AdSense RPM Dropped 80% After Switching to Shorts – Need Advice

Yes, it's completely normal. Shorts RPM is significantly lower because ads are less intrusive (they're often skippable, and the CPM is lower due to the format). In 2026, the average Shorts RPM is between $0.10 and $1.50, depending on niche and audience location. Tech is usually higher, so $0.80 is actually on the better side. The key is to focus on total revenue, not RPM. If you're getting 1.2M views, you're earning roughly $960 per month from Shorts alone. For long-form, you'd need about 213K views at $4.50 RPM to match that. So, the pivot might be worth it in terms of total revenue if you can sustain those views. Keep an eye on your revenue per 1000 views (RPM) but also consider your overall earnings.

I've been in the same boat. One thing that helped me was to diversify my revenue streams within Shorts. For example, I use the Shorts remix feature to encourage viewers to watch my long-form videos, which have higher RPM. Also, make sure you're enabling 'Allow ads on Shorts' in your YouTube Studio (it's under Settings > Channel > Monetization). Some creators forget that and miss out on ad revenue. Additionally, consider joining the YouTube Shorts Bonus program if you're eligible – it's a separate fund that pays based on performance, not just ads. That can significantly boost your income from Shorts.

Good point, but actually that setting is automatically enabled for all monetized channels now. However, what many don't realize is that the ads on Shorts are often 'shopping ads' or 'display ads' that have lower CPM. To increase your RPM, focus on audience geography – if your viewers are from countries like the US, UK, Canada, Australia, you'll get higher RPM. You can check your audience demographics in YouTube Analytics under 'Audience' > 'Geography'. If you have a lot of views from India or Indonesia, that will drag your RPM down. Consider creating content that appeals to Tier 1 countries, even if it means slightly lower views overall.

I had a similar issue when I started Shorts. What worked for me was to create a 'Shorts strategy' that drives traffic to my long-form videos. I use the 'Related Video' feature (the link that appears below a Short) to point viewers to a full-length tutorial. That way, I get the best of both worlds: high views from Shorts and high RPM from long-form. Also, consider using the 'Shorts feed' to build your subscriber base, then leverage that to get more long-form views. In my experience, the algorithm rewards creators who use Shorts to grow their channel, not just to get quick ad revenue. Good luck!

Thanks everyone for the advice! I checked my analytics and indeed most of my Shorts views are from India and Indonesia, which explains the low RPM. I'll focus on targeting Tier 1 countries and also start including CTAs to my long-form videos. I also didn't realize the Shorts Bonus program – I'll apply for that. This has been super helpful. I'll report back in a month to see if my revenue improves. Thanks again!