[Aubrey28]

Aubrey28 #20302

Hey there, fellow forum members!
Today, I want to dive into a question that has been on my mind lately: are YouTube shorts worth it? As an aspiring content creator, I’m always exploring new avenues to showcase my creativity and engage with a wider audience.

Recently, I stumbled upon this fascinating new feature on the platform. These short, bite-sized videos seemed like a fantastic way to capture attention and quickly convey creative ideas. Intrigued, I decided to give it a shot and started experimenting with Shorts creation.

However, as I delved into the world of YouTube Shorts, I couldn’t help but wonder if investing my time and energy into producing them would be worthwhile. After all, creating any form of content requires effort, and I want to ensure that my time is well-spent on platforms that offer genuine value and potential returns.

So, I began to weigh the pros and cons of YouTube Shorts. On the positive side, Shorts have the potential to reach a massive audience. With the Shorts player prominently positioned on the YouTube mobile app homepage, Shorts are easily discoverable and can garner significant viewership. This increased visibility could translate into valuable exposure for content creators, helping to boost their overall channel growth.

On the other hand, there are certain considerations to keep in mind when investing in YouTube Shorts. First and foremost, the Shorts format is still relatively new, and the monetization options may not be as robust as those for traditional long-form videos. While YouTube has introduced the Shorts Fund to reward creators, it’s important to be aware that the revenue potential from Shorts might not be as substantial as other content formats. However, this could change as YouTube continues to develop and refine its Shorts ecosystem.

Additionally, creating compelling Shorts requires a unique approach and skill set. Since Shorts are limited to a maximum duration of one minute, creators must be adept at conveying their message concisely and capturing viewers’ attention in a short span of time. This can be both a creative challenge and an opportunity for growth, as it pushes creators to refine their storytelling skills and experiment with new techniques.

Now, I turn to you, my fellow forum members, for insights and experiences. Have any of you dived into the world of YouTube Shorts? What have been your observations and experiences? Do you believe that the effort invested in creating Shorts is worth the potential benefits and exposure? I’m eager to hear your thoughts and learn from your experiences.

[Linda29]

Linda29 #21024

Hello Aubrey! You’ve brought up an interesting question about whether YouTube Shorts are worth investing time and effort as a content creator.
To monetize YouTube Shorts and earn ad revenue, you need to follow YouTube’s channel monetization policies, including guidelines on repetitious and reused content, as well as YouTube’s Community Guidelines, Terms of Service, Copyright, and Google AdSense program policies.

To enable ad revenue sharing for Shorts, monetizing partners must accept the Shorts Monetization Module, which allows them to earn from ads and YouTube Premium in the Shorts Feed. Revenue sharing for Shorts applies to eligible Shorts views on your channel starting from the date you accept the module. Views accumulated before accepting the module are not eligible for revenue sharing.

For ad revenue sharing, Shorts must follow advertiser-friendly content guidelines. Only views of Shorts that comply with these guidelines will be eligible for revenue sharing.

Shorts ad revenue sharing occurs through a four-step process:

1. Pool Shorts Feed ad revenue: Revenue earned from ads displayed between videos in the Shorts Feed is collected and used to reward creators and cover music licensing costs.
2. Calculate the Creator Pool: Shorts Feed ad revenue is allocated to the Creator Pool based on views and music usage across Shorts uploaded by monetizing creators. If a Short doesn’t include music, all revenue associated with its views goes to the Creator Pool. If music is included, the revenue is split between the Creator Pool and music partners based on the number of tracks used.
3. Allocate the Creator Pool: Revenue from the Creator Pool is then distributed among monetizing creators based on their share of total views from monetizing creators’ Shorts in each country.
4. Apply revenue share: Monetizing creators receive 45% of their allocated revenue, regardless of whether music was used or not.

The Creator Pool does not include revenue associated with views of Shorts uploaded by creators who haven’t accepted the Shorts Monetization Module or aren’t eligible to monetize their Shorts. This revenue is used for music licensing costs or retained by YouTube. Revenue associated with views of Shorts uploaded by music partners or determined to be ineligible is also excluded from the Creator Pool.

Regarding the use of third-party content in Shorts, the allocation of views and revenue will be divided between the uploader and any third-party rightsholders (owners of other content used in the Short) based on specific policies. YouTube credits music content from its music industry partners or generated by Dream Track in reducing the views and revenue allocated to the Creator Pool, but other categories of third-party content are not credited at this time.

YouTube Premium subscription revenue is also shared with monetizing creators for Shorts. YouTube pays 45% of the net revenue from YouTube Premium allocated to monetizing creators based on their share of subscription Shorts views within each country.

You can view estimated daily Shorts Feed ad revenue and other performance metrics in YouTube Analytics once they become available, or from the day you start monetizing with Shorts ads. Studio Content Manager users will have downloadable reports available for non-music partners by mid-March 2023, containing revenue details segmented by date and country/region for monetizing Shorts.

Worth reading: How to Beat YouTube Shorts Algorithm + Cheating but Trustworthy Tips!