4 Easy Ways to Add Text to Your YouTube Shorts
Adding text to your YouTube Shorts is a powerful way to enhance your content and engage your audience. Text can effectively communicate your message, provide context, and make your Shorts more visually appealing. This comprehensive guide explores four easy methods to add text to your YouTube Shorts, catering to various skill levels and preferences.
Table of Contents: hide
Add Text to YouTube Short with AI Caption Generator
Using the YouTube Shorts Built-in Text Editor
Adding Text with Third-Party Mobile Apps
Using Desktop Video Editing Software
Add Text to YouTube Short with AI Caption Generator
YouTube offers a unique built-in tool, the YouTube Studio Editor, where you can add subtitles, view analytics, track comments, and monetize your channel. However, to stand out, you may need higher-quality, distinctive title styles that you can easily customize to suit your brand’s taste.
YouTube’s built-in editor has limitations and is not well-suited for creating engaging and versatile text for YouTube Shorts. Use alternative tools like CapUp instead of YouTube’s built-in editor. CapUp provides high-quality editing, a user-friendly interface, and AI capabilities to create top-notch video content captions.
Key Features of CapUp
- AI-powered automatic and fast generation of accurate video subtitles.
- Captivating automatic zooming effects to enhance visual appeal and attract viewers.
- Various popular sounds and effects provide an immersive viewing experience.
- Matching video subtitles with emoticons to add vibrancy and liveliness to your video content.
- Selecting captivating moments or stunning photos as custom video covers to attract viewers and increase popularity.
How to use CapUp to add text to YouTube shorts:
Step 1: Log in to CapUp and easily upload your video by dragging and dropping it from your computer.
Log in and Upload the Video
Step 2: Select the language of the uploaded video from the drop-down menu. CapUp supports English, German, Spanish, French, Portuguese, and 12 other languages.
Select the Language that Matches Your Video
Step 3: Click on “Templates” and choose from a variety of top influencer templates. Adjust the font, sound effects, emoticons, and other parameters according to your preferences. Then click “Save as Template”.
Add Captions to Videos Automatically with AI
Step 4: Wait a moment as CapUp automatically generates subtitles for you. Then click on “Captions” and “Effects” to customize the font, emoticons, sound effects, and animations of the subtitles.
CapUp Outstanding Sound Effects
Step 5: Add an appealing cover by uploading an attractive image or selecting a satisfying frame from the video to enhance your Instagram feed. Once satisfied, click “Export” to download it.
Export the Video
Using the YouTube Shorts Built-in Text Editor
YouTube Shorts provides a user-friendly text editor that simplifies the process of adding and customizing text within the app itself. This approach is perfect for quickly incorporating text into your Shorts without relying on external tools.
To add text to your YouTube Shorts using the built-in text editor, follow these steps:
Step 1: Access YouTube Studio and select the video you want to add text to from your list of uploaded videos.
Select the Shorts You Want to Use
Step 2: Click on “Add Language” to choose the language for the YouTube text, then click the “ADD” button to confirm your selection.
Step 3: To manually add text to the YouTube video:
- Select the “Type Manually” option.
- Move the play head to the location where you want to add the text.
- Click the “+ Caption” icon and type in your desired text. YouTube will automatically add the text with a black background fill.
- Set the duration for the text or caption manually.
- Repeat this process to add more text throughout the video.
- Once you’ve finished adding all the text, click “Publish” to save your changes.
Manually Add Text to the YouTube Shorts
If you need to remove any added text from the YouTube video, simply click on the dustbin-shaped delete button next to the corresponding text.
Alternatively, if you have a pre-prepared SRT file or a full transcript of the YouTube video, you can use the following options to add text:
- Upload File: Upload an SRT file containing the captions for the YouTube video.
- Auto-sync: Copy and paste the full transcript of the YouTube video, including