Remember that saying, “nothing is lost, everything is transformed”? Wouldn’t it be cool if you could apply that same principle to your video content? Think about it. Why should you create a new video from scratch every time you want to share something on YouTube when you can simply repurpose your content and create Shorts from YouTube videos?
Remember that saying, “nothing is lost, everything is transformed”? Wouldn’t it be cool if you could apply that same principle to your video content? Think about it. Why should you create a new video from scratch every time you want to share something on YouTube when you can simply repurpose your content and create Shorts from YouTube videos?
If that sounds like something you’d like to do, keep on reading as we walk you through the benefits of creating YouTube Shorts and show you exactly how to get started.
Why should you create YouTube Shorts?
We’ve all witnessed the spectacular rise of Instagram Reels and TikToks and realized the power and appeal of short-form videos. Now, more people are jumping on the YouTube Shorts bandwagon, and for good reason.
Why should you join them? YouTube is already the largest streaming platform of all, with over 2 billion active users, so your chance of potentially reaching millions of people with your YouTube Shorts is quite massive.
Here are a few more reasons why you should create YouTube Shorts:
You get a prime spot on the Shorts shelf
Publishing Shorts helps increase your discoverability by displaying your content in the Shorts tab – exclusively dedicated to vertical format videos under 60 seconds. Especially if you’re a new creator, sharing Shorts can help you gain visibility fast and grow your community with little effort.
Shorts are also included in other key places on the platform, such as the user’s Home page, making it easier to connect with viewers who are likely to enjoy the type of content you share.
You attract mobile-first viewers
In today’s fast-paced world, most videos on the internet are watched on mobile devices. People consume content while commuting, cooking their food, or relaxing on their couches. Short-form videos like YouTube Shorts are designed with this kind of audience in mind, making them easy to watch and engaging enough to hold attention even during a busy day.
You can go viral fast
Shorts are highly shareable, which gives them a much better chance of going viral compared to longer videos. With the right kind of content, you can spark meaningful engagement and boost your video’s visibility, drawing in a surge of views and new followers.
What kind of content is best suited for Shorts?
Not every video can be turned into a Short, that’s for sure. Some types of content naturally lend themselves to short-form content, while others are reserved for longer videos.
Here are a few video ideas that are perfectly suited for the Shorts format:
- Highlight reels – pulling key scenes or memorable moments from longer videos is a great way to convert video to Shorts.
- How-to segments – extracting quick, actionable tips from longer tutorial videos can make for a very engaging type of short content.
- Teasers – using a brief clip from a longer video in order to build buzz around an upcoming release or future video is another popular Shorts idea.
- Bloopers – showing some of the imperfect or funny moments of long videos is also a great way to promote authenticity and boost engagement through Shorts.
How to repurpose videos as Shorts like a pro using Flixier
Recycling long videos by turning them into Shorts should be quick and efficient – after all, the whole point is to save time. If you’re spending too much time on editing, you might as well create a new video from scratch!
To minimize the amount of time (and effort) it takes to create Shorts, you could try a normal video to shorts converter like Flixier. Given its intuitive interface and lightning-fast rendering times, you might just find yourself creating Shorts non-stop once you get started.
Here’s how you do it:
Open Flixier
You don’t need to download anything or sign up. You only need a good internet connection and a web browser to start editing. Start by looking up “Flixier” on Google or simply typing in Flixier.com in your address bar. On the homepage, click the Get Started button to reach the editing dashboard.
Import your video
Click on Import/Record to start bringing your video files into Flixier. Select a video from your phone, PC, cloud storage service, or external source and easily add it to your library. You can also record yourself or your screen straight into the app.
Resize & reframe
With your video properly loaded on the timeline, the first thing you’ll probably want to do is resize it – especially since any video you bring into Flixier will automatically be in landscape mode. To change the aspect ratio, click the small button in the top left of the canvas and choose 9:16. Move your video around to frame it properly.
To be absolutely sure you’re framing your Short video properly, use safe zones. To enable them, click on the blank space around your video and Show Safe Zones from the right side menu. Choose your target platform, in this case, YouTube Shorts, and you’ll be able to see areas of the screen that are occupied by the app’s interface.
Trim & edit
The best part about using a YouTube Shorts maker like Flixier is that you can have full creative freedom to turn any long video into a bunch of fresh Shorts. Just trim your video by placing the playhead where you want to cut, hit the Cut button, and voilà – you’ve got a new Short ready to hit the (small) screen!
You can also add some flair with color corrections, add filters to convey different moods, and smooth transitions to make your clips flow smoothly.
Make it moreengaging
Click on the Text tab on the left side to add fully customizable static or animated text to your video. Auto-generate captions for your Shorts instantly by right-clicking on your video in the timeline and selecting Generate Subtitles.
And finally, make your Shorts stand out by adding Like and Subscribe animations directly from your browser. Explore Flixier’s massive library and pick the best call-to-action button for your Short.
Share your YouTube Shorts
When you’re done editing, click the Export button to save your video. If you’re ready to share it with the world, you can even publish it directly to YouTube, so there’s no need for extra steps to get your content live.
Who knew recycling content could be this fun?
Repurposing your old content can actually be fun when you have the right tool at your fingertips. Not only does it help you to push out more content with less effort, but it also gives you the freedom to reinvent your videos completely. With a few tweaks, your Shorts can feel fresh and exciting, ready to attract brand-new followers every time!
