How to master Youtube Shorts, according to YouTube
Learn how to get the best out of short-form video and how to recycle your longer videos into fun, engaging bursts.
YouTube Shorts lets you and other creators engage with audiences in bite-sized chunks, and has become an incredibly popular format across major platforms. If you’re looking to increase visibility, build an audience, and have fun with content creation, then take a look at these tips from YouTube for getting started with Shorts.
The beauty of Shorts is in its simplicity. Getting started could not be easier, and available tools and features make it a breeze to refine your content.
Getting started
No longer do you need a big, fancy camera to create fantastic content. All you need to make Shorts is a smartphone – that’s it.
Of course, you can add to your gear list if you wanted to play with some different angles and techniques. Fortunately, you can get your hands on things like tripods or ring lights without breaking the bank, and this can take your videos up a level.
Preparation and planning
The process of creating and uploading Shorts is as simple as grabbing your phone and pressing a few buttons. But, you should give a little thought to the content you want to make, and what will best represent you and entertain your audience.
Think about your niche, your personality, and your purpose or message. Use this to inform your planning, and consider what sort of content would work best. Comedy skits, educational content, trending challenges, it’s your choice.
When planning your videos, remember to keep it short – it is in the name, after all. While Shorts are capped at 3 minutes, it’s smart to get the hook of your video across in the first couple of seconds, so people don’t scroll straight past.
Shorts are viewed most on mobile, which is why it is crucial to make your video vertical (9:16 aspect ratio).
YouTube Shorts camera
There is a whole host of tools and features available when you create a Short directly from the YouTube app. Playing around with these will add elements to your video that will make it more finished, fun and engaging.
- Access the Camera: Open the YouTube app and tap the “+” icon at the bottom. Select “Create a Short.”
- Explore the Features:
- Speed: Adjust the recording speed for slow-motion or fast-paced effects.
- Timer: Set a countdown for hands-free recording.
- Music: Add trending or licensed music from YouTube’s library.
- Text: Overlay text to emphasize key points or add captions.
- Filters: Enhance your visuals with various filters.
- Green Screen: Change your background for creative effects.
- Align: Use this to align objects between takes.
- Multiple Segments: Record your Short in segments, allowing for seamless transitions and creative editing.
Finishing touches
Once you’ve captured your Short, it’s time to edit and add the finishing touches.
You can edit your video within the app for ease using the basic editing tools on offer, such as adjusting the speed, trimming clips, adding text and choosing a thumbnail.
There are other elements to think about that will make your Short more eye-catching and appealing. Even though the videos are short, adding a compelling title with help reel people in.
Hashtags are still relevant, and using them wisely can boost your content’s visibility and reach. Try to go for a combination of wide-reaching, like #Shorts, and niche-specific hashtags in order to optimise the amount of people you reach.
How to repurpose content for YouTube Shorts
Brainstorming for content ideas can be challenging, especially if you’re starting off with a blank piece of paper. That’s why it’s a great idea to repurpose your long-form content, rather than starting from scratch every single time.
If you’ve mastered the art of long-form content on YouTube, it might feel like a big leap to turn to fast-paced short-form content. Long-form is all about going in depth, provoking thought and building a connection. So, how exactly do you do this via short-form?
YouTube has offered advice on how to make this transition, so here are the key points:
Identifying key moments
First things first, you need to know which parts of your long-form content are worth turning into Shorts.
- Find the hook: Every great video has one or more key moments that hook or wow audiences. Revisit your existing content and find where these are.
- Grab the best bits: Similarly, you should find all the best bits of your longer videos and use them for Shorts – this can be a perfect way to tease long-form content via Shorts.
- Standalone clips: Pinpoint actionable tips or parts of videos that work on their own as standalone clips.
- Good looking content: Because you’re trying to grab short attention spans, go for visually appealing clips, beautiful scenery or compelling visuals in order to attract viewers.
Repurposing
- Clip and crop: Use video editing software to isolate clips form longer videos and crop them into a 9:16 vertical aspect ratio.
- Add text: Watching Shorts without sound is common, so it’s important to add captions and text overlay.
- Playing with speed: You can slow down or speed up content to see how the dynamics of content changes, making it work better for Shorts.
- Trending audio: Add trending audio, sounds, or music to your video to help increase discoverability and capture people’s attention.
Engaging viewers
- Keep it concise: Don’t take time getting to the point, and be quick to hook viewers in.
- Opening hooks: Use engaging hooks to kick off a video, such as a question, interesting/surprising fact, or visually compelling moment.
- Call to action: The ending of a video is almost as important as the opening, so end with a compelling call to action. You could ask them to watch the full video, subscribe, visit a site.
Use your existing brand
If you have already developed a brand on your YouTube channel while creating long-form content, it’s important to remain consistent on Shorts. Keep your usual brand colours, fonts, and logo across your short-form content.
You should also cross-promote your content across Shorts and your regular YouTube videos. This can widen your audience while also providing you with easy content ideas that are ready-made.
Experiment and analyse
If you’re unsure where to start with the type of Shorts to make, then why not have a go at all formats? Experimenting with different types of Shorts will enable you to learn what resonates most with your audience. Another tip from YouTube on this point is to not be afraid to fail.
Just as you would with your longer video content, you need to take note of and track your analytics. Monitoring your Shorts’ performance in this way lets you see what works best and what maybe didn’t land so well with your audience.
Be sure to engage with your audience by responding to comments and interacting with viewers. This helps to build community and solidify your audience. You could even ask your viewers what kind of content they enjoy best, and have a go at creating videos like that.
What are the benefits of making Shorts?
There are lots of great reasons to start creating Shorts, whether you start from scratch or you repurpose existing long-form content that you’ve shared. Here are just some of the top benefits:
- Increased discoverability: Shorts can reach a wider audience quite quickly, and can also attract new subscribers.
- Improved engagement: Shorts encourage audience interaction and contribute to a greater sense of community.
- Content variety: Shorts add a new dimension to your channel and keep your content fresh and exciting.
- Drive traffic to long form content: If you create a smart strategy, you can use Shorts to drive traffic towards your longer content, and vice versa.
Summing up
If you’re an avid YouTube creator who has always favoured long-form content, jumping over to YouTube Shorts doesn’t have to be daunting. With a little preparation and planning, you can let creativity and experimentation take the lead and have a fun time seeing what kind of short-form content fits you best.
Whether you’re making Shorts for fun, or to promote your long-form content, there are numerous approaches you can take, and multiple things you can do to check on and improve performance. If you’re consistent with Shorts, you can enjoy boosted engagement and enhanced discoverability, helping to grow your channel.
You don’t need fancy equipment to get started, so just grab your phone and start experimenting.
For more tips on content creation, or YouTube updates and news, keep an eye on the RouteNote blog.