How to Make a YouTube Short – Complete Beginner Guide

This article will help you understand how to make a YouTube short. YouTube has been the source of several video trends and a wide variety of entertainment since its start in 2005. Who can forget the timeless classics Leave Britney Alone, David After Dentist, and Charlie Bit My Finger?

Recently, the creators of one of the most popular websites on the planet, YouTube Shorts, have joined the short-form video trend. These 15–to 60-second films amuse viewers while assisting companies and creators in increasing interaction.

What exactly are YouTube Shorts?

YouTube Shorts are brief vertical videos made with a smartphone and directly posted on YouTube through the YouTube app.

With YouTube’s integrated tools, you can record, edit, and incorporate music from big labels (like Sony, Universal, and Warner), include animated text, adjust footage speed, and combine various 15-second video clips to make your Shorts.

While watching the video, viewers of your Shorts have the option to share, comment, like, dislike, or subscribe to your channel. The content remains present on YouTube rather than disappearing like on Instagram Stories and Snapchat.

What’s the benefit of experimenting with YouTube Shorts?

YouTube Shorts was first introduced in India on Sept 14, 2020, and then expanded to the U.S. on March 18, 2021, achieving over 6.5 billion daily views worldwide. The beta version of Shorts was globally launched in 100 countries on July 12th, 2021.

The VP of Product Management at YouTube explained that Shorts is a new quick video format for creators and artists to make short, engaging videos solely on their mobile devices. Shorts allows you to express yourself in 15 seconds or less.

YouTube’s push for brief video content is fairly similar to other temporary videos found on various social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, Instagram Stories, Snapchat Spotlight, and even Twitter Fleets and LinkedIn Stories (RIP).

Short videos are familiar to YouTube. The first upload on the channel lasted only 18 seconds in duration.

However, the distinctive feature of YouTube Shorts is its capability to turn viewers into subscribers for your channel, which is essential for brands and creators.

You have two options when setting up YouTube Shorts: either include the Shorts widget in your primary channel or make a completely new channel just for your Shorts. Still, we advise you to stick your Shorts on your primary channel. This is because having both your YouTube main feed material and your Shorts content in one location will increase viewer engagement, provide them with more opportunities to switch between Shorts and YouTube videos, and eventually encourage them to subscribe to your channel.

By tapping Shorts at the bottom of the YouTube app, viewers may locate your Shorts.

On the other hand, viewers have the option to watch Shorts.

• On the front page of YouTube
• On your page dedicated to your channel
• Through notifications

What is the length of YouTube Shorts?

YouTube Shorts are brief vertical videos that last for only 60 seconds or less. Shorts can either be a single 60-second video or a compilation of multiple 15-second videos. Yet, if you choose to use music from the YouTube catalog in your Short, it will be restricted to a maximum duration of 15 seconds.

Expert advice: YouTube will classify any video less than 60 seconds as a Short automatically.

Instructions for creating and uploading YouTube Shorts videos.

Step 1: Get the YouTube application downloaded.

The YouTube app is the only platform where you can create Shorts. This move by YouTube is clever because it consolidates everything in one convenient location, instead of requiring users to download and register for a separate app to make Shorts.

Follow these steps to access the YouTube app.

1. Access your preferred app store (either iOS App Store or Google Play Store) and look for YouTube.
2. Get the YouTube app from the official source
3. Sign in with either your Google account or a separate YouTube account.

Step 2: Begin the process of making your YouTube Short video.

1.  Touch the (+) symbol at the bottom of the application’s main page, then touch the option to Make a Brief One.

2. The company experienced a decline in profits due to a decrease in sales. To capture a 15-second video clip, simply press and hold the red record button to begin recording, and press it again to stop.

3. To capture a complete 60-second video, simply select the number 15 above the record button to adjust the video duration to 60 seconds.

4. Check out the toolbar located on the right side of the screen to enhance your video with special effects and elements.

a. Touch the spinning arrows to change the camera perspective.

b. Adjust the pace of your Short by tapping the 1x button to either accelerate or decelerate.

c. Press the clock symbol to establish a timer for making hands-free videos.

d. Enhance your Short video by tapping on the icon with three circles to add filters.

e. Enhance your video with retouching by simply tapping the magic wand.

f. Touch the individual symbol to change your backdrop and incorporate a green screen or picture from your mobile device’s collection.

g. Touch the ghost symbol to assist in aligning your transitions between video clips.

5. A big temperature change is expected this weekend. To include audio in your Short, simply tap on the Add sound icon located at the top of the screen. Please take note that you are only able to include an audio track in your Short either before you begin recording or during the editing phase.

6. Did you make an error? Touch the backward arrow beside the record icon to reverse the action.

Step 3: Revise and submit your Brief.

1. After you have completed your recording, tap the checkmark icon to store your Short Video.
2. Afterward, enhance your Short by including a music track, text, and filters.
3. To delve further into editing, simply tap on the timeline icon to adjust the timing of text in the video timeline.
4. After you have completed the editing, click on the Next option located in the top right corner.
5. Include information about your Short and indicate if you would like the video to be public, unlisted, or private.
6. Choose if your video is suitable for children or requires an age limit.
7. Press the Short Upload button to share your video.

Ways to make money from YouTube Shorts

As a business owner or creator, you may be wondering, “How can I make money from YouTube Shorts?”. Many content producers and companies utilize YouTube to generate additional income. This is because YouTube is currently the sole platform that provides creators with revenue-sharing opportunities.

