Shorts are YouTube's competition to TikTok and Instagram's Reels. They haven't reached the same level of use or popularity yet, but they're getting there.
Making a YouTube short can be a fun and easy way to express creativity. You don't need any prior experience or expensive equipment. All you need is a smartphone and an idea.
Today we want to cover the basics to help you get started!
What are YouTube Shorts? YouTube Shorts is a vertical video format with content that lasts up to 60 seconds. Creators can record videos, edit, add music and text, and publish directly in the YouTube application.
Shorts stay on a creator's page forever (they aren't like Facebook or Instagram Stories that disappear after 24 hours). Creators can also add popular YouTube hashtags to all Shorts to help increase views and visibility.
Shorts can be watched from any electronic device but can only be posted from mobile devices through the YouTube app.
Why should creators use YouTube Shorts? Consistently uploading quality YouTube Shorts is one of the fastest ways to increase visibility, engagement, and following. "How does it do this?" you may ask. There are two main reasons.
Posting Shorts on your YouTube channel creates more opportunities to get views. The more views your channel gets, the more subscribers and engagement you will get. When a social media platform launches a new feature, it (or, rather, the algorithm!) wants creators to use it and popularize it. If creators capitalize on the new feature, there is a high chance the algorithm will push their content resulting in more views and engagement. How YouTube Shorts work Let's talk logistics.
To use YouTube Shorts, open the original YouTube application and press the Create (+)
Among the pop-up options, you should see the Create Short
If you want your video to be longer than 15 seconds, press the number 15
To record, hold down the red record button or tap it to start. A red bar at the top shows you the recording time you've logged.
To stop recording, just release the button (or tap it if that's the method you opted for). Press it again if you want to resume recording. You can repeat the process as many times as necessary to complete your video.
You can press the back checkmark
When you have finished recording, press the checkmark
Use the Timeline tool to adjust when the text and music appear.
When you are done, you will need to add a title to your video and decide if it will be public or private as well as suitable for children.
YouTube recommends including the hashtag #Shorts in the title or description of the video to increase visibility. Press Upload Short
How to add audio to YouTube Shorts You can add audio to your Short through Youtube's catalog, where you will find music or audio free of copyright. There are two easy ways of doing this.
Before starting any recording, you can press Add Sound The second option is to add it after recording (as mentioned above) in the sound option located at the bottom of the editing screen. Note: The sounds from the YouTube library only offer a maximum duration of 15 seconds. So if you want a longer video, the sound won't match correctly.
Tips for Successful Shorts Keep it short (no pun intended) This is short-form content. You want to get right into the nitty gritty and capture your audience's attention right from the beginning. In the first 1-3 seconds, get to the purpose of your video. Spend the remaining seconds explaining your "how/why."
Have a plan You want your audience to watch the entire Short, so how will you keep their attention? Have a plan for what you would like to communicate through your Short, and do so in an exciting way.
Make "teasers" Try using shorts to tease your audience into watching your longer content! Give them a glimpse into a future video, or talk about an upcoming topic. Think of them as previews for your main videos.
Don't create standard Youtube videos Your shorts should be distinctly different from your other videos. They are meant to be used as extras, not the main event. Think about sharing fun facts, looking behind the scenes, or giving a glimpse into your day-to-day life. If your YouTube channel is your bread and butter, your shorts are the jam that make it even better.
Conclusion YouTube Shorts are an excellent opportunity to increase your visibility and watch time! Since they are so short (again, no pun intended), they shouldn't take you too much time to film. So give it a try and see what you think!
