If you’re a content creator (or aspiring to be one), chances are you’ve seen or posted a YouTube Short at some point. And now that Shorts are officially part of the YouTube Partner Program, the question everyone’s asking is: how much do YouTube Shorts actually pay?
Well… I have answers. And some thoughts. A lot of thoughts, actually.
Hi, I’m Flor — a thirty-something millennial, new-ish mom, New Yorker by choice, and lifelong content creator. I make YouTube videos about books, content creation, working for yourself, and what it’s really like to chase dreams in NYC. And today, I want to break down my first month ever of YouTube Shorts monetization — the strategy I used, how I repurposed content instead of burning out, and exactly how much money I made from Shorts in February.
Spoiler alert: It’s not a ton. But there’s more to the story.
What Even Are YouTube Shorts?
You probably know this already, but just in case this post found you during a deep scroll while researching your next big content pivot: YouTube Shorts are vertical videos up to 60 seconds long, kind of like TikToks or Instagram Reels.
Shorts live within YouTube, but they function very differently from traditional long-form videos. Think bite-sized, scrollable content versus your usual 10-minute vlog or sit-down video.
YouTube launched Shorts in 2020 (beta) and then opened it up to everyone in 2021. At first, a lot of creators — myself included — were skeptical. We thought, “YouTube is for long videos. Why are we doing this?” But over time, things changed. Especially when they introduced monetization for Shorts in February 2023.
That’s when I decided to take it seriously.
📹 Watch the Full Breakdown Here:
If you’re more of a visual learner (or just want to hang out with me on YouTube), here’s the full video version of this post:
Why I Started Posting YouTube Shorts (Even After Saying I Never Would)
I’ll be honest — when YouTube first announced Shorts, I was not interested. I didn’t like the idea of changing the platform I loved. I didn’t want to create new content specifically for Shorts either. I was tired, I was pregnant, and I was juggling a million things (hello, millennial burnout culture).
But then YouTube announced that monetization was coming. And I thought, “Okay… maybe I’ll give this a try.”
So instead of filming new stuff, I took what I already had: videos I’d posted to Instagram Reels and TikTok. I repurposed them, one by one, and uploaded them to YouTube. I wasn’t reinventing the wheel — just being resourceful.
In September 2022, I uploaded my first Short. From then until early November, I posted 1–2 Shorts a day. I was testing the waters. And to my surprise, some of my videos got over 1,000 views, which felt HUGE for my small channel.
Even while pregnant and later navigating life with a newborn, Shorts allowed me to stay active on YouTube without filming or editing full-length videos. I was showing up for my audience, even when life was hectic. That felt like a win.
My Strategy for Shorts (and How I Made It Work as a Busy Mom)
At the end of December 2022, I decided to ramp things up. I downloaded all my old short-form videos from TikTok and Reels and scheduled two Shorts a day for January.
And yes — I did all of that in about an hour. One hour of work = a full month of scheduled content. If that’s not the dream, I don’t know what is.
Did I film new content? No.
Did I plan elaborate editing? Also no.
Did I start getting traction? Yes.
The Numbers: How Much Money I Made from Shorts
Let’s talk numbers.
In February 2023 — my very first month of Shorts monetization — I got 23,200 views on my Shorts.
Here’s what the YouTube analytics looked like:
- 📈 Views: 23,200
- 👍 Likes: 512
- ➕ New Subscribers: 51 (from Shorts alone!)
- 💸 Estimated Revenue: $1.33
Yep, that’s one dollar and thirty-three cents. Basically a slice of pizza in New York.
Was it a lot? Definitely not. But here’s the thing: that $1.33 came from videos I’d already created, months ago, for other platforms.
I wasn’t trading hours for pennies. I was building visibility and getting new subscribers — which is way more valuable in the long run.
What Actually Matters: Growth, Not Just Revenue
The biggest win for me wasn’t the money. It was the 51 new subscribers. That’s 51 new people who might stick around, watch my long-form videos, and become part of my little corner of the internet.
And with Shorts, I started reaching younger audiences too. Before, most of my viewers were millennials (like me). Now? I’m seeing views from Gen Z — even 13-year-olds! My channel is finally crossing generational lines in a way it hadn’t before.
Also? Some of my Shorts reached tens of thousands of people, despite me having fewer than 2,000 subscribers at the time. That level of reach would’ve been impossible with long-form videos alone.
Is It Worth It to Post YouTube Shorts?
Short answer? Yes.
Long answer? Yes, but only if it works for your life and your content.
For me, Shorts are worth it because I can repurpose content. I don’t create Shorts from scratch (at least not yet), and I still get the benefits of reach, growth, and community-building.
Here’s my advice if you’re thinking about trying it:
- Repurpose your content. Reuse what you’ve already made for TikTok or Instagram.
- Schedule in batches. Upload multiple Shorts in one go and schedule them to go live over a few weeks.
- Focus on growth, not dollars. The CPM (cost per 1,000 views) on Shorts is very low. But the exposure is high.
- Engage with your audience. If someone comments on your Short, reply! The algorithm loves it, and so do real people.
- Use Shorts to funnel people to your long-form videos. That’s where the real money (and deeper connection) is.
Final Thoughts
Do I wish YouTube Shorts paid more? Of course. But for me, the visibility and growth make it absolutely worth it. Especially as someone who’s juggling motherhood, content creation, and building a brand — sometimes with very limited time.
If you’re in your twenties or thirties, trying to grow your YouTube channel, wondering if it’s too late to get started… let this be your sign: try Shorts. See what happens. You might just get a few thousand new eyeballs on your content — and maybe, like me, even a few new subscribers who stick around.
Let me know what you think in the comments or come say hi over on YouTube or Instagram. And if you’re a fellow creator, I’d love to hear: how much did you make from Shorts in your first monetized month? Are you repurposing content too? Are you team “slice of pizza” or “whole pizza”? 🍕
See you next time — and thank you for being here. ❤️
— Flor
Find me on: Instagram
