Three-Minute Shorts - All You Need To Know

Starting on October 15th, 2024, YouTube will officially extend the maximum length of Shorts to 180 seconds (3 minutes).

This change comes in response to feedback from creators, who expressed the need for more time to effectively tell their stories within the Shorts format.

It’s important to note that only new content created after the release of this feature will benefit from the extended duration.

Any previous vertical videos that are longer than 60 seconds but uploaded before this change will not be automatically converted into Shorts.

This is a "go-forward" update, meaning all Shorts published after the release that are under 180 seconds will be categorized as Shorts, offering creators a new level of flexibility.

What About Recommendations?

One big question that arises is: "How will YouTube handle the recommendations for different Shorts lengths?"

Here's the breakdown:

• Shorts under 60 seconds will continue to be featured in a faster-paced feed, catering to viewers who prefer quick, snackable content.
• For Shorts up to 180 seconds, YouTube will be investing in improving their recommendation algorithms over the coming months to better serve content in this new duration category.

Now that creators have more time to tell their stories, let’s discuss ways for you to excel with Shorts.

It’s important to come up with a killer idea to go viral.

A great way to do this is to look at outliers.

This lets you know what viewers want to watch, so you can pick out some and study why they went viral.

The 1of10 tool is a great way to find outliers in Shorts, letting you search for content in specific niches and ideas, and be able to apply specific filters to help narrow down your search.

Some additional key points when creating successful Shorts are:

• Keep your content brief and to the point: People don’t want their time wasted, so presenting value in the intro and throughout the video is key
• Hook the viewer quickly: Grab the viewer's attention within the first few seconds of your video. Use a strong hook or opening to keep them engaged.
• Focus on a single topic: Shorts should be focused on a single topic or idea. Don't try to cover too much in a short amount of time.
• Use captions: Many viewers watch videos on their phone without sound. Adding captions can make your content more accessible and engaging.
• Leverage trending topics: Look for popular trends, challenges, or memes that are relevant to your niche or audience. Incorporating these into your Shorts can help increase visibility and engagement.
• Engage with your audience: You can use Shorts to respond to comments, questions, and feedback from your audience. Engaging with your viewers can help build a community and increase your following.