Since its origination in 2005, Youtube has been incredibly innovative in the online video sharing industry. This is why, It’s no surprise that YouTube has recently adopted short-form video as a way to keep up with competitors like TikTok and Instagram. Today, we’re going to cover everything you need to know about YouTube Shorts, and most importantly – if this is a platform your brand should be utilizing as a part of your brands marketing strategy. . Let’s dive in!
First things first… What are YouTube Shorts?
Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock for the last few years, you’ve witnessed the rise of short-form video across platforms like TikTok, Instagram and Facebook. YouTube Shorts are 15-60 second vertical videos that are created using your smartphone and uploaded directly to the YouTube app. Unlike a traditional YouTube Video upload, Shorts are located in a separate tab at the bottom of your screen (but can also appear on the Homepage), and you scroll through them as you would similarly on other platforms (i.e. Instagram Stories).
Okay, what about editing features? Music?
While Youtube Shorts don’t include as many editing features as TikTok, you’re still able to add music from the YouTube catalog as well as text, and other filters to your video. Before publishing, make sure to indicate whether your video is appropriate for kids or if there needs to be an age restriction. People who view your Shorts will be able to like, comment, and share the video which will ideally convert them into a Subscriber to the brand channel. Which brings us to our next point!
Is this the right platform for your video content?
If you’ve already established a YouTube Channel, and you’re posting long-form video content on a regular basis, adding Shorts to your strategy is a no-brainer! We recommend creating “teaser” content for your longer uploads, as well as other variations that align with your overall marketing strategy. If you have yet to post on YouTube and you’re considering adding this channel to your marketing strategy, we recommend repurposing content from other platforms as it makes sense to do so, while also creating some video content that’s specific for YouTube (ex: teaser videos or previews of longer-form content).
Can you monetize YouTube Shorts?
As of right now, there is no official application to apply for the YouTube Shorts Fund, which is a $100M fund to reward creators for their dedication to making creative, original Shorts that delight the YouTube community. Instead, thousands of Shorts channels are reviewed every month for performance, and if a certain viewership and engagement level is reached a bonus may be awarded. Qualifying channels can receive anywhere between $100-$10,000 each month based on performance.
Will you be adding YouTube Shorts to your channel strategy in 2023? Let us know over on Instagram or TikTok!
