Have you ever wondered why thousands of viewers will watch a YouTube Short but not the longer videos on a creator’s channel? It’s a common issue, and one that has bothered YouTubers since the beginning of the Shorts era. After all, long-form videos are easier to monetize. Why 

YouTube knows this, and that’s why the platform is introducing 

. These are persistent links that appear near the bottom of the screen, sending viewers to a long-form video 

YouTube creator pointing to a long-form video link in a Short

This update comes after a recent change on YouTube that 

 from every part of a Short: the comment section, the description, and even the live chat. So this update, which restores 

 link capacity, is sure to excite creators.

How to Put Related Links in Your YouTube Shorts

Content option in YouTube Studio navigation

2. Find the Short you want to edit, then click the pencil icon beneath it.

Pencil icon the the right of a YouTube Short

Related video section of the video edit page

4. Browse your content to select a long-form video to link inside of your Short.

Video selector for choosing related videos

Need a quick tutorial? Watch this video to see each step in real time.

Linking out to long-form videos from your Shorts is a smart move, but truthfully, 

. That means you can add a link to your latest livestream, a recent long-form video, and other Shorts on your channel! 

Shorts, Longs, and Lives: How to Compare YouTube Views from All 3

The tool is fairly new, but you have some freedom when deciding which videos to recommend (although we suggest sticking to long-form videos).

On a mobile screen, related links look like video titles instead of buttons you can tap. They're positioned right below the title of a Short, and they have a small, white play button icon.

Example of a content link, which appears below the YouTube Short video title

Look closer, and you'll notice there is also some some 

. Viewers can click those words — pulled directly from the recommended video — to watch suggested content.

not everyone has access to related links.

 You’ll have to verify your YouTube channel first to unlock advanced features (like adding related links in Shorts).

And finally, you can only add related links 

. But we’re guessing it’s only a matter of time before YouTube enables this feature in the mobile app.

The idea of connecting long-form videos to Shorts isn’t just intriguing; it’s incredibly exciting! But how do you get people to click on related links in the first place?

make sure the video you’re recommending is related to the Short.

For example, imagine that someone is watching a Short about growing organic bananas. The content link should be closely related to that topic 

 complement the Short that viewers just watched. A lengthy guide to growing organic bananas, which is relevant and helpful, would be an excellent choice.

 that drives viewers to your related link. Ask them to tap the link below, then physically point to its location near the bottom of the screen. Do all of this while explaining 

 they should tap the link, and you’ll get more views.

With YouTube's new related links, you've got another chance to boost your channel's overall views. Think of it as a bridge between your usual videos and those snappy YouTube Shorts you’re posting right now. Or even a bridge that goes from Shorts to livestreams!

Of course, you need more YouTube Shorts views if you plan on sending viewers to the rest of your content. So, here’s an awesome guide to help you crush it!

A smart phone showing YouTube Shorts logo

Smartphone displaying YouTube Shorts logo with black and red earphones on red background

Clickable links are returning to YouTube Shorts, but this time, they’ll send viewers to long-form videos on your channel. Keep reading to learn more!

YouTube Unveils 'Related Links' to Connect Shorts and Long-Form Videos

Hey there, awesome creators! Are you scratching your head, wondering, 

Why are my YouTube Shorts not getting views?

 Or, have you sheepishly thought to yourself, 

You're not alone, and those are great questions to ask. Now that 

 is a real thing, everyone wants to make money from short, snappy videos! YouTube has set new milestones for this journey, and you need to reach both before applying to the YouTube Partner Program (and earn ad revenue from Shorts):

Attract 10 million public Shorts views in a 90-day period.

, but the path above is tailored to Shorts creators.

Best of all, you don’t have to do any of this alone! We'll walk you through a 90-day plan to skyrocket your Shorts views and hit that dreamy 10 million mark. Let's dive in!

A magnifying glass held over a smartphone showing youtube logo

The first part of any “Shorts takeover” is to research until you go 

. Hang out on TikTok, Reddit, or even YouTube Shorts themselves to understand which topics are trending and why. You can also use Google Trends and other free tools to identify what’s hot right now.

: Make a list of at least 20 trending topics you could create Shorts around. This is the first step in figuring out how to get 10 million views on your YouTube Shorts.

