If you're unfamiliar with YouTube Shorts, it's a feature that allows digital creators to easily produce engaging videos using their mobile phones. It provides a quick and efficient way to create, edit, and share short video content on YouTube.
The YouTube Shorts feature was launched to cater to the preferences of young users who enjoy watching concise videos. With millions of active users worldwide, the YouTube platform collects significant data about user interests and content preferences.
YouTube aims to expand the reach of YouTube Shorts, taking advantage of the TikTok application being banned in many regions and striving to surpass its competitor.
Content creators are aware that YouTube Shorts videos should be less than 60 seconds in length to be eligible for inclusion in the Shorts list. However, many struggle with determining the appropriate content for this format.
Creating and uploading short videos on YouTube is accessible to anyone with a YouTube account, as there are no restrictions.
In this article, we will learn more about YouTube Shorts and how you can create or upload YouTube Shorts videos on the mobile phone.
This is an example of YouTube Shorts video:
Some Information About YouTube Shorts
- Short videos should not exceed 60 seconds. You can create, edit, and upload these videos using any device.
- YouTube can identify short clips created with smartphones, iPads, DSLRs, or other video recording devices. Once your video is ready, simply log in to your YouTube account and proceed with the upload.
- While it's not mandatory to include the hashtag #shorts in your video's title or description, YouTube encourages its usage. However, YouTube can still recognize your video as a Short even without the hashtag.
- There are no specific requirements or restrictions for creating short videos, such as a minimum number of subscribers or views.
- Did you know that YouTube sometimes adds an extra second or two to the videos you upload? Although it may not be significant for longer videos, a couple of extra seconds can make a difference when YouTube categorizes a video as a Short or a regular video.
To play it safe, aim to keep your short video clips under 58 seconds. This ensures you stay within the maximum 60-second limit. While YouTube hasn't announced a minimum video length for Shorts, I recommend making your video at least 5 seconds long.
Short videos in a vertical orientation are required, with a 9:16 aspect ratio and a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels.
How to Create/Upload YouTube Shorts on Mobile Phone
Adding a short video to YouTube Shorts is a simple process that can be done through the YouTube mobile application. Here's how:
1. Open the YouTube mobile app and tap on the "+" icon located at the bottom of the screen.
2. Select "Create a Short" and then choose the option for a short video.
If you're unable to find this feature, you can still upload a short video that is less than 60 seconds long and include the hashtag #shorts in the title or description.
Uploading the short video as a regular video provides more flexibility as you can edit it to your liking.
YouTube Shorts also offers some additional tools to enhance your videos:
- Multi-segment camera: This allows you to create multiple video clips and combine them.
- Music selection: You can add music to your Shorts from a wide library of songs.
- Speed controls: These give you the flexibility to adjust the playback
speed of your video, allowing you to achieve professional-looking
performances.
- Timer and countdown: These features help you maintain control over the recording process, ensuring precise timing for your Shorts.
How to Determine if a Video Qualifies as a YouTube Shorts
After
uploading your video, you can easily check if it qualifies as a YouTube
Short by visiting the "Shorts" section on your channel's homepage.This dedicated section showcases content that YouTube automatically identifies as short videos. If you locate your uploaded video in this section, it means that it meets YouTube's criteria for a short video. Conversely, if you do not find it in the "Shorts" section, it indicates that it is classified as a regular YouTube video.
How to Improve the Visibility of Your YouTube Short Clips in Search Results
Choose the Right Video Dimensions:
When optimizing your YouTube Shorts videos, ensure that the aspect ratio is 9:16. This will signal to YouTube that your video is a short clip.
Mind the Video Duration:
YouTube Shorts has a time limit for videos. Keep your video's duration under 60 seconds to qualify as a short video.
Utilize Hashtags:
Consider adding the hashtag #shorts
in the title or in the description of your video. Although optional,
YouTube recommends it. This hashtag helps YouTube better discover and
categorize your video.
By following these three simple steps,
your video has a higher chance of being featured in the YouTube Shorts
section, specifically designed for short-form content on the YouTube
mobile app.
Keep in mind that it may take some time for your
short video to appear in the YouTube Shorts section, typically ranging
from 3 to 7 days based on reports.
Once your short video is
listed in the YouTube Shorts section, you'll enjoy increased traffic
within Google Analytics, potentially generating a substantial number of
views within a short period.
