High CPM vs Low CPM Niches for Shorts Creators

High CPM vs Low CPM Niches Explained for ShortsFire Creators

If you create YouTube Shorts, TikToks, or Instagram Reels, you already know that views feel like the main goal. But if you want to turn content into real income, you need to understand one thing clearly: not all views pay the same.

That is where CPM comes in.

This guide breaks down high CPM vs low CPM niches in simple terms, so you can choose topics that fit your goals and use ShortsFire more strategically to plan and test content.

You do not need to become an ad-tech expert. You just need a clear mental model:
Some topics attract advertisers who are willing to pay a lot per viewer. Others attract much less.

Both can work. They just work in different ways.

What CPM Actually Means (Without the Jargon)

CPM stands for "cost per mille" which is how much advertisers pay per 1,000 ad impressions.

For you as a creator, CPM is basically:

How much advertisers pay to show ads to viewers in your niche.

On many platforms, you see two related numbers:

• CPM
  What advertisers are paying before the platform's cut.

• RPM
  What you actually earn per 1,000 views after the platform takes its share.

Even if you only see revenue and not detailed CPM data, the idea is the same. Some topics earn more money per thousand views, some earn less.

So when people say "high CPM niche" they mean:

A content topic where advertisers pay a lot to reach those viewers.

And "low CPM niche" means:

A topic where advertisers don’t pay much for those viewers.

Why Some Niches Pay More Than Others

Advertisers are not paying for your content. They are paying to reach a specific type of viewer.

So platforms charge more when:

• Those viewers have money to spend
• They are ready to buy something expensive
• They are looking for solutions to serious problems
• There is strong competition among advertisers in that space

That is why finance tutorials, business content, and software reviews often have higher CPMs than memes or comedy.

Think of it this way:

• A viewer who is about to buy a house, a car, or a $500 software tool is worth more to advertisers.
• A viewer who is just scrolling funny videos for fun is still valuable, but worth less on a pure advertising basis.

Common High CPM Niches for Short-Form Content

You might think high CPM topics only work for long tutorials, but a lot of them adapt really well to Shorts, Reels, and TikTok.

Here are examples of higher CPM niches and why they pay more.

1. Personal Finance and Investing

Examples:

• "3 ways to save $500 this month"
• "Beginner stock market mistakes to avoid"
• "How to fix your credit score fast"

Why CPM is higher:

• Banks, brokerages, credit card companies, and apps all fight for these viewers.
• One new customer can be worth thousands to them.

Short-form tip:
Use quick, specific hooks:

• "If you have a credit card, watch this"
• "Stop doing this with your savings"

2. Online Business and Marketing

Examples:

• "Email subject line that doubled my open rates"
• "3 side hustles you can start with $0"
• "This ad made $10k in one week"

Why CPM is higher:

• Viewers are often entrepreneurs or side-hustlers ready to spend on tools and courses.
• Software companies and service providers pay a premium to get in front of them.

Short-form tip:
Turn case studies, tips, and mistakes into snackable clips:

• Before vs after results
• One simple tactic per video

3. Software, Tools, and Tech Tutorials

Examples:

• "5 hidden features in Canva"
• "ChatGPT prompt that saves hours"
• "Notion setup for students in 60 seconds"

Why CPM is higher:

• Lots of SaaS tools, productivity apps, and tech brands competing for attention.
• High lifetime value per user.

Short-form tip:
Focus on quick "how to" micro-tutorials and feature breakdowns:

• "Do this instead of that"
• "Most people don’t know this feature exists"

4. Education and Career Content

Examples:

• "3 resume tips hiring managers actually care about"
• "Interview question: Tell me about yourself"
• "Fastest way to learn Python basics"

Why CPM is higher:

• Viewers are students, professionals, and career switchers.
• Schools, course creators, and career platforms want them badly.

Short-form tip:
Answer one question per video and hook with the problem:

• "You’re answering this wrong in interviews"
• "Stop writing your resume like this"

5. Health and Wellness (Specific, Not Vague)

Examples:

• "Fix your posture in 30 seconds"
• "Simple breakfast that keeps you full till noon"
• "One stretch to relieve lower back tension"

Why CPM can be higher:

• Health products, apps, programs, and supplements compete for users.
• Better performance with more serious, solution-focused content.

Short-form tip:
Show simple, visual changes:

• Before vs after
• One exercise, one meal, one habit per clip

Common Low CPM Niches (That Still Have Huge Potential)

Low CPM does not mean "bad niche." It just means you usually earn less per 1,000 views from ads alone.

These niches are often amazing for growth, brand deals, and selling your own products.

