10/07/2024 | News release | Archived content
If YouTube marketing is a part of your overall social media strategy, you've likely dabbled in making YouTube Shorts to connect with your audience and share quick, entertaining content.
Regularly uploading videos builds a routine for your audience, increasing YouTube engagement and getting them excited for more. Posting consistently also boosts your channel's visibility by signaling to YouTube's algorithm that you're active and worth recommending.
So, how do you stay consistent and maintain a healthy work-life balance? Batch film your content and schedule it to publish in advance so you always have videos to post.
This guide will teach you more about the benefits of scheduling YouTube Shorts and how to schedule them using Sprout Social and the native YouTube app.
Launched in 2020, YouTube Shorts are vertical short-form videos, similar to TikTok videos or Instagram Reels. The videos can be up to 60 seconds long and made using the Shorts camera in the YouTube app or uploaded from your computer. Users can find and watch Shorts on the YouTube homepage, in the Shorts tab on YouTube, on a creator's channel homepage and Google search results.
The scheduling workflow for a YouTube Short is the same as what you would do to post a YouTube Video. You just need to make sure your video file matches the required specifications for a Short.
Here's the whole process, broken down step by step.
Ensure your video follows these specifications:
These details include:
These settings include license rights and ownership, allowing embedding and publishing to subscription feeds.
You have the option to:
Alternatively, selecting the Use Optimal Times feature powered by ViralPost®, will give you options for the best times to post your Short for your unique profile and audience behavior.
Want your YouTube Short to publish at a specific time? Scheduling Shorts on YouTube is pretty straightforward.
Here's how to do it:
Make sure your video meets the specifications for YouTube Shorts.
If you change the scheduled publish time, or decide you want to publish your video right away, follow these steps:
Follow these steps to schedule a Short via YouTube's native mobile app. Sprout users can also schedule shorts through the mobile app.
There are also options to add music to your video (just make sure it's non-copyrighted if you want to monetize it), text, voiceovers and filters.
Under Visibility, you should now see your scheduled date and time.
Scheduling your content in advance on the native platform is a good place to start. However, using a social media management platform like Sprout Social will save you time and help you maintain a consistent content calendar.
Here are three reasons why:
Scheduling YouTube Shorts is a great way to stay organized and publish regularly.
There may still be times when you'll want or need to post in the moment. Still, pre-scheduled content gives you the flexibility to experiment and take advantage of trends or current events without worrying about gaps in your content calendar.
Finding a healthy balance between organization and creativity is the best way to maintain an authentic and meaningful relationship with your audience.
To help you strike the right mix, use our YouTube strategy template to audit your current efforts, analyze competitors and define your goals and audience.
Yes. YouTube Studio, the YouTube app and Sprout Social have publishing tools that enable you to set your YouTube Short to go live at a specific date and time. Scheduling YouTube Shorts helps you plan your content ahead of time, maintain a consistent publishing schedule and post at the best times for engagement.
No. Compared to publishing it manually, scheduling a YouTube Short won't affect views.
Sprout Social can tell you when your audience is most active on YouTube. If you schedule your video to post during those times, your audience will likely see your video faster, potentially leading to more views.
Overall, what makes the most difference when it comes to views are the fundamentals. Focus on creating high-quality, engaging content that resonates with your target audience and maintain a sustainable, consistent posting schedule.
Jasmine Williams
Jasmine Williams is an award-winning writer and the founder of Jasmine Williams Media, a boutique content marketing consultancy supporting industry-leading companies and visionaries. She's also the creator behind Freelance Curious, a weekly newsletter for freelance creatives, and Click-worthy Creative Academy, an online freelance mentorship program.