How to Monetize YouTube Shorts in 2026: 4 Ways to Make Money
By Sound Me
Updated for 2026 Features | 9-Minute Read
For a long time, YouTube Shorts were just for "clout." You could get a million views, but your bank account would stay at $0.
The "Shorts Fund" is dead. In 2026, YouTube has fully integrated Shorts into the main monetization ecosystem. But there is a catch: The Ad Revenue is incredibly low.
If you rely solely on AdSense (the ads that play between Shorts), you need tens of millions of views just to pay for your groceries.
However, smart creators aren't relying on ads. They are using Shorts as a traffic engine to drive sales to other places.
In this guide, we will break down the Official Ad Revenue Model (and why it’s hard), and then reveal the 3 Secret Strategies that actually make serious money with short-form content this year.
Method 1: The Official "Ad Revenue" Share (The Volume Game)
This is the default way to get paid. When you scroll through the Shorts feed, you see ads between videos. YouTube takes that money, puts it in a giant "Creator Pool," subtracts money for music licensing, and splits the rest with you.
How to Unlock It:
To turn on ads for Shorts, you must be in the YouTube Partner Program (Tier 2).
Requirement: 1,000 Subscribers AND 10 Million Shorts views (in the last 90 days).
The Harsh Reality of Shorts RPM:
Unlike long-form videos (which pay $4.00+ per 1,000 views), Shorts pay very little because users scroll so fast.
Average Shorts RPM: $0.01 to $0.06 per 1,000 views.
The Math: If you get 1,000,000 views at a
0.03RPM,youearn∗∗
30.**
Verdict: Unless you are getting 50 million views a month, do not rely on this to pay your rent. Treat it as "coffee money."
Method 2: YouTube Shopping (The "Tagging" Feature)
In 2026, this is the biggest opportunity for e-commerce.
YouTube now allows you to tag products directly on the Short.
When a viewer is watching, a small "View Products" button appears on the screen. They can buy the item without ever leaving the app.
How it works:
Own Products: If you have a Shopify store (merch, digital products), you can connect it to your channel and tag your own items.
Affiliate Products: In the US and select countries, you can tag products from other brands (like Sephora, Ulta, or Best Buy) and earn a commission instantly if someone clicks and buys.
Why this wins: You don't need millions of views. You just need the right views. A product review Short with 5,000 views could generate $500 in sales commissions.
Method 3: The "Related Video" Funnel (High Ticket)
Since YouTube removed clickable links from Shorts comments to fight spam, affiliate marketers panicked.
But YouTube gave us something better: The "Related Video" Link.
This is a clickable button that sits right above the video title on your Short. You can link it to any of your long-form videos.
The Strategy:
Create a Long Video: Review a high-ticket product (e.g., "Best 3D Printers of 2026"). Put your affiliate links in that description.
Create a Short: Show the coolest thing that 3D printer can do.
The Call to Action: In the Short, say "Click the button below to see the full review and price."
The Link: Set the "Related Video" to link to your long review.
Why this wins: You are moving traffic from a low-paying format (Shorts) to a high-paying format (Long Form + Affiliates).
Method 4: Brand Sponsorships (The Big Payday)
Brands love Shorts.
Why? Because they are cheaper than long videos and almost guaranteed to get views.
A brand might pay you $2,000 for a 60-second Short integration, even if you only have 50,000 subscribers.
How to get these deals:
Niche Down: A brand won't sponsor a random "funny clips" channel. They will sponsor a "Daily Tech Tips" channel.
Put your email in your Bio: It sounds simple, but 50% of creators forget this. Make it easy for them to hire you.
Media Kit: Have a one-page PDF ready that shows your demographics (Age, Gender, Location).
FAQ: Shorts Money Questions
Q: Can I monetize Shorts using copyrighted music?
A: Yes! This is the main difference between YouTube and other platforms. YouTube has the "Creator Music" library. You can use popular songs. YouTube simply deducts the licensing fee from the "Creator Pool" before they pay you. You won't get a copyright strike, but you will earn slightly less revenue.
Q: Does deleting old Shorts hurt my monetization?
A: Yes. If you delete a Short, the views associated with it are removed from your "10 Million Views" application count. Never delete a video unless you have to.
Q: Can I repost my TikToks?
A: Only if you remove the watermark. YouTube will disqualify videos that have the TikTok logo.
Conclusion: Don't Chase Views, Chase Conversion
If you want to make money with Shorts in 2026, you must shift your mindset.
The Amateur thinks: "How do I get 1 million views so I can make $30 from ads?"
The Pro thinks: "How do I get 10,000 views on a product review so I can make $300 from commissions?"
Shorts are a traffic source, not a savings account. Use the traffic to sell products, build your email list, or grow your long-form channel. That is where the real wealth is built.
.jpg)