Let’s talk about YouTube Shorts.
In today’s digital age, video content has become an integral part of our daily lives. From entertainment to education, videos capture our attention like never before.
YouTube, the world’s largest video-sharing platform, constantly evolves to meet the needs of its diverse user base. One of its latest innovations, YouTube Shorts, has garnered significant attention.
In this blog post, we will delve into the benefits of using Shorts and explore how it is revolutionising the way content creators engage with their audience.
A Quick History of YouTube Shorts.
Before we get stuck into the benefits, here is a whistle-stop synopsis of the history of YouTube Shorts.
YouTube officially launched Shorts in September 2020 in India as a beta version. It was initially rolled out as a test feature to gather user feedback and refine the product before expanding it to a wider audience.
The concept of short-form video content had been gaining traction across various social media platforms, with users gravitating towards quick, engaging, and easily consumable videos. Recognising this trend, YouTube aimed to provide its content creators and users with a dedicated space to create and enjoy short videos directly within the YouTube ecosystem.
In the early stages, Shorts in India featured a 15-second video format and provided users with a variety of creative tools, including multi-segment camera recording, speed controls, music integration, and a timer. These tools allowed creators to produce captivating videos with ease.
Due to the positive response and high engagement from users during the beta phase in India, YouTube decided to expand the availability of Shorts to other regions. In March 2021, Shorts was launched in the United States, followed by a global rollout to more than 100 countries in July 2021. As Shorts expanded internationally, the video length was increased to a maximum of 60 seconds.
To further incentivize creators, YouTube also announced the YouTube Shorts Fund, a $100 million fund to support and reward creators for their Shorts content. The fund aimed to encourage creators to explore Shorts as a creative medium, attract new talent to the platform, and drive engagement with Shorts content.
YouTube Shorts Today…
According to a recent report, YouTube Shorts;
- Has over 2 billion users per month.
- People are consuming 15 billion Shorts per day.
- 70% of Shorts are watched on mobile devices.
- 72% of Shorts are longer than 15 seconds.
- Millennials and Gen Zers have the highest consumption rates of Shorts.
The Benefits of YouTube Shorts.
1. You Already Have Content To Use For YouTube Shorts!
Do you create digital content? Are you active on Instagram, TikTok, and other social media platforms? If so, you already have a bank of content waiting to be uploaded to Shorts. (If the answer is no to either of the first two questions, YouTube Shorts should be the least of your worries…).
Shorts use the same dimensions for videos as Instagram Reels and TikTok – 16:9. If you have video content captured in different dimensions, such as landscape or square, you can repurpose it and create Shorts with it.
Treat YouTube Shorts as another social media platform with a huge impression, reach, and engagement potential. You can even treat Shorts as a different platform to the type of content you are posting to your regular YouTube channel.
2. Enhanced Platform Discoverability & Reach.
The Shorts experience on YouTube is designed to help content creators, brands and businesses gain more visibility and grow their audience. The Shorts player is prominently placed within the YouTube mobile app, allowing users to easily access an extensive library of Shorts.
This increased exposure can lead to higher viewership, more subscribers, and an expanded reach for creators, enabling them to connect with a wider audience.
3. Increased Engagement & Interactivity.
YouTube Shorts fosters greater audience engagement through its dynamic features. Viewers can interact with Shorts by liking, commenting, and sharing them with others, thereby facilitating the creation of a vibrant and interactive community. A very similar interface to TikTok, which is hardly surprising!
Additionally, the platform encourages the use of music, filters, effects, and text overlays, providing creators with numerous tools to make their Shorts more visually appealing and engaging.
4. Nurturing Creativity & Experimentation.
Short-form videos offer creators an excellent opportunity to unleash their creativity and experiment with new content ideas. The low time commitment required to produce Shorts encourages creators to explore diverse concepts, styles, and themes without the pressure of creating lengthy videos. This freedom allows for innovation and can lead to the discovery of new storytelling techniques and unique approaches to content creation.
5. Seamlessly Integrate with Existing YouTube Content.
YouTube Shorts effortlessly integrates with a creator’s existing YouTube channel, ensuring a cohesive online presence. Creators can cross-promote their Shorts within their regular video uploads, driving traffic and engagement across different content formats.
This integration empowers creators to tap into their existing subscriber base and attract new viewers to their Shorts content, fostering overall channel growth.
6. Opportunities for Viral Success.
Shorts has proven to be a breeding ground for viral content.
The platform’s algorithmic recommendation system actively promotes Shorts, increasing the likelihood of creators’ content being discovered by new audiences. Short videos that resonate with viewers have the potential to go viral and gain substantial exposure, leading to increased channel visibility and potential monetization opportunities.
Conclusion.
YouTube Shorts is a game-changer in the realm of short-form video content. With its numerous benefits, including the ability to captivate audiences, enhanced discoverability, increased engagement, and seamless integration with existing channels, creators have found an exciting avenue to express their creativity and connect with viewers.
As YouTube continues to refine and expand its Shorts feature, we can expect even more opportunities for content creators to shine and engage with their audience in new and innovative ways. So, whether you’re a creator or a viewer, dive into the world of Shorts and explore the wonders of bite-sized video content.