✳ PLAYBOOK · BEHIND_THE_SCENES · YOUTUBE SHORTS
Behind-the-scenes short on YouTube Shorts
Show how a product / event / episode was actually made, in a short-form clip that builds trust and curiosity.
What to produce
- Vertical 30s B-roll highlight - 9:16, 30s
- Process carousel (5-8 slides) - 1:1
Recommended inputs
- Vertical phone camera
- Behind-the-camera selfie angles
- Process B-roll
Platform-specific guidance
- Hook
- First 3 seconds decide Shorts retention - open on the strongest beat.
- Aspect
- 9:16
- Duration
- 30s
- Captions
- Burned-in recommended
- Reframe 16:9 to 9:16
- Yes
- Safe-zone overlay
- Apply before upload
- Caption guidance
- Burned-in captions; Shorts allow heavier caption styling.
Workflow
- Capture B-roll: Shoot 2-3 minutes of process clips on phone; favour motion, not talking head.
- Pick 3-5 strongest moments: Filter to moments that change or reveal something. (Highlight detector)
- Crop 16:9 to 9:16: Subject-tracking reframe so the action stays in the safe-zone. (Landscape to Vertical)
- Burn captions: Use lower-thirds, not full-width - let the action breathe. (Burn-in)
- Export pack: 9:16 short + 1:1 carousel for the same source. (Content Pack)
Pitfalls to avoid
- Talking-head intro makes the clip feel like every other channel
- Music bed that masks the real audio of the process
- Forgetting the brand/product reveal moment
Tools and presets
Frequently asked
How do I make a behind-the-scenes short for YouTube Shorts?
Capture B-roll; Pick 3-5 strongest moments; Crop 16:9 to 9:16; Burn captions; Export pack.
What aspect ratio should I use on YouTube Shorts?
Use 9:16 (YouTube Shorts's safe native ratio).
Do I need burned-in captions on YouTube Shorts?
Yes - YouTube Shorts feeds are predominantly muted, so burned-in captions are essential.
Which export preset should I pick?
YouTube Shorts's SAFE_DEFAULT preset is documented at /tools/export/youtube-shorts/short.
Sources
Hootsuite social content playbook (verified 2026-09-18) - HubSpot content types overview (verified 2026-09-18)