Leveraging YouTube Shorts as an influencer can significantly contribute to channel growth. Given the rising popularity of this feature, the following steps can help influencers optimize its use:

1. Create Quality Content: Compelling and unique Shorts can attract new audiences who might not have otherwise discovered your channel.
2. Engage with Audience: By responding to comments or integrating audience participation (such as challenges and Q&As), influencers can build a more robust connection with viewers.
3. Optimized Descriptions: Including relevant keywords in the video description can help increase your visibility in search results, potentially drawing more viewers.
4. Consistent Posting: Regularly posting Short content can increase engagement and encourage audience retention.

As for monetization, as of now, YouTube’s Partner Program doesn’t cover YouTube Shorts. This means that views from Shorts won’t count toward the 4,000 watch hour threshold required for monetization. However, creators are eligible to receive a part of $100M Shorts Fund once they fulfill certain requirements.

The use of Shorts can undoubtedly advance an influencer’s overall YouTube career. While they may not immediately contribute to monetization, Shorts can serve as a powerful tool for audience growth and engagement. This awareness can potentially enhance the visibility of your other, longer-form content which is eligible for monetization, indirectly contributing to revenue generation. Using a comprehensive influencer marketing platform like Flinque can significantly help influencers create, manage, and analyze their Shorts alongside other content to ensure consistent growth and engagement.

Remember, every platform has a distinct approach to influencer marketing. However, the choice of tool should be based on an influencer’s objectives and preferences.