> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.tryordinal.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# YouTube Shorts

> Schedule YouTube Shorts (vertical, under 3 minutes) with titles, descriptions, categories, and visibility settings. Long-form videos aren't supported.

YouTube Shorts tap into YouTube's massive audience with quick, vertical videos. In Ordinal, you can schedule Shorts with titles, descriptions, categories, and visibility settings - getting your content in front of billions of users.

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/ordinal/_Ivdm3moguxdrt4i/images/YT-Shorts---Mintlify.jpg?fit=max&auto=format&n=_Ivdm3moguxdrt4i&q=85&s=4f0e70c2476e8b7add2eddeba6b37732" alt="YT Shorts Mintlify" width="1500" height="900" data-path="images/YT-Shorts---Mintlify.jpg" />

<Warning>
  Ordinal only supports YouTube Shorts. Standard long-form YouTube videos (horizontal videos or videos over 3 minutes) are not currently supported.
</Warning>

## Overview

YouTube classifies a video as a **Short** when it's vertical (9:16 aspect ratio) and under 3 minutes. Videos that don't meet these criteria are considered standard long-form videos and won't work in Ordinal.

Your channel must be **verified** (phone verification) with no active strikes. If you manage multiple channels, you can connect each as a separate profile.

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Connecting YouTube" icon="plug" href="#connecting-youtube">
    Connect your YouTube channel
  </Card>

  <Card title="Drafting a Short" icon="pen-to-square" href="#drafting-a-youtube-short">
    Title, description, and video
  </Card>

  <Card title="Video Settings" icon="sliders" href="#video-settings">
    Visibility, category, and more
  </Card>

  <Card title="Analytics" icon="chart-line" href="#analytics">
    Track video performance
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Connecting YouTube

Go to [**Settings → Profiles → Scheduling**](https://app.tryordinal.com/settings/profiles/scheduling/youtube), select YouTube, and sign in with Google. Choose your channel and authorize Ordinal.

| Requirement    | Details                             |
| -------------- | ----------------------------------- |
| Account type   | YouTube channel with Google account |
| Channel status | Verified (phone verification)       |
| Standing       | No active strikes or restrictions   |
| Role           | Channel Owner                       |

## Drafting a YouTube Short

### What you can post

| Feature                       | Supported | Notes                     |
| ----------------------------- | --------- | ------------------------- |
| [Shorts](#video-requirements) | ✅         | Up to 3 minutes, vertical |
| Standard videos               | ❌         | Not currently supported   |
| Community posts               | ❌         | Not currently supported   |
| Playlists                     | ❌         | Not currently supported   |

### Title & Description

Every Short needs a title and can include an optional description:

* **Title**: Up to 100 characters. Include relevant keywords. Shorts are searchable on YouTube.
* **Description**: Up to 5,000 characters. Add hashtags, links, and calls to action.

<Tip>
  Including `#Shorts` in your title or description helps YouTube categorize your video correctly, though it's not strictly required for videos that meet the format specs.
</Tip>

<Card title="Drafting Posts" icon="keyboard" href="/posts/drafting-posts">
  Full guide to formatting, mentions, slash commands, and keyboard shortcuts.
</Card>

### Video Requirements

| Spec         | Limit                    |
| ------------ | ------------------------ |
| Formats      | MP4, MOV                 |
| Duration     | Up to 3 minutes          |
| Aspect ratio | 9:16 (vertical required) |
| Resolution   | 1080×1920 recommended    |
| File size    | 500MB maximum            |

Vertical video is required - videos must have a height greater than or equal to their width. Files over 125MB are automatically compressed before upload.

<Tip>
  While YouTube allows Shorts up to 3 minutes, shorter videos (under 60 seconds) often perform better in the Shorts feed.
</Tip>

## Video Settings

Configure your Short's settings before scheduling. You'll find these options below the description editor:

* **Visibility**: Choose who can see your Short - Public (anyone on YouTube), Unlisted (only people with the link), or Private (only you)
* **Notify Subscribers**: Choose whether to notify your subscribers when the Short publishes
* **Category**: Select a category (Gaming, Music, Education, etc.) to help YouTube recommend your content
* **Embedding**: Allow or prevent others from embedding your Short on external websites
* **Made for Kids**: Mark if your content is made for children (required for COPPA compliance)

<Note>
  The "Made for Kids" setting affects what features are available on your video. Videos marked as made for kids won't have comments, notifications, or personalized ads.
</Note>

## Analytics

Analytics are not currently available for YouTube Shorts, but are coming soon. Send us an email at [support@tryordinal.com](mailto:support@tryordinal.com) if you're interested in early access.

<Card title="Analytics overview" icon="chart-mixed" href="/analytics/overview">
  Learn more about tracking performance across all your connected profiles.
</Card>

## Learn more

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="TikTok" icon="tiktok" href="/social-profiles/tiktok">
    Similar short-form vertical format.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Instagram Reels" icon="instagram" href="/social-profiles/instagram">
    Another short-form video platform.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>