1. Entertainment and Comedy

Examples:

• Skits
• Pranks
• Reaction videos
• Parodies

Why CPM is lower:

• Very broad audience and casual viewing.
• Harder for advertisers to know who is watching or what they want.

Upside:

• Massive reach potential.
• Great for building a loyal fanbase and doing brand deals.

2. General Lifestyle and Vlogs

Examples:

• "Day in my life"
• "What I eat in a day"
• "Weekend reset routine"

Why CPM is lower:

• Broad, mixed audience.
• Hard for ads to target specific intent.

Upside:

• Strong parasocial connection and high trust.
• Perfect for selling your own products, coaching, or affiliates.

3. Memes, Trends, and Viral Challenges

Examples:

• Trend dances
• Audio-based trends
• Quick meme edits

Why CPM is lower:

• Super general audience.
• Very short attention behavior.
• Advertisers do not see strong buying intent.

Upside:

• Wild potential for explosive growth.
• Great for quickly testing hooks and formats using ShortsFire.

How To Choose: High CPM vs Low CPM For Your Channel

You do not have to pick just one type forever. But you should be clear about your main path.

Ask yourself:

1. What is my primary goal right now?

   • Fast audience growth
   • Higher ad revenue
   • Building a brand to sell products or services

2. What can I talk about consistently without burning out?

   • You can fake interest for a month, not for a year.

3. What skills or experiences do I already have?

   • Jobs you have done
   • Skills you have learned
   • Problems you have solved for yourself

A simple framework:

• If you want maximum ad revenue per view, lean into high CPM niches.
• If you want fast growth and virality, lean into low CPM, broad entertainment or lifestyle.
• If you want business income beyond ads, pick a niche where you can:
  • Teach something
  • Recommend tools or products
  • Offer a service or digital product later

Balancing High and Low CPM Content

The smart move for many creators is a mix.

Think in terms of three content buckets:

1. Growth Clips

   • Broad, fun, shareable
   • Often lower CPM
   • Goal: bring in new viewers fast

2. Value Clips in Higher-CPM Topics

   • Specific tips or insights
   • Higher CPM potential
   • Goal: educate, build trust, attract buyers

3. Conversion or Offer Clips

   • For your own product, service, or affiliate
   • Goal: turn viewers into customers

With ShortsFire, you can plan batches of each type, test different hooks and formats, and see which buckets actually drive the results you want.

Actionable Tips To Use This Knowledge Right Away

Here is how to use high vs low CPM thinking without getting stuck over-analyzing numbers.

1. Audit Your Current Content

Look at your last 30 to 50 Shorts, Reels, or TikToks and ask:

• What topics got the most views?
• Which ones attracted comments like "I needed this" or "This helped"?
• Which videos feel closest to high-intent topics such as money, business, learning, or solving a specific problem?

You might already have high CPM potential content without realizing it.

2. Add a "High CPM Angle" To What You Already Do

You do not always need a new niche. Sometimes you just need a sharper angle.

Examples:

• If you do lifestyle:
  • Add short money-saving, productivity, or career tips inside your routines.
• If you do fitness:
  • Create clips around "fitness for busy professionals" or "workout habits that improve focus at work."
• If you do tech reviews:
  • Focus more on tools that help make money, save time, or grow a business.

Small shifts in angle can attract higher-value advertisers over time.

3. Create a Simple Niche Map

Write down:

• One broad, lower-CPM topic you enjoy
  (example: comedy, lifestyle, gaming)
• One higher-CPM angle related to it
  (example: gaming gear reviews, productivity in gaming, budgeting for gaming setup)

Then plan:

• 5 growth clips in your broad topic
• 5 value clips in the related higher-CPM angle

Use ShortsFire to structure these ideas, batch scripts, and track what sticks.

4. Think Beyond Ads Only

Ads are just one way to earn.

High CPM content is powerful, but some of the biggest creators in low CPM niches make most of their income from:

• Brand deals and sponsorships
• Affiliate marketing
• Merch and digital products
• Coaching and consulting

CPM affects ad revenue, but your business model affects your total revenue a lot more.

Final Thoughts

High CPM niches are not automatically better. Low CPM niches are not a waste of time.

They are simply different tools:

• High CPM niches pay you more per 1,000 views
• Low CPM niches usually give you more views, faster

Your best strategy as a ShortsFire creator is to:

1. Pick a niche you can actually stick with
2. Add in at least one higher-CPM angle if possible
3. Use short-form content to test ideas fast
4. Build something beyond ads over time

Views are nice. Targeted, intentional views are better. Combine smart niche choices with consistent output, and monetization becomes a lot more predictable.