YouTube has recently announced some new updates for Shorts, which are, well, rather short, much to the credit of the format’s name. Watching the video, you can surmise that these set of updates really just aim to bring the app into parity across both Android and iOS devices. YouTube Shorts have no doubt become the most engaging element on the platform, and while long-form remains the bread and butter for income for creators on the platform, Shorts function as a supplementary channel, allowing it to go toe-to-toe with TikTok, and protect its market share.

Keeping Things Shorts

First off, Shorts creators on iOS can now also select a specific frame to act as the thumbnail for their Shorts clips. YouTube added this capacity for Shorts creators on Android earlier in the year, and now iOS users can also customize their Shorts thumbnail display. This might not sound like a big deal, but providing creators with the ability to easily select thumbnails from clips that they had just created makes the Shorts creation process easier and shorter.

Going the opposite way, YouTube will now also allow creators on Android to reply to a comment with a Short. Granted, replying with a seconds-long clip is still more work than simply replying with a text-based comment, but it does open up more opportunities to engage with users, some of which might even be a potential future audience. This same functionality has been available for iOS users since February – so not really a major update, as such, but then again, it also brings the app on each platform into line.

YouTube’s also expanding its image poll character limit to 36 characters, up from 14, essentially expanding the capacity to generate engagement with visual polls, while it’s also updating its permissions in YouTube Studio, which will enable channel managers to better assign different duties. Doubling the character count allows for a bit more context, while progressive permissions are always welcome since they eventually improve transparency, allowing for better, deeper insight.

The Wrap

Again, these are relatively minor updates, but they will be relevant to some creators, in providing more capacity to manage your Shorts display and channel management elements. YouTube remains the king of video monetization, and while short-form videos are harder to monetize, there’s no denying that the format is currently what most people prefer to consume. As such, it makes sense for YouTube to double down on Shorts where and when it can.

Sources

https://bit.ly/3UViUZS