YouTube Shorts represent an exciting new video format optimized for mobile that every creator should be experimenting with.
In this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn what Shorts are, why they matter, and how to make them step-by-step so you can expand your channel‘s reach starting today.
What are YouTube Shorts?
YouTube Shorts are brief, entertaining vertical videos under 60 seconds long created exclusively for mobile viewing.
Think TikTok…but on YouTube.
YouTube launched Shorts in 2020 within its mobile app as a rising new way for creators to produce bite-sized content polished with music, effects, text and stickers.
Designed to be filmed on phones held upright, Shorts distill the broadcast power of YouTube into small, consumable moments perfect for "in-between" entertainment.
They also provide creators an enormously built-in potential audience thanks to YouTube‘s 2 billion monthly logged-in viewers.
So should you care? Yes!
Just one year post-launch, over 15 billion Shorts views play daily – showing tremendous creator and viewer adoption.
Now let‘s examine why Shorts exploded so rapidly…
The Exponential Growth of YouTube Shorts
YouTube Shorts rocketed from zero to sensations almost overnight thanks to perfect timing and product/market fit.
Reports showed the COVID lockdowns supercharged short-form, mobile video entertainment. Viewers sought escapist moments to scroll through waiting in line or during daily breaks.
Platforms like TikTok with sophisticated mobile creation tools capitalized on this demand via tapping into viral hype cycles where popular memes spread across the world in days.
Yet many regions faced TikTok bans – including India which quickly became TikTok‘s biggest market. This opened the door for alternative short-form mobile video solutions.
YouTube introduced Shorts first in India in September 2020 to seize this opportunity.
The results? Over 6.5 billion daily Shorts views in India by mid-2021 according to Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai – a staggering start.
Global rollouts followed, riding the momentum as viewing behavior shifted to favor short, consumable content equally engaging for creation as well as consumption.
Just over a year old, YouTube now reports: Over 15 billion global daily Shorts views on average 140+ billion Shorts views each month!* More uploaded every day than photos to Instagram
Such exponential growth shows tremendous creator enthusiasm for Shorts as the next evolution of video entertainment.
Are you ready to start tapping into this momentum? Our step-by-step guide will show you how…
Shorts vs TikTok – What‘s the Difference?
Many decry Shorts as just a "YouTube TikTok clone" – but key factors differentiate the two platforms:
| YouTube Shorts | TikTok | |
|---|---|---|
| Video Length | Up to 60 seconds | Up to 10 minutes |
| Creation Tools | Advanced mobile editing features including multi-segment sequencing | Mobile filters and effects more basic |
| Music Catalog | YouTube free sound library | Extensive music catalog w/ rights issues |
| User Base | Over 2 billion existing YouTube viewers | ~1 billion registered users |
| Monetization | YouTube Partner Program based on watch time/subscribers + $100M Shorts Fund | TikTok Creator Fund up to $2B paid on view counts |
While inspired by TikTok, YouTube Shorts benefit from over a decade‘s experience supporting creatives and optimizing video performance/discovery.
In particular, Shorts creation tools add advanced features enabling more professional short-form content than TikTok.
Plus built-in access to literally billions of viewers right from YouTube‘s existing vibrant communities eager for that next great Short.
How Much Money Can You Make on YouTube Shorts?
Monetizing Shorts comes down to YouTube‘s Partner Program – the traditional way creators begin earning on YouTube.
Once accepted, creators make 55% revenue share on video advertising run against their content.
The application benchmarks?
- 1,000 subscribers
- 4,000+ hours of watchtime
These targets ensure creators build loyal audiences consistently engaging before unlocking earnings.
YouTube also set up a $100 million Shorts Fund creators can access once hitting:
- 1,000 subscribers
- 10 million Shorts views over 90 days
They haven‘t provided exact monetary calculations. But based on their Partner Playbook, payout likely depends on:
- Views
- Geographic performance
- Audience retention metrics
Top Shorts creators can expect to earn $3 to $10 per 1,000 views. Though much speculation continues over exactly how YouTube calculates Shorts monetization as it‘s still so new.
Suffice to say – solid viewership pays. So let‘s jump into making shorts worth watching!
Step 1: Open the YouTube App
Let‘s begin by making Shorts on mobile – the native environment aligned to their consumability and creation.
