You have seen them many times, probably not knowing they have a name.
Over 2 billion logged-in users have viewed YouTube Shorts a month. Given its sharp rise in popularity, it’s little surprise that Google is doing its best to improve the YouTube Shorts experience.
YouTube Shorts allows visitors to create videos up to one minute in length. These videos are designed to be quick, engaging, and easily consumable.
What are Youtube shorts?
A relatively new feature, Youtube shorts enable YouTube to compete with the rising popularity of short-form video platforms like TikTok.
Like TikTok, YouTube Shorts is optimized for vertical video formats better suited for mobile viewing.
Shorts can be discovered in various ways, including a dedicated tab on the YouTube app, within search results, and through a Shorts shelf on the YouTube homepage.
Viewers can engage with these videos through likes, comments, shares, and subscribing to the creator’s channel. The Shorts format encourages quick interactions.
A range of creative tools
YouTube Shorts provides various creative tools, including stringing multiple video clips together, adding music, adjusting speed, and more.
One of the standout features of YouTube Shorts is its music library. Users can add music from a wide range of licensed tracks to their Shorts, enhancing the creative possibilities.
Six new features
Youtube has added six new features that include:
Collab – New feature that allows creators to create a Short alongside other YouTube or Short videos in a side-by-side format is called Collab. There are multiple layout options available.
Does it sound familiar?
This format is a direct copy of TikTok’s ‘Duet’ functionality, which allows creators to respond to other users’ posts.
So far, YouTube has provided only audio remix options for Shorts but is incorporating more TikTok tools to challenge this app.
Mobile-first vertical live – Live creators will get discovered in the Shorts feed. YouTube wants to connect creators live with a fresh audience and more easily build communities.
Q&A stickers – Content creators can now ask viewers questions using Q&A stickers. The viewers may leave their replies in the comments section.
Creation suggestions –
Tapping the Remix button From the Shorts player and selecting ‘use sound’ Youtube will automatically surface the same audio time stamp from the video you just watched and the exact effect as a suggestion for creation.
Content creators also have the option to mix and match.
Shorts playlist – As a Creators, you can now save Shorts to your playlists directly onto YouTube.
Transform horizontal videos to Shorts – This new feature is being trialed in the coming weeks. Users can now choose a video to remix and adjust the layout, zoom, and crop to turn it into a Short.
YouTube has been taking steps to compete with the popularity of TikTok by introducing features and formats similar to what TikTok offers.
Creators use Shorts as a great new way to connect with their audience, building a community around short, engaging content.
And not only that – YouTube, just like TikTok, is exploring ways to allow creators to monetize their Shorts. Monetization options include ad revenue sharing, sponsored content, and other methods.
What is coming next? We are sure to see soon.
