Shorts are a good way to reach a new audience and share easy-to-make content. Some of your upcoming YouTube video ideas may work better as Shorts. Before making these vids, however, you should know how to play to the format’s strengths. In this post, we’ll show you how to create a YouTube Short on mobile and PC.
How To Create a YouTube Short: Step-by-Step Guide
Making great YouTube Shorts always starts with an idea. You can’t rush into sharing Shorts just because they can easily get a lot of views. You have to really plan out what you want to make. If you’re posting a more casual vid, it’s still good to know vaguely what you’ll be talking about.
With this in mind, here’s how to create YouTube Shorts on the site’s mobile app:
- Open the YT app and press the + button at the bottom.
- It should show the Shorts recording studio by default.
- Press or hold the red circle to start recording your video.
- Tap the timer in the top right to change the video length.
- Experiment with Speed, Effects, Retouch, and more.
- Once you record a clip, tap the checkmark on the right.
- Click Timeline to edit several of these videos together.
You can also upload short videos you’ve already made with third-party video editing software. Click Add on the bottom left of the Shorts recording interface. You’ll then be able to select it from your gallery.
The PC process is much more streamlined. Here’s how to create Shorts on YouTube’s browser site:
- Tap the +/camcorder symbol in the top right.
- From the menu, choose Upload Video.
- In the YouTube Studio, click Select Files.
- Pick a vertical/square vid under 60 seconds long.
Once the video’s ready on either platform, give it a title, description, and hashtags. You can then share it with your audience and the Shorts community.
How Long Should Shorts Be on YouTube?
YT Shorts have a maximum time of 60 seconds, and unlike TikToks and Instagram Reels, there’s no way around this. If the video is even a millisecond longer, you can’t share it as a Short.
It’s good to aim for about 30-40 seconds. This will encourage you to cut to the chase right away. However, you’ll still have enough time if the video runs over. You can always edit the clips down on the video timeline to squeeze everything together.
Knowing how to make a Short on YouTube means using your time wisely. According to Vidyard, 66% of people only watch videos if they’re under a minute long. If you can fit more into a shorter vid, more people will watch it to the end.
Tips for Editing Your YT Short
With the above in mind, you’ll need to take editing seriously. This isn’t just a way to fit your video clips together. It’s a way to guide the viewer’s attention and keep them engaged. Here are some simple editing tricks that will make your Shorts better:
- Get to the point: Make sure the video instantly starts with your hook. Don’t leave even a brief pause; your viewers might scroll away in this time.
- Be snappy: Similarly, edit out any pauses in your speech to keep up your momentum. If this doesn’t sound right, you might have to re-record.
- Render at the right size: Shorts should be square or vertical videos. If you’re using your own video editor, make sure it has the right aspect ratio.
- Don’t push the 60-second limit: YouTube won’t accept Shorts that are even slightly too long. Try to cut the video down as much as you can.
- Use royalty-free music: You can use licensed audio tracks in your Shorts, but this hurts your ad revenue. It’s better to stick to royalty-free audio.
- Add on-screen text: Dynamic text can draw the eye and help you make your point. This also helps you squeeze more information into the vid.
- Use YouTube’s filters: How your video looks could make or break a view. If your lighting isn’t working, for example, a filter could fix it.
How To Make a YouTube Video a Short
It’s possible to turn your long-form vids into Shorts. This lets you promote your main content to a wider audience. People will even be able to click on your Short to watch the full thing. You might even simply want to clip a funny moment for people to enjoy on its own.
Here’s how to make a YT Short from a longer video:
- Go to your video’s watch page.
- Press Remix below the player.
- Click the Edit Into a Short button.
- Select the clip you want to share.
- Tap Next to add filters and text.
- Add a title, description, and tags.
- Share the video on YouTube.
You can also mix this with YouTube’s Green Screen function. This lets you add commentary to a video by placing yourself in front of it. The feature even cuts out your background. This lets you expand on a point or even remake it for your Shorts audience.
Reposting TikToks as Shorts
Some people choose to simply reupload their TikTok videos to YouTube. With short-form videos being as popular as they are, it makes sense to spread them far and wide. However, you should be careful here. Without the right TikTok downloader, your reuploads will have a watermark.
Some platforms, such as Instagram, punish videos with TikTok watermarks. As of 2024, YT isn’t one of these sites. A watermark, however, might make it seem like you’re not making content for YouTube specifically. It’s worth using a third-party tool to remove these watermarks.
These sites work simply by copying and pasting a TikTok video link. You can then download the original video, without a watermark, to your device. If it’s under 60 seconds, you can share it as a Short. Make sure you still make vids that are exclusively for your YouTube community.
Which Types of Content Work Best as Shorts?
