Five ways to get found with YouTube Shorts
YouTube Shorts reaches viewers scrolling short videos on their phones. Here's how to make yours visible.
YouTube Shorts is a tool built into the YouTube app that lets you upload or record vertical videos up to three minutes long on your phone. Viewers find Shorts by tapping a dedicated section in the app and scrolling through an endless feed, much like other short-video platforms. For a small business, Shorts is a way to reach people who might never find you through a traditional YouTube channel or a Google search.
Key facts
- Shorts are vertical videos up to three minutes long, recorded or uploaded through the YouTube mobile app.
- Viewers access Shorts through a dedicated tab in the YouTube app and scroll through a continuous feed.
- Subscribers you gain from Shorts count toward YouTube's Creator Awards Program milestones.
- YouTube counts a view each time a Short begins playing or replays, regardless of how long someone watches.
Tip 1: Record directly in the app with the built-in camera
Open the YouTube app on your phone, tap the camera icon, and use the Shorts camera to record. You can film multiple segments and string them together in one video. This removes friction—you do not need to film elsewhere and upload. For a salon, a roofer, or a restaurant, this means you can capture a quick before-and-after, a behind-the-scenes moment, or a customer testimonial in under a minute, right on the job or in your shop.
Tip 2: Upload videos you already have
You do not have to film new content. If you have vertical videos saved on your phone or computer—clips from your phone camera, videos from TikTok or Instagram, or anything shot in portrait mode—you can upload them as Shorts through the YouTube app. This means you can repurpose content you have already made for other platforms.
Tip 3: Keep it short and hook viewers in the first second
A Short registers as a view the moment it begins playing. Viewers scroll past constantly. Your opening frame and first second must make someone stop. For a fence company, that might be a dramatic before-and-after reveal. For a restaurant, it could be a close-up of food being plated. For a salon, it could be a transformation. Do not waste the first second on a logo or title card.
Tip 4: Use Shorts to funnel people to your full channel
Shorts are a discovery tool. Someone scrolling the Shorts feed has no idea who you are. Your goal is to get them to click your channel, watch a longer video, or visit your website. Use your Short to tease something—a full tutorial, a full transformation, a full project walkthrough—that lives on your main channel or your website. Include a call to action: "See the full project on my channel" or "Link in bio."
Tip 5: Post consistently to stay visible
The Shorts feed is constant motion. A single video does not build momentum. Post regularly—aim for at least one Short per week, more if you can manage it. Consistency trains the YouTube algorithm to show your content to more people. Treat Shorts like a habit, not a one-time experiment.
Tip 6: Watch your engaged views, not just total views
YouTube counts two metrics: total views (every time a Short starts playing) and engaged views (how many people actually watched beyond the opening). Total views can look impressive but mean nothing if people skip immediately. Check your YouTube Analytics and focus on engaged views. If that number is low, your hook is not working. Change your opening.
Tip 7: Understand what Shorts can and cannot do for you
Shorts are not a direct sales channel. They are a visibility tool. Someone watching a short video of your fence installation is not ready to hire you. They are ready to remember you exist. Your job is to make them curious enough to click your channel, see your full portfolio, read your reviews, or search for your business by name later. Shorts work best when you already have a website, a Google Business Profile, or a way for interested people to find you.
Sources
- Get started creating YouTube Shorts - YouTube Help
They did the reporting. The writing and the opinions here are ours.
Questions people ask about this
How do I start making YouTube Shorts for my business?
Open the YouTube app on your phone, tap the camera icon, and use the Shorts camera to record a vertical video up to three minutes long. You can film multiple segments and combine them, or upload a vertical video you already have saved. Hit publish and it goes live in the Shorts feed.
Will YouTube Shorts help my small business get customers?
Shorts help people discover you exist. Someone scrolling the Shorts feed sees your work and remembers your business name. They may search for you later, visit your website, or call. Shorts are not a direct sales tool—they are a visibility tool that works best alongside a Google Business Profile, a website, or strong reviews.
How many views do I need to make money with YouTube Shorts?
To earn money through YouTube's Partner Program with Shorts, you need 1,000 subscribers and 10 million views from Shorts over a 90-day period. For most small local businesses, monetization is not the goal—getting found is.
What counts as a view on YouTube Shorts?
A view is counted each time a Short begins playing or replays, with no minimum watch time required. YouTube also tracks engaged views, which shows how many people actually continued watching past the opening. Focus on engaged views to know if your content is actually holding attention.
Can I use videos I made for TikTok or Instagram on YouTube Shorts?
Yes. If you have vertical videos already saved on your phone or computer, you can upload them to YouTube as Shorts. This lets you repurpose content across platforms without filming twice.
How often should I post YouTube Shorts?
Post at least once a week, more if possible. The Shorts feed moves fast. Consistency helps YouTube show your content to more people. Treat it like a regular habit, not a one-time experiment.
This piece is about Get started creating YouTube Shorts, published by YouTube Help. Go read the original; the opinions here are ours and the reporting is theirs.
