How to Repurpose Video Content for YouTube Shorts & TikTok: Full Guide

Social media is awash with short-form content, with platforms like YouTube Shorts racking up 70 billion daily views in 2023. Instagram and Facebook's Reels are boasting over 140 billion plays combined, and TikTok's user base has surpassed 1.5 billion active users.

These simple stats suggest that YouTube Shorts and TikTok have gained immense popularity in recent years, particularly among younger audiences. It wouldn’t be wise to miss the chance to reach these audiences, would it? That’s where video content repurposing comes in handy.

Why Is It Important to Repurpose Video Content?

Well, it’s not a necessity. But if you want to draw as much attention to your video as possible, repurposing is strongly recommended. Short-form video content offers several advantages for content creators and brands, including higher engagement rates, increased discoverability through algorithmic feeds, and the potential to go viral and reach millions of viewers in a short amount of time.

Here are some stats related to short video content:

• 73% of consumers prefer short-form videos to search for products or services.
• 60% of short-form videos are watched for 41% to 80% of their length.
• 44% of marketers are expected to use short-form videos in 2024.
• 57% of Gen Z prefer short videos to learn about products and services.
• Short-form videos receive 2.5 times more engagement than long-form videos.
• 96% of consumers prefer to watch short-form videos to learn about a product or service.
• On average, adults in the United States spend 46 minutes daily on TikTok, with this expected to increase to 48 minutes by 2024.
• Nearly a third (30%) of all short-form videos are watched 81% of the way through.

Impressive, right?

Why Is Simple Cross-Posting Not Enough?

Crafting compelling YouTube videos demands pouring your heart and soul into your work, investing time, effort, and creativity to ensure your content shines amidst a sea of similarity.

However, limiting yourself to a single platform risks missing out on reaching a diverse audience. That's where you might need repurposing. But remember, repurposing isn't merely copying and pasting; it requires thoughtful adaptation for each platform.

What’s the difference between cross-posting and repurposing?

Simply put, cross-posting means that you use the same video and publish it everywhere as is. For instance, you’ve made a YouTube video that lasts 15 minutes, and you want to share it on TikTok. Cross-posting would mean that you simply take this video and post it with no changes. But TikTok doesn’t currently allow users to upload videos longer than 10 minutes, which means that cross-posting wouldn’t work.

Repurposing, on the other hand, means that you make a long video shorter, keeping only the most vital information and most interesting parts to draw as much attention as possible with this short teaser. You can make several teasers out of one long video and gain maximum exposure right before you share the main content piece. This repurposing works better for the platforms that cater to short-form video content, including TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and Instagram Reels.

Techniques for Repurposing Video Content

Trimming & Clipping

One of the most obvious methods is to use video editing software or apps to trim and clip segments from your longer videos, focusing on the most engaging and compelling moments. But what if the most interesting part of the video is in the middle? You’ll need to manually clip the video and create a new one. Well, it’s obviously not the easiest way.

Captions & Music

According to Digiday, approximately 75% of people watch mobile videos on mute. If your video is already short enough for repurposing, you can enhance it with captions to make it more accessible and engaging and add background music or sound effects to create mood and atmosphere.

AI-Powered Video Cutters

It’s 2024, right? It means there’s definitely AI for everything. Video content repurposing isn’t an exception. There are several tools that can smartly turn a long video into a short one, keeping only the brightest, most engaging parts in a clip.

How to Create a YouTube Short or TikTok from a Long Video with AI

One of the tools that leverages AI to make the selection of clips easier is AI Video Cut, an online solution powered by OpenAI technology. All you have to do is to link to your video, choose the output video type, and let AI work its magic.

Let us break it down for you in a step-by-step guide:

1. Visit the AI Video Cut website.
2. Open a YouTube video that you want to repurpose.
3. Paste the YouTube video URL in the dedicated field.

4. Select the type of video you want to create, such as catching trailers or topic-based viral clips.

5. Choose your preferred duration (7, 15, or 25 phrases).
6. Tap Submit.
7. Click the Download button to save the results straight away.

The results will also be sent to the email you entered upon the signup, so you can download them from there by clicking the link.