Now that you have some viral trends to lean on, the next step is turning them into viral YouTube ideas. This can be challenging at first, but we have a few suggestions! Start by pulling inspiration from this list of 

9 videos that perform well as YouTube Shorts

 Aim for at least 30 ideas. The more unique they are, the less you'll have to wonder why your YouTube Shorts aren’t getting views.

Man filming a YouTube Short while holding an amplifier

The Shorts landscape is pretty competitive right now, so creating a viral video may take some time. Your best bet is to post numerous videos throughout a 90-day period. So, pick up your camera, get creative, and record those brilliant ideas you crafted in week one!

 Aim for at least 15 Shorts to start with. Batch-recording takes some effort (even for YouTube Shorts), but we 

 you can do it! Plus, we have a few tips to help you out.

Script your intros beforehand while pulling inspiration from these 

. Remember, a compelling intro can be the difference between an explosive Short and one that gets swiped away.

 If it evokes a strong emotion, you're on the right track. 

 can significantly boost your views on YouTube.

Use the Shorts audio library to find trending tracks that fit the mood of your video. Music can give your Shorts a noticeable boost (because of a popular song and artist) and help you stay relevant for a few months.

Do you want views from people watching your content on mute and those who crank the volume up high? If so, be sure to add YouTube captions to your Shorts! Make them bold, and place them somewhere near the bottom of the frame. This alone will make your content more accessible and viewable.

YouTube Shorts have a maximum length of 60 seconds, and surprisingly, you should aim to use most of that time! 

A recent study showed that Shorts around 50 seconds performed better

 than all others. So, make them a bit lengthy, but remember to cut out scenes that aren’t engaging or slow down the action.

It may seem like titles aren’t important for YouTube Shorts, but they make a huge difference when you put some effort into writing them. After all, video titles appear in a prominent area, and people do see them!

 for all of your Shorts (and save time). If you need more help, here's an excellent guide for crafting 

 Hashtags aren't necessary for Shorts, but pay attention to those that keep popping up in your niche. That may indicate a trending topic, and on YouTube, we like those 

Things are heating up now! It’s time to publish your first batch of Shorts so you can see which videos work and which ones don't.

 To get all 15 out quickly, upload a few Shorts each day for the next week.

Now that your Shorts have been published for a while, dive into your YouTube analytics. Make a list of the top 3 things that viewers seem to enjoy so you can double-down on those in your next batch of Shorts. Also, try to identify the topics, titles, introductions, and music tracks people resonated with the most, using 

, or how long viewers spend watching the Short on average. Then, take a look at 

, which is how much of the video viewers watched on average. The higher these numbers are, the easier it is go viral.

Woman filming an unboxing video for a YouTube Short

Ready to make some more Shorts? Now’s the time to use all of the performance data and insights you’ve gained to create even better videos. And while we’re on the subject, did any new trends pop up on YouTube? If so, make a few Shorts based on those as well, to get the maximum number of views in your next batch.

: Create another 15 Shorts. You’ll still need great introductions, stunning titles, YouTube captions, popular music, and emotional storylines.

YouTube channel stats showing 4,549,296 views

Congratulations! By now, you should have a total of 30 Shorts posted, which is plenty of content to analyze. Open your analytics for each one, and (again) identify the top performers and why people loved them. Are the insights different from what you discovered previously? Are they exactly the same?

 Use your insights to establish a winning format for your Shorts. Build a creation template based on what worked in the past!

Now that you know what works, double-down even harder on the right topics, titles, and formats. Increase your output to create 

 chances at going viral, but don’t overdo it! Most experts say 

the optimal growth range is about 3 Shorts per day

: Using your creation template, keep posting until you reach 10 million YouTube Shorts views!

Getting 10 million views on YouTube Shorts in 90 days is no small feat, but it's definitely achievable. Follow this 90-day plan, stay consistent, and don't be afraid to experiment. You'll be well on your way to becoming a Shorts superstar.

And if you haven't reached the other milestone for monetization, read this guide to attract 1,000 YouTube subscribers!

Smartphone screen displaying the YouTube Shorts logo on a white background.

Getting 10 million Shorts views might seem impossible, but plenty of creators have done it. Here’s a 90-day plan to break through and monetize your channel!

How to Get 10 Million YouTube Shorts Views: A 90-Day Plan

Any creator who knows about the YouTube algorithm has one goal, and that's getting their videos recommended to more people! They want YouTube to (finally) notice their content, identify the subject matter, and suggest it to thousands of like-minded viewers.