How to Check YouTube Shorts on Mobile App
If you wish to assess the performance of your Shorts videos on the YouTube mobile app, follow these steps:
1. Observe the "Short Videos" Display Area: Keep an eye out for a dedicated section called "Short Videos" that frequently appears below the videos being watched by users. This section showcases an endless stream of short videos, each lasting no longer than 60 seconds.
2. Track Inclusion in the "Short Videos" Section: Note that your short videos may be featured in this section, potentially garnering thousands of views. However, it's important to understand that inclusion is not guaranteed.
By monitoring the presence of your videos in the "Short Videos" section and analyzing their performance, you can gain insights into how they are resonating with the audience on the YouTube mobile app.
How to Access Analytics for YouTube Shorts:
1. Access YouTube Studio: Go to YouTube Studio by navigating to your YouTube account.
2. Click on Analytics: In the left menu of YouTube Studio, locate and click on the "Analytics" tab.
3. Navigate to the Overview Tab: Upon clicking "Analytics," you will be directed to the Overview tab. Here, you will find a graph displaying views, watch time, and the number of subscribers. Scroll down below the graph.
4. Click on "View More": To access more detailed analytics, scroll to the right below the graph and click on the "View More" option.
5. Explore Advanced Analytics: Upon clicking "View More," you will be presented with advanced analytics. At the top of the page, click on "Traffic Source."
6. Analyze YouTube Shorts Views: By selecting "Traffic Source," you can view the number of views specifically attributed to YouTube Shorts at the channel level.
Follow this tutorial video if you miss the point!
Benefits of YouTube Marketing with YouTube Shorts:
- Wide Audience Reach: YouTube boasts a vast user base, with millions of active users each month. This provides an excellent opportunity to leverage YouTube Shorts for marketing and reach a large audience while promoting your brand effectively.
- Engaging and Concise Content: YouTube Shorts' format revolves around short videos, typically under 60 seconds. This concise nature encourages creators to deliver engaging content that quickly captures viewers' attention. With shorter attention spans in today's digital landscape, YouTube Shorts allows you to deliver impactful marketing messages in a brief and compelling manner.
- Improved User Experience: YouTube is continuously enhancing the functionality of YouTube Shorts, making it easier for users to create and enjoy short videos. These improvements enhance the overall user experience, making it more convenient and enjoyable for both creators and viewers to explore and interact with new clips.
- Discoverability and Exposure: YouTube Shorts benefits from the platform's robust recommendation algorithm. When your Shorts video aligns with viewer interests or current trends, it has the potential to be featured in the "Short Videos" section, exposing your content to a broader audience and increasing its discoverability.
- Genuine Engagement and Interaction: YouTube Shorts allows viewers to engage with your content through comments, likes, and shares, fostering meaningful interactions. This engagement not only encourages authentic connections with your audience but also increases the visibility of your brand or message.
By incorporating YouTube Shorts into your marketing strategy, you can leverage its wide audience reach, engage viewers with concise content, enjoy an improved user experience, increase discoverability, and foster genuine engagement with your audience.
More Q&A About YouTube Shorts
What is YouTube Shorts?
YouTube Shorts refers to a dedicated section on YouTube for uploading and sharing short videos that are limited to a maximum duration of 60 seconds. These videos can be created using the "Create shorts" feature, which provides convenient editing and publishing options, or by uploading any video shorter than 60 seconds and including the #Shorts hashtag.
Why was YouTube Shorts launched?
Although YouTube is primarily associated with horizontal videos, the platform introduced YouTube Shorts to cater to the growing popularity of short-form vertical videos, particularly among younger creators who are familiar with apps like TikTok. By offering similar features and encouraging the creation of vertical videos, YouTube aims to attract a new audience and provide an opportunity for creators to gain a large number of views quickly.
YouTube Shorts presents an appealing prospect for marketing and promotional content, as well as entertainment videos targeting the younger generation who prefer shorter video formats.
When was YouTube Shorts launched?
YouTube Shorts was launched in late 2020, initially debuting in India following the ban of the TikTok app in the country.
Can anyone use YouTube Shorts?
Yes, YouTube has not imposed any restrictions on the use of YouTube Shorts. All users are free to add short videos, also known as "stories."
What defines a video as short?
A video is considered short when its duration does not exceed 60 seconds, and its aspect ratio is vertical (9:16). While it is preferable to include the #Shorts hashtag in the title or description of the video, it is not mandatory.
Which countries does YouTube Shorts support?
YouTube Shorts is supported in all countries, allowing users worldwide to access and utilize this feature.