Choosing the right video format for your content can be quite tricky. However, there are plenty of content types that simply suit Shorts better. This may be because of the format’s rapid-fire style, for example. Here are the main types of video that can thrive as a Short:
- Product showcase: Not everyone has time to sit through a 10-minute product review. A Short can get the item’s pros and cons out of the way quickly.
- Makeup timelapse: Full tutorials may need a longer vid, but sometimes you just want to share a look. A timelapse shows your full process in seconds.
- Get Ready With Me: These videos are simply a way of showing off a new outfit. If you’re a fashion influencer, use these videos to highlight sponsors.
- Simple skits: According to Brainlabs, 76% of people watch short videos to laugh. If you have a joke/skit you want to share, consider using YT Shorts.
- Video teasers: If you’ve got a longer video in the pipeline, use Shorts to tease your fans. This also helps you reach more people across the platform.
- Challenges: Many of today’s trending online challenges begin as Shorts. If you join one of these trends, it makes sense to use the same format.
- Q&As: You can even address individual video comments via YT Shorts. This gives you a way to clarify or expand upon any points your videos make.
Making Money From Shorts
Many people learn how to make Shorts on YouTube so they can earn money. Like other types of YT content, Shorts generate ad revenue. You can only make money from your Shorts if you’re a YouTube Partner. Here are the main requirements to join the platform’s Partner program:
- 1,000 subscribers — these must be real users, not bots.
- 4,000 public, non-bot watch hours across the past year.
- Alternatively, 10 million Shorts views in the last 90 days.
If you’re focusing on Shorts, it might be best to opt for 10 million views. This might seem almost impossibly high, but good Shorts rack up a lot of daily views. You’ll then be eligible for some of the format’s ad revenue.
How YouTube works this out is quite complicated. The site looks at how much money Shorts as a whole are earning. It then gives each Partner an amount that fits how many views their Shorts had.
Finding New Shorts Trends
YouTube’s Trending page shows which content is popular right now. According to YouTube, the vids here change every 15 minutes. You’ll have an instant snapshot of currently trending Shorts. This should help you come up with plenty of new video ideas.
If you notice several videos using a similar format, put your own spin on this. Start recording any contributions you want to make to a trend as soon as possible. By the next day, this trend might already be over.
Many trends and challenges use licensed background music. They could ask you to lip-sync to a song and give the lyrics a new context. Join these trends sparingly, as you’ll lose some of your revenue to the music producer.
When To Make Shorts vs. Longer Videos
Knowing how to make a Short is just as important as when to make one. This goes deeper than the actual video format. Will you actually have enough time to delve into a topic, for example? In addition, longer videos can make more money per view.
A Short can cover plenty of ground in 60 seconds. But is your vid’s topic one that needs a more delicate touch? If so, save it for your long-form content. You’ll then be able to explore it with a lot more nuance. Otherwise, you might rush your points or leave out essential context.
Similarly, YouTube users expect something fun when they’re scrolling on Shorts. If your video is upsetting or otherwise very serious, it might not be appropriate for this format. Many people who see it will simply be scrolling between videos, without knowing what yours is about.
Using SEO To Boost Your Shorts
Even when using great video creation tools, there’s no guarantee your video will get the views it deserves. Sometimes, your video’s hashtags are just as vital as the content itself.
Use three to five hashtags in your description, with one in the title. Each one will tell the site what type of video it is. YouTube’s algorithm then uses this to decide who’ll appreciate it. This is how the site makes sure your videos reach the right people.
Google Trends and other online tools will help you identify popular keywords. Mix these into the video where appropriate. It even helps to say them aloud. However, don’t overdo this. YouTube will notice if you’re keyword-stuffing to game the algorithm.
Get More Views on Your Shorts With the Help of GoRead.io
Learning how to create a YouTube Short can really help your channel grow. But even this won’t guarantee your videos get tons of views. GoRead.io can help through a network of organic, real YouTube viewers.
Our team will connect your videos with more people. You can sit back and watch as your Shorts soar through YouTube’s algorithm. Try GoRead.io today and give your Shorts a boost.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you turn a video into a Short on PC?
The process of how to make a YouTube video a Short is the same on any device. Simply press Remix below the video, and “clip” a section that’s less than 60 seconds.
How do I go viral on YouTube Shorts?
The more users you reach, the bigger the chance that others will share it. With the right hashtag strategy, the video will also land on more people’s Shorts pages.
What are the rules for Shorts?
The video must be square or vertical. It also cannot be longer than 60 seconds. Make sure you check your video won’t violate YouTube’s Terms of Service in any way.
Where do people see Shorts?
People can watch these vids on YouTube’s dedicated Shorts page. A selection also shows up in any regular YouTube search. Your subscribers will also still see them in their subscriptions and on your profile.