Use Shorts for discovery and long videos for trust. Cut 20–60 second vertical clips from your long videos and podcasts, post 2–4 Shorts a week, link each one to a related long video, and judge them by how many new viewers they bring to your channel.
Why Shorts matter for businesses
Shorts are one of the biggest sources of attention on YouTube. YouTube CEO Neal Mohan has said Shorts now average more than 200 billion daily views, up from about 70 billion in March 2024 (Loopex Digital). Since October 15, 2024, Shorts can be up to 3 minutes long (YouTube).
For a business, that means Shorts are the cheapest way to get your experts in front of new people on YouTube, without any ad spend.
Shorts vs. long videos: different jobs
| Shorts | Long videos | |
|---|---|---|
| Main job | Discovery and reach | Trust, search traffic and action |
| Typical length | 20–60 seconds (up to 3 minutes) | 6–20 minutes |
| Found through | The Shorts feed | Search, suggested videos, Google |
| Lifespan | Days to weeks | Months to years |
The winning setup is both: Shorts bring new viewers in, long videos turn them into people who know and trust your brand. If you're starting from zero, read our YouTube SEO guide first.
8 Shorts ideas that work for businesses
- One question, one answer. A common customer question answered in 30 seconds.
- Myth vs. fact. Correct a misconception in your industry.
- The mistake. "The #1 mistake we see when…" with a quick fix.
- Before and after. A project, result or transformation.
- Behind the scenes. Your team, process or studio.
- Customer moment. A 20-second highlight from a testimonial.
- Podcast highlight. The strongest insight from your latest episode.
- Quick how-to. One small, useful step people can apply today.
How to make Shorts without extra filming
- Record long first. A podcast or long video gives you raw material for 5–10 Shorts. See how to start a video podcast.
- Pick moments with a clear hook. The first 1–2 seconds must state the problem or the payoff.
- Reframe to vertical. Keep the speaker's face centered; multi-camera recordings make this much easier.
- Add captions. Many people watch without sound.
- Link the full video. Add a related video link so interested viewers can go deeper.
- Write a clear title. Short, specific and searchable.
We record in a three-camera studio so every session produces both long videos and ready-to-cut vertical clips.
How often to post Shorts
For most businesses, 2–4 Shorts per week alongside one long video per week is a strong, realistic rhythm. Consistency beats bursts: 3 Shorts every week for six months will do more than 30 in one month and then nothing.
Metrics to track
- Viewed vs. swiped away: how many people chose to watch your Short in the feed.
- Average percentage viewed: are people watching to the end?
- Subscribers gained from each Short.
- Clicks on the related video and views of your long videos.
- Business signals: branded searches, profile visits and inquiries that mention a Short.
Want Shorts that build your brand, not just views? Our plans include Shorts cut from every long video, or book a free call to talk about your channel.