Your best plan of action, especially as a small creator, is to understand how YouTube recommends videos. You'll want to figure out why the algorithm promotes some content and, well...basically ignores others. Armed with this knowledge, you can answer the biggest question of all.

"Why is YouTube not suggesting my videos?"

If you're a new creator, think of your channel like a car and the YouTube algorithm like premium gasoline. Your videos are ready to be seen, but sadly, they can't reach viewers by themselves. Something has to "propel" them across YouTube. In this scenario, the energy you're looking for — or the gasoline you need — comes from the YouTube recommendation system.

But, like any car, you have to ignite the gas to start the engine. On YouTube, this kind of momentum occurs when you receive some initial views on a new video. So, as you enter a viewers' watch history, YouTube can begin to understand who your videos are for and make better recommendations. Cristos, VP of engineering at YouTube, says as much 

"The most important thing is trying to figure out which viewers would be interested in these videos. And that's something that's especially hard for new videos because we just don't have as much information about them," Cristos says.

So, don't be shy about promoting your videos

, even if you have no audience to speak of. Share them in relevant online communities, get those initial views, and train the algorithm on who your channel is for.

Promote Your YouTube Channel: 17 Tips for Small Creators

Another way to get YouTube to recommend your videos is by describing them accurately. So, think carefully about the 

 you write for your YouTube videos. That may seem like a small detail, but it helps the algorithm understand your videos and suggest them to the right viewers.

A YouTube video search result showing title and description

In fact, Todd Beaupre, head of discovery at YouTube, says that if a channel has no viewers, 

the algorithm relies on video titles and descriptions

. So, don't panic if your content has zero views. The algorithm can use and analyze metadata to place your video on a YouTube search page.

That leads to more clicks, more data for the algorithm to process, and eventually, more recommendations for your channel! Just remember to use 

 so you have a better chance of standing out.

Increasing your watch time on YouTube is the number one way to get your videos recommended. This ranking (and recommendation) signal tells the algorithm what viewers like to watch. And most of the time, 

YouTube uses watch time to make personalized suggestions

Simply put, you want viewers watching your videos for as long as possible.

5 Ways to Increase YouTube Watch Time on Any Video

Having high watch times and low drop-off rates signals to YouTube that your content is engaging, valuable, and worth recommending. So use strong, attention-grabbing hooks in the first 30 seconds to capture interest. Pace your video with frequent segmenting so the scenes fly by!

But more than that, always deliver on the promise or expectation that your title and thumbnail created.

A satisfied viewer is a happy viewer, and the algorithm knows this. So, to get your video recommended on YouTube, you need lots of engagement from your audience. After all, YouTube is looking at likes, dislikes, share rates, and survey responses when deciding which videos to suggest.

It never hurts to ask viewers to "like" and "share" your videos with a sincere call-to-action. But beyond that, how do you make satisfying content that people naturally engage with?

You want people to view your content as life-changing, sensational, inspiring, and other feel-good descriptors. That way, they will feel moved to give you a like or share your video.

mastering the art of YouTube storytelling

. Making viewers laugh or cry is an underrated way to create a suggested video on YouTube!

Other Ways to Get Your YouTube Videos Recommended

The tips above will help you appear on viewers' home pages and next to videos they're already watching. But there's more you can do to kick start the algorithm and grow your channel:

Make timely videos so YouTube can suggest yours when a hot topic is exploding.

Focus on audience retention (especially in the first 30 seconds) to boost your watch time.

Now that you understand YouTube's algorithm for suggested videos, here are 10 things every small YouTube channel can improve!

A phone showing the youtube logo next to the youtube homepage on a desktop computer

YouTube homepage displayed on laptop screen with YouTube app open on smartphone.

How does the YouTube algorithm work — specifically, the recommendation engine that promotes videos to billions of viewers? Keep reading to find out and grow your channel!

YouTube's 'Suggested Videos' Algorithm: How to Crack It

So, you’ve just joined the YouTube Partner Program, and your goal is to earn the highest payout on each video. It’s possible, but you’ll need to know two things first: which videos get monetized and which ones don’t!

