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How to Make a YouTube Short (Step by Step)

Published June 29, 2026 Updated September 15, 2026 5 min read By the ExpoCut team

YouTube Shorts reward clarity and a strong hook in a vertical, sub-60-second frame. They’re also a discovery engine for your channel. Here’s how to cut one that earns the watch and the subscribe.

Quick answer

To make a YouTube Short in ExpoCut: New Project ▸ 9:16, add and trim your clip to under 60 s, add a Text hook that states the payoff (“FIX THIS IN 30s”) with a bold style and park it in the upper-centre safe zone, cut quickly and apply one Filter, add captions and a channel nudge in the last beat, then ••• ▸ Export Video at 1080p · 9:16 · High · MP4 · 30 fps and upload with #Shorts in the title.

  • Same 9:16 build as a Reel or TikTok — the difference is intent: a Short funnels viewers to your channel.
  • The hook is a Text layer with a bold style (News Title, IMPACT TITLE, Bold White) placed high, clear of the bottom UI.
  • One idea, ≤ 60 s. End when the idea is done — don’t pad to a length.
  • Captions are mandatory for muted viewers; keep them upper-centre.
  • Export 1080p · 9:16 · High · MP4 · 30 fps; the sheet remembers your frame rate between projects but resets resolution and quality.

Shorts are YouTube’s discovery funnel — a vertical, sub-60-second clip that, done right, sends new viewers to everything else you make. The edit is fast and familiar; the intent is what makes a Short pull its weight.

Step 1 — Vertical and short

Start a 9:16 project (basics) — the first tile in the Format sheet — and commit to ≤ 60 seconds. Trim hard in the Trim Clip sheet as each clip lands; a Short is one idea, delivered cleanly, not a highlight reel.

  1. New Project ▸ 9:16 ▸ Video

    Add from Gallery or Stock; drag the trim handles to the part that matters.

  2. Add the hook

    Text ▸ Text, type the promise, pick a bold style on the Style tab, ✓, then drag it into the upper-centre safe zone.

  3. Cut and grade

    Split for pace, one Filter (pencil ▸ Filters) on every clip, a zoom or speed beat on the key moment.

  4. Caption + channel nudge

    Add captions; end with a “part 2” or “full video on the channel” beat.

  5. Export

    ••• ▸ Export Video ▸ 1080p · 9:16 · High · MP4 · 30 fps.

Step 2 — Hook that survives the swipe

Open on the result or the question, not the setup. State the value immediately — “Here’s how to fix X in 20 seconds” — with a text hook on screen. Every second between the swipe and the payoff is a chance to lose them.

A 9:16 camera-repair clip with a red News Title text block reading FIX THIS IN 30s in the upper third; the timeline shows the text on T2 above the 20-second clip on V1. A promise in the first second, upper safe zone
Put the payoff up front — a bold text hook like “FIX THIS IN 30s” (here the News Title style from the tray’s Style tab) in the upper-centre safe zone, so it reads instantly and stays clear of the bottom UI.

Step 3 — One clear idea, well-paced

Deliver a single takeaway. Use quick cuts to keep momentum, a filter for a consistent look, and a zoom or speed beat to emphasize the key moment. Don’t pad it to hit a length — end when the idea’s done.

Step 4 — Captions and a channel nudge

Caption the whole thing for muted viewers and retention. In the last beat, give a reason to explore your channel — a tease of the full video, a “part 2,” or a clear CTA.

Keep text centered and high. Shorts show the title and channel info along the bottom — keep captions and key visuals in the upper-center safe zone.

Step 5 — Export

Tap ••• ▸ Export Video and set 1080p · 9:16 · High · MP4 · 30 fps (the sheet opens at 480p / Low, so change the first two every time) — details in the export guide. Upload and write a clear title with “#Shorts” so YouTube routes it correctly.

The Export sheet at 1080 × 1920: 1080p selected, 9:16 TikTok · Reels · Shorts, Quality High, Bitrate Auto, MP4 and 30 fps checked. 1080p 9:16 — vertical for Shorts High 30 fps
Export 1080×1920 (9:16) as MP4 / H.264 at 30 fps, High quality — the native Shorts spec. The counters confirm your layer count, duration and an estimated render time before you tap Export. Free exports end with a 3-second ExpoCut outro; the picture is never watermarked.

Where to go next

Vertical, tight, hook-first, captioned — a Short that delivers one idea cleanly is the best ad your channel can run.

Frequently asked questions

What size and length is a YouTube Short?

9:16 vertical and 60 seconds or less. Build a 9:16 project, keep it tight, and make sure the payoff arrives well before the time limit.

How are Shorts different from Reels and TikToks?

The edit is nearly identical — vertical, fast, captioned. The difference is intent: Shorts are a discovery funnel to your longer YouTube content, so a clear value-per-second and a reason to check your channel matter even more.

Do I need captions on a Short?

Yes. Many viewers watch muted, and on-screen text also boosts retention. Auto-caption it and keep lines short and centered, clear of the bottom UI.

Cut a Short that converts

Vertical, under 60s, hook-first, captioned — the Short that earns the watch and points to your channel. Edit it on your phone.

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