How to Start a YouTube Shorts Channel in 2026 (Step-by-Step)

YouTube Shorts has several advantages over TikTok and Instagram Reels for new creators. First, YouTube has the strongest monetization. Once monetized, Shorts earn ad revenue, and long-form content on the same channel earns even more.

Second, YouTube content has a longer shelf life. While TikToks peak and die within 48 hours, Shorts can continue getting views for months through search and recommendations.

Third, YouTube Shorts can funnel viewers to your long-form content, building a more sustainable and profitable channel over time.

Step 1: Choose a focused niche. Pick one topic: motivation, finance, tech, facts, cooking, fitness, or any specific interest. Focused channels grow faster.

Step 2: Set up your channel. Create a YouTube account with a niche-relevant name. Write a clear channel description. Design a simple but recognizable profile picture and banner.

Step 3: Create your first 30 videos. Use FluxNote to batch-create 30 Shorts. This gives you a full month of daily content to start with.

Step 4: Publish daily. Post one Short per day at consistent times. The algorithm needs data from multiple videos to understand your channel.

Step 5: Analyze and iterate after 30 days. Review analytics. Identify top-performing topics and double down on what works.

- Do not wait for perfection — start publishing and improve as you go
- Daily posting is non-negotiable for the first 90 days
- Use AI tools to maintain volume without sacrificing your time
- Study successful channels in your niche for format ideas
- Focus on completion rate — keep videos tight and hook-first

- Not posting consistently — gaps in posting slow growth dramatically
- Covering too many topics — the algorithm needs to categorize your channel
- Ignoring titles and descriptions — metadata matters for Shorts discoverability
- Comparing to established channels — everyone started at zero
- Waiting too long to start — the best time to start was yesterday, the second best is today