YouTube has been the largest, most popular video-sharing website for years now. It is the second most visited webpage just behind Google and has launched the careers of thousands of creators, allowing users to monetize the video content they post and build a following doing so.
Recently, YouTube announced a new feature, likely in response to the rising popularity of TikTok. The feature is called YouTube Shorts, and as the name suggests, it allows users to create short-form video content that is under 60 seconds in length.
But how do you make a YouTube Short? How is it different from the user interface of YouTube? In this blog, we’ve laid out the facts in order to tell you everything you need to know about YouTube Shorts.
How Do You Make A YouTube Short?
Making a YouTube Short is much easier than creating a more traditional YouTube video. Rather than using a fancy camera set-up, YouTube Shorts are vertical videos, so they can be shot directly from your phone using the YouTube app. Using the app, you can edit clips, add music, and any other visual elements you’d like to see in your Short.
If you need more step-by-step guidance, look up how to create YouTube Shorts on YouTube itself and watch a few tutorial videos. It’s a very similar experience to creating a video on TikTok or a Reel on Instagram, so if you’re already familiar with either, you should be just fine!
Can You Monetize A YouTube Short?
Unlike traditional YouTube videos, you cannot monetize a YouTube Short in the same way. Since Shorts are so new, they may be able to be monetized in the future, but for now, there is another way to make money with the YouTube Shorts Fund.
According to YouTube, the YouTube Shorts Fund is a new program that is giving Creators access to $100M across 2021 and 2022 to reward them for their contribution to YouTube’s community. If you’re a Creator that is shooting and sharing Shorts, you’re eligible to participate and make money on your videos. Every month, YouTube will reach out to thousands of Creators based on their channel’s Shorts performance in the previous month, and will pay them accordingly. Creators can qualify for a bonus between $100 and $10,000 from the Fund, with the amount adjusted based on performance metrics like monthly channel Shorts views and where their audience is located.
What Is The User Interface Like For YouTube Shorts?
On YouTube, there is now a separate tab just for viewing Shorts. Although you can view this on their website, we would suggest viewing the Shorts interface on the YouTube app for the best experience. You can also see Shorts by visiting a Creator’s channel page, which is great news if you already have a YouTube channel with any sort of following. This way your audience will be able to see your long-form content and your Shorts in the same place.
How Can You Boost Engagement With A YouTube Short?
The biggest thing to remember when it comes to making YouTube Shorts is to be creative. YouTube is a huge platform and you have to make sure your videos stand out from the crowd in some way. Each business and person is different, so remember that you can get inspiration from other Creators, but you should always be conscious of your own audience and the best way to connect with them. Stay true to yourself and your vision and remember to grab your viewer’s attention in the first few seconds, as most people decide whether they want to continue watching something within the first three seconds.
If you want to learn more about the features you can use to create more creative Shorts, you can explore ways to make your Shorts great by viewing The Shorts Report. The Shorts Report is a twice-monthly report that shares Shorts best practices to help you create, no matter where you’re starting from.
It’s good to also keep in mind all the basics of video creation, such as good camera quality and the sound quality so that people can hear either the music you use or what you’re saying in your Shorts. It’s usually a good idea to include sounds and graphics when editing, such as a voiceover or graphics that might advertise aspects of you and your business.
YouTube Shorts is a great new way to create short-form content on the world’s most popular video sharing site, we hope you’ve learned everything you wanted to know about YouTube Shorts, remember to keep your content relevant and get creative!