Short videos are eating the internet alive. We live in a world where people have the attention span of a goldfish with ADHD. Your audience scrolls at light speed, and if you don’t catch them in the first second or two, they’re gone.
If you’re wondering how to make money with YouTube Shorts, you’re not alone. Most creators focus on views, but smart marketers focus on monetization. The real opportunity isn’t just going viral – it’s turning YouTube Shorts into email subscribers, affiliate commissions, product sales, and long-term recurring income.
Which is why short videos (also known as video shorts) are all the rage these days. If we looked on Google Trends, we’d see the trend ticking upwards over the years.
Short vertical videos are now the language of every major platform because they’re so easy to consume.
So, these platforms are pushing this format in front of more people than your regular posts could ever hope to reach.
- YouTube ➜ Shorts
- Instagram ➜ Reels
- Facebook ➜ Reels
- TikTok ➜ TikTok videos
- Snapchat ➜ Spotlight
- Pinterest ➜ Idea Pins / Video Pins
- LinkedIn ➜ Short-form video posts
This is where your hidden profits are quietly waiting.
The good news is you don’t need dancing, fancy studios, or a film degree to turn those fast swipes into real money.
In this article, you’ll see seven ways to turn YouTube Shorts into leads, sales, and long-term customers – and how to make money from YouTube Shorts without relying on viral fame. Let’s get into it before your audience scrolls past this too…
1. Turn Curiosity into Email Subscribers
Views feel nice, but subscribers pay the bills. If you only chase likes, you’ll end up entertaining people instead of getting paid by them.
Your first goal with YouTube Shorts for online business is to convert attention into an audience you actually own.
Create short videos that tease a solution while inviting people to your list for the full breakdown.
For example, show “3 mistakes killing your ad results” in the short, then say “I break down all 7 mistakes in a free checklist, link in bio.”
The short creates curiosity, and the link captures the lead.
Have a link pointing to a landing page. You may choose to use Systeme.io to build the page.
Or if you’re using WordPress, then a page builder like OptimizePress can be integrated with an autoresponder such as Kit to add subscribers to your email list.
For example, if we looked at this channel, we’d notice that he (Wes McDowell) has a lot of video shorts – but he also has longer videos.
And if we clicked on one of his videos, we’d see a link in the description…
This link takes us to a landing page where he’s building an email list (an asset he truly owns).
That’s how it’s done. So, you’ll want to keep the call to action clear and repetitive. Use the same offer and wording in video after video. People usually need to hear it several times before they act, so your consistency quietly does the heavy lifting.
2. Use YouTube Shorts to Pre-Sell Your Offers
Most marketers throw a product into the world and hope people just figure out why they should buy. Your shorts can pre-sell your offer long before you ever say, “here’s the link,” so when you finally share it, the offer already feels familiar and safe.
Record short videos that answer the exact questions people have before buying.
- Who’s this for?
- What problem does it solve?
- What result can they expect?
- How long does it take?
- What if they’re a beginner?
Each short can focus on one simple question.
Mix in real examples and tiny stories. Share one specific result, one quick before and after, or one small win a customer had. The more real it feels, the easier it is for people to picture themselves saying yes.
3. Turn One Long Piece of Content into a Week of Shorts
This is content ‘repurposing’ at its finest.
If you already create long-form content, you’re sitting on a goldmine of short video material. One good podcast episode, live stream, or tutorial can be sliced into multiple shorts that point people back to the original.
That gives you more traffic without starting from zero every time.
If we do a quick search on YouTube for ‘email marketing for beginners’, the search results will immediately display a bunch of shorts for us to watch.
YouTube is actively pushing these shorts, and when viewers want more, they naturally click into your longer videos.
Savvy marketers will ride this exposure by pulling strong one-liners, quick tips, or emotional moments from their long content and turning each one into a short with a sharp hook and clear call to action.
Your long content does the deep teaching, and your shorts work like little traffic drivers that never get tired.
At the end of each short, invite people to the full video, blog post, or training.