Although it wasn’t always true, we have some positive updates. Beginning in the beginning of 2023, Shortmakers have the opportunity to be eligible for the Partner Program, allowing them to make money from ads on YouTube.

To be eligible for the Partner Program, creators of Shorts must have a minimum of 10 million views in the last 90 days. After joining the program, content creators will receive 45% of the ad revenue generated by their videos.

The Partner Program on YouTube is a strong incentive to prioritize short-form videos. If you can grow a following on the platform, you may stand to make a substantial amount of money.

Optimal Strategies for YouTube Shorts

Go directly to the point.

Ensure the beginning of your video is captivating and immediately hooks viewers’ attention.

Make it brief

Shorts are not a complete video and are most effective when the content is not solely one unbroken sequence. Try experimenting with various cuts and edits to maintain the interest of your audience.

Consider watching replays.

Shorts are continuously repeated, so think about how your content will be perceived when it is played in a loop.

Increase the worth

Do not create just to create. Instead, provide worth to your audience with your Short and make sure the content is in line with a specific goal, such as boosting engagement by 10% or gaining 1,000 additional subscribers.

What is your unique selling point?

What will entice a viewer to return for additional content? Consider ways to engage your audience so they watch your Shorts over and over again.

Set the mood correctly.

YouTube Shorts is not suitable for condensed editions of your lengthy videos. Similar to Instagram Reels and TikTok, Shorts is where you can provide brief, catchy, and easily consumable content for your followers, such as trending videos or exclusive glimpses.

7 ways you can utilize YouTube Shorts

Perfect for capturing viewers with limited attention spans, YouTube Shorts is an excellent tool to increase engagement for your channel, expand your subscriber base, and exhibit your brand’s genuine personality.

Close to 40% of companies have already incorporated short-form videos into their marketing strategies for their product or service. If you delay further, you might get left behind. Therefore, start designing!

Advertise your usual channel.

Utilize YouTube Shorts to promote and expand your main channel. Each Short you post creates a chance for your content to be seen, possibly leading to new subscribers or viewers engaging with your main channel content.

The subscription box remains visible while posting a Short, allowing for an easy subscription if viewers are interested.

Shorts can assist in guiding YouTube’s algorithm as they can lead to higher engagement on your channel, an essential factor in YouTube’s content prioritization. This will help to grow the audience for your channel.

Present video with a more raw quality

Not every YouTube video you make has to be meticulously planned and flawless. BTS video footage provides a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes of your channel, brand, and products or services for your audience.

There are various forms in which behind-the-scenes footage can be presented. Here are some suggestions to help you begin:

• Corporate gatherings.
• Introduction of new products
• Upcoming product updates or releases
• Changes in the workplace such as a renovation.

BTS footage aids in building your brand’s credibility among authenticity-focused Gen-Z, ultimately enhancing consumer trust. Ultimately, individuals make purchases from other individuals, and displaying the human aspect of your brand through BTS is an effective method to build a solid connection with your future customers, and subscribers.

Make your viewers feel something.

Consider Shorts to be the appetizer of video marketing, and use the format to pique the interest of possible leads. A 30-second short film promoting a future product release, for instance, may be posted with a call to action (CTA) directing viewers to a longer YouTube video that provides additional information and a landing page where they can sign up for early access.

Generate involvement spontaneously.

YouTube Shorts enables your audience to interact with your brand quickly instead of dedicating time to watch a long video. Due to 5% of viewers leaving videos after one minute, creating brief, engaging content ensures that your audience remains engaged until the end, receives your messaging, and interacts with your call-to-action.

Get on board with popular fads.

In 2021, the renowned K-pop band BTS collaborated with YouTube to introduce the Permission to Dance Challenge and urged global viewers to film and share a 15-second rendition of their latest popular track.

Lyor Cohen, YouTube’s music global chief, expressed gratitude for collaborating with BTS on the ‘Permission to Dance’ challenge on YouTube Shorts, aiming to foster joy and create enduring bonds among their fans worldwide on the platform.

Shorts offer brands and creators a chance to join a popular trend, such as a dance or challenge circulating on social media. We’re not suggesting that you participate in every dance challenge trending on social media, but staying updated on video trends will make your brand appear current and increase the likelihood of going viral.

Elevate your user-created content to the next level.

YouTube Shorts make it easy to request user-generated content (UGC) as they can be made by anyone, anywhere with a smartphone. For instance, you could send your latest product to a group of loyal customers and request them to make YouTube Shorts videos demonstrating the unboxing process to increase your brand’s visibility.

Save Cash

A cheap video marketing tactic is to make YouTube Shorts. It is not necessary to hire a creative agency or video marketing business to develop your video content because anybody with a smartphone can make the format.

YouTube Shorts shouldn’t replace your complete social media plan; rather, they should be a crucial component of it. Always have a purpose for your video, and collaborate with your social and content teams to find ways to use Shorts in campaigns. For instance, encourage viewers to subscribe to your channel and increase YouTube interaction to keep and satisfy your present clientele.

Conclusion

To sum up, the creation of the YouTube Short is an efficient way of coming back to your audience with posts in the form of short and appealing videos. It means that vertical videos that do not exceed one minute can eventually be published on YouTube thanks to its new tool called Shorts. However, to be effective, your content should be clear, engaging, and appropriately designed and presented to suit the target market. Weave in popular music, select an appropriate style of editing, and ensure that there are straightforward things to do next. It is essential to gain real subscribers and build up your audience because the deliberate and consistent production of Shorts can strengthen your position on the platform and improve the interactive capacity of your channel.