YouTube is preparing to raise the entry threshold for its Partner Program, but at the same time, it is testing new ways for creators to make money. The platform quietly announced the launch of a Bonus Program that will deliver additional earnings to select Partner Program enrollees who consistently upload short-form content.
As with many new YouTube features, the YouTube Shorts Bonus Program was revealed in a Creator Insider video hosted by Rene Ritchie, YouTube’s current Creator Liaison. “What if you could get paid a bonus just for keeping your Shorts schedule consistent?” Ritchie asked. He added that creators who are part of the test can take home “something extra based on your viewership.”
Ritchie noted that creators can’t currently choose whether they participate in the Bonus Program test. Instead, during an ongoing trial period, the extra earnings are being offered to a select group of Partner Program members across six regions: The United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Brazil, Japan, and South Korea. The lucky creators who are getting the bonus opportunity will be notified of their program eligibility via email.
An accompanying YouTube Help page explains that the size of each creator’s bonus “will be calculated based on your total valid engaged Shorts views for that month.” Participants in the test must keep their Shorts monetization enabled for the entire month to receive the ensuing payout.
A bonus program was once one of the primary forms of monetization on Instagram Reels, the Meta-powered format that’s analogous to YouTube Shorts and TikTok. Ultimately, Meta unlocked more efficient revenue streams and phased out Reels Play bonuses.
Since short-form bonuses have fallen out of vogue, YouTube’s decision to test its Bonus Program now is curious. We shouldn’t expect the new Shorts revenue stream to become a significant piece of the YouTube monetization pie, but if it gets a wider rollout, participating creators will be incentivized to post more often. In turn, that will raise their overall viewership numbers, helping ensure that they continue to qualify for the Partner Program even after the entry standards become higher next February. So if you happen to get an invite from YouTube in your email, consider the Bonus Program as an opportunity to shore up your Shorts production pipeline.
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