How to Make YouTube Shorts

Creating YouTube Shorts is one of the most powerful ways to grow your channel and reach a massive new audience right now. This guide breaks down exactly how to make compelling Shorts step-by-step, from nailing your idea to filming, editing, and publishing. You'll learn the simple techniques that help Shorts succeed, no complicated editing skills required.

Why YouTube Shorts Should Be Part of Your Content Strategy

If you're creating content, ignoring Shorts means missing out on a huge opportunity. Unlike traditional long-form videos that rely heavily on subscribers and search, Shorts have their own dedicated feed where the algorithm actively pushes new content to billions of users. This creates a level playing field where even a brand-new channel can get thousands of views overnight.

There are three main benefits to focusing on Shorts:

• Explosive Discoverability: Your Shorts can be served to viewers who have never heard of you, dramatically increasing your channel's visibility and reach. It's a direct line to new potential subscribers.
• Faster Channel Growth: Because Shorts are so discoverable, they often drive subscriber growth much faster than long-form content alone. Many creators use Shorts to build an initial audience they can then direct to their longer videos.
• Lower Barrier to Entry: A high-quality Short can be filmed and edited on your phone in under an hour. This makes it much easier to create content consistently compared to producing polished, long-form videos that can take days.

The Anatomy of a Perfect YouTube Short

Successful Shorts aren't just shorter versions of regular videos, they're a unique format with their own set of rules. Understanding these core elements is the first step toward creating content that gets views and engagement.

1. The 60-Second Vertical Rule

Let's start with the basics. A YouTube Short must be a vertical video (a 9:16 aspect ratio, just like your phone screen) and be 60 seconds or less in length. YouTube automatically categorizes any video that meets these two criteria as a Short. Think simple, phone-first content.

2. The All-Important Hook (First 3 Seconds)

In the Shorts feed, viewers are swiping through content at lightning speed. You have about three seconds - max - to grab their attention and convince them to stop scrolling. A weak opening means your video will be instantly skipped. A great hook makes them curious to see what happens next.

Effective hooks often include:

• Asking a direct question: "Did you know you could do this with your iPhone?"
• Making a bold statement: "This is the biggest mistake people make when building a PC."
• Showing the finale first: Show a beautiful finished cake, then cut to how you made it.
• Creating an information gap: "There are three things I wish I knew before I started my own business."

Always open with your most compelling footage or most provocative line. Don't waste time with a long introduction or logo animation.

3. Fast Pacing and Dynamic Edits

Attention spans on Shorts are incredibly short. Your video has to feel like it's constantly moving forward. Avoid long, static shots where nothing changes. Use quick cuts, zooms on important details, and on-screen text overlays to guide the viewer's eye and add energy. Even if you're just talking to the camera, cutting every few seconds makes the video feel more dynamic.

4. Clear Value or Entertainment

Every single Short should do one of two things: provide clear value or be genuinely entertaining. There's no room for filler. Ask yourself: "What is the one thing I want the viewer to take away from this video?"

• Value: Teach a skill, share a quick tip, explain a concept, or solve a common problem.
• Entertainment: Tell a funny story, share a surprising moment, or create something visually satisfying.

Focus on delivering that one point clearly and concisely.

5. Use Trending Audio Wisely

Trending sounds and songs can give your Short a significant algorithmic boost. When you see a particular sound popping up repeatedly in your feed, it’s a sign that the algorithm is favoring content that uses it. You can tap the sound on any Short and see how many other videos have used it. Using a popular audio track helps your video get categorized and shown to an audience that has already shown interest in similar content.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Make a YouTube Short

Making a Short can be broken down into five simple stages. Let's walk through each one.

Step 1: Ideation and a Simple Plan

Before you hit record, know what you're going to create. Don't overthink it - the best Shorts ideas are often the simplest.

• Answer Questions: What are the most common questions you get about your niche? Answer one of them in under 60 seconds.
• Repurpose Your Best Content: Take a key point from one of your popular long-form videos or blog posts and turn it into a Short.
• "How-To" Mini-Tutorials: Show a quick process, like how to tie a specific knot, use a software shortcut, or master a cooking technique.
• React to Trends: What's happening in your industry? Share your hot take or a quick analysis.

Once you have an idea, jot down a simple three-part outline: the hook, the main point(s), and a call-to-action (CTA). Your CTA can be as simple as, "Follow for more tips," or "Check out my full video on this topic."

Step 2: Filming Your Short (Lights, Camera, Vertical!)

