YouTube Shorts Format: Everything You Need to Know
What Are YouTube Shorts?
YouTube Shorts Format is a dedicated section on YouTube, focusing on short-form content like vertical videos and square aspect ratio videos, with a maximum length of 60 seconds. It was introduced on July 13, 2021, and has collectively earned over 5 trillion views in two years, including pre-existing video views. Also, the number of monthly active users is around 1,5 billion. The platform offers creators an opportunity to engage with a fast-paced and mobile-optimized audience, making it a promising avenue for concise storytelling and captivating audiences as well as a possibility to monetize the content.
Why to Use YouTube Shorts?
Extra Reach
The primary reason many YouTubers post Shorts is for the potential extra reach they offer. Long-form videos can take time to gather views, but Shorts provide a more short-term boost, making them ideal for newcomers looking to build and strengthen their YouTube channel. Experimenting with different topic ideas and adding descriptions can help make your content more discoverable and attract more subscribers.
Intuitive and User-Friendly Design
Skills learned from publishing YouTube Shorts are transferable to other social media platforms embracing short-form video content, like TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram Reels. Consistently posting Shorts helps you understand which topic ideas work best, making it easier to make smarter choices on other platforms. Posting Shorts encourages you to step outside your comfort zone and embrace new possibilities. Even if you’ve never shared short-form videos before, trying something new can lead to growth and prevent stagnation as an online creator. They are easy to publish compared to long-form YouTube videos. You can record and edit them on your smartphone using tools like Adobe Premiere Rush. Uploading is simple, and tagging your video with #shorts ensures it gets published as one. Unlike longer video projects that require heavy editing, Shorts demand less editing time. While you still need to trim and add some elements like color style and subtitles, the overall process is quicker, allowing you to spread your message more efficiently to your audience.
How to Create YouTube Shorts?
Beginning your YouTube Shorts journey is incredibly straightforward, whether you choose to upload from your computer or directly from your smartphone. You just need to follow easy step-by-step guides provided below to take that initial leap into the world of YouTube Shorts.
YouTube Shorts on Mobile
- Sign in to your account through the YouTube app
- Click the + button and select Create a Short
- For a video longer than 15 seconds, click the 15s button in the top right to toggle to 60s
- Record video by either holding the record button, or tapping it to start recording and again to stop
- Tap the tick button to preview and enhance your video
- Once you’re happy with your edits, tap Next to add a title and choose the settings for your Short
- Tap Select audience to choose whether the video is made for kids or not
- Now you can go ahead and tap Upload Short to share your video
YouTube Shorts on Desktop
- Sign in to the YouTube Studio
- Click the Create button in the top right and select Upload videos
- Select a video file with either a vertical or square aspect ratio that is up to 60 seconds in length
- Fill out the details and publish as you would a regular video
Right Size for YouTube Shorts
Various social media platforms have different content size restrictions, ranging from character limits on text-based posts to specific image and video dimensions for visual content. Each platform aims to optimize user experience and encourage specific types of communication and creativity within their respective constraints.
To be recognized as a YouTube Short, a video must adhere to certain criteria. It should be shorter than 60 seconds in length and formatted in a vertical orientation. However, the precise definition of “vertical” may raise questions. Content creators might wonder about the acceptable aspect ratios that YouTube allows for their Shorts.
Accordingly, here are some basic sizes:
- Aspect ratio: 9:16 (creates the vertical format)
- Resolution: 1920 pixels by 1080 pixels (standard length by width ratio for vertical content)
Can You Produce Square YTS?
Despite the portrait dimensions, YouTube has a small exception to its vertical video rule for YouTube Shorts. While Shorts are typically expected to be in a vertical format, they can also qualify if they are square, with a 1:1 aspect ratio and dimensions of 1080 pixels by 1080 pixels. Despite appearing as perfect squares and not strictly vertical, YouTube will still classify these videos as Shorts.
Creating square YouTube Shorts comes with both benefits and drawbacks.
- Con: One of the disadvantages is that the video will display unsightly black bars at the top and bottom of the frame, which may not provide an optimal viewing experience.
- Pro: On the positive side, square videos leave the bottom of the screen empty, allowing viewers to easily see essential elements such as your channel name, the video’s title, and the subscribe button, enhancing overall visibility and branding.
Can You Monetize YTS?
As of 2023, creators can now monetize their YouTube Shorts, opening up new earning opportunities. However, it’s crucial to understand how this feature impacts creators, what the requirements are, and whether there have been any notable policy changes. Let’s delve into the details to gain a comprehensive understanding of what monetizing YouTube Shorts entails!
