The introduction of YouTube Shorts has brought this long-form content platform in steady competition with Instagram and TikTok. Over the years, social media platforms have witnessed the success of short-form video content. With YouTube being the latest app to join the bandwagon, creators are now looking to capitalize on this opportunity.
However, unless you’re already creating short-form videos of anywhere between 15 to 60 seconds for Instagram and TikTok, you’d have to start afresh for YouTube Shorts. This is where one of the app’s latest updates can be of help – YouTube now allows users to create Shorts out of existing videos, making the process a whole lot simpler.
The highlight of this feature is that you’re not just limited to using an existing video but can also add content that’s freshly recorded. If you’ve been waiting for this feature and wondering how you can repurpose existing videos into Shorts, we take you through the process step-by-step.
Why Should You Repurpose Existing YouTube Videos Into Shorts?
There are several different reasons why you could benefit from repurposing your existing YouTube videos into Shorts. Some of these benefits are described below.
It Makes Content Production Faster and Easier
Unlike shooting and editing content for new videos, repurposing your existing videos is faster and easier. It doesn’t require you to have any advanced editing skills and also provides a bank of existing content that you can use to create short-form content.
It Allows for a Wider Reach
Short-from content has become a lot more popular than long-form content in recent years, and with YouTube Shorts averaging about 1.5 billion daily active views, you can reach a much larger audience. This allows you to increase your views and subscriptions without having to invest time into creating brand-new videos each time.
It Helps You Gain More Views and Followers
Another key benefit of creating YouTube Shorts is that it can be a great way to get more views and, ultimately, increase your channel’s following. Shorts typically include a link to the original, longer video, and once you build a loyal following, the chances of viewers also consuming your longer videos increase.
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How to Create YouTube Shorts from Existing Videos
In this section, we take a closer look at the various steps involved to create YouTube Shorts from your existing videos.
Step 1 – Choose the Video You Want to Repurpose
The first step involved in the process is to select the long-form video you intend to repurpose. This could be the latest vlog or video you’ve published on your channel and want to gain more views on.
Alternatively, it could be a video posted by another creator or channel. To select this, you’ll have to tap on the Remix icon below the video.
It could even be a video that offers your audiences valuable information that could stand a better chance of reaching a wider audience when condensed into a video lasting no more than 60 seconds.
Step 2 – Start Creating Your YouTube Short
Once you choose a video to repurpose into a YouTube Short, the app automatically imports all the clips and audio into the interface. The video is imported from the timestamp the video was at when you clicked Create.
Once the video is imported, you can drag the slider to select which portion of the long-from video is ideal for your YouTube Short. Here, you can also trim the footage based on how long you want it to be.
Step 3 – Import Additional Videos if Needed
If you feel like your Short requires some additional footage, you can either import it into the editor or use the recording function to record something brand new. You can do this by clicking on the back arrow on the upper left corner of your screen. The app will take you to the recording page.
Here, you can also choose to import a video from your media library if needed.
Step 4 – Use the Editing Tools Available
Once you’ve imported or recorded the videos you need, tap the Next button on the bottom right corner of the screen to start editing your video. YouTube offers a whole range of features you can use to do this.
For instance, you can choose from a range of different filters, overlays, or even text styles that you can further format based on your preferences. Additionally, you can set timings for each overlay so it only plays for the amount of time you want it to.
The app also gives you the video’s timeline, allowing you to edit its length if you feel the need to do so.
Step 5 – Add a Title for Your YouTube Short
Once you’re satisfied with the final product, you can give your Short a title. Remember, the title must be catchy and ideally include a relevant keyword. This helps to grab attention and improve its reach. The title has a 100-character limit, but the shorter you go, the better the chances of the full title being visible on your Short’s thumbnail.
Additionally, you can also select whether or not this video is kid-friendly. You can choose whether the video is public or available to a select set of your audiences.
Step 6 – Post Your YouTube Short
Once you’re satisfied with the settings you’ve chosen, you can tap Upload Short to post it to YouTube. Once this is done, your Short will be ready for your audiences to view. Additionally, the Created From tag also credits your original video to let users know of its source.
As you can see, the process of repurposing existing YouTube videos into Shorts is easy. It offers a range of different benefits that can help save your time and garner more views and followers.
In Conclusion
While repurposing existing videos into Shorts is easy, there’s a lot more that goes into creating attention-grabbing content for your channel. From the Short’s thumbnail to its caption, there are several different elements that contribute to its success on the app.
Creating these elements can be time-consuming, especially when your goal is to make the process a lot more efficient. This is where a tool like Predis can help. This AI-based tool is the ideal resource for you to create and generate videos. You can also create image carousels, thumbnails, and generate captions based on your preferences.
With the time you save using a tool like Predis, you can focus your energy and resources on strategizing for any new content on your channel or focus on other aspects of your brand or business. Try Predis out for free and experience how it can transform your content production in more than one way.
