The most seasoned player in the video streaming game, YouTube, is looking to keep up with the kids, Instagram and TikTok, with the launch of Shorts.
First Things First, What Are Shorts?
These are YouTube’s spin on the exceedingly popular TikTok. According to the platform, Shorts are a “new video experience” that users can watch or create right from their phones. In order for a video to be considered a Short, it must be vertically orientated and 60 seconds or less.
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DownloadWhere Can I Find Them?
These bite-sized videos are found in multiple locations. You can locate them by tapping the “Shorts” button at the bottom of the YouTube app, find them in notifications or subscriptions or in the “featured” section of a channel’s home page … among others.
What’s unique about these videos is that they have their own viewing experience separate from regular uploads. Once a user clicks into a Short they can then begin scrolling to watch more.
It’s important to note that YouTube doesn’t have an easy direct messaging system for friends to share their favorite content with their peers, like, you guessed it, TikTok or Instagram. However, what it does have is access to YouTube’s 2 billion users.
To increase the chance of your video getting seen, use the hashtag #shorts in your video’s description or title.
11 YouTube Terms to Learn
Shorts. Short-form videos that are up to 60 seconds long.
Shorts Creation Tool. This tool allows users to record, edit and add audio to videos created within the app. Within the Shorts Creation Tool you can use:
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Check out Thryv’s YouTube Shorts Multi-segment camera. Allows users to string multiple clips together.
- Music. Add a song or sample audio from other shorts or eligible YouTube videos. Music can be added before recording your video in order to sing along. In addition, you can add music in post-production. If you choose to use third-party music or copyrighted music, you are limited to 15-seconds.
- Text & timeline. Add text to the video and control when it appears or disappears.
- Filters. Use filters to change up the look and feel of the video. Unlike other apps, YouTube Shorts do not have AR or augmented reality filters.
- Align. Pressing this button shows the last frame of the previous video when recording within the shorts editor. This enables users to create seamless transitions between multiple clips.
YouTube Studio. The administrative panel for YouTube creators on the YouTube website. Here you can upload videos, edit video details and see video analytics.
YouTube Stories. Like Stories on other platforms, YouTube stories disappear after 7 days and only show up in one section of the platform. Stories are only 15 seconds.
New to You. This feature helps users discover content from channels that they don’t normally watch or see on their home page.
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Why Small Businesses Should Leverage the Power of Video
With 6.5 billion views daily from all across the globe – YouTube Shorts are a new way to reach your audience and gain new followers.
84% of people say they’ve been convinced to buy a product or service by watching a brand’s video. For small business owners, this should be all you need to hear to determine that video marketing is the way to go.
There’s a reason the phrase “TikTok made me buy it” is one we all know. Personally, I know this a little too well.
So use this platform to provide key information about your brand, answer FAQs about your product or service or let your audience get to know you on a more personal level.
However you choose to use video, the first step is always the same: Hitting record.