8. Then just upload the short videos to TikTok or YouTube as Shorts.

Good to Know: TikTok & YouTube Shorts Video Specifications

TikTok

To ensure your videos shine on TikTok, it's crucial to adhere to the platform's video specifications. Optimal performance calls for a vertical aspect ratio of 9:16, akin to the standard iPhone screen, with a minimum resolution of 1080 pixels by 1920 pixels.

When it comes to file sizes, guidelines vary based on device types and upload methods:

• For Android devices: up to 72 MB
• For iOS devices: up to 287 MB
• For online video uploads: up to 500 MB

Accepted formats include MOV, MPEG, AVI, 3GP, and MP4, with support for up to 60 frames per second (fps) for smooth playback. Previously limited to 60 seconds, TikTok now supports videos up to 10 minutes, offering creators more flexibility in storytelling and content delivery (or to simply compete with YouTube, who knows?).

YouTube Shorts

YouTube Shorts allow creators to upload videos within a 60-second timeframe. Whether it's a series of 15-second snippets or a seamless continuous video, the possibilities are endless. Short-form content thrives in vertical, adhering to a 9:16 aspect ratio and a crisp resolution of 1920 pixels by 1080 pixels.

Incorporating audio is key to enhancing your Shorts experience. You can leverage YouTube's extensive library or source audio from other videos, enriching your creation for up to 60 seconds.

Instead of a Bottom Line: 6 Video Content Repurposing Best Practices

Tip #1. Select engaging segments that are the essence of your video

Dive into your YouTube footage, pinpointing moments that are visually arresting and packed with impactful soundbites. These segments should possess standalone power, capable of making a lasting impression even without the context of the full-length video.

Keep in mind the short attention spans and content preferences of TikTok users, who love consuming bite-sized, attention-grabbing content.

Tip #2. Extract the most intriguing moments from your video

With TikTok users consuming 167 million hours of video per minute, it's evident that snappy content reigns there—lengthy 8-minute YouTube videos simply don't make it. Shortening the duration requires employing various techniques, such as speeding up footage, implementing jump cuts to eliminate pauses, or conveying information succinctly through captions or text overlays.

Tip #3. Take part in TikTok challenges & use trending hashtags

When repurposing YouTube videos on TikTok, it's essential to mind TikTok's specific ecosystem, where hopping on the latest challenges and trending hashtags is key to captivating the audience.

Take the time to dig a bit deeper into TikTok, exploring the "For You" page and keeping tabs on the trending section. This experience provides invaluable insights into what's currently capturing the attention of the TikTok community.

Once you're well-versed in the latest trends, it's time to brainstorm new ways to integrate these trends into your repurposed content!

Tip #4. Optimize descriptions & hashtags

Without these elements, your efforts risk going unnoticed in users' feeds. When crafting descriptions, prioritize brevity, clarity, and the ability to grab attention. With limited characters at your disposal, every word counts. Highlight key points, unique aspects of your content, or any intriguing elements that will pique viewers' interest.

The real magic lies in hashtags, though. These small but mighty tools are the lifeblood of TikTok, playing a big role in enhancing the discoverability of your repurposed content. Be sure to research trending hashtags relevant to your content and niche, and sprinkle them throughout your description to maximize visibility and attract your target audience.

Tip #5. Repurpose your top-performing videos

If you’re in doubt which video content to repurpose, let data be your guide. Take some time to research your analytics to pinpoint which TikToks and Reels have garnered the most engagement and views. These are your first candidates for cross-posting to Shorts, leveraging their proven success to captivate your audience.

Tip #6. Customize your thumbnail

Capture attention right from your YouTube channel by crafting visually striking, branded thumbnails resized to 1080 x 1920 pixels. You can also use text overlays that succinctly convey the essence of your video, enticing viewers to click and watch.

Wrapping Up

As you can see, video content repurposing isn’t rocket science. All you need to do is to make several short clips from a long video and upload them to different channels. You can use any tool for that but we’d recommend AI Video Cut — this free online solution is powered by OpenAI advanced technology and smartly cuts any long content into engaging, viral short videos.