You don't need fancy equipment. Your smartphone is more than capable of producing high-quality Shorts. Just focus on a few fundamentals:

• Always Film Vertically: Hold your phone upright to get that 9:16 aspect ratio.
• Find Good Lighting: Natural light is your best friend. Facing a window will give you a bright, professional look for free. Avoid standing with a window behind you, as it will turn you into a silhouette.
• Get Clear Audio: Viewers are more likely to forgive bad video than bad audio. Your phone's built-in microphone is fine if you're in a quiet room and close to the device. If you're consistently filming, a simple lavalier mic is a great, affordable upgrade.

Step 3: Editing Your Short (Putting It All Together)

Once you have your clips, it's time to edit them into a fast-paced, engaging video. You have two main options for this.

Option A: Using the YouTube App Editor

The YouTube app has a surprisingly powerful built-in editor that's perfect for beginners.

1. Tap the "+" icon at the bottom of the home screen and select "Create a Short."
2. You can record directly in the app or upload clips from your camera roll by tapping the gallery icon in the bottom-left corner.
3. Once your clips are imported, you can use the editing tools: trim and rearrange clips, add text with different fonts and colors, use filters, and add music from YouTube's extensive library of commercial-free tracks. This is also where you can find effects like the Green Screen tool.

Using music from YouTube's library is highly recommended, as it guarantees you won't get a copyright strike.

Option B: Using an External Video Editor

For more creative control, you can use a third-party mobile editing app. This gives you more advanced options for captions, transitions, and effects. Popular, user-friendly options include CapCut, InShot, or VN Video Editor.

The workflow is simple: edit your entire video in the app, export it to your camera roll, and then upload the finished video to YouTube. Even if you edit externally, you can still add a trending sound over your video during the upload process within the YouTube app to get the discoverability benefit.

Step 4: Writing the Perfect Title and Adding Hashtags

Your work isn't done after editing. Your title plays a role in grabbing attention both in the feed and in search results.

• Title: Keep it short, intriguing, and keyword-friendly. The title also appears as an overlay on your video in the Shorts feed, so making it punchy is important. Although YouTube automatically adds them to the Shorts shelf, including #shorts at the end of your title is still a common practice.
• Description: While less important for in-feed discovery, your description helps with search visibility. Write a sentence or two with relevant keywords, and include a few targeted hashtags like #youtubeshorts, #shortstips, or whatever is relevant to your niche.

Step 5: Publishing and Final Checks

Before you hit publish and release your Short into the world, you have a few final options. YouTube now allows you to select a specific frame from your video to use as a thumbnail. Pick a frame that's clear, engaging, and representative of the video's content. Finally, you can publish immediately, schedule it for a later time, or set it as unlisted or private. Once it's live, make an effort to reply to comments, as this engagement sends positive signals to the algorithm.

Strategies for Making YouTube Shorts Soar

Creating Shorts is one thing, getting them seen is another. Here are a few best practices to help tilt the odds in your favor.

• Consistency is Your Best Friend: The algorithm rewards creators who post regularly. You don't need to post multiple times a day, but aim for a schedule you can realistically stick to, whether that's three Shorts a week or one per day. Consistency signals to YouTube that you're an active creator.
• Create Seamless Loops: One of the most important metrics for Shorts is "Audience Retention." If you can get people to watch your video more than once, that's a huge positive signal. Try to create "perfect loops," where the end of the video seamlessly transitions back to the beginning so viewers don't even realize they've started it over.
• Tell a Simple Story: Even within 60 seconds, you can create a mini-narrative arc with a beginning (the setup), middle (the conflict/process), and ending (the resolution). Shorts that tell a story are far more engaging than a random collection of clips.
• Analyze What’s Working: Dive into your YouTube Studio Analytics. Look at your Shorts and identify the ones with the highest views and best audience retention. Is there a common theme? A particular topic or format that resonates? Double down on what's working and do more of it.

Final Thoughts

Making YouTube Shorts is an incredibly accessible way to share your knowledge, build a brand, and grow a community. It comes down to a simple formula: grab viewers' attention with a strong hook, give them quick-hitting value or entertainment, and remain consistent with your publishing schedule.

Once you get into a rhythm with creating content, the next challenge becomes managing your schedule across YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram Reels. That’s why we built Postbase. We designed it from the ground up for short-form video, so you can plan, schedule, and publish Shorts and Reels to all your platforms from a single visual calendar. It was built to solve the headache of juggling platforms, helping you reclaim your time to focus on creating.