Is Shorts Monetization Worth the Effort for Small and Mid-sized Channels?

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Is YouTube Shorts monetization for small channels actually worth the effort in 2025? The short answer is YES. But not for the reasons most people talk about.

Short's monetization was never just ad revenue. It’s about growth, visibility, and gaining momentum in the algorithm. And if you’re a small or mid-sized creator looking to scale, that might matter more than a few cents per thousand views.

Let’s walk through what we’ve seen, tested, and learned across hundreds of channels.

You Don’t Play Shorts for RPMs

If you’re expecting to replace your long-form income with Shorts ad revenue, you’re going to be disappointed.

Shorts vs long-form monetization for small channels is apples and oranges. The RPMs are entirely different. Long-form can generate between $1–$25+ per 1,000 views, depending on niche and location. Shorts are still floating around $0.01 to $0.30 in most countries. That’s just how the system is structured right now.

Here are real RPM numbers for context:

• USA – $0.328
• UK – $0.166
• India – $0.008
• Brazil – $0.045
• Philippines – $0.023
  

So, YouTube Shorts RPM for small channels is low, especially in emerging markets. But does that make earning from Shorts pointless? Not at all.

The difference is that Shorts give you exposure that long-form often can’t. Creators still pour time into Shorts, and they’re not wrong to do it. Because Shorts are about reach.

Shorts = Growth Engine

We’ve seen it again and again with our partners. A mid-sized channel puts out long-form content regularly, good production, solid audience, but growth stalls. Then, they start posting Shorts.

Suddenly, views triple. Subs jump by tens of thousands. Some of those Shorts bring in millions of views in weeks. And a portion of that flood of new traffic sticks around. They binge on other videos and hit subscribe. And your long-form content, where your RPMs are actually decent, starts performing better.

That’s the move. Shorts are your traffic gateway.

So, is Shorts' monetization “worth it” in terms of direct earnings? Not much. But as a growth tool, it’s one of the best bets out there right now for growth.

Shorts Monetization Isn’t Just Ad Revenue Anymore

Is the Shorts fund profitable for new creators? That was true back in the Creator Fund days. Now, Shorts have evolved.

The real Short's ad revenue potential comes from YouTube’s newer updates:

• Shopping Stickers (CTR boost of 40%).
• Auto-dubbing in 30+ languages.
• Fan monetization via Super Thanks & Stickers.
• Vertical livestream gifts.
• Affiliate links and product tags.
• And yes, standard monetizing short videos via ad rev split.

We’re talking about YouTube pushing Shorts hard. They’re training both the algorithm and the audience to treat Shorts as core content.

If you’re not there, you’re invisible to an entire side of the platform.

In other words, YouTube is actively turning Shorts into a monetizable ecosystem, not just a side format. For creator income on YouTube, especially at the early stages, Shorts are increasingly becoming a core growth tool.

This is where creator incentives in YouTube Shorts start to make sense. You may not earn big per view, but you’re unlocking multiple layers of monetization if you build the right content funnel.

Growth Beats RPM

Even if it’s not the main reason, we won’t ignore the income part. Yes, Shorts can start pulling in revenue, but it’s going to be smaller and slower than long-form.

While RPM is lower, Shorts can rack up exponentially more views. That scale is what turns $0.01 per 1,000 views into something meaningful for mid-sized channel income.

Still, there’s a ceiling. You won’t see Shorts RPM ever match long-form. Maybe it gets a little better (it already has). Shorts vs long-form monetization for small channels will always favor the long-form side when it comes to pure dollars.

And that’s fine, as long as you treat Shorts like a growth and traffic system, not your main revenue stream.

Let us give you two real cases we’ve seen:

1. Look at MacDannyGun. He picked up 670K new subscribers in 5 months by posting Shorts. That pushed his total to 1.75 million. Even better, his long-form content saw a 10x boost in views. You can trace that line directly back to Shorts.
2. Same story with Watch Me. They published their first Shorts just four months ago. Now their channel has crossed a billion views. From zero.

That’s the real story behind growing with YouTube Shorts monetization. You’re not optimizing for a paycheck from Shorts. You’re building attention that fuels your whole channel.

So, What’s the Smart Play in 2025?

We’ve tested a lot of setups: separate Shorts channels, uploading 1 per day, uploading 10 per day, even doing localized Shorts with auto-dubbing.

What worked best?

• Repurpose your long-form into Shorts using OpusClip or similar tools.
• Hook viewers fast – don’t waste the first 3 seconds.
• Tie every Short to a bigger journey (playlist, series, long-form episode).
• Track your funnel: Shorts → channel page visits → long-form watch → subs.
  

This gives you more than just YouTube Shorts pay. It creates retention, audience loyalty, and eventually, serious mid-sized channel income.

That’s how we recommend creators treat Shorts. Not as a monetization engine, but as a powerful feeder system for everything else.

Yes, You Can Still Earn

Monetizing short-form video content can still generate actual income. It just takes volume, smart targeting, and pairing Shorts with better monetization layers.

• Auto-dub Shorts in other languages.

Now your videos run in Japan, Brazil, and France.

• Add Shopping Stickers or affiliate links.

Earn beyond ads.

• Tie Shorts to merch.

Viewers click, you sell.

It’s not that YouTube Shorts for beginners is unprofitable – it’s just that the real profit isn’t where you think it is.

And if you're wondering whether YouTube Shorts monetization will continue to grow, it will. YouTube is putting their full weight behind Shorts in 2025, and the updates keep coming every month.

And If You Want a Shortcut...

We’ve also compiled 18 proven hacks to help your Shorts go viral – from structuring the hook, to boosting APV over 100%, to the exact SEO tweaks that get Shorts indexed.

It's too deep to drop here, but if you’re serious about earning from Shorts and making Shorts monetization work for you, we’ll walk you through all of it.

Or just ask us. AIR Media-Tech has helped over 3,000 creators grow, monetize, and localize their content, including Shorts. We’ve built funnels, doubled revenues, and fixed broken growth loops.

Whether you're new to Shorts or knee-deep already, we’ll help you turn them into more than just views. Contact us today!

So, Is YouTube Shorts Profitable?

Yes, but not because of the payout per view.

It’s worth it because:

• Shorts are your fastest path to growth.
• They fuel your long-form views.
• They unlock new monetization tools (like Shopping, Livestream, Stickers).
• And YouTube is clearly betting big on them.

If you want to grow, Shorts are the front door. Earning from YouTube Shorts 2025 is less about passive ad revenue and more about building a funnel for your brand and your audience. Monetizing short videos is a smart investment in long-term visibility.

Whether you're exploring YouTube Shorts for beginners or already deep into small channel monetization, now is the time to get serious.

Monetization is just the bonus that comes after.

So, start testing. Start posting. And if you're ready to scale your way, get in touch with us. We'll help you turn Shorts into something sustainable and profitable.