The ability to monetize YouTube Shorts depends on a few key factors: adherence to the platform’s guidelines, acceptance of the terms, and meeting the monetization threshold. In essence, once you qualify for monetization, you’ll start receiving payouts from the YouTube Shorts Creator Pool. Here’s a concise overview of how it works.
How to Monetize YTS?
To remain compliant with YouTube’s updated policies, you needed to accept these new terms until July 10, 2023. Even if your primary focus is not monetizing YouTube Shorts specifically, it is essential to review and agree to these terms. The key aspect of this update involves opting into the following monetization modules:
- Watch Page Monetization Module: By opting into this module, you can continue earning money from advertisements displayed across your long-form videos, live-streamed content, and YouTube Premium content.
- Shorts Monetization Module: This module allows you to monetize your YouTube Shorts and earn revenue from ads that appear between Shorts in the Shorts feed.
- Commerce Product Addendum: This ensures that monetization extends to extra features like Channel Memberships, Super Chat, Super Stickers, and Super Thanks. If you are already utilizing these features, rest assured that the terms remain unchanged, and you won’t need to agree to them again.
YouTube recommends opting into all of these modules to fully capitalize on the monetization opportunities available. By doing so, you can take advantage of the comprehensive range of monetization features provided by the platform.
Regarding the number of followers, you can monetize YouTube Shorts with just 500 subscribers, no need for 1,000! However, there’s a catch. You must have garnered three million valid Shorts views in the last 90 days. If that seems challenging, you can still monetize with 500 followers and 4,000 valid public watch hours on your main YouTube feed from the past 12 months.
Additionally, ensure you’ve uploaded at least three public videos in the last 90 days to be eligible for any monetization options. Once you meet these criteria, you can activate ads and earn 45% of the ad revenue allocated to your Shorts videos, with the remaining going to YouTube. This revenue comes from the Creator Pool, which proportionately divides ad money among all qualifying Shorts creators.
Of course, all of this depends on the algorithm as well which plays a big role among all social media channels, but the main focus should be creating relevant content.
FAQ
How Much Do YTS Pay?
The precise earnings potential with YouTube Shorts monetization remains uncertain, as there is no official equation to determine the exact amount one will earn per 1,000 views. Although some estimations suggest around $0.04 per 1,000 views, YouTube has not provided concrete figures yet. Regardless of the specific amount, once you monetize your Shorts, you will receive a 45% share of the gross revenue, in line with YouTube’s standard ad revenue payment model. However, it’s essential to note that YouTube Shorts monetization only applies to views after accepting the new terms.
Why Can’t I Monetize My YouTube Shorts?
There are two significant factors that will immediately prevent you from earning money through YouTube Shorts. Firstly, reposting content onto Shorts, whether it’s from another creator or a TV show, disqualifies you from monetization. Only original content is eligible for earning revenue. Secondly, any Shorts with artificially inflated views resulting from automated clicks or bots won’t be eligible for monetization.
Why Can’t I Use Music on YouTube Shorts?
Utilizing pre-recorded content offers several advantages for your YouTube Shorts video, especially if you have a specific vision in mind. Additionally, it provides you with the opportunity to use music beyond the selection available in the app. It’s crucial to remember that not every song worldwide is accessible within YouTube Shorts. If you opt to film and edit directly in-app, your creative toolkit will be limited to the resources provided by YouTube Shorts itself.
Can I See Who Liked My Shorts?
Understanding the individuals who liked your video can be a valuable metric in achieving your objectives. However, regrettably, YouTube does not allow users to view the identities of those who liked their videos. The platform prioritizes the privacy and safety of its users, ensuring that their information remains confidential and secure.
How Many YTS Should I Post a Day?
The frequency of posting YouTube Shorts depends on your objectives and target audience. If rapid account growth is your goal, posting multiple times a day might be the suitable approach. On the other hand, if you aim to cultivate a devoted following through high-quality content, prioritizing consistency over quantity becomes more significant.
YouTube Shorts has become a versatile addition to the realm of online content creation. With its focus on short-form videos, it caters to the dynamic preferences of contemporary audiences while presenting creators with fresh avenues for engagement and earning opportunities. As the YouTube Shorts community continues to grow, it remains a vital space for creators to explore, display their creativity, and establish meaningful connections with their audiences through innovative means. As the platform evolves, exciting developments and enhanced opportunities for content creators and viewers are bound to arise.