The truth is that going viral doesn’t always mean 

. Some videos are partially monetized on YouTube, while others get demonetized for various reasons, such as violating 

. So, the first step in boosting your revenue (and becoming a full-time creator) is knowing the ins and outs of YouTube monetization.

Monetization Basics: What Is YouTube AdSense?

All monetized creators get paid through something called Google AdSense (some simply call it YouTube AdSense). 

When you monetize your videos through Google AdSense, you can earn money from the ads displayed on your content. Advertisers pay a specific rate each time an ad is shown on your video or someone clicks on an ad.

 (cost per mille). The CPM rate is what you, the creator, gets paid per 1,000 video views. 

The exact rate you’re paid depends on a few things, like the topic of your YouTube channel, audience demographics, seasonality, and more. However, the average CPM on YouTube is $1-5 for smaller channels and $5-20 for the top creators.

When your channel is monetized, you’ll also opt in to revenue sharing. This means the ad revenue you earn through the YouTube Partner Program is split between you and YouTube.

 You get 45% of the collective ad revenue generated by all Shorts creators, based on the views you get.

 You get 70% of the revenue from Super Chats, Super Thanks, and YouTube Channel Memberships.

And now that you know how AdSense works, here’s how to maximize your earnings!

1. Follow the Money (Using YouTube Analytics)

Have you noticed that some videos earn more money than others? This usually means the CPM rate was much higher for those lucky videos. Fortunately, you can see the CPM rate on each individual video in the YouTube Studio.

4. Find the “How much advertisers pay” panel, and click 

5. Scroll down and look at the list of videos you’ve published and their CPMs.

YouTube CPMs for a list of videos, ranging from 15 to 30

Notably, CPM rates on the vidIQ channel are all over the place. One video earned a whopping $31.28 per 1,000 views. Another earned just $15.11!

, we would make more content like the $31 video. Try doing the same investigative process on your own channel!

When seeking the highest revenue, it helps to know the rules for monetizing content on YouTube. The biggest rule is pretty straightforward: Make content for all ages, or in other words, make content that doesn’t scare advertisers away.

 won’t get you demonetized anymore. But you should avoid heavy swearing, hate speech, adult content, controversial issues, drugs, violence, and more. Videos with these elements aren't suitable for ads, so you might receive partial revenue or no revenue at all.

A list of content that is not suitable for YouTube ads

Remember, the more videos you’re able to place ads on, the more money you’ll make on YouTube!

3. Use Content You Own (Or Already Licensed)

Being original is the best way to make money on YouTube, because that shields you from unintentionally stealing another creator’s work. And if you do a little content-lifting, you can probably guess the consequence for such an act. YouTube may decide to partially monetize your video (and pay a percentage to the original asset owner) or completely demonetize your video.

So, overall, make sure you aren’t using copyrighted material, which is any creative work that belongs to someone else or is protected by copyright laws. That includes music, stock photos, sound effects, movie clips, and essentially, anything you didn’t create yourself. You should either have permission to use the material or have a license to use it through a third party, such as 

. You can also download royalty-free music and sound effects from the YouTube Audio library, which will keep you in the clear.

If you use someone else’s work, the copyright holder might file a complaint. This leads to a copyright strike,  and YouTube may terminate your channel if you collect three of those.

Copyright Claims vs. Copyright Strikes: Here's the Difference

4. Choose Evergreen Video Topics (Not Just Trends)

Before we dig into this tip, know that following a hot, trendy topic is how many creators get more views. In fact, we encourage it. It’s a great way to put your channel on the map, but sadly, trendy videos aren’t the highest drivers of revenue.

This is where it pays to think like an advertiser (no pun intended). Advertisers may pay a lower CPM for trend-focused content versus an evergreen video that keeps getting views over time. So, think about what your viewers want to watch year-round. That could be job-related content, finance, family topics, relationships, health, and more.

And Finally, Don’t Rely on YouTube AdSense

No matter what you do, the amount of money you make will always change if it’s coming from ad revenue. That might look like your CPM decreasing during a slow season. Or, it might be a global pandemic (looking at you, Covid-19), that makes advertisers shy away from spending on YouTube ads.

In that case, it’s time to diversify your income. There’s the wonderful option of fan-funding, which you need 

 and 3,000 watch hours to unlock. There’s also affiliate marketing, selling your own products, and many other paths to a stable income!

phone showing youtube logo and surrounded by money

Smartphone showing YouTube logo on screen over scattered hundred dollar bills background.

