Here’s what you should know about how YouTube Shorts works and how to create your own videos using the feature…
What Are YouTube Shorts?
YouTube Shorts are video clips that are 60-seconds or less that are usually accompanied by popular music. You can view these videos on your YouTube homepage, the Shorts shelf, or under the #Shorts hashtag.
Creators have several options to edit before publishing. You can piece together multiple 15-second video clips (with a maximum video length of 60 seconds), add music using a large library catalog, adjust speed controls, and add text.
YouTube Shorts was originally released in India with limited features, but the US release included some additional features that help the platform compete with its rival TikTok.
Read more: YouTube Shorts Arrives in the US, But It’s No TikTok Killer Yet
One of the ways YouTube is hoping to beat its competitors is by allowing people to use the large library of existing videos on the platform. Creators will be able to use the audio from these videos and remix it in creative ways.
This gives the large, video-focused platform an advantage over other platforms that have to reach out to music publishing companies.
One thing YouTube still has to figure out is exactly how it plans on monetizing Shorts.
How Does YouTube Shorts Work?
The new feature works very similarly to TikTok and even has a similar-looking interface. You can scroll vertically through different videos, mark your favorites, explore hashtags, and remix other videos’ audio.
There are several differences between YouTube Shorts and TikTok that make each platform unique. Shorts doesn’t have the ability to add filters to your videos which gives TikTok creators more variety and creativity for their videos.
The ability to use audio from existing YouTube videos is a huge advantage since the platform has billions of videos uploaded to the platform. YouTube plans to launch this feature sometime in 2021.
All your videos must remain vertical and last 60-seconds or less. YouTube has added a specific section on their homepage for Shorts.
You scroll through your video feed by swiping up through the Shorts on your smartphone. The videos are full screen and automatically start playing like Facebook Stories or Instagram Reels.
Depending on what type of videos you watch and favorite, the Shorts algorithm will learn more about what you like and show you similar videos in the future.
In order to see more videos from specific creators, you just need to click on their name and you’ll see their library of created Shorts. You can also subscribe to any channel from the Shorts screen.
How to Create Your Own YouTube Short
As long as you have your own YouTube channel set up, creating a YouTube Short works similarly to a long-form video.
To create your own Short, follow these steps:
Tap the Create button. Tap Create a Short. Tap, or hold down, the recording button. Tap Next to view a preview. Tap Next to enter video details. Tap Upload.
Record the video vertically and make sure that all together it is less than 60 seconds. You can record and create a Short using any device as long as it follows those two rules.
A mobile phone will be the quickest way to upload a video since it is already formatted correctly, but you can also use editing software if you’ve created a video from your webcam or another recording device.
YouTube Shorts Are Here to Stay
YouTube Shorts have enjoyed a fast rise as content creators have flocked to the new feature hoping to reach larger audiences.
During its beta, millions of Shorts have already been uploaded—so it seems like it is a promising feature for the video platform.
