# YouTube Shorts — Format

> YouTube's vertical short-form. 15-60s. Slightly different conventions than TikTok.

## Format basics

- Length: 15-60 seconds (max 60s)
- Aspect: 9:16 vertical
- YouTube algorithm
- Connected to long-form YouTube content (often)
- Sound-on default

## YouTube Shorts vs TikTok

| Aspect | YouTube Shorts | TikTok |
|--------|----------------|--------|
| Audience | Often more general | Younger, trend-focused |
| Discovery | YouTube algorithm | TikTok FYP |
| Music library | YouTube's | TikTok's (largely different) |
| Creators | Often crossover from long-form | Native short-form |
| Polish | Slightly higher | Variable |
| CTAs | Subscribe + watch long-form | Follow |

## Structure

```
0-3s    HOOK
        Visual + question
        YouTube viewers slightly more patient than TikTok

3-15s   SETUP
        Context

15-45s  CONTENT
        Value or story

45-60s  CTA
        Subscribe / watch full video
```

## Sample 60s YouTube Short

```
"5 Things Every Coffee Beginner Gets Wrong"

0-3s: HOOK
Visual: hands grinding coffee badly.
Voice: "If you're new to coffee, you're probably making these
five mistakes."

3-12s: ITEM 1
"Number 5: Pre-ground coffee from the supermarket."
Quick cut: bag of pre-ground coffee → bin.
"Whole beans only. Fresh ground."

12-21s: ITEM 2
"Number 4: Brewing with old beans."
Visual: bag with old roast date.
"Fresh = roasted within 2 weeks."

21-30s: ITEM 3
"Number 3: Cheap water."
Visual: tap water.
"Filtered or spring. Water is 98% of your coffee."

30-39s: ITEM 4
"Number 2: Wrong grind size."
Visual: too-fine grind for French press.
"Match your grind to your method."

39-48s: ITEM 5
"Number 1: Pouring too fast."
Slow pour-over demonstration.
"Slow steady spiral. Thirty seconds bloom."

48-58s: PAYOFF
Beautiful pour-over result. Sip. Smile.
Voice: "Better coffee in five steps."

58-60s: CTA
"Full guide on my channel. Link in description."
Subscribe overlay.
```

## Key principles

### Channel integration
- Hook viewers from Shorts to subscribe
- Tease long-form content
- Cross-promote channel

### Slightly higher polish
- YouTube audience expects production value
- Good audio quality
- Color-corrected

### Structure value
- "5 things..."
- "Here's how..."
- Numbered lists work well

### CTA explicit
- Subscribe ask
- Long-form video link in description
- Channel name visible

## YouTube Short types

### Educational quick
- Tutorial / tip / fact
- Numbered or step-by-step

### Reaction short
- Reacting to content
- Often pulled from long-form

### Behind-the-scenes
- Creator life
- Process glimpse

### Shorts trailer for long-form
- Tease an upcoming video
- "Full video drops Friday"

### Compilation / best moments
- Pulled from larger content

## When to use

- YouTube creator audience-building
- Cross-platform content (YT + TikTok + IG)
- Brand awareness
- Long-form companion content
- Algorithm boost for channel

## Common mistakes

- Too TikTok-y (loses YouTube audience)
- Forgetting subscribe CTA
- Not connecting to long-form
- Captions missing
- Bad audio (YouTube audience picky)
