How to Create YouTube Shorts Step by Step

Ready to create YouTube Shorts that grab attention and grow your channel? You're in the right place. This step-by-step guide will walk you through everything you need to know, from brainstorming ideas to filming, editing, and optimizing your Shorts for maximum reach.

What Are YouTube Shorts (And Why Should You Care)?

YouTube Shorts are vertical, short-form videos that are 60 seconds or less in length. Think TikTok or Instagram Reels, but living natively on the second-largest search engine in the world. They show up on the "Shorts shelf" on the YouTube homepage, in subscription feeds, and in their own dedicated Shorts tab, giving them massive potential for discovery.

But why should you, as a creator or brand, focus on them? The answer is simple: reach. The Shorts algorithm is designed to put new content in front of a massive audience, making it one of the most powerful tools available for organic channel growth right now. A single Short can rocket a small channel to thousands of new subscribers literally overnight. It's an incredible opportunity to introduce your brand to new people who might then watch your long-form content.

Planning Your First YouTube Short: The Pre-Production Steps

A great Short often starts with a little bit of planning. You don't need a Hollywood production crew, but thinking through these steps will make your content exponentially better.

Step 1: Finding an Idea That Connects

Staring at a blank screen? No problem. Here are a few reliable ways to generate ideas for your Shorts:

• Repurpose Long-Form Content: This is the easiest win. Look at your existing long-form videos and pull out a key point, a funny moment, a quick tip, or a surprising stat. One 10-minute video could easily give you 5-10 Short ideas.
• Answer a Single Question: What do your customers or audience members always ask? Answer one of those questions clearly and concisely. Shorts like "How to do X in under 60 seconds" perform incredibly well.
• Tap into Trends: See a trending sound or a popular format? Put your own unique spin on it. Don't just copy a trend - adapt it to your niche or brand voice. You can find trending audio right within the YouTube Shorts creation tool.
• Quick Tips &, Tutorials: Show someone how to do something quickly. It could be a simple "life hack," a keyboard shortcut in a piece of software, or a quick cooking tip. Value-driven content is always a winner.
• Behind-the-Scenes: Show the process, a day in the life, or package an order. People love feeling like they're getting an inside look.

Step 2: A Simple Script or Outline

You don't need to write a word-for-word script, but you do need a plan. People decide whether to keep watching a short-form video in the first one or two seconds. Your outline should have three parts:

1. The Hook (Seconds 1-2): Start with an engaging question, a bold statement, or a visually interesting action. Your only job is to stop them from swiping.
2. The Body (Seconds 3-50): Deliver the main value or story of your video. Keep it fast-paced. Cut out any pauses or unnecessary words.
3. The Call-to-Action (CTA) (Seconds 50-60): Tell people what to do next. This could be "Subscribe for more tips" or "Check out our full video, linked in the comments."

Step 3: Gearing Up (Keep It Simple)

The gear you need is probably already in your pocket. The most viral Shorts are often shot on a smartphone. Here are the only two things that really matter:

• Good Lighting: You don't need studio lights. Shooting in front of a window with natural light is often the best option. Just make sure your face is well-lit and not shadowed.
• Clear Audio: The internal microphone on modern smartphones is pretty good. Just make sure you're in a quiet room without a lot of echo. If background noise is an issue, even an affordable lavalier mic that plugs into your phone can make a huge difference.

How to Create a YouTube Short: The Full Step-by-Step Process

You have your idea and you're ready to go. Now, it's time to actually create the Short. You have two main options: recording directly in the YouTube app or uploading a video you edited elsewhere.

Method 1: Creating a Short Directly in the YouTube App

This is the fastest way to get started and gives you easy access to YouTube's music and audio library.

Steps to Follow:

