How to Clip a YouTube Video to Boost Engagement
Capturing and sharing key moments from your videos can help boost engagement and grow your audience. YouTube's built-in clipping feature makes it easy to create and share short clips from any video. Whether you want to highlight a memorable scene for promotion or encourage viewers to share those standout moments, clipping is a simple and effective way to spread your content. In this guide, we'll show you how to clip a YouTube video on both desktop and mobile devices to maximize your content’s reach and impact.
How to Clip a YouTube Video on Desktop
Clipping a YouTube video on desktop is simple and gives you plenty of flexibility to capture the exact moments you want. Follow these steps to create your first clip:
Position the Playhead
Start by playing the video and positioning the playhead at the exact moment you want your clip to begin. This ensures you're capturing the right starting point.Press the "Clip" Button
Once you're ready, click the "Clip" button located below the video. This will open a new window where you can customize your clip.Adjust Clip Length
By default, YouTube sets the clip length to 15 seconds. If you need a longer clip, you can extend the selection up to 60 seconds by dragging the right side of the selection bar. Adjust it to perfectly capture the moment you're interested in. You can also adjust the starting point by moving the entire selection bar to refine the clip further. This ensures you're clipping the exact moment you want from the video.Add a Description
Once you've adjusted the clip length, enter a short description of the clip. For instance, you might type "Awesome Federer Shot" or something that best describes the moment you're capturing.Share the Clip
Now that your clip is ready, click "Share Clip." You can copy the link and share it anywhere—whether it's on social media, in a message, or via email. You can also share the clip directly to Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, and more.Embed the Clip on Your Website
If you want to embed the clip on a website or blog, YouTube provides an embed code. Simply copy this code and paste it into your website’s HTML, and that specific clip will appear embedded for viewers.
How to Clip a YouTube Video on Mobile
Clipping a YouTube video on mobile is just as easy as on desktop. Here’s how you can do it:
Find the Desired Moment
Play the video and locate the part you want to clip. Once you’ve found the moment, pause the video to ensure accuracy.
Scroll for the "Clip" Option
Under the video, scroll to the right until you find the "Clip" button. It might be nestled among other options, but once you spot it, tap it to start creating your clip.Adjust Clip Length
Like on desktop, the default clip length is 15 seconds, but you can adjust it up to 60 seconds by dragging the sliders. Set the start and end points to capture your desired moment.Add a Description
Enter a brief description to label your clip.
Share the Clip
Finally, you can share the clip by copying the link or sending it directly via apps like Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, or other platforms. The process is similar to desktop sharing.
Managing and Deleting Your Clips
After you've created a few clips, you might want to revisit or organize them. YouTube makes this easy by providing a dedicated section for your clips.
Access Your Clips
To find your saved clips, head to the main YouTube menu and click on "Your Clips" located on the left-hand side. Here, you’ll see all the clips you’ve created.
View or Delete Clips
From this section, you can click on any clip to rewatch it. If you no longer need a clip, you can delete it, but keep in mind that any shared links or embedded clips will stop working if you delete the original.
How to Prevent Others from Clipping Your Content
If you're a content creator and want to prevent others from clipping your videos, YouTube gives you control over that, too.
Go to YouTube Studio
Open YouTube Studio and navigate to the "Settings" section.
Access Channel Settings
Under the "Channel" tab, click "Advanced Settings" to find the clipping options.
Disable Clipping
Scroll down to the "Allow viewers to clip my content" option. Untick this box and click "Save." Once this is done, viewers won’t be able to clip your videos in the future.
Benefits to Clipping Your YouTube Videos
Clipping YouTube videos can be a game-changer for content creators, helping you highlight key moments, increase shareability, and boost engagement. Here's how you can benefit from this tool:
1. Highlight Key Moments
Use clips to showcase important or entertaining moments. Share these snippets as:
Teasers for upcoming videos.
Highlights of key moments to catch viewers' attention.
Repurposed Content for refreshing older videos.
2. Increase Shareability
Short clips are perfect for social media. Share them across platforms like Twitter and Instagram to drive traffic back to your YouTube channel.
3. Let Your Audience Promote You
Enable clipping on your videos to let viewers share their favorite moments. This encourages community engagement and expands your reach through organic promotion.
4. Embed Clips on Websites
Use clips to enhance blog posts or partner content. Embedding short clips allows you to showcase the best parts of your videos without overwhelming viewers.
5. Create Clip-based Playlists
Organize clips into playlists to highlight key points from series or tutorials. This allows viewers to get a quick overview of your content.
6. Optimize for SEO
Add keywords to clip descriptions to increase discoverability through search engine optimization (SEO). Optimizing clips can help them show up in search results, drawing more traffic to your full videos.
Using YouTube's clipping tool effectively can increase visibility and create engaging content for your audience.
Ready to take your video content to the next level? At Macey Media, we help brands create, optimize, and promote engaging videos that captivate audiences. Let’s turn your clips into content that works for you. Contact us today to get started!
