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  • MaryGrace Lerin

This is How You Create YouTube Shorts

YouTube has been the home of innumerable video trends and other sorts of entertainment since its inception in 2005. Who could still recall Charlie Bit My Finger, David After Dentist, and Leave Britney Alone, which is still relevant today?


Now, the creators behind one of the world's most frequented websites has gotten on the short-form video wave by introducing YouTube Shorts. These 15-60 second clips are meant to amuse viewers while also assisting companies and creators in increasing interaction.


What exactly Are YouTube Shorts?


YouTube Shorts are vertical, short-form videos made using a smartphone and posted to YouTube immediately from the YouTube app.


You may record, edit, add music from major labels (including Sony, Universal, and Warner), add animated text, adjust the speed of your video, and combine numerous 15-second video clips to make your Shorts using YouTube's built-in creation tools.


While watching your Shorts, viewers may share, comment, like, dislike, or subscribe to your channel. Unlike other short-form video applications like Instagram Stories and Snapchat, the clip does not vanish and remains on YouTube.


Why should you try YouTube Shorts?


YouTube Shorts, which debuted in India on September 14th, 2020, and was later expanded to the United States on March 18th, 2021, swiftly topped 6.5 billion daily views worldwide. On July 12th, 2021, Shorts was eventually released in beta form to 100 countries around the world.


"A new short-form video experience for creators and artists who want to create short, catchy videos using nothing but their mobile phones," YouTube's VP of Product Management said, adding, "Shorts is a new way to express oneself in 15 seconds or less."


YouTube's effort at short-form video content is similar to TikTok, Instagram Reels, Instagram Stories, Snapchat Spotlight, and even Twitter Fleets and LinkedIn Stories (RIP), which are all transient videos on social media.


YouTube is no stranger to short-form video. The earliest upload to the channel was merely 18 seconds long.

What makes YouTube Shorts unique is its capacity to convert users into channel subscribers, which is a must-have for companies and creators.


You have the option of creating a new channel for your YouTube Shorts or integrating the Shorts widget in your main channel when setting up YouTube Shorts. However, we recommend that you maintain your Shorts on your primary channel. This is because combining your main feed YouTube material and your Shorts content in one spot will make it simpler for your viewers to stay engaged with your videos and will allow them to jump from Shorts to YouTube videos and eventually subscribe to your channel.


Viewers can locate your Shorts by going to the bottom of the YouTube app and tapping Shorts.


Additionally, viewers may watch Shorts:

  • On YouTube's homepage

  • On your channel's page

  • Via notifications

What is the duration of YouTube Shorts?


YouTube Shorts are vertical videos that are 60 seconds or less in duration. Shorts can be a single 60-second video or a collection of 15-second pieces. If you utilize music from the YouTube collection, however, your Short will be restricted to 15 seconds.

Pro tip: Any YouTube video that is 60 seconds or less will be automatically classified as a Short by YouTube.


How to Create a YouTube Short


Step 1: Get the YouTube app on your phone.


Only the YouTube app allows you to create Shorts. Instead of asking viewers to download and sign up for another app to produce Shorts, YouTube has made a sensible move by keeping everything in one place.

Follow these steps to acquire access to the YouTube app:

  1. Search for YouTube in your preferred app store (iOS App Store or Google Play).

  2. Install the official YouTube application.

  3. Use your Google account or a separate YouTube account to log in.

Step 2: Begin making your YouTube Short.


1. Tap the (+) icon on the app's homepage button, then tap Create a Short.


2. Hold the red record button or tap it to start and stop recording a 15-second video clip.

3. To record a complete 60-second video, press the number 15 above the record button to adjust the length of the video to 60 seconds.

4. Use the toolbar on the right of the screen to add extra effects and elements to your video.

a. To change the camera view, tap the rotating arrows.

b. By tapping the 1x button, you can speed up or slow down your Short.

c. Set a countdown timer for creating hands-free videos by tapping the clock icon.

d. Tap the three circles icon to add filters to your Short.

e. Tap the magic wand to add retouching to your video.

f. To change your background, tap the person symbol and select a green screen or a photo from your smartphone's collection.

g. To help coordinate your transitions between video clips, tap the ghost icon.

5. Tap the Add sound icon at the top of the screen to add sound to your Short. It's important to keep in mind that you can only add an audio track to your Short before you start recording or later in the editing process.


6. Have you made an error? To undo, tap the reverse arrow next to the record button.


Step 3: Edit and publish your Short

  1. Tap the checkbox to save your Short when you've completed recording.

  2. After that, add a music track, text, and filters to complete your Short.

  3. Tap the timeline icon to alter when text appears on the video timeline if you want to go deeper into editing.

  4. Tap Next in the top right-hand corner when you're finished editing.

  5. Add your Short's details and choose whether you want the video to be public, unlisted, or private.

  6. Determine whether your video is suitable for children or requires an age limit.

  7. To share your video, tap Upload Short.

How to Make Money with YouTube Shorts


You may be wondering, as a business owner or creator, "How can I monetize YouTube Shorts?" After all, many creators and businesses rely on YouTube to supplement their income.

