Want another place to get paid for your videos? X is testing a creator incentive that rewards consistent posting of original short-form video.
X’s Video Kickstart Bonus is an invite-only pilot. Payouts reach up to $3,000 per program period. The catch? You have to keep the videos coming.
15 videos in 15 days may equal a $3,000 bonus
The rules are simple. Invited creators must publish at least 15 qualifying videos on 15 different days during a program period. Each video has to be original and vertical (9:16). It also has to run under three minutes. X hasn’t said exactly how long each program period lasts.
Bonus amounts depend on your combined follower count across X and other platforms. Eligible creators get notified in their Creator Studio dashboard, where the offer appears. Participants also get fast-tracked into X’s Original Content Rewards program, a second revenue stream.
Got a video library on other apps? X lets participants repurpose their own videos from TikTok, Instagram and YouTube. Strip out any other platform’s watermark or branding first.
YouTube is testing a similar program
YouTube recently introduced its own Shorts Bonus Program. It’s also an invite-only test. It rewards eligible Partner Program creators who publish Shorts on a regular schedule. Unlike X, YouTube bases its bonuses on engaged Shorts views.
What we think
Platforms are fighting for your time and your original content. Bonus programs like these nudge creators to publish everywhere at once. If they roll out more widely, they could pay you extra for clips you already make.
The math works best for creators who already shoot vertical. Batch a week of clips in one session, and a 15-day streak looks a lot more realistic. Export clean versions without on-screen watermarks so the same footage can go to X, Shorts and Reels.