✳ PLAYBOOK · TEACH · YOUTUBE SHORTS
YouTube tutorial on YouTube Shorts
Produce a long-form YouTube tutorial that walks viewers through a topic step by step.
What to produce
- Long-form YouTube tutorial - 16:9, 600s
- Companion 60s clip - 9:16, 60s
Recommended inputs
- Long-form recording + slides + voiceover
Platform-specific guidance
- Hook
- First 3 seconds decide Shorts retention - open on the strongest beat.
- Aspect
- 9:16
- Duration
- 60s
- 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
- Outline the tutorial: Cap at 6-8 main sections.
- Record section-by-section: Use chapters in the upload.
- Companion short: Cut one strong section into a 60s clip. (Workflow)
- Upload long + short: Long as 16:9; companion as Shorts. (Export preset)
- Reframe for YouTube Shorts: 16:9 to 9:16 reframe; subject tracking. (Reframe)
- Apply platform safe-zone overlay: Use the YouTube Shorts safe-zone overlay so subjects stay visible. (Safe-zone)
Pitfalls to avoid
- Tutorial that never resolves
- Missing chapters
Tools and presets
Frequently asked
How do I make a youtube tutorial for YouTube Shorts?
Outline the tutorial; Record section-by-section; Companion short; Upload long + short.
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
YouTube Help - Creator playbooks (verified 2026-09-18) - HubSpot content types overview (verified 2026-09-18)