YouTube Shorts: The Sneaky Content Catalyst

The short-form video trend has been exploding, and there are no signs of it slowing down. While you may have heard of TikTok or Instagram Reels, you may or may not have considered YouTube Shorts as a contender for short-form videos. We’re here to discuss how adding Shorts to your strategy could just be a catalyst for your content strategy.

What Are YouTube Shorts?

YouTube Shorts are vertical short-form videos captured in 60 seconds or less. Shorts provide content creators on YouTube with another outlet within the platform to promote their videos and gain subscribers.

YouTube introduced Shorts to the US in 2021 to stay competitive with its popular social media competitors—TikTok and Instagram. Creativity is at the core of YouTube’s existence, and that theme is showcased fully with the introduction of Shorts.

How Do Shorts Work?

Within Shorts, creators have the ability to edit short-form clips with YouTube’s built-in tools, such as animated text, playback speed, personalized audio, and more. You can also reuse the same audio samples from different videos to make a remix of your own!

YouTube Shorts watchers can like, dislike, comment on, and share videos. Perhaps the most valuable function of shorts is that it gives viewers the opportunity to subscribe to the creator’s channel.

We could tell you how to create a Short, but YouTube does it best.

How Is It Different from Other Short-Form Videos?

The main difference between YouTube and other social platforms, such as Instagram and TikTok, is the prevalence and emphasis on long-form videos. YouTube has always operated in this way. Do Shorts threaten the success of long-form content on YouTube? On the contrary!

With the option for short and long-form content, you can expertly curate your YouTube page to fit the exact expectations and desires of your audience. Even better, a creator can use Shorts to promote their own long-form content without sending viewers to a different platform. In a world that values convenience, we’d say that’s a win.

Why Should I Use YouTube Shorts?

If you’re on the hunt for visibility, Shorts are for you. Shorts can be seen by current and potential subscribers, so you are casting your net wide.

While Facebook takes the cake with the most monthly users, YouTube is not far behind with 2.5 billion active users per month.

YouTube is peppered with unique niches and followings. Some of the largest niches include the beauty industry, how-to tutorials, children’s content, cars, and more. Whatever your niche is, there is undoubtedly a place for you.

Beyond visibility, YouTube has become a hotspot for products, making it desirable for your ecommerce business. Google reports that 70% of YouTube users say they purchased a product after seeing it on YouTube. Dispensing on your target demographic, YouTube could hold the keys to big successes.

56% of Gen Z, 54% of Millennials, 48% of Gen X, and 26% of Boomers say they discover new products most often on YouTube.

Hubspot

With the steady popularity of product review niches, this is no surprise.

One last thing to note is YouTube’s resounding reputation. YouTube has been around for almost 20 years and has earned its crown as a social media staple. On the other hand, the security of TikTok has been a point of contention since its inception, and many are still weary of the potential consequences of using the app.

How Can You Use YouTube Shorts to Take Your Business Further?

Utilize Trends

New trends are constantly emerging on social media—and they take off fast. Staying in the know can help you create content that is relevant and eye-catching.

Think Outside the Box

It’s easy to want to replicate everything you see on social media—and to some extent, that is how to garner followers. But what will really take you further is to be unique and showcase your product in all of its glory.

If you find yourself feeling stuck when it comes to content development, our team of creatives can help. Blending strategy with creativity is our passion, and we’d love to help you get started right away.

Create a Hook and Add Value

The first few seconds of your video are the most important! What are you going to do to make your viewers stay? After you’ve grabbed their attention, you now have to prove your value. What makes your product one that the viewer cannot live without?

Work Smarter, Not Harder

If you are already leveraging short-form video in your social media strategies, consider adding YouTube Shorts to your posting platforms. Sharing your videos across multiple channels will reach diverse audiences, resulting in increased visibility for your content!

Don’t Let Your Social Media Presence Fall Short

If you’re looking to break into the multifaceted, ever-growing world of social media, you’ve found the right people. At PHOS, we know that creativity plus strategy equals success. We want to help your business grow the right way. From social media to paid ads and everything in between, we’ve got you covered.

Ready to get rollin’? Start here.