YouTube Shorts Guide
If you are on social media platforms today, you know that video leads in terms of most engaging, and interacting with content. With the rise of TikTok, many people have proven to enjoy short-form videos over images and longer-form content. YouTube laid the foundation for video content way back in 2005 and then quickly followed trends by introducing YouTube Shorts in 2020.
YouTube Shorts are short-form, vertical video content created using a smartphone and uploaded directly to YouTube from the YouTube app. These videos have become extremely popular and have very interesting trends to help inform your content approach.
Shorts are very different than the long-form videos we see. There is much more diversity in regard to topics and content. Let’s start with the basics.
What are YouTube Shorts?
YouTube Shorts are a feature that allows creators to make short, vertical videos ranging from 15 to 60 seconds. Designed for mobile viewing, these clips cater to the growing demand for quick, engaging content. The format is particularly appealing to audiences who prefer fast-paced videos that fit into their busy lives.
Creators can utilize YouTube’s built-in tools to enhance their Shorts, including adding music, text overlays, and various editing features. This makes it easy to create visually appealing and entertaining videos. Since their launch, YouTube Shorts have gained significant popularity, offering a unique opportunity for creators to engage with new viewers and potentially convert them into subscribers.
How to Make a YouTube Short
Anyone can create a YouTube Short. You do not need any subscribers or followers in order to create your first YouTube Short. To create a YouTube Short all you have to do is open up the YouTube app on your phone, click the +, and toggle over to ‘Short’.
Here you can create the content directly through the app. If you want to upload your video you can do this from both your phone and your computer. You will just sign into the YouTube Create Studio, click the ‘Create’ button on the top corner, and hit ‘Upload‘.
You can also turn your long-form YouTube Videos into shorts by selecting a video you want to turn into a short, then hitting the ‘Create’ button, and clicking on ‘Edit Into a Short‘.
Using Audio in Your Shorts
You can enhance your YouTube Shorts by incorporating audio from existing videos. Here’s how to do it:
- Find the Audio: Start by locating the Short that features the audio you want to use. Click on the bottom right corner to view other Shorts that have utilized the same audio.
- Use the Audio: Once you’ve found the desired audio, click “Use this audio” and then follow the previous steps to film and upload your Short.
If you prefer to use audio from a regular YouTube video instead of a Short, simply find the video, tap “Create,” and follow the same process.
Creative YouTube Shorts Features
You can also enhance your Shorts with a variety of creative features:
- Music and Audio: To add music, click “Add music” and choose a track from the available options. Make sure to select music that is suitable for personal use to avoid any copyright issues.
- Text: Utilize the Text option to add captions to your video. You can choose when the text appears and disappears using the Timeline feature.
- Speed: Adjust the speed of your video to create dynamic and engaging content.
- Timer: Set a timer to control when you start and stop recording, making it easier to capture the perfect moment.
YouTube Short Trend Ideas:
If you want to be on top of the new trends and use them to grow your business and your YouTube channel, keep reading!
- Funny Shorts– humor will never go out of style, everyone loves a good laugh. Posting your funny fails, pranks, and jokes is always a good YouTube Short idea.
- Motivational Shorts– motivating and inspiring your audience is a great idea that has been seen to do very well on YouTube Shorts.
- Educational Shorts– teaching your audience something about your niche is a great idea! People are looking to social media to learn new things more and more.
- Product Reviews– like influencers do often, reviewing and giving your opinion on brands and products make for great YouTube Short ideas.
All of these trends are worth looking into and brainstorming some ideas that align with your brand to stay ahead of the curve and continue to grow your channel!
YouTube Shorts Monetization
Let’s say those YouTube Shorts go viral and you want to know if you can make money from it. The short answer is, absolutely! Let’s go over the requirements.
Gain 1,000 subscribers and 10 million public Shorts views in the last 90 days or Gain 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 public watch hours on your long-form videos on the YouTube Partner Program.
Making money from YouTube Shorts is different from monetizing a regular YouTube video. All Shorts revenue is split between two parties: the creators who make them and the music publishers who provide songs for those videos. Meaning, a portion of the revenue will go to what’s called the ‘Creator Pool’ which will be calculated based on the engagement on the video. Then YouTube pays the music publishers as well.
Another way to monetize your Shorts would be to develop a brand deal or sponsorship. Where the brand or company itself would pay you to post about their products or brand which is more common.
YouTube Shorts Algorithm
YouTube Shorts algorithm is different than the long-form videos. For example, when viewers are watching a long-form video they are choosing which one and clicking on their chosen video whereas in Shorts, viewers are swiping through a feed and being fed videos they didn’t particularly search for.
YouTube Shorts Collab Feature
YouTube Shorts Collab is a new creation tool that allows you to record a Short side-by-side with another Short or YouTube video.
When recording a short collab, you first need to find the video you want to film alongside. Again, this can be a normal YouTube video or another Short.
Then, locate the “Remix” button, which will be in the bottom right corner of the video. You will see the “Collab” option. For more information on this feature, click the button below:
YouTube Shorts FAQS
There are several frequently asked questions regarding YouTube Shorts and we will be answering them for you below!
How Long Have YouTube Shorts Been Around?
YouTube shorts have not been around for too long. In fact, they were first introduced in the United States in 2020 and have rapidly gained popularity since.
Where To Put Hashtags on YouTube Shorts?
You can add your hashtags in either the title or the description of your YouTube Short. There is also a step when uploading where YouTube has an optional step to add #shorts. Although this step is optional, YouTube actually recommends adding this portion so you can fully optimize your post.
Where is the Description Box on YouTube Shorts?
To view the description of a YouTube Short, all you have to do is locate the specific YouTube Short, click the three lines in the right upper corner, and then click on the description.
How Does YouTube Shorts Count Views?
Views are not just swiping through the video, they count views as if someone had the intent of watching the whole thing so that creators know how many people were actually interested in their content.
YouTube has a ‘Viewed’ or ‘Swiped Away’ threshold to help creators know the number of viewers on their posts.
If Your YouTube Short Does Not Take Off Should You Delete and Repost?
No. There is a risk that the YouTube system could flag the content as spam. If your content did not take off, study the content learn from it, and move on with some other kind of content.
Which is the Best Time to Post YouTube Shorts?
Although this depends on factors such as time zones and target audiences, it has been found that Mondays and Tuesdays between 12 pm to 3 pm are the best times to post your YouTube Shorts.
How to Download My YouTube Shorts
To download your Shorts, go to your YouTube Studio, select the Short, click on options, and choose “Download.”
Youtube Shorts are popular and effective and if you have been thinking about posting them, this is your sign to try it out! We are here to help every step of the way. To get the most out of your YouTube shorts, be sure to read or blog at the button below:
