Everything You Need to Know About YouTube Shorts

how does youtube shorts work

YouTube Shorts are a new way to create and watch short videos on YouTube. They’re quick, fun, and easy to make! Here’s everything you need to know about YouTube Shorts.

What are YouTube Shorts?

YouTube Shorts are short, vertical videos that are up to 60 seconds long. You can create them using the YouTube app on your smartphone.

Where do YouTube Shorts Appear?

YouTube Shorts appear in a few different places:

The YouTube app

You’ll see them in the “Shorts” tab on the YouTube app.

The YouTube homepage

You may see them featured on the YouTube homepage.

Your feed

Your friends and family may see your Shorts in their feeds if you’ve shared them.

How long are YouTube Shorts?

YouTube shorts are normally between 15 seconds and 60 seconds long.

Why You Should Start Using YouTube Shorts Now

what are youtube shorts

While the popularity of YouTube still increases day by day, YouTube Shorts is another way to engage and connect with your audience. YouTube Shorts is a new short-form video feature that allows you to create videos up to 60 seconds long. These videos appear in a dedicated space within the YouTube app, and they can also be found through the YouTube homepage and search.

Making a YouTube Short is easy and only requires a smartphone. You can shoot, edit, and upload your video all within the YouTube app. And since YouTube Shorts are so quick and easy to make, you can experiment with different content ideas without having to invest a lot of time or money.

Some of the reasons why you should start YouTube Shorts are:

Reaching a Bigger Audience:

With YouTube Shorts, you can reach a wider audience since your videos can be found in different places within the YouTube app.

Appealing to Changing Audience Demand:

The demand for short-form content is on the rise, and YouTube Shorts gives you a way to meet this demand.

Maintaining Publishing Frequency:

With YouTube Shorts, you can quickly produce videos without having to spend a lot of time on each one. This means you can maintain a consistent publishing frequency, which is important for growing your channel.

Experimenting with New Content Ideas:

Since YouTube Shorts are quick and easy to make, you can experiment with different content ideas without having to invest a lot of time or money.

Suitable for Different Niches/Industries:

YouTube Shorts can be used for a variety of topics and genres. Whether you’re a vlogger, musician, chef, or beauty guru, you can create YouTube Shorts that are relevant to your niche or industry.

How to make and upload YouTube Shorts

Creating a YouTube Short is easy and only requires a smartphone.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to create a YouTube Short:

  1. Open the YouTube app and tap on the “Shorts” tab.
  2. Tap on the “+” icon to start creating your video.
  3. Select the footage you want to use in your video. You can choose from videos that are already on your phone or record new videos using the YouTube app.
  4. Once you’ve selected your footage, edit your video by adding filters, music, and other effects.
  5. When you’re finished editing, tap on the “Publish” button to share your YouTube Short.

 

You can also upload existing videos from your phone to the “Shorts” tab on the YouTube app. To do this, simply tap on the “+” icon and select the “Upload” option. Then, select the video you want to upload and tap on the “Open” button. The video will be uploaded to your YouTube channel and appear in the “Shorts” tab.

Can You Monetize YouTube Shorts?

can you monetize youtube shorts

Yes, you can monetize your YouTube Shorts just like you would any other video on YouTube. To do this, simply go to your YouTube channel, click on the “Videos” tab, and select the “Shorts” option. Then, click on the monetization icon next to the video you want to monetize and select the “Monetize with Ads” option.

Once you’ve selected this option, you’ll need to choose which ads you want to show on your video. You can choose from pre-roll, mid-roll, or post-roll ads. Pre-roll ads are shown before your video starts playing, mid-roll ads are shown in the middle of your video, and post-roll ads are shown after your video.

Creative Uses of YouTube Shorts

While YouTube videos are typically around 3-5 minutes long, YouTube Shorts can be up to 60 seconds in length. This shorter format opens up a lot of possibilities for creative content.
Some ideas for creative YouTube Shorts include:

Answering Frequently Asked Questions

You can use YouTube Shorts to answer frequently asked questions related to your niche or industry. This is a great way to provide valuable information to your viewers while also promoting your brand or business.

Product Reviews:

If you’re a product reviewer, you can use YouTube Shorts to showcase different products. You can do a quick review of a new product and give your viewers your thoughts on it.

Getting Your Audience Involved:

You can use YouTube Shorts to get your audience involved in your content. For example, you could ask them to submit questions that you answer in a future video.

Tutorials:

YouTube Shorts is a great platform for creating tutorials. You can show your viewers how to do something related to your niche or industry.

Giving Users a Mini Tour:

If you have a physical location, you can use YouTube Shorts to give your viewers a mini tour. This is a great way to promote your business or brand while also giving your audience a behind-the-scenes look at what you do.

Giving Teasers:

If you have a new product or service that you’re about to launch, you can use YouTube Shorts to give your audience a teaser. This is a great way to generate interest and excitement for your upcoming launch.

Showcasing Product Capabilities:

If you have a product that has multiple features or functions, you can use YouTube Shorts to showcase these capabilities. This is a great way to show your audience all that your product can do.

Testing Products:

If you want to test a new product before you launch it, you can use YouTube Shorts to do this. You can set up a testing video and ask your audience to participate. This is a great way to get feedback on a new product before you launch it.

As you can see, there are many creative ways that you can use YouTube Shorts. Whether you’re a vlogger, musician, chef, or beauty guru, you can create YouTube Shorts that are relevant to your niche or industry. So what are you waiting for? Start creating!

What Makes YouTube Shorts Different from Its Competitors

how does youtube shorts work

Among other things, YouTube Shorts offers a few key features that set it apart from its competitors, such as:

Shorts provide a funnel to your long-form content

First, YouTube Shorts allows you to create videos that are up to 60 seconds in length. This is significantly longer than the 15-second limit on TikTok and Instagram Reels. This gives you more time to get your message across and creates a more complete experience for your viewers.

Shorts do not expire

Another key difference is that YouTube Shorts do not expire. This means that once you create a Short, it will remain on your channel forever (unless you delete it). This is in contrast to TikTok and Instagram Reels, which disappear after 24 hours.

Short-form creators could see a bigger reach

YouTube Shorts are also discoverable through the YouTube algorithm. This means that if someone searches for a keyword or phrase related to your video, there’s a chance your Short will appear in the search results.

Brands in most industries could leverage Shorts

Finally, YouTube Shorts is not limited to a specific niche or industry. This means that just about any brand in any industry can create Shorts that are relevant to their business.

YouTube Shorts could be less vulnerable than other viral platforms

Another key difference is that YouTube Shorts is less vulnerable to algorithm changes. This is because YouTube Shorts is built on top of the YouTube platform, which has over 2 billion monthly active users.

As you can see, YouTube Shorts offers a number of advantages over its competitors. If you’re looking for a new way to reach your audience, YouTube Shorts could be the perfect solution.

YouTube Shorts Best Practices

When you decide to do a YouTube Short, there are a few best practices to keep in mind:

1. Keep it under 58 seconds

Remember that YouTube Shorts are limited to 60 seconds in length. This means you need to be concise and get your point across quickly. Otherwise, you risk losing your viewer’s attention.

2. Use engaging visuals

Since YouTube Shorts are mostly visual, it’s important to use engaging visuals that capture your viewer’s attention. This could include using bright colors, interesting graphics, or creative video editing.

3. Use catchy music

Another way to engage your viewer is to use catchy music in your Short. This will help to hold their attention and make your video more enjoyable to watch.

4. Provide value

Finally, make sure you’re providing value in your YouTube Short. Whether you’re entertaining, informing, or educating your audience, your Short should offer something of value. Otherwise, you risk losing their attention and interest.

5. Post consistently

One of the best ways to grow your audience is to post Shorts consistently. This means regularity is key. Try to post at least one Short per week, if not more.

6. Record in vertical format

Since YouTube Shorts are meant to be watched on mobile devices, it’s important to record your videos in vertical format. This will ensure that your Short looks great no matter where or how it’s being viewed.

7. Edit for vertical viewing

In addition to recording in vertical format, you should also edit your YouTube Shorts for vertical viewing. This means cropping out any horizontal elements and making sure the focus of your video is front and center.

8. Make the content relevant to your audience

As with any type of content, it’s important to make sure your YouTube Shorts are relevant to your audience. This means creating videos that they’ll actually want to watch and that is aligned with their interests.

9. Focus on making the first few seconds captivating

Since you only have 60 seconds to make your point, it’s important to focus on making the first few seconds of your Short captivating. This means starting with a strong hook that will grab your viewer’s attention and make them want to watch more.

10. Use calls to action

Finally, don’t forget to use calls to action in your YouTube Shorts. This could include asking your viewers to subscribe to your channel, comment on your video, or share your Short with their friends.

11. Use hashtags

Hashtags are a great way to promote your YouTube Shorts and help them get discovered by new viewers. When using hashtags, make sure they’re relevant to your video and that you’re not using too many. Otherwise, you risk looking spammy.

12. Use your authentic voice

When creating YouTube Shorts, it’s important to use your authentic voice. This means being yourself and speaking in a way that’s natural for you. Don’t try to imitate someone else or force yourself to sound like someone you’re not.

13. Show behind-the-scenes moments

Another great way to engage your audience is to show behind-the-scenes moments of you creating your YouTube Shorts. This will give them a glimpse into your creative process and make them feel more connected to you.

14. Remember that the Shorts loop

One final thing to keep in mind is the YouTube Shorts loop. This means your video will play over and over again until the viewer decides to move on. Because of this, it’s important to make sure your Short is engaging from start to finish. Otherwise, they may get bored and stop watching.

15. Monetize your YouTube Shorts

Just like with any other type of YouTube video, you can monetize your Shorts through ads. This is a great way to earn revenue from your videos and grow your channel.

YouTube Shorts offers a number of advantages over other social media platforms, making it a great option for businesses and creators looking to reach a wider audience. Keep these best practices in mind and you’ll be on your way to creating successful YouTube Shorts that will engage and delight your viewers.

Best Time to Upload YouTube Shorts

how to upload youtube shorts from mobile

When you upload your YouTube Short, you want to make sure it’s at a time when people are most likely to be on the platform and watching videos. This means considering things like your audience’s location and time zone.

Generally speaking, the best times to upload YouTube Shorts are:

  • Late night (11 PM – 2 AM)
  • Early morning (6 AM – 8 AM)
  • Afternoon (3 PM – 5 PM)

Of course, these are just general guidelines. You’ll still need to experiment to see what works best for you and your channel. But following these tips should help you get started on the right foot.

Make Your YouTube Shorts Today!

Now that you know what YouTube Shorts are and how to make one, it’s time to get started on your own video. Remember to keep these best practices in mind and you’ll be well on your way to creating a successful Short that your audience will love.

If you’re looking for more tips on how to grow your YouTube channel, be sure to check out our team at LeadOrigin. We specialize in helping businesses and creators reach their full potential on the platform. Contact us today to learn more about our services.