Launch the YouTube app on your iPhone or Android.
Ensure you‘re signed into the account you want to publish Shorts through. Check the profile icon in the top right – this shows the channel name videos get posted to.
Tap to switch accounts if needed to select your brand account.
[insert screenshot of YouTube app showing account switcher]Kickstarting new creation flows presents the first step to cultivating consistency – so choose your publishing destination wisely!
Step 2: Tap "Create" then "Create a Short"
At the bottom of the app you‘ll see a row of main menu items. We need the one shaped like a "+" symbol.
Tap on Create > Create a Short.
This loads up the Shorts camera where you can:
- Upload existing clips from your camera roll
- Record something fully new
Both options come optimized for the vertical, mobile-first aspect ratio crucial to Shorts‘ snackable appeal.
[insert screenshot of Create menu]Let‘s capture something original next…
Step 3: Set the Timer
By default, Shorts start with a 15 second timer. But you can extend up to 60 seconds via the stopwatch icon at the top.
Tap the timer to toggle between 15 or 60 second durations.
You can always record multiple segments too if needed. This time range simply sets the initial recording length.
[insert timer screenshots]Now comes the fun part…
Step 4: Record Your First Short!
With your timer set, tap the large, red record button at the screen‘s bottom to capture footage.
Tap and hold record to continuously capture up to 60 seconds of vertical video.
No fancy equipment needed – just hold your phone steady and speak clearly. Capture your clip then tap "Done" once complete.
Review it, and re-record if you want to polish the take. Otherwise proceed to Shorts‘ proprietary editing magic…
Step 5: Enhance Via Effects, Text & Music
Post-recording is where Shorts leapfrogs TikTok on creative capabilities.
An intuitive mobile editor lets you layer improvements like:
❖ Soundtracks – YouTube‘s licensed music library
❖ Voiceovers
❖ Filters
❖ Text captions
❖ Emojis
❖ Stickers
❖ Multi-clip sequencing
❖ And much more
Tap each feature to browse an extensive catalog of enhancing elements.
Blend multiple video and audio tracks like a pro editor! This toolkit makes Shorts creation both accessible and sophisticated.
Have fun with the options and don‘t be afraid to get creative!
[insert screenshots of some effect options]With boosting complete, it‘s now time to send your very first Short out into the world…
Step 6: Finalize Details & Upload
You‘re so close! Before publishing, polish up key details:
Add a title, description and hashtag #Shorts for better visibility.
Enable downloads and set viewer age limits appropriately via the settings icon ⚙️ too.
Lastly – set as either Private, Unlisted or Public. Consider a test run in unlisted first before releasing publicly.
When good to go…tap "Upload" to queue your Short to YouTube‘s immersive ecosystem!
Congratulations – you‘re officially a Shorts creator! 🥳🎉
Step 7: Analyze Performance
Head to YouTube Studio for creator analytics to check performance. Here you can access:
❖ Views
❖ Average percentage watched
❖ Traffic sources
❖ Subscribers driven
Optimize your strategy by assessing what thrives based on hard data.
A/B test factors like:
❖ Thumbnails
❖ Titles
❖ Hashtags
❖ Captions
Learn more via our complete guide to YouTube analytics.
Leverage the full suite of free reporting tools to elevate your upcoming Shorts.
[insert Studios screenshot]Let‘s recap your newfound skills…
Next Steps & Summary
Congratulations! You just published your first YouTube Short. 👏
In this guide you learned:
❖ What Shorts Are – Vertical videos under 60 sec optimized for mobile
❖ Why They Matter – 15+ billion daily views show tremendous adoption
❖ Step-by-Step Creation – Via YouTube mobile app + enhancements
❖ Monetization Models – YouTube Partner Program requirements
❖ Marketing Tips – Hashtags, captions and cross-promoting choices
Stay tuned for an upcoming advanced section on creating Shorts via desktop tools.
For now, keep tapping into the highly engaged, ultra-shareable Shorts community!
The more you experiment, the more you‘ll discover types of Short-form content your audience connects with best.
Become a leader riding this new entertainment wave as billions of viewers swap their passive leanback watching for active, short video participation through direct creator interactions.
You got this! Just remember – have fun! 🤳