With YouTube monetization, it’s not about how many views you get — it’s about how many views you can monetize. Here's how to boost your AdSense revenue!

Just Got Monetized on YouTube? 4 Tips to Boost Your AdSense Revenue

Have you noticed how hard it is to make decent money from YouTube Shorts? For advertising revenue, the pay can be as low as $0.05 per 1,000 views, or in other words, $50 for a video reaching 1 million views. We’ve talked about this on the blog 

How do Shorts creators earn a decent wage?

Historically, the answer has been off-platform sales. Many creators try to grab viewers' attention on YouTube, then guide them to a site that offers courses, products, subscriptions, or even exclusive content. So, even if Shorts revenue was low, earning from other sources wasn’t too difficult — until now.

Beginning August 31, YouTube will make sure that links of any kind 

 within YouTube Shorts. That includes the comments section, the description section, and the livestream chat.

This means that, going forward, you won’t see blue hyperlinks you can simply tap to arrive on a webpage outside of YouTube. You’ll have to copy and paste the links into your web browser (and so will your viewers).

Why Is YouTube Disabling Clickable Links in Shorts?

Removing clickable links from Shorts may seem like a drastic change, but YouTube has a good reason for doing it. The platform released 

“Since introducing Shorts two years ago, the volume and speed of content published on YouTube has increased in fun and exciting ways. At the same time, this speed and level of engagement has made it easier for spammers and scammers to share links in Shorts comments and Shorts descriptions that harm the community — for example, 

clickable links that drive users to malware, phishing, or scam-related content

YouTube's update about clickable Shorts links

While it’s frustrating to lose a good feature, YouTube’s ultimate goal is protecting viewers from scam artists.

YouTube is ‘Moving’ Links to This Section of Your Channel

Ok, so losing clickable links isn’t the 

 news in YouTube Shorts development. But, you may be wondering if there’s a silver lining to the madness, and, yes, there is!

Remember that section of your homepage that used to have social media links?

vidIQ YouTube banner showing now disabled social media links

Well, YouTube is bringing a version of this back to your channel. In 2024, you’ll be able to add “

” under the about section, and they’ll appear on both desktop and mobile.

If you’re a creator who needs to push viewers off-platform for any reason, this will be the place to do it.

But don’t just rely on homepage links. You can also use end screens to show links at the end of a video, and that’s a much better way to sell stuff to your viewers.

By the way, do you need a refresher on end screens? Here’s how to use that awesome feature!

Smartphone showing YouTube logo lying on pile of money

Smartphone displaying YouTube logo on screen, surrounded by US $100 bills.

Say goodbye to clickable links in YouTube Shorts.

This Money-Making Feature Is Leaving YouTube Soon

Growing a small YouTube channel is tough, but not when you know 

 what to post to get more views in a short amount of time. But that begs the question: Should you scour the internet for 

Not quite! vidIQ is here to do the hard work for you. Every month, we collect  the 

best trending topics for small creators, 

ones that will help you get discovered and grow your channel fast! From video game releases to the latest obsession in pop culture, these topics are made for explosive growth.

To ensure your success, we’ve selected YouTube keywords that are not only interesting, but also small-channel friendly. They aren't too competitive, and people are using these phrases at a high rate within YouTube search. 

vidIQ's rising keywords tool with search volume, volume change, and competition

Discover the best trending topics to grow a small YouTube channel in record time.

Lydia Sweatt

Posts Written By Lydia Sweatt

YouTube Unveils 'Related Links' to Connect Shorts and Long-Form Videos

How to Get 10 Million YouTube Shorts Views: A 90-Day Plan

YouTube's 'Suggested Videos' Algorithm: How to Crack It

Just Got Monetized on YouTube? 4 Tips to Boost Your AdSense Revenue

This Money-Making Feature Is Leaving YouTube Soon

10 Trending Topics to Grow a Small YouTube Channel [August 2023]

4 Steps to Revive a Stagnant YouTube Channel

3 Ways to Discover Viral YouTube Video Ideas

Creating Global Content: 4 Tips to Get YouTube Views Worldwide

10 Trending Topics to Grow a Small YouTube Channel [July 2023]

The Secret to Standing Out as a Small YouTube Creator

The Truth About AI: Can YouTube Automation Ruin Your Channel?