. While there isn't a fixed rate per 1,000 views, the average cost-per-mille is between $13.03 and $15.34.
How do I enable YouTube Shorts?
You need a YouTube channel to create YouTube Shorts. Once you’ve made yours, open the YouTube app to create a Short or upload an existing video of 60 seconds or less. Edit your Short using the built-in video editor, then add details and publish to YouTube.
Do YouTube Shorts make money?
Yes, YouTube Shorts can make money for creators through the YouTube Partnership Program The platform gives a 55% revenue share to creators, though you can also monetize Shorts through brand sponsorships, channel memberships, and affiliate partnerships.
How do YouTube Shorts appear?
YouTube Shorts appear in the Shorts section of the YouTube app, on the homepage, and can also be found on a creator's channel under the 'Shorts' tab.
Can I make YouTube Shorts on my computer?
Anyone can make a YouTube Shorts video from their computer with the Descript app for Mac or Windows. The software is jam-packed with AI features to make editing a breeze, including Underlord—an AI video editing assistant that can remove background noise, reformat your videos, and add automatic captions.
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