Released by YouTube as an alternative to Reels and TikTok, Shorts are giving creators another option for sharing quick content.
In the era of short attention spans and social media bombardment, it’s no surprise that quick, entertaining video clips perform well.
After the seemingly overnight success of social media short-form video app TikTok – and all of the platforms that offer Stories, Reels or other variations of short-form, mobile-first content – YouTube has released their own micro-video product, YouTube Shorts.
“Shorts is the spot to shoot, share, and binge short videos (think 60 seconds or less) on YouTube. It’s where you can go to start trends, try out a dance challenge, bring your hilarious ideas to life, and more.”
Much like TikTok, Shorts have seen a quick rise among viewers and creators alike since their introduction.
In fact, many audiences prefer quick videos over longer-form content and shows.
While this may have initially had older generations scratching their heads in confusion, it’s no secret that these apps and their content are wildly popular among users of all ages.
YouTube has proven repeatedly that content does not have to be long to get, and keep, people’s attention. It appears that after decades of working to remove commercial breaks from television shows and other entertainment, we’ve come full circle and are now even seeking them out.
What is the point of YouTube Shorts?
While professional video often requires time and budget for filming and production, YouTube Shorts were developed as a mobile-friendly way for creators to share short content on a whim. This encourages them to quickly film and share right in the middle of everyday life, which helps creators promote and grow their channels without the effort of a full-scale video.
If your audience is viewing content from their mobile devices, you should be creating Shorts.
Users love this content because it is quick and to the point, and because they feel that they are getting to see the creators in their real, everyday environments.
While this may not always be the case, it helps increase trust in an audience, which increases loyalty, which increases income.
Qualifying Shorts channels generate anywhere from $100 to $10,000 per month from their Shorts. Creators love this content because it’s quick and easy, and they often see substantial increases in overall channel traffic in addition to increased revenue.
Shorts are a new product, so the platform is giving them a lot of attention in an effort to ensure they are successful.
Why not jump in and grab some of that increased attention for your brand as well?
Creating YouTube Shorts
Because YouTube Shorts are designed to be quick, on-the-go content, creating the videos is relatively simple.
YouTube breaks it down into six easy steps:
1. Log into your YouTube account from the app. Tap the Create (+) button, and select Create a Short or Upload a video if you already have the footage you’d like to use.