1. Start a New Short: Open the YouTube app on your phone and tap the center plus (+) icon at the bottom. Select “Create a Short.”
2. Set Your Duration: At the top of the screen, you can toggle between 15 and 60 seconds. Choose the maximum length your video will need.
3. Add Your Audio First: This is a pro tip! Before you record, tap the “Add sound” button at the top. Browse popular tracks and trending sounds. Choosing your audio first lets you record in an "inspired" way, a bit like creating content on TikTok.
4. Use the Creative Tools: On the right-hand side, you’ll see a menu of tools.
   • Flip: Switches between your front and back cameras.
   • Speed: Lets you record in slow motion (0.3x, 0.5x) or sped up (1x, 2x, 3x).
   • Timer: Allows you to set a 3, 10, or 20-second countdown before recording starts. This is perfect for setting up your phone and getting into position hands-free.
   • Green Screen: Use a photo or video from your camera roll as your background.
   • Align: This ghost-like overlay of your last frame helps you line up your next shot perfectly for seamless transitions.
5. Record Your Video: Tap and hold the red record button to film. You can release it to stop and record different clips, all of which will be stitched together into one video.
6. Edit and Enhance: Once you're done recording, tap the checkmark in the bottom right. Now you can:
   • Add Text: Add captions or titles with different fonts and colors. Use the Timeline feature to control when the text appears and disappears.
   • Use Filters: Apply visual filters to change the look and feel of your video.
   • Trim: Tap on "Adjust timeline" to trim or reorder individual clips.
7. Finalize and Upload: After editing, tap "Next." Here you’ll add your caption, choose your visibility (Public, Unlisted, or Private), select your audience, and then hit “Upload Short.”

Method 2: Uploading a Pre-Edited Video

If you prefer more advanced editing features, you can edit your video in an app like CapCut, InShot, or even a professional desktop editor like Adobe Premiere Pro, and then upload it to YouTube.

Steps to Follow:

1. Film and Edit Your Video: Record your video using your phone's camera app or a DSLR. Edit it in your preferred external app.
2. Export With the Right Specs: For YouTube to recognize your video as a Short, it must meet two criteria:
   • It must have a vertical aspect ratio. The standard is 9:16 (1080px wide by 1920px tall).
   • It must be 60 seconds or less in length. Even 61 seconds will cause it to be treated as a standard video.
3. Upload It: Open the YouTube app, tap the plus (+) icon, and select "Upload a video." Choose the video file you just created. YouTube will automatically recognize it as a Short.
4. Add Finishing Touches: Even though you’ve already edited it, you can still use YouTube's editor to add sound from their library, text, and filters before you upload.
5. Publish: Write your caption, set your visibility, and upload just like you would with a Short filmed in the app.

Optimizing Your Short For Better Performance

Hitting "upload" isn't the final step. A few extra touches can significantly increase your video's chances of being seen.

Write a Powerful Title

Your title is important for SEO and for context. Keep it short, punchy, and include your main keyword. Don't forget to add either #shorts or #short to the end of your title to help YouTube categorize it correctly.

Use Hashtags in Your Description

While the Shorts feed is mostly algorithm-driven, hashtags still help provide context. Use a mix of 3-5 hashtags in your description:

• Broad Hashtags: like #socialmediamarketing or #fitness
• Niche Hashtags: like #contentcreationtips or #homegymworkout
• The Essential Hashtag: Always include #shorts

Select Your "Thumbnail" Frame

You can't upload a custom thumbnail for a YouTube Short that appears in the Shorts feed. However, you can select a single frame from your video to act as its cover. This frame is what people will see when they browse Shorts on your channel page. To do this, when finalizing your short, tap the little pencil icon on the image of your Short to select the best, most eye-catching frame from your video.

After You Publish: Now What?

Your work isn't over yet! Creating Shorts is a cycle of create, analyze, and repeat.

• Stay Consistent: The algorithm rewards consistency. Try to stick to a publishing schedule, whether that's one Short a day or three per week. The more consistently you post, the more data YouTube has to find the right audience for you.
• Check Your Analytics: Inside YouTube Studio, look at the analytics for your individual Shorts. Pay attention to Views, Likes, and most importantly, Audience Retention. If people are dropping off in the first few seconds, your hook needs work. If a certain style of video gets tons of views, make more like it!
• Engage with Comments: When people comment on your Shorts, respond! Answering questions and liking comments fosters a community and encourages more people to engage, which sends positive signals to the algorithm.

Final Thoughts

Creating YouTube Shorts is one of the most effective strategies for growing a YouTube channel today. By following this guide, you have everything you need to plan, film, and optimize engaging Shorts that capture viewers' attention and introduce your brand to a new and excited audience.

Staying consistent with posting Shorts is where the real growth happens, but managing a content calendar across multiple platforms can feel overwhelming. Staying on top of our creative workflow is a big reason why we created Postbase. It allows us to visually plan our entire content schedule, draft Shorts with their titles and descriptions, and schedule them reliably so that we're never caught scrambling for our next post.