Use lines like “If this helped, watch the full breakdown linked in the caption” or “This is clip 3 from today’s live session, the full replay is waiting for you.”
4. Use YouTube Shorts as 24/7 Salespeople
Scrolling buyers don’t want feature lists. What they want is to see your product in action.
So, use short demo videos to show a real moment, like a quick screen recording for software or a fast “problem solved” clip for a physical product.
Always end with a clear invite, such as “Want this result for yourself? Link’s in the caption.”
The goal is to simply open the door and let them walk in, rather than pushing them in.
5. Turn Your Best Tips into Affiliate Commissions
You don’t need your own product to profit from YouTube Shorts. In fact, YouTube Shorts affiliate marketing is one of the fastest ways to turn short-form content into commissions.
If you know tools, courses, or services that genuinely help your audience, you can earn affiliate commissions by recommending them, as long as you keep it honest and useful.
Create shorts that show a quick win with the product.
- Show one feature in real time so people instantly see how it fits into their world.
- Add an honest affiliate disclosure in the caption, saying it’s an affiliate link and supports your content.
- Remember… respected, informed viewers stick around longer, share more, and buy more often.
6. Use Shorts to Warm Up Your Retargeting Audience
Shorts are perfect for warming up people who already know you a little.
They keep your brand at the top of viewers’ minds, so your offers feel trusted instead of random. Use 15–30 second clips to gently tackle objections like price, time, fear of failure, or confusion, giving viewers tiny doses of reassurance.
Record shorts that speak directly to common objections.
If you run ads, retarget people who’ve watched those shorts with a clear offer – the content does the warming, and the ad simply opens the door to steady profit.
This proven sequence is where a lot of steady profit quietly appears.
7. Build a Simple YouTube Shorts Revenue System
Most income problems start with inconsistent action.
You blast out three videos in a hype burst, then vanish for three weeks and wonder where the sales went. A realistic (and manageable) shorts system keeps you visible even when life gets unpredictable.
Pick one main offer to focus on for the next 90 days.
Outline a few go-to short types: quick tips, myths, behind the scenes, mini case studies, product demos, so you are never stuck wondering what to film.
Set a small, realistic posting target and stick to it; one short a day or a few a week is enough to build consistency, then you can ramp up later. The more meticulous you are with this habit, the more your income stops spiking and starts stabilizing.
While YouTube does offer ad revenue through the Shorts monetization program, most serious marketers make money with YouTube Shorts by building assets they control.
That includes growing an email list, promoting affiliate products, selling digital courses, coaching, or software. Ad revenue is a bonus. The real money comes from owning the relationship.
Bringing It All Together
While YouTube Shorts monetization through ad revenue is available, most serious creators don’t rely on views alone. The smartest strategy is to combine monetization with list building, affiliate offers, and product sales so your income isn’t controlled by the algorithm.
Using YouTube Shorts for online business isn’t about chasing fame. What you’re trying to do is build a steady flow of attention that you can turn into subscribers, customers, and fans.
When every short points to a clear next step, your content stops being random and starts working like a real business asset.
You don’t need perfect lighting or flawless delivery, and you definitely don’t need to act like a game show host.
All that’s required is a clear offer, an easy-to-follow system, and the courage to post even when you feel a little awkward. Start with one of these seven methods this week and let your next short be the one that finally pays you back.
Frequently Asked Questions: Making Money with YouTube Shorts
Can you make money with YouTube Shorts without 1,000 subscribers?
Yes. You don’t need to qualify for ad revenue to make money. You can earn through affiliate marketing, product sales, and list building long before hitting monetization thresholds.
How many views do you need to make money with YouTube Shorts?
There is no fixed number. Income depends on your offer, audience intent, and conversion strategy — not just views.
Can you use affiliate links in YouTube Shorts?
Yes, affiliate links can be placed in your channel bio, video descriptions, or linked landing pages.
Want To Skip The Hard Part?
By now, you understand how to make money with YouTube Shorts.
You know it’s not about chasing views for validation. It’s about turning attention into assets. An email list. Affiliate commissions. A simple funnel that runs quietly in the background while everyone else is still refreshing their view count.
The strategy is clear. But here’s the quiet truth most people don’t admit:
The strategy isn’t the hard part. The hard part is showing up consistently when your brain doesn’t feel creative.
It’s opening your laptop and thinking, “What do I post today?”
It’s second-guessing your hook.
It’s deciding whether you really want to record your voice again.
It’s convincing yourself that maybe you’ll batch content this weekend… and then suddenly it’s Tuesday again.
That’s where momentum dies. And when momentum dies, income stays unpredictable.
You don’t need another theory. You need friction removed.
A Practical Shortcut (Without the Hype)
I recently came across something called Stunning Shorts, and what stood out wasn’t flashy promises. It was the simplicity.
Instead of starting from zero every day, it gives you structured, done-for-you prompt frameworks built around the kinds of Shorts that are already performing well.
Think of it like having a blueprint instead of a blank canvas.
For example, instead of asking:
“What should I say to promote this affiliate offer?”
You start with:
“A 15-second ‘mistake’ format that’s already proven to grab attention.”
- You swap in your niche.
- Adjust the angle.
- Generate the framework.
Now you’re not guessing. You’re executing.
- No recording marathon.
- No editing rabbit hole.
- No staring at a blinking cursor while your coffee gets cold.
And here’s the key:
It doesn’t replace your monetization strategy. It simply makes it easier to implement it consistently. And consistency is what turns a good idea into actual commissions.
If your biggest bottleneck is execution – not knowledge – this removes friction. And friction is usually what’s quietly costing you money.
If You Grab Stunning Shorts Through My Link…
Creating Shorts is step one.
Monetizing them correctly is step two.
Most people stop at step one.
That’s why if you decide to grab Stunning Shorts through my link, I’m including two additional resources that turn this from “content creation” into a revenue system.
Because tools are great. But structure wins.
Bonus #1: The 7-Day Shorts Monetization Blueprint
If I were starting from scratch today – no audience, no momentum, no complicated setup – this is the exact seven-day roadmap I’d follow.
Day by day, I show you:
- What type of Short to post.
- What the call-to-action should look like.
- Where to send traffic.
- How to position an affiliate offer without sounding like a late-night infomercial.
For example, instead of saying:
“Check out this product, link in bio…”
You’ll learn how to frame it like:
“If you want the full breakdown, I put the checklist in the description.”
Subtle difference.
Massive impact.
This blueprint is designed to remove hesitation. When you know exactly what to do next, you stop procrastinating and start publishing.
And published content beats perfect content every time.
Bonus #2: My Affiliate Shorts Hook Swipe File
If the first two seconds don’t hook someone, the rest of your Short doesn’t matter.
That’s not opinion. That’s platform reality.
So, I put together a swipe file of high-converting hooks specifically designed for affiliate marketing and list building.
Not cheesy clickbait.
Structured psychological hooks.
- Curiosity-driven openers.
- Mistake-based patterns.
- Outcome teasers.
- Authority positioning angles.
For example:
Instead of starting with:
“Here’s a tool I like…”
You might open with:
“Most beginners waste months doing this wrong…”
See the difference?
Same topic.
Different gravity.
You can plug these hooks directly into the Stunning Shorts prompt structures and immediately upgrade your engagement quality.
Better hooks → better watch time → better reach → more opportunities to monetize.
It’s not complicated. It’s just structured.
If You’re Ready To Make This Easier
You already understand the strategy behind making money with YouTube Shorts.
If what you need now is a way to execute consistently – without draining your creativity every morning – Stunning Shorts is a practical shortcut.
And with the monetization blueprint and hook swipe file included, you’re not just creating content.
You’re building a system that compounds.
👉 Click Here To Check Out Stunning Shorts and Get My Exclusive Bonuses
Use my link and you’ll automatically find your bonuses in the download section.
Let the tool handle the heavy lifting. And focus on building your online income.
