YouTube has become one of the most powerful platforms for creators to earn money. Over the past few years, YouTube introduced different content formats, including traditional long-form videos and the newer YouTube Shorts. Both formats can help you grow your audience and generate revenue, but they work in very different ways.
This raises an important question for many creators: Should you focus on long videos or Shorts if your goal is to make money?
In this article, we’ll compare long videos and Shorts from every angle—monetization, audience growth, engagement, and long-term potential—to help you decide which format is best for your YouTube strategy.
1. Understanding the Two Formats
Long Videos
- Typically 8 to 30 minutes or longer.
- Designed for in-depth content such as tutorials, reviews, vlogs, or educational videos.
- Monetized mainly through ads, memberships, super chats, and sponsorships.
Shorts
- Vertical videos of under 60 seconds.
- Similar to TikTok or Instagram Reels in style.
- Designed for quick, entertaining, or snackable content.
- Monetized through the YouTube Shorts ad revenue system, which began in 2023.
2. Monetization Potential
Long Videos
Long-form content is the backbone of YouTube monetization. Here’s why:
- Ad Revenue: Ads can be placed before, during, and after long videos. Videos over 8 minutes allow mid-roll ads, which significantly boost earnings.
- CPM Rates: Cost Per Mille (CPM) is usually higher for long videos because advertisers prefer in-depth, informative content.
- Multiple Revenue Streams: Long videos also enable channel memberships, super chats during live streams, and more opportunities for sponsorships.
📊 Example: A 15-minute tutorial in the finance niche may earn $10–$20 CPM, compared to Shorts which often generate less per 1,000 views.
Shorts
YouTube introduced the Shorts monetization program in early 2023. Revenue comes from ads shown between Shorts in the feed.
- Earnings per view are typically lower than long videos.
- CPM can be much smaller, often just a fraction of what long-form videos earn.
- However, Shorts have huge reach potential—millions of views in a short time.
💡 Key Point: Shorts can go viral and bring in massive view counts, but the revenue per view is usually much lower than long-form content.
3. Audience Growth
Long Videos
- Build loyalty and deeper connections with viewers.
- Ideal for creating communities around niches like education, technology, health, and personal development.
- Slower growth compared to Shorts, but more sustainable in the long run.
Shorts
- Perfect for fast growth and exposure.
- The Shorts algorithm pushes content to users quickly, even if your channel is new.
- Easier to get viral hits and attract new subscribers.
- But: Subscribers gained through Shorts may not always engage with long videos.
4. Engagement and Watch Time
Long Videos
- Better for increasing watch hours, which is crucial for monetization eligibility.
- Keeps viewers engaged for longer periods.
- Higher chances of building trust and authority in your niche.
Shorts
- Great for boosting view counts and impressions.
- However, they contribute less to overall watch time since each video is under one minute.
- You may gain subscribers, but many of them might not watch longer videos.
5. Algorithm and Discoverability
Long Videos
- Favorable for YouTube’s search and recommendation system.
- Good for “evergreen” topics like tutorials, product reviews, and educational content.
- A well-optimized long video can bring in traffic for years.
Shorts
- Favorable for YouTube’s discovery and viral growth.
- Ideal for trends, challenges, comedy, and bite-sized tutorials.
- However, many Shorts have a shorter lifespan and may stop getting views after the trend fades.
6. Content Creation Effort
Long Videos
- Require more planning, scripting, editing, and resources.
- Production can take hours or even days.
- Higher effort, but also higher earning potential.
Shorts
- Faster to produce. A single idea can be recorded and uploaded in minutes.
- Lower barrier to entry, which is great for beginners.
- Easier to stay consistent by posting daily.
7. Long-Term Growth and Branding
Long Videos
- Build authority and credibility.
- Ideal for personal branding, businesses, and creators who want to establish expertise.
- Attract sponsorships and collaborations more easily because brands prefer long-form content for product integration.
Shorts
- Great for visibility and quick reach, but harder to build a strong personal brand.
- Many subscribers may only care about quick entertainment and not deeper content.
- Good supplement to long videos, but rarely sustainable as the only format.
8. Which is Better for Making Money?
The answer depends on your goals and niche:
- If you want higher revenue per view: Long videos win. They have better CPM, multiple monetization options, and stronger audience loyalty.
- If you want fast exposure and subscribers: Shorts are better for quick growth and reaching a wider audience.
- Best Strategy: Use both formats together. Create Shorts to attract new viewers, then guide them toward your long videos where you can monetize more effectively.
📌 Example Strategy:
- Post Shorts daily to capture attention and grow subscribers.
- Publish one or two long videos weekly to build watch time and maximize revenue.
- Use Shorts as teasers for your long-form content.
9. Real-World Case Studies
- Channel A (Tech Reviews): Focused only on long videos. CPM was $12–$15, earning stable income, but subscriber growth was slow.
- Channel B (Comedy Shorts): Gained 500K subscribers in 6 months with Shorts but struggled to convert them into loyal long-form viewers.
- Channel C (Hybrid Strategy): Used Shorts to gain traffic and pushed viewers to detailed long videos. Grew fast and earned strong revenue.
The lesson: Shorts are amazing for visibility, but long videos are where the serious money is.
Conclusion
When it comes to making money on YouTube, long videos generally provide higher revenue and long-term sustainability, while Shorts are great for quick growth and viral exposure.
If you’re serious about building a profitable YouTube channel:
- Don’t rely only on Shorts.
- Use Shorts as a gateway to attract new viewers.
- Focus on long-form content to build trust, generate higher CPMs, and secure brand deals.
👉 The smartest strategy is a hybrid approach: Combine Shorts for growth and long videos for monetization. That way, you get the best of both worlds—fast subscribers and sustainable income.
