How to Make YouTube Shorts: Complete Guide for Beginners

With over 50 billion daily views, YouTube Shorts is a great way to reach new audiences and grow your YouTube channel. YT Shorts started in September 14, 2020 as a competitor to TikTok. Since then, YT Shorts have gained over 5 trillion views and grew by 135% in just 2022.

In this guide, we'll teach you everything you need to know about YouTube Shorts to start gaining views for your own content:

1. How to create youtube shorts
2. How to edit youtube shorts
3. Youtube shorts dimensions
4. How long is a YouTube Short?
5. How do you earn with YouTube shorts?
6. How much do YouTube shorts pay per 1,000 views?
7. How to go viral on YouTube shorts (10 tips to go viral on YT Shorts)

How to create Youtube Shorts

1. Tap on the plus button at the bottom of the YouTube app

2. Select "Short" at the bottom to create a YouTube Short. This action brings you to a recording interface where a red meter tracks your recording time.

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3. Press the red record button to start recording up to 60 seconds of footage, or you can upload existing footage by pressing the image on the bottom left.

Editing features

YouTube has equipped Shorts with numerous creative features. From timers and green screens to effects and filters, the possibilities are endless. Moreover, you can add popular music and sound to your Shorts without fearing copyright claims, a significant boon for creators aiming to produce monetizable content.

Uploading tips

• Title and SEO: Crafting a searchable or intriguing title is crucial. Keep it under 40 characters to prevent it from getting cut off in YouTube’s interface.
• Thumbnail Selection: You can select a thumbnail directly from your video's frames. You can also upload custom thumbnails for better click rates.
• Remixing Feature: YouTube allows for remixing, meaning others can use the audio (and optionally, video) from your Shorts in their creations. This feature can significantly increase your content's reach.

How to edit YouTube Shorts

Here are some of our favorite apps for creating YouTube Shorts:

1. ‍Scenery: Scenery is a free app that makes it easy to create and edit videos. Scenery helps you edit 10X faster with AI tools and collaborative video editing. The app also includes key editing features to speed up the editing workflow such as Editing videos by transcript, Automatic Captions, and In-App Screen/Voice capture
2. YouTube Shorts editor: YouTube has its own set of Shorts creation tools that you can use to create short videos. These tools are built right into the YouTube app, so you don't need to download any additional software.
3. Canva: Canva is a graphic design platform that can be used to supplement the video editing process. It has a variety of templates and tools that you can use to create professional-looking graphics that can be imported into a video.

These are just a few of the many tools and apps that you can use to create YouTube Shorts. With a little creativity, you can use these tools to create engaging and entertaining short videos that will capture the attention of your audience.

YouTube Shorts dimensions

YouTube Shorts Aspect Ratio: 9:16

YouTube Shorts Resolution: 1920x1080

Here are all the video resolutions that will work with a 9:16 aspect ratio:

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The ideal YouTube Shorts dimensions are vertical or portrait, with a 9:16 aspect ratio. Although square videos are acceptable, vertical ones use screen real estate more efficiently, enhancing viewer engagement. The recommended resolution for Shorts is 1080x1920 pixels, which will ensure that your video looks sharp and clear on all devices.

How to upload 4K video to YouTube Shorts

1. Go to your YouTube Settings

2. Click "Uploads"

3. Click "Upload quality" and select "Full quality" to upload videos in 4K without compression

How long can Youtube Shorts be?

Videos can be up to 60 seconds long, and the file size must be less than 100MB. If you try to upload a video that is longer than 60 seconds, it will automatically be trimmed to fit the Shorts format.

How to make money with YouTube shorts?

To monetize your YouTube Shorts, you must be a member of the YouTube Partner Program (YPP). Once you're in the YPP, you can start earning money from ads that run on your Shorts. You can also earn money from YouTube Premium subscriptions and Super Chat donations.

The requirements for making money with YouTube shorts differ slightly from traditional YouTube content, focusing more on subscriber count and views within a specific timeframe. For Shorts-only channels, the benchmarks are 1,000 subscribers and 10 million Shorts views over the last 90 days.

How much do YouTube Shorts pay?

When diving into the world of YouTube Shorts, one of the most burning questions is undoubtedly related to earnings. Specifically, many creators wonder, "How much can you earn per 1,000 views with YouTube Shorts?"

Understanding CPM for Shorts

The concept of CPM (Cost Per Mille, or cost per thousand views) is critical in understanding YouTube earnings. However, it's important to note that CPM for YouTube Shorts is typically lower than that for traditional YouTube videos. This difference is due to the nature of Shorts consumption—shorter content tends to accumulate views more rapidly but engages viewers for a shorter duration, which can affect ad revenue.

