YouTube launched YouTube Shorts back in 2020 after developers spotted a trend towards short-form video content based on the success of TikTok. These days, Shorts have become as popular as regular YouTube videos and provide a growing proportion of the site’s content.
This guide will help you understand the short-form video format in better detail, so you can improve the content across your YouTube account.
What are YouTube Shorts?
Well, they’re short videos in vertical format that let you create and watch quick content from your phone.
These short-form clips last up to 60 seconds and appear in a dedicated Shorts section on YouTube. They are designed to be easily consumed on a mobile device.
Now, YouTube shorts only came about a few years ago in response to what was going on elsewhere on social media. People were watching and sharing video clips from Instagram and TikTok and are simply more willing to binge short videos.
A lot of content creators noticed the rise of TikTok and inevitably started moving a lot of their content there. YouTube needed a way to keep their creators on YouTube.
YouTube Shorts not only gives you a new way of creating content but also a new way to promote existing, longer-form content on your channel by breaking it down into small clips.
It therefore serves a dual purpose. Influencers get to do their thing, while brands can clip up long-form videos and repackage them.
YouTube Shorts are designed to grab your attention quickly and, like TikTok, you can swipe through them with ease to discover new content.
Eye-catching visuals are key, along with upbeat music and trending audio clips that make your Short standout.
You also have the ability to respond to comments with a new Short – enabling users to consume and create content in a fast-paced way.
Benefits of creating YouTube Shorts
YouTube Shorts offer a fresh approach to increasing engagement on your channel. As well as reaching wider audiences, it enables you to get more creative with content. They’re easy to make. Expensive equipment isn’t a necessity.
YouTube Shorts also give you the chance to try out new content ideas and styles, which can help you understand what works best for your channel. Using string clips, you can easily combine multiple segments during recording to enhance the viewing experience, making it more entertaining and effectively showcasing your content.
If you’re a new channel starting out, Shorts are a great way to reach new subscribers that will then watch the longer-form content on your channel as a result.
Shorts are also a key way to engage with a younger audience, which expands the overall demographic of those viewing your content.
It’s best for Shorts to be in vertical format as most people will consume them through a mobile device. It’s a format that feels much more natural, which is why TikTok has been such a successful platform.
Shorts should be considered in your content plan because they will increase views, boost engagement, grow your audience, promote your brand, and help you stay relevant on social media. You don’t have to do a dance challenge to be successful on Shorts. You just need to make sure your video content strategy aligns with your target audience.
Regular and consistent posting will enable you to stay on top of the YouTube algorithm and develop a better presence on the platform over time.
Where to find YouTube Shorts
Now you know about the benefits of having Shorts videos on your channel, it's time to look at the practicalities.
Remember, if you want to quickly grab your viewers’ attention, then YouTube Shorts are perfect.
You can find YouTube Shorts via the tab on your desktop or app. Click on it and you'll be able to set your recommendations settings, so the algorithm can get to work.
Things to consider when you create YouTube Shorts
To create engaging Shorts, think about how you can draw audiences in within the opening seconds. Your content needs to have a focus on a single topic or discussion that is kept brief, so don’t try to pack too much in. It’s best to think of one engaging concept and do that well.
Eye-catching visuals are key, along with upbeat music that makes your Short standout. Within the YouTube app, you can utilize built-in analytics tools with fun effects and sound options. It's similar to TikTok and Instagram Reels. Play around with them to workout what fits best to your content.
Always keep an eye on current trends as these are what resonate with the audience most. It’s still important to add your own unique twist to stand out.
Text overlays are another good feature that can highlight key points within your video. It helps YouTube viewers understand what they’re watching even if sound isn’t on.
Be sure to end with some form of call-to-action such as like, comment, or subscribe to help grow your audience more. Have fun with it and let your personality do the talking through your content.
YouTube Shorts monetization
An attractive feature of YouTube Shorts is its monetization function. Just like with TikTok and Instagram, users can now make revenue from short-form videos.
Ad revenue is a big one when it comes to Shorts. YouTube will pay its creators 45% of the net revenue from ads shown between Shorts.
To be eligible, you just need to join the YouTube Partner Program and accept the conditions of Shorts Monetization Module.
Another way of doing it is with the YouTube Premium revenue sharing. If a subscriber of YouTube Premium watches your Short, you will get a cut of their fees. This helps to offset the music licensing costs when it comes to using YouTube Shorts with copyrighted songs.
What helped kickstart the Shorts ecosystem was the YouTube Shorts Fund. It offered $100 million to reward its popular YouTube Shorts creators in 2021 to 2022. It’s no longer active but played a big role in the inception of Shorts.
Other areas where you can make revenue are in the YouTube Shopping features, fan-funding options like Super Thanks, brand partnerships, and sponsorships.
It’s easy to see if your YouTube Shorts are making money. Just head to the Content section within YouTube Studio and look for green or yellow icons next to the monetized Shorts.
One thing to note: only views that come after you have monetized your content will count towards earnings. Older YouTube Shorts views will not begin to generate revenue.
Tips for success on YouTube Shorts
There’s a lot of competition out there when it comes to creating short-form video content, so how do you stand out from the rest?
Post regularly
Firstly, you have to be putting the work in and that means posting regularly and consistently. Set a schedule and stick to it because it helps build an audience that anticipates when you will post.
Keep it short (no kidding)
Short and sweet is also key. Look to make snappy 15-second clips that are easily consumed and engaging.
You can make videos up to 60 seconds, but shorter often works better, particularly for growing new audiences.
Find a good hook
Hook your viewers in quickly. The first few seconds are really important so make sure it grabs their attention. Something eye-catching or intriguing will do the trick.
Use sound
Research and stay on top of the trending audio week by week. Songs and sounds that are popular will get your YouTube Shorts noticed more often.
Leverage text on screen
Text overlays massively improve the engagement on videos because users that are quickly swiping through videos are more likely to stop and read an eye-catching caption on screen.
Measure your progress
Analyzing results is crucial to your success because it not only helps you understand your audience better, but also how your content is performing. So, make sure you look at your data and weave the learnings into your content strategy.
Be you
Lastly, remember to be your authentic self. YouTube Shorts are there to build your personality, so let that come through in your content and don’t be afraid to be yourself.
Measuring success on YouTube Shorts
YouTube Shorts can be a powerful tool for boosting your brand. It doesn't matter if you're an individual or a company, once you start creating you'll be able to pull data from your content. It’s important to understand how successful each Short is and if they’re working. Let's dive deeper on that.
Views are always important but don’t just consider that. The overall watch time is key, as is how long people engage with your videos. It’s a good indicator as to how high the quality is.
You should look at the likes, comments, and shares because they tell you how much your audience interacts with your YouTube Shorts. The higher engagement you get, the more visibility to your channel.
How many subscribers you gain is another big metric to follow because that indicates that more and more people are wanting to see your content.
You can take a deep dive on these analytics by heading to YouTube Analytics which offers detailed insight on the demographics of your viewers and when they are watching your content. Analyzing this data helps you understand your audience more.
Consider your click-through rate (CTR), especially if you have a goal to increase sales or traffic to your website.
It will be an eye-opener when you analyze the performance of your YouTube Shorts in comparison to your regular videos because it usually reveals that one type is more popular than the other. You might not realize just how valued your Shorts are compared to your long-form content.
Lastly, make sure to look at your competition. You can use a tool like Brandwatch to do this and assess what other brands or individuals are doing. They may be making some types of Shorts that could also fit within your niche. These insights are key to developing your overall YouTube Strategy.
Are short videos right for me?
It's time to end this guide by reflecting on your video content and thinking about whether your YouTube homepage needs to add Shorts to its offering.
From an engagement perspective, the attention that can be generated from YouTube Shorts has revolutionized how content creators boost their subscriber base to their main channel.
As well as a new way to create content, they can be used as a way of promoting your longer-form content by breaking it down into short clips. This is where Shorts become not only financially helpful but also useful for wider marketing and video content.
Yet the best bit about YouTube Shorts is that they are incredibly easy to make. If you have an existing audience, then a lot of the hard work is done because you know what they like and you can use that as a way of driving revenue further.
If you are starting out as a content creator, then posting longer-form content to YouTube can be a slow start. Shorts are ideal to grab the attention of new audiences and understand what they want to see from you.
If you're wondering if Shorts are right for you then the answer is probably yes. Importantly though, Shorts should only be one part of your overall YouTube strategy. Shorts are best when you mix them in with your regular longer videos, because this gives your viewers a wider variety of content to consume.
Keep experimenting because algorithms change all the time, as well as trends and discussion points. You'll eventually find your balance and your YouTube homepage will look exactly how you want it to.
Frequently asked questions
YouTube Shorts are still new to many creators and viewers. Let's tackle some common questions about this short-form video format.
How do you make a YouTube Short on a desktop computer?
You can create Shorts on your computer using YouTube Studio. Upload a vertical video suitable for mobile devices that is under three minutes long. Add #Shorts in the title or description. YouTube will recognize it as a Short.
Can you create a YouTube Short directly from a regular YouTube video?
No, you can't convert an existing YouTube video into a Short. Shorts must be created as vertical videos under three minutes long. You'd need to edit and re-upload the content as a new Short.
What's the main difference between YouTube Shorts and standard YouTube videos?
Shorts are vertical videos up to three minutes long. Regular videos can be any length or aspect ratio. Shorts appear in a dedicated Shorts feed and have different discovery features.
Is there a specific YouTube Shorts application I need to download?
You don't need a separate YouTube app for Shorts. Instead, Shorts are built into the main YouTube app and website. Just tap the "+" icon in the YouTube app and select "Create a Short" to get started if you're accessing them on mobile devices.
How can creators monetize their YouTube Shorts content?
YouTube has a Shorts Fund to pay creators for popular Shorts. You can also use features like Super Thanks on Shorts. Ads don't play on Shorts, so monetization differs from longer videos.
Are YouTube Shorts similar to TikTok videos?
Shorts and TikTok videos are both short-form content that's shot vertically. Crucially, Shorts integrate with your YouTube channel. They have different features, music libraries, and audience reach.
