YouTube Shorts are a goldmine for making money without showing your face. Many teenagers and creators are earning tens of thousands of dollars each month just by posting faceless videos. The crazy part? They rarely step in front of the camera. If you want to join them, this guide reveals exactly how to do it.
Recent updates in YouTube’s system mean Shorts can now pay much better. Some creators are seeing RPMs (revenue per thousand views) as high as 70 cents. That’s about ten times more than what most think Shorts can earn. While TikTok pays about $1 per 1,000 views, Shorts can be easier to go viral on, making your chances to succeed way higher.
In this post, I’ll show you how to pick a viral niche, create engaging videos, and start earning fast.
Understanding the YouTube Shorts Algorithm
How the Algorithm Finds Viral Shorts
Getting views on Shorts isn’t about luck. YouTube uses engagement — how long people watch and interact — to decide what to push. Your goal? Make viewers stay as long as possible.
Retention is king here. If your video keeps people watching from start to finish, it tells YouTube your content is good. Longer Shorts (up to 60 seconds) tend to get more promotion because they hold viewers longer. Short clips of 10 seconds with perfect retention might not perform as well as 50-second ones that keep people hooked.
Engagement Beyond Watching
Likes, comments, and shares also boost your video’s reach. When viewers comment or tag friends, it signals to YouTube that your Shorts are worth showing more. So, ask questions or add calls-to-action (CTAs) that naturally get people involved without sounding spammy.
Overcoming Monetization Barriers for Shorts
Your Starting Challenges
To get paid from Shorts directly, YouTube needs you to hit 1,000 subscribers and 10 million Shorts views within 90 days. That can take months, especially in the beginning.
How to Jumpstart Earnings
A smart move? Use pre-monetized channels that already meet these rules. There are services that offer channels grown organically to hit the numbers fast. These channels have audiences in Western countries where ad rates are high, so you earn more per view. It can cost about $5 to buy such a channel, allowing you to start earning from your first video.
Getting paid early helps you reinvest profits into creating more Shorts and growing faster. It’s a simple shortcut that can save months of work.
Finding a Viral Niche for Faceless Shorts
The Viral Niche of 2024: Animal Videos
One niche that consistently crushes it? Cute animal videos. For example, videos of pandas or hippos go viral fast. The story of Moodyang, a small hippo that’s suddenly everywhere, proves animal content is still hot. Some of these videos rack up over 40 million views and make thousands in ad revenue.
How to Spot Winning Topics
- Look at top videos on big channels within your niche.
- Use TikTok and YouTube’s search filters to find trending clips.
- Pick topics that already perform well and have tons of views.
- Focus on viral clips with high engagement that are easy to recreate.
Choosing the Right Niche
Stick with themes that catch attention easily — funny animals, surprising stories, or trending viral moments. When you piggyback on what’s already trending, your Shorts are much more likely to blow up.
How to Create Viral Shorts in Easy Steps
Develop Concepts That Grab Attention
Start with a strong hook in the first 1-3 seconds. Think of a line that makes viewers wonder, like “This little hippo almost died but became a viral star.” Keep details exciting but simple.
Write Engaging Scripts
Structure your script using these three parts:
- Hook: Spark curiosity immediately.
- Story: Build a simple story to keep viewers interested.
- Call-to-action: Encourage comments or tags in a fun way, like “Tag your friend who loves cute animals!”
Aim for about 150 words minimum. More depth means viewers stay longer.
Find Cool Content Quickly
Use TikTok or YouTube for your clips. Search “hippo videos,” then pick clips with lots of views that look natural. Avoid using videos with too much text or editing unless you get permission.
Basic Editing Techniques
You don’t need fancy software. Use free tools like CapCut. Cut out pauses, overlap clips with small overlaps (called J-cuts), and speed up parts to keep pace. Add captions with bold fonts; this makes your Shorts more engaging and brandable.
Perfect the Voiceover with AI
Use tools like 11 Labs to create realistic voiceovers. Input your script, add emotion by changing punctuation, and generate a natural sound. Add free background music from sites like Pixabay — just keep the volume low so it doesn’t overpower your voice.
Make It Visually Appealing
Add color correction with simple tools to make your video vibrant. Brighten or tweak saturation to grab attention. Finalize by exporting in 1080p at 60fps to keep quality high.
Posting & Optimizing for Success
Uploading Tips
Compose catchy titles packed with keywords. Write descriptions that tease the story. Use relevant tags to help YouTube understand your Shorts’ content. If possible, add eye-catching first frames or thumbnails even for Shorts.
Stay Consistent
Upload regularly — at least every few days. The YouTube algorithm favors channels that post often. Don’t worry if your first videos don’t go viral; growth takes time.
Drive Engagement
Ask viewers to comment or tag friends in a fun way. Respond to comments to build a community. Pinned comments are a great place to steer conversations or remind viewers to subscribe.
Start Today
Making money with faceless YouTube Shorts is easier than you think. Find a viral niche like cute animals, tell a compelling story, and keep posting consistently. Use simple tools and AI to streamline the process. With effort and smart strategies, you can turn Shorts into a reliable income stream.
Start today — your journey to making thousands monthly begins with one viral video. Keep learning, stay consistent, and watch your channel grow.