Factors influencing earnings

Several factors can influence your earnings from YouTube Shorts, including:

• Viewer Geography: The location of your audience plays a significant role in CPM rates. Viewers from countries with higher advertising budgets, like the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, can lead to higher earnings.
• Engagement: Although Shorts are brief, their engagement level (likes, comments, shares) can positively impact visibility and indirectly influence earnings through increased viewership.
• Ad Types: The types of ads displayed alongside or within your content also affect revenue. While traditional videos have multiple ad opportunities (pre-roll, mid-roll, post-roll, banner), Shorts are more limited in this regard.

Estimated earnings per 1,000 views

Given the lower CPM rates for Shorts, earnings per 1,000 views can vary widely. On average, creators might earn anywhere from a few cents to a few dollars per 1,000 views on their Shorts. On average, creators are earning anywhere between 1¢ and 7¢ RPM, but this is a rough estimate and can fluctuate based on the aforementioned factors.

It's crucial to remember that these numbers are not guarantees but rather estimates based on general trends in the platform's monetization model. The YouTube Partner Program's specifics, including Shorts monetization, are subject to change, and YouTube continues to experiment with how best to reward creators for Shorts content.

Maximizing earnings from Shorts

To maximize potential earnings from YouTube Shorts, consider the following strategies:

• Diversify Your Content: Mixing Shorts with traditional long-form content can enhance your channel's appeal and open up more monetization avenues.
• Engage Your Audience: Encourage viewers to engage with your Shorts by liking, commenting, and sharing. Higher engagement rates can lead to better visibility and more views.
• Utilize YouTube’s Shorts Fund: YouTube has introduced a Shorts Fund, a $100 million fund distributed to reward creators making creative and engaging Shorts. While the specifics may change, taking advantage of such initiatives can provide additional income.

Highest CPM YouTube niches

These are the 10 highest CPM YouTube niches

How to go viral on YouTube shorts (10 tips for beginners)

Going viral on YouTube Shorts involves a blend of creativity, strategy, and a bit of luck. While there's no guaranteed formula for virality, certain tactics can significantly increase your chances of hitting that viral sweet spot. Here are some insights to help your Shorts catch the wave of widespread popularity:

1. Tap into trends

Keeping a pulse on current trends is crucial. This includes trending topics, challenges, sounds, or hashtags. Leveraging these can help your content resonate with a wider audience, increasing its shareability and chances of going viral. Use YouTube's "Trending" section, social media platforms, and even competitor analysis to identify what's capturing the public's interest.

2. Originality is key

While it's important to tap into trends, adding your unique twist will help your Shorts stand out. Think about how you can present a trending topic, sound, or challenge in a way that's distinctly you. Originality not only attracts viewers but also encourages shares, as people are more likely to share content that feels fresh and unique.

3. Focus on high-quality content

Quality matters, even in short-form content. This doesn't necessarily mean you need high-end equipment. Instead, focus on clear visuals, good lighting, and audible sound. A well-thought-out concept, executed cleanly, can go a long way. Remember, your content represents your brand; make it count. And use the best video maker to speed up the editing process.

4. Craft compelling hooks

With YouTube Shorts, you have just a few seconds to grab attention. Start your video with a compelling hook that entices viewers to keep watching. Ask a provocative question, showcase an unbelievable skill, or start with a surprising fact—anything that makes the viewer think, "I need to see how this ends."

5. Optimize for engagement

Engagement drives virality. Encourage viewers to like, comment, and share your Shorts. Engaging with your audience by replying to comments and participating in community discussions can also boost your content's visibility. Use clear calls to action (CTAs) to guide viewers on what to do next, whether it's watching another Short, subscribing to your channel, or sharing your video.

6. Utilize SEO and hashtags

Optimizing your title, description, and tags with relevant keywords can help your Shorts get discovered. Including trending hashtags and keywords related to your content increases its visibility to those searching for or interested in those topics. However, balance is key—ensure your SEO efforts don't compromise the creativity or appeal of your content.

7. Post consistently

Consistency is critical on any social platform, and YouTube is no exception. Regular posting keeps your audience engaged and helps you stay on top of trends. It also increases your chances of one of your Shorts breaking through and going viral. Set a realistic posting schedule that aligns with your capacity to produce quality content.

8. Analyze and adapt

Pay close attention to YouTube Analytics to understand what's working and what's not. Analyze your most and least successful Shorts to identify patterns or elements that resonate with your audience. Use these insights to refine your content strategy continuously.

9. Collaborate and cross-promote

Collaborating with other creators can expose your content to new audiences. Look for collaboration opportunities that make sense for your niche. Additionally, leverage other social media platforms to cross-promote your YouTube Shorts. Sharing your content across different channels can significantly amplify its reach.

10. Stay authentic

Lastly, while aiming for virality, don't lose sight of your voice and authenticity. Your unique perspective and authenticity are what will keep viewers coming back for more, even after the viral buzz has faded.

Get started with YouTube Shorts today

Once you have all your footage, head over to Scenery today and create your first YouTube Short in less than 5 minutes with an AI powered video editor.