What are Shorts or Short Videos?

Shorts are short-form vertical videos designed to be watched quickly on mobile platforms such as YouTube Shorts, TikTok, Instagram Reels, and Facebook Reels. These videos are usually under 60 seconds, fast-paced, and optimized to capture attention in the first few seconds. Shorts have become one of the most effective formats for reach, discovery, and audience growth because social platforms heavily promote them in recommendation feeds. You do not need an existing audience to gain views. The algorithm pushes short videos to viewers based on their interests, not follower count.

Why Shorts matter

Short-form video is currently the highest-performing content format across all major social platforms. If you’re creating long-form videos, podcasts, interviews, tutorials, courses, or any talking-head content, Shorts can quickly multiply your reach by turning a single long video into multiple pieces of fast, engaging content.

This makes Shorts an essential part of any content strategy for creators, educators, businesses, and brands.

Real stats that show the power of Shorts

All statistics below come from public reports by YouTube, Google, Meta, TikTok, HubSpot, and Wyzowl.

1. Short-form video is the fastest-growing content format in the world

• According to HubSpot’s 2024 Video Report, short-form video has the highest ROI of any social media format.
• 83% of marketers say short videos are the most effective type of social media content for reach and engagement.

2. People prefer shorter videos

• Wyzowl found that 73% of viewers prefer watching videos under 60 seconds when learning something quickly.
• Google reports that YouTube Shorts receive over 70 billion daily views.

3. Shorts help you reach people who don’t follow you

• YouTube confirmed that Shorts discovery is algorithm-driven, meaning creators can get millions of views even with small channels.
• Instagram says creators who post Reels consistently get up to 2x more reach than static posts or long videos.

4. Viewers decide within seconds

• TikTok reports that your hook in the first 2 seconds determines 47% of a video’s watch time.
• Short videos make it easier to retain attention and encourage viewers to watch through to the end.

5. Shorts support your long-form content

YouTube has stated that channels posting both Shorts and long-form content grow faster, because Shorts:

• bring new viewers
• boost channel discovery
• lead viewers into longer videos
• increase subscriber conversion rates

Shorts are not meant to replace long-form content. They work together.

Why create Shorts from your long videos?

Turning long videos into Shorts allows you to:

• Repurpose your content into multiple high-impact clips
• Reach new audiences who prefer fast, mobile-friendly content
• Drive traffic back to your main videos, podcast episodes, courses, or website
• Build authority by highlighting your strongest moments
• Stay consistent on social media without spending hours editing

Shorts give your existing content a second life and help you grow faster with less effort.

Updated on: 01/12/2025