You can make money with YouTube Shorts: Shorts get billions of views a day, and some faceless channels have grown to millions of subscribers in months. But one popular “method” will get you in trouble: re-uploading other people’s TikTok videos. Here’s how Shorts monetization actually works, and a legitimate way to build a profitable Shorts channel.
Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links. “$1,600 days” are exceptional results, not typical.
Why Re-Uploading Other People’s Videos Doesn’t Work
- Copyright: downloading and re-uploading someone else’s video without permission is infringement, even with edits or your own voiceover.
- Reused content policy: YouTube refuses or removes monetization for channels built mainly on other people’s content.
- Strikes: copyright claims can take down videos and, after repeated strikes, the channel.
See posting other people’s content safely for what is allowed.
How Shorts Make Money
- Shorts ad revenue sharing once you’re in the YouTube Partner Program (one route is 10 million valid Shorts views in 90 days plus 1,000 subscribers; check current rules).
- Affiliate links in your channel and pinned comments.
- Driving viewers to long videos, which pay more per view.
- Your own products and email list.
A Legitimate Shorts Channel in 5 Steps
1. Pick a niche you can produce original content for
Quick tips, facts, tutorials, product demos, motivation, history, science explainers.
2. Write short scripts
Hook in the first second, one idea per Short, under 60 seconds. AI helps generate ideas; see how to write AI prompts.
3. Create original visuals
Use your own footage, screen recordings, licensed stock or AI-generated visuals.
4. Add voice and edit
Record your own voice or use an AI voice like ElevenLabs, then edit in CapCut with captions and music from licensed libraries.
5. Post consistently and learn
Post daily if you can, study retention graphs, and remake your best-performing ideas with new hooks.
Turn Views Into Income
- Link Shorts to related long videos; see faceless YouTube income streams.
- Add a free lead magnet to your channel; see my free guide The $0 Funnel.
- Recommend relevant affiliate products; see earning on YouTube from day one.
YouTube Shorts: FAQ
Can I use clips from TikTok if I add commentary?
Only with permission or where it’s clearly fair use with substantial commentary; it’s risky. Original content is safer.
How much do Shorts pay?
Shorts ad revenue per view is usually lower than long-form; combine it with other income.
Do I need to show my face?
No. See AI-powered video creation.
