How to Make Viral YouTube Shorts : A Complete Guide (2024)

YouTube is one of the biggest platforms in the world, with over 2.5 billion active users every month (Statista, 2024). One of the best ways to get attention on YouTube is through YouTube Shorts. These short, fun videos allow businesses and creators to connect with a huge audience. Whether you’re promoting a product, sharing a story, or growing your brand, learning how to create YouTube Shorts can help you stand out and reach more people.

What are YouTube Shorts?

YouTube Shorts are short, vertical videos that last up to 60 seconds (though YouTube now allows videos up to 3 minutes long). These quick videos are perfect for grabbing attention and showcasing your business, product, or service in an engaging way.

Why make YouTube Shorts?

YouTube Shorts provide an opportunity for businesses to engage with a large and highly engaged audience through dynamic and impactful visuals. 

• Expand Reach: Reach a younger generation whose interaction is majorly based on short-form content.
• Brand Awareness: Build more visibility and recognition of your brand with engaging, shareable content.
• Brand Image: Showcase your brand’s personality and values in a creative and authentic way.
• Drive Website Traffic: Encourage viewers to visit your website or online store.
• Generate Leads: You can use Shorts as a tool for generating leads by adding calls-to-action.
• Search Engine Optimization: Optimize your Shorts for relevant keywords to boost search visibility.
• Complement Your Marketing Efforts: Combine the Shorts into an overall marketing strategy to build a holistic brand experience.

What differentiates YouTube Shorts from other short-form video platforms

While YouTube Shorts shares similarities with other short-form video platforms, it offers unique advantages for businesses:

• Tapping into YouTube’s Already Existing User Base: With an already huge audience, it brings in a built-in advantage for the business looking to reach a wider demographic.
• Integration with Long-Form Content: Brands have the ability to transition viewers from Shorts, seamlessly, into their long-form content for more in-depth information, ensuring a cohesive brand experience.
• Monetization Opportunities: Being a product of YouTube, it has an established ad ecosystem in which businesses can generate money through Shorts.
• Brand Building: Shorts can be used to exemplify a brand, its values, and its messaging in a concise yet powerful way.
• Customer Engagement: Provide direct interaction with the customers in the form of comments, likes, and shares.

How long are YouTube Shorts?

YouTube Shorts can be up to 3 minutes long, but most of us create them in 60 seconds or less. This short length makes it easier to grab attention quickly and keep viewers interested. Since the videos are quick to watch, people are more likely to finish them and share them with others. This helps you reach a bigger audience. For your business, it’s a perfect way to share simple, clear messages that can be easily understood and shared widely.

How to make YouTube Short?

Creating engaging YouTube Shorts requires a blend of creativity, strategy, and technical know-how. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to make engaging Youtube Shorts:

Step 1: Brainstorming and Planning

• Identify the Target audience: Know their interests and preferences.
• Develop compelling concepts: Think of ideas that align with your target audience and brand identity.
• Outline your content: Construct your Short with a clear beginning, middle, and end.

Step 2: Record Your Video

• Record the Video: Capture or upload your shorts from your device.
• Lighting: Ensure good lighting for crisp video quality.
• Audio: Give importance to clear audio for enhancing the viewer experience.

Step 3: Edit Your Short

• Trim and cut: Tailor the length of your video to a compact format by removing extra footage.
• Add music: Set a mood or atmosphere to match your Short with the right music.
• Add text: Use text overlays to emphasize key points or add humor.
• Apply effects: Try filters, transitions, and more visual effects.
• Optimize length: Ensure Your Short is  within 60 seconds or less.

Step 4: Share Your Short

• Add details: Add a title, description, and some relevant hashtags.
• Publish: Share your Short with the world!

Remember, To maximize your Short’s reach, consider posting during peak viewing times. Research suggests the best time to post on YouTube can vary, so experiment to find what works best for your audience.

How to make a YouTube Short from Existing Videos?

Creating YouTube Shorts from your existing YouTube videos can help repurpose content and reach a wider audience. Here’s how to do it:

• Select Video: Select one of your existing videos that has potential for a strong Short.
• Use the YouTube Remix Feature: On the watch page of your video, tap “Remix” to begin creating your Short.
• Edit your clip: Pick the desired part of your video and add some creative elements like text, filters, or music.
• Publish your Short: Once satisfied with your creation, share it as a YouTube Short.

How to monetize YouTube Shorts?

Monetizing YouTube Shorts is a potential revenue stream for creators. Though the process might differ from traditional long-form videos, you still need to understand the requirements and opportunities.

Youtube Partner Program (YPP) Eligibility

To monetize your YouTube Shorts, You need to be part of the YouTube Partner Program. There are two primary paths to eligibility:

1,000 subscribers with 4,000 watch hours in the past year: This is the classic road to YPP eligibility (Long – Form Video).

1,000 subscribers with 10 million Shorts views in the past 90 days: This is a specific path for Youtube Shorts creators.

Once you hit the threshold to be eligible, you will be given an ad revenue sharing option for your Shorts.

Tips on Youtube Shorts

YouTube Shorts offer a unique opportunity for small businesses and online stores to connect with a wider audience and boost sales. Here are some tips to help you make the most of this platform:

1. Showcase Your Products

• Product Demos: Showcase product features and benefits in a concise and engaging way.
• Behind The Scenes: Give customers an inside view of how your business works, or how products are created.
• Customer Testimonials: Share positive customer feedback from satisfied customers .

2. Build Brand Awareness

• Storytelling: Think up stories that will resonate with your target market and reflect your brand values.
• Consistency: Have the same branding identity throughout all your Shorts.
• Engage with your audience: Respond to their comments and form a loyal base of followers.

3. Drive Website Traffic

• Include a clear call-for-action: Ask the viewers to visit your website or online store.
• Offer exclusive discounts or promotions: Incentivize viewers to take action.
• Use Engaging Visuals: Create visually appealing Shorts that drive users to click through.

4. Optimize for Search

• Use Relevant Keywords: Add Keywords related to your products or services. 
• Add Captions: Add captions to make your Shorts accessible to a wider audience.
• Engage Trends: Use popular hashtags and trends to make your videos discoverable.

By creating engaging, short-form content that aligns with your brand, you can significantly enhance your online presence and drive business growth.

Summary

Learning how to make YouTube Shorts can be a great way for businesses to boost their online presence, engage with new audiences, and drive traffic to their website or store. By creating short, creative content that aligns with your brand, you can capture the attention of millions of potential customers. Whether you’re showcasing products, telling a story, or connecting with your audience, YouTube Shorts provide a valuable tool for your business.

Start making your own Shorts today and see how they can help grow your business!