How to Make Money on YouTube Shorts for Beginners in 2026

Published: 7 Nov 2026

YouTube Shorts are short vertical videos up to three minutes long, watched by swiping up on a phone. For beginners, they are one of the easiest ways to start on YouTube, because one short video can reach thousands of people even on a new channel.

But views alone do not pay your bills. You need to know how Shorts actually earn money, what YouTube asks for before it pays you, and which ways work best when you are small. In this guide, you will learn what Shorts are, how to make your first ones, and the six main ways they can earn money in 2026.

A smartphone standing upright on a colourful desk showing a bright vertical video, with a small tripod, a glowing ring light and a laptop in the background

What Are YouTube Shorts?

YouTube Shorts are short, vertical videos made for phones. They are up to three minutes long, and viewers watch them in the Shorts feed by swiping up to the next video. Because the feed never ends, a good Short can keep getting views for days or weeks after you post it.

Shorts differ from long videos. Long videos need a strong title, a thumbnail, and many minutes of watch time. Shorts need a strong first two seconds, because viewers decide at once whether to stay or swipe away. They also need captions, as many watch with the sound off, and they work best with one idea only.

Shorts also differ from TikTok and Reels. On YouTube, your Shorts can send viewers to your long videos, your channel page, and your products. A viewer who finds you through a Short today may watch your long video tomorrow.

You do not need a camera or a studio. A phone, good light, and a clear idea are enough. Many successful Shorts are filmed at home. What matters is a clear message that helps or entertains in under a minute.

How to Make Your First Shorts: Step by Step

Making a Short is simple in small steps. Follow this plan for your first ten Shorts. Your first Shorts teach you what works, so speed and practice matter more than polish.

Step 1: Pick One Clear Niche

Pick one topic you can talk about for months, such as money tips, cooking, or fitness. A clear niche helps YouTube understand who should see your Shorts.

Step 2: Plan One Idea Per Short

Write each idea in one short sentence before you film, such as “Three free apps that save money on food.” Keep a list of 30 ideas in a notebook.

Step 3: Hook Viewers in the First Two Seconds

The first two seconds decide everything. Start with the result, a bold claim, or a clear question, such as “Stop wasting money on this.” Your first words must say one thing: stay and watch.

Step 4: Film Vertically with Good Light

Hold your phone upright and film vertically. Stand near a window in daylight, or use a cheap ring light. Record in a quiet room so your voice is easy to hear.

Step 5: Edit Simply and Add Captions

Cut out pauses, mistakes, and slow parts. Add big, clear captions so people can follow it with the sound off. Add music from the YouTube audio library if it fits, but keep it low.

Step 6: Title, Description and Hashtags

Give your Short a short, clear title using words people search for, such as “how to save money fast.” Add #Shorts and one or two topic hashtags. Then post it. Do not delete a Short for few views in the first hour.

A bright creator desk with a smartphone on a small tripod, a glowing ring light, colourful props, a plant and a laptop showing a video editing timeline

How YouTube Shorts Earn Money: 6 Ways

Shorts can earn money in several ways. Some open early, while others need many subscribers and views.

1. Shorts Ad Revenue

When you join the YouTube Partner Program, YouTube shares money from ads that play between Shorts in the feed. YouTube pools that money each month, splits it by each creator’s share of engaged views, and you keep 45% of your share. YouTube does not publish a fixed rate, so your real rate is shown in YouTube Analytics. It pays little per view.

2. Super Thanks and Channel Memberships

Super Thanks lets viewers pay a small amount to support a Short they liked, and they get a highlighted comment. Channel memberships let your biggest fans pay each month for perks such as badges and members-only videos. You keep 70% after taxes and fees. These open earlier than ad revenue.

3. YouTube Shopping

YouTube Shopping lets you tag products in your Shorts. Viewers can tap the product and buy it. If it is your own product, your store pays you. If it is another brand’s product, you earn a commission. The Shorts that sell best are the ones where the product is the point: you use it or show how it fixes a problem.

4. Brand Deals

A brand deal is when a company pays you to feature its product in a Short. You agree on a fee, make the Short, and mark it as a paid promotion in YouTube Studio. Small channels can get brand deals too, if their viewers trust them and match the brand’s buyers.

5. Sending Viewers to Long Videos

This is one of the smartest ways to earn from Shorts. Long videos pay far more per view, because ads play on the long video itself and YouTube shares 55% of that ad money. Link each Short to a related long video in YouTube Studio, and let your Shorts feed your long-form channel.

6. Selling Your Own Product or Service

You can also use Shorts to sell what you make yourself, such as a course, a digital planner, or a newsletter. You do not need any subscriber count for this. A Short that teaches one useful thing from your course shows buyers what they would pay for. This often earns the most per viewer for small channels, because you keep the full sale price.

The YouTube Partner Program Rules for Shorts

The YouTube Partner Program, often called YPP, lets you earn ad money, fan funding, and Shopping income. It has two levels, each opening different features. The rules change from time to time, so check the Earn tab in YouTube Studio for the latest rules in your country.

YPP Level	What You Need	What It Opens
Fan funding level	500 subscribers, 3 public uploads in the last 90 days, plus 3,000 watch hours in 12 months or 3 million Shorts views in 90 days	Super Thanks, channel memberships, Super Chat, Super Stickers, and Shopping
Full ad revenue level	1,000 subscribers, plus 4,000 watch hours in 12 months or 10 million Shorts views in 90 days	All of the above, plus Shorts feed ads and long-video ads

You also need to live in a country where the program runs, have no active strikes, turn on two-step verification, and link an AdSense for YouTube account. The 500-subscriber level is only offered in listed countries.

A few details trip up beginners. First, only views from public Shorts in the Shorts feed count toward the view target. Second, Shorts watch time does not count toward the 4,000 watch hours. Third, once you are in, you must accept the Shorts Monetization Module in YouTube Studio. Only views from that day on count.

YouTube has also announced changes for new channels from February 1, 2027. New applicants will need 8,000 watch hours in a year or 20 million Shorts views in 90 days to join the ad level. If you are close to the target, apply as soon as you qualify.

How to Grow Your Shorts Channel

Growth comes from a simple loop: post often, watch what works, and make more of it. Keep a steady pace you can hold for months, such as one Short a day or three Shorts a week.

Watch your analytics each week, not each hour. Look at two numbers: how many watched past the first few seconds, and how many watched to the end. If most swipe away at once, your hook is weak. If they leave in the middle, your middle is too slow.

Make Shorts in series, such as “Money Tip 1, Money Tip 2, Money Tip 3.” A series gives viewers a reason to come back. Reply to comments too. If five people ask the same question, that question is your next Short.

A smartphone showing a colourful vertical video on a bright wooden desk, surrounded by a notebook, a pen, a small plant and colourful paper shapes

How Much Can You Earn from Shorts?

Shorts pay little per view. YouTube does not publish a fixed rate, and the pool changes by month and country. A million views may earn only a modest sum from ads alone. Treat ad revenue as a bonus, not as the main plan.

Your real income comes from mixing the six ways above. A small channel might earn nothing from ads at first, but it can still earn from a brand deal, a product sale, or viewers who move to a long video.

Illustrative example only, not a promise: a Short with 100,000 views that sends 1,000 viewers to a long video or a product page can be worth far more than the ad money from the Short itself.

A bright desk with a laptop showing a colourful analytics dashboard with rising bars, a glass jar with coins, a small potted plant and a notebook

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Posting without a niche: If every Short is a new topic, YouTube cannot tell who should see your videos. Pick one niche and stay with it for 30 Shorts.
Starting with a slow intro: Long greetings make viewers swipe away in two seconds. Start with the result, a bold claim, or a clear question.
Making Shorts with no captions: Many people watch with the sound off, so a Short with no captions loses them at once. Add clear captions to every Short.
Re-uploading other people’s clips: Clips with nothing of your own added do not earn ad revenue and can hurt your channel. Always add your own voice or commentary.
Chasing views instead of a funnel: A million views with no link, no product, and no long video earns very little. Link each Short to a long video or a product.
Quitting after ten Shorts: Most channels grow slowly at first. Post at least 30 Shorts before you judge your channel.
Ignoring the rules: Breaking reused content rules, using claimed music, or missing the Shorts Monetization Module can block your earnings. Read the rules in YouTube Studio first.

Conclusion

YouTube Shorts are a strong way for beginners to start in 2026. They are free to make, they reach new viewers fast, and they can lead to six ways of earning money. But views alone are not a business. You need a clear niche, a strong hook, and a plan to turn viewers into fans, buyers, or long-video watchers.

Start with the steps in this guide. Pick your niche, plan 30 ideas, and post your first ten Shorts. Learn from your analytics, fix one weak point at a time, and build toward the Partner Program levels. Apply as soon as you qualify and keep posting. Your first Short does not need to be perfect. Film it today and make the next one better.

FAQs

What are YouTube Shorts?

YouTube Shorts are short vertical videos up to three minutes long, watched in the Shorts feed by swiping up on a phone.

How do I make money on YouTube Shorts?

You can earn through Shorts ad revenue, Super Thanks, memberships, YouTube Shopping, brand deals, sending viewers to long videos, and selling your own products.

How many subscribers do I need to earn from Shorts?

Fan funding and Shopping open at 500 subscribers in expanded-Program countries. Full ad revenue needs 1,000 subscribers plus 10 million Shorts views in 90 days or 4,000 watch hours in 12 months.

How much does YouTube pay per 1,000 Shorts views?

YouTube does not publish a fixed rate. Shorts ad money is pooled each month and split by each creator’s share of engaged views, and you keep 45% of your share.

Do I need a camera to make Shorts?

No, your phone is enough. Film vertically in good light, speak clearly, and add captions. Many successful Shorts are filmed at home.

Can I earn from Shorts without joining the Partner Program?

Yes, you can earn from direct brand deals and selling your own products, because those do not need the Partner Program. Ad revenue, fan funding, and Shopping do need it.

Why are my Shorts not getting views?

The most common reasons are a weak hook, no clear niche, missing captions, or too few uploads. Post at least 30 Shorts, fix one weak point at a time, and check your retention in analytics.

Can I re-upload other people’s videos as Shorts?

No. Re-uploaded clips with nothing added do not earn ad revenue and can hurt your channel under YouTube’s reused content rules. Always add your own voice or commentary.