The Ultimate YouTube Shorts Strategy for Small Channels to Start Posting Shorts Today

There’s not a lot of money in YouTube Shorts themselves, but all channels — especially small channels — need a YouTube Shorts strategy.

While YouTube Shorts won’t make anyone rich on their own, YouTube Shorts can grow your channel; they’re a great way to drive views and subscribers to your long form videos where creators can actually make some real money on YouTube.

A Shorts strategy can be adapted to other social platforms. For example, posting clips on Instagram and building out a plan to further monetize content on TikTok (shout out to the TikTok Shop).

But before we get into all of that, we need to focus. If you’re a YouTube creator first (and if you’re here on the TubeBuddy blog, there’s a good chance you are) we’d recommend building your short form content strategy around that platform.

In this post, we’re going to give you some tips on how you can get started right away with a solid YouTube Shorts strategy, specifically designed for small channels looking to continue growing.

If you still need some convincing before you spend your precious time on a YouTube Shorts strategy, let’s look at some facts:

YouTube ❤️ Shorts

TikTok is prioritizing long form video, and YouTube is chasing short form video in a big way. YouTube has expanded its monetization options for shorts, introduced new features, profit sharing for creators, and a massive music library.

The simple fact is, if YouTube wants something to work, it has the clout to make it happen. So while YouTube tries to give short form video on its platform a leg up, creators making content for Shorts stand to benefit.

In 2023, YouTube limited the ways creators (and commenters) can share links in YouTube Shorts. This was an effort to cut down on spam and scam comments and content on the platform. At the same time, it revealed powerful new tools creators can use to drive Shorts viewers over to their long form videos.

YouTube wants Shorts to work. Playing the platform’s game by creating Shorts content is a smart move for any creator looking to reach new audiences.

Shorts Have Massive Discoverability

While things have normalized from YouTube Shorts early wild west days, there’s still much lower competition which can lead to faster growth and visibility for creators who start now.

As more creators catch on to the value of Shorts, and as advertisers continue to invest, creators can get paid. Not just directly, with YouTube Shorts monetization (which again, won’t make anyone rich), but with brand deals, affiliate links, and so on.

The smartest YouTube Shorts strategy: Start posting Shorts now

While the early-mover advantage is no longer as great as it was in the Shorts early days, there’s still plenty of opportunity for creators with the right YouTube Shorts strategy.

YouTube Shorts are highly discoverable on the YouTube platform. Creators can certainly still benefit from that discoverability.

The best YouTube Shorts strategy for small channels is to use shorts to drive viewers to your long form content.

Use a solid short form video hook, deliver value to viewers, and drive them to your channel to subscribe and engage your content more deeply.

Most won’t. That’s OK. YouTube Shorts is a volume game. You don’t need everyone. You just need to find your people… and Shorts can be a great way to do that.

Create Your YouTube Shorts strategy

If you’re not sure where to start with Shorts, try taking high-impact moments from your favorite long form videos and cutting them into short form content.

Since YouTube loosened the length restrictions in Shorts (i.e. “short” no longer means 60-seconds or less) you have more options.

You can also create “teasers” for your favorite long form videos. For example if you’re growing a food channel, you might create a quick trailer or your best recipe, a sped-up version of your video, or even just show the finished product, talking about how good it is. Then use cross-video linking to send Shorts viewers to your long form video where they can get the full recipe and see all the steps.

The key is to think about your content and your channel specifically. Then think about what kind of Shorts content fits your brand and complements your content. Try different things. Consider Shorts when scripting your long form videos.

Suggested Shorts: The Shortcut to a YouTube Shorts Strategy

If you’re struggling to come up with your own YouTube Shorts strategy, TubeBuddy’s Suggested Shorts feature can help.

Suggested Shorts examines your top-performing long form videos to highlight the sections that can be clipped for YouTube Shorts content. By highlighting the exact moments where audiences have engaged most with your content, it also delivers insights you can use as inspiration for net new short form content you know will connect.