If you've ever asked yourself if posting Shorts on YouTube is a lucrative means to earn money, you're in good company. With the explosion of short-form content, everyone's getting on the bandwagon, hoping to make a nice profit. So, after posting 320 Shorts in the last three months, here's just how much money YouTube paid me — and what I learned along the way.
???? The Stats: Views, Watch Time & Money
Now that I've teased you, let's decode some important figures from these 320 Shorts:
Total Views: 12.5 million ????
Total Watch Time: 920,000 minutes ⏳
Subscribers Gained: 18,500 ????
Average RPM (Revenue per 1,000 views): $0.03 — $0.12
And now the moment of truth… How much did I get paid by YouTube for 320 Shorts?
???? Total YouTube Earnings: $980.42
Yes, after getting over 12.5 million views, the total earnings were less than $1,000! Shocked? Let's see why.
???? Why Did I Make So Little Money?
1️⃣ Monetization of YouTube Shorts Is Unique
While in long-form videos creators are paid for ads, Shorts mainly generate revenue from:
The YouTube Shorts Fund (prior to February 2023)
Ad revenue sharing (after February 2023)
Since ads on Shorts are executed differently (displayed between Shorts in the Shorts feed instead of directly on the Short), the RPM is always extremely low as opposed to long-form content.
2️⃣ CPM (Cost Per 1,000 Views) Is Low for Shorts
Whereas long-form content might have CPMs between $5 and $30, Shorts usually fall in the range of $0.20 to $1.00 — so you'd need millions of views to earn significant money.
3️⃣ Regional Variations Impact Earnings
The majority of my viewers were from India, Brazil, and Indonesia, where ad prices are much lower compared to the US, UK, or Canada. Had my viewers been mostly from high-CPM nations, I could have earned 2–3 times more.
???? What I Learned & How You Can Make More
Even with the low earnings from Shorts, I gained some valuable insights:
✅ 1. Leverage Shorts to Grow Your Channel
Although Shorts do not pay a lot, they're great for quick audience growth. I gained 18,500 subscribers in three months — something that would have taken much longer with long-form videos alone. These new subscribers now view my long-form content, where I earn more ad revenue.
✅ 2. Target High-CPM Niches
If you wish for higher revenues from Shorts, produce content around finance, tech, business, and education — these categories draw advertisers with larger budgets. Steer clear of very broad entertainment content unless you're targeting viral reach.
✅ 3. Include Affiliate Marketing & Sponsorships
If ad revenue from YouTube alone is not sufficient, look into promoting affiliate products or securing brand deals. Brands now sponsor Shorts, paying $50 — $500 per video based on your audience size.
✅ 4. Repurpose Shorts on Other Platforms
You don't need to stick to YouTube alone. Upload the same Shorts to TikTok, Instagram Reels, and Facebook Reels to reach more and earn more from multiple platforms.
???? Final Thoughts: Is It Worth It?
If you want to become rich only from Shorts, you may be disappointed. But if your aim is to grow quickly, create an audience, and leverage Shorts as a stepping stone to more lucrative opportunities (such as long-form videos, sponsorships, or digital products), then YES, Shorts are totally worth it!
Would I still be uploading Shorts? Absolutely! Now, though, I'm supplementing them with long-form videos to get the most out of my monetization.
???? Have you ever monetized with YouTube Shorts? Let me know in the comments!