Let's begin with the negative news. You can't run an ad on YouTube Shorts because they're shorter than typical YouTube video content, making it difficult to monetize.

The good news is that YouTube has launched the YouTube Shorts Fund, a $100 million endowment that anyone can contribute to by creating unique Shorts that "delight the YouTube community." Creators will be rewarded based on "whose Shorts received the most engagement and views to reward them for their contributions," according to YouTube.


Best practices for YouTube Shorts


Get right to the point.

Make your video's initial few seconds intriguing and engaging to capture the audience's attention right away.

Keep it short and clear.

Shorts aren't the same as full-fledged videos, and they function best when the content isn't just one long scene. Instead, experiment with different cuts and edits to keep your audience interested.

Consider replays.

Shorts are looped, so think about how your content will come across if it's played repeatedly.

Add value

Don't just make stuff for the purpose of making it. Instead, use your Short to provide value to your audience and tie the material with a goal, such as increasing interaction by 10% or gaining 1,000 new subscribers.

What's the gimmick you're using?

What will entice a viewer to watch again? Consider how you may attract your viewers to watch your Shorts again and again.

Make the right impression.

YouTube Shorts isn't the place to post cut-down copies of your longer videos. Shorts, like Instagram Reels and TikTok, is where you can share short, crisp, and readily digestible material with your audience, such as viral trends or behind-the-scenes glimpses.

7 Ways to Use YouTube Shorts


YouTube Shorts is the ideal way to reach consumers with shorter attention spans, increasing channel interaction, growing subscribers, and showcasing your brand's authentic side.

Short-form video is already being used by just under 40% of firms to market their product or service. You may lag behind if you wait too long. So, start making!


Promote your main YouTube channel

Make the most of YouTube Shorts to promote and expand your main channel. Each time you publish a Short, you're giving your material a chance to be seen, and that viewer could become a channel subscriber or someone who engages with your main channel's content.

When you upload a Short, the subscription box is constantly displayed, making it simple for others to subscribe if they like what they see.

Shorts also assist you in navigating YouTube's algorithm because they promote channel interaction, which is one of the most important ranking indicators for how YouTube prioritizes content. The number of people that are exposed to your channel should increase as a result of this.

Show less polished video


Not every video you make on YouTube needs to be meticulously planned and polished. BTS (behind the scenes) video footage will provide your viewers a glimpse into the history of your channel, company, and products or services.

Behind-the-scenes video can come in a variety of formats. To get you started, here are a few suggestions:

  • Company events

  • Product launches

  • Product updates or coming soon

  • Workplace updates, e.g., a renovation

BTS clips help users trust your brand by establishing it as authentic (a significant addition for reaching into the authenticity-driven Gen-Z). People purchase from people, and using BTS to convey your brand's human side is an excellent approach to build a strong relationship with your potential customers, subscribers, and viewers.


The Voice, a popular US singing competition, utilizes Shorts to reveal behind-the-scenes video.


Tease your audience


Consider Shorts to be the appetizer of video marketing, and use the format to pique the interest of potential leads. For example, you might create a 30-second Short with a CTA that sends viewers to a longer YouTube video that goes into greater detail and directs them to a landing page where they can sign up for early access.


One of the most successful Shorts producers is Dental Digest. They've made a quick teaser review of a well-known toothbrush line. The Short is effective because it is brief, entertaining, and relevant, appeals to a younger audience, and establishes Dental Digest as an authority in its field.


Create engagement on the fly


Instead of devoting time to watching a full-length video, YouTube Shorts lets your viewers to interact with your business on the fly. Since 5 percent of video viewers stop watching after one minute, quick, short-form content guarantees that your audience watches to the end, obtains all of your messaging, and reacts to your CTA.


Take advantage of current trends


In 2021, the world-famous K-pop group BTS (not to be mistaken with the acronym for behind-the-scenes!) teamed up with YouTube to launch the Permission to Dance Challenge, inviting fans all over the world to record and share a 15-second version of their most recent hit song.

"We are humbled to be partnering with them [BTS] on the 'Permission to Dance' challenge on YouTube Shorts, helping to spread happiness and develop lasting connections amongst their fans on YouTube throughout the globe," said Lyor Cohen, YouTube's global head of music.

Shorts gives businesses and creators the chance to capitalize on a trend, such as a popular dancing routine or challenge on social media. We're not saying you have to participate in every social media dance challenge, but staying on top of video trends will help you present your company as current and up-to-date, increasing your chances of going viral.


Improve the quality of your user-generated material


YouTube Shorts are a simple format for requesting user-generated content (UGC), as they can be created by anyone, anywhere with a smartphone. As an example, you might deliver your new product to a group of brand advocates and ask them to create YouTube Shorts showcasing the unboxing experience to assist you grow your company's reach.


Spend less


Using YouTube Shorts to sell your business is a cost-effective video marketing method. Anyone with a smartphone may develop the format, which eliminates the need to hire a creative agency or video marketing firm to create your video content.

YouTube Shorts should complement, not replace, your video social strategy. Work with your social and content teams to find ways to include Shorts into campaigns, and make sure your video has a purpose. For instance, if you want to maintain and delight current clients, encourage them to subscribe to your channel and increase YouTube engagement.

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