Category: Youtube Strategy

Published on July 28, 2025

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Do you want to start a YouTube channel but feel a little bit confused about which type of content you should focus on — long-form videos or YouTube Shorts?

You’re not alone.

With so many creators, niches, and content styles, deciding whether to go the long-form route or ride the Shorts wave can be overwhelming — especially when your goal is monetization.

Today, we’re breaking down exactly which format makes more money in 2025, how YouTube supports each with monetization options, and who benefits most from each format.

 

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📈 Understanding the Basics: Long-Form vs. Shorts in 2025

YouTube long-form videos (videos that are typically 8–20+ minutes) have been the backbone of the platform for years. They offer room for in-depth storytelling, tutorials, reactions, and reviews — and are monetized mainly through AdSense (in-stream ads), Super Chats, memberships, and affiliate deals.

Shorts, on the other hand, are vertical videos under 60 seconds — designed to compete with TikTok and Instagram Reels. They load fast, spread virally, and are more discoverable in the mobile-first space.

In 2025, YouTube has significantly improved monetization options for Shorts — but does it compete with long videos in terms of revenue?

Let’s dive deeper.

 

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💰 Monetization Models Compared (2025 Update)

Long Videos

✅ Revenue Source:

• In-stream ads (pre-roll, mid-roll, post-roll)
   
• Channel memberships
   
• Super Thanks / Super Chat
   
• Affiliate marketing or sponsorships
   
• YouTube Premium revenue share
   

✅ CPM (Cost Per 1000 Impressions):

• Typically $4–$15, depending on niche and geography.
   

✅ Viewer Watch Time:

• Longer watch time = higher engagement signal
   
• Better chance of being recommended
   

✅ Great for:

• Tutorials, education, tech reviews, vlogs, gaming, finance
   

 

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YouTube Shorts

✅ Revenue Source (in 2025):

• Shorts ad revenue (from the Shorts Feed)
   
• YouTube Shorts Fund (phased out, replaced by revenue split)
   
• Super Thanks on Shorts
   
• Brand sponsorships (off-platform deals)
   
• YouTube Shopping (for product-linked Shorts)
   

✅ CPM (2025 Average):

• $0.04–$0.10 per view (translates to ~$1–$3 per 1,000 views)
   
• Depends heavily on virality and viewer geography
   

✅ Viewer Behavior:

• Low attention span, swipe-happy
   
• Extremely high impressions but low average watch time per video
   

✅ Great for:

• Entertainment, quick facts, motivation, food hacks, relatable skits
   

 

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📊 Real-World Example: Monetization Potential

Case A: Long-form Creator

• Uploads 2 videos per week, 10 minutes each
   
• Gets 100,000 views per video
   
• CPM: $6
   
• Estimated monthly revenue: 8 videos × 100,000 views × $6 = $4,800
   

Case B: Shorts Creator

• Uploads 5 Shorts per week
   
• Each Short gets 300,000 views
   
• Shorts CPM: $1.50 per 1,000 views
   
• Estimated monthly revenue: 20 Shorts × 300,000 views × $1.50 = $9,000
   

💡 Surprise twist: Even though Shorts have lower CPMs, their viral nature and volume can lead to higher overall revenue — but only if you can consistently create viral content.

 

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📌 Educational Comparison Table

 

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🧠 Who Should Choose What?

👉 Go with Long-Form if:

• You’re good at storytelling or tutorials
   
• You want to build deep trust with an audience
   
• You want stable, passive revenue from evergreen videos
   
• You're creating monetizable content like finance, health, tech, or business
   

👉 Go with Shorts if:

• You’re great at trends, comedy, or quick tips
   
• You want to grow fast and hit millions of views quickly
   
• You enjoy high-volume, low-edit videos
   
• You want to funnel Shorts viewers to long-form content or an external offer
   

 

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🛠 Hybrid Strategy: Why Not Both?

Many successful creators in 2025 are combining long-form and Shorts to dominate both ends of YouTube’s ecosystem.

Example:

• Post long-form once a week for depth and monetization.
   
• Post Shorts daily to build momentum, gain subscribers, and funnel them to your main videos.
   

YouTube now even allows linking Shorts to full-length videos — boosting cross-traffic and increasing watch sessions.

 

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📚 Final Verdict: Which One Makes More Money?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer.

🔥 Long videos are better for consistent, high-CPM income, strong community building, and deeper engagement.

⚡ Shorts offer explosive growth potential and now have improved monetization — but income can be inconsistent and ad rates are lower.

If you’re just starting out, consider Shorts to build momentum quickly and gain visibility. But for sustainable, long-term income and brand partnerships, long-form content is still king.

 

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💡 Pro Tip:

YouTube rewards creators who publish consistently, engage with their audience, and deliver value — regardless of video length. Choose the format that fits your strengths, and optimize each upload with strong titles, thumbnails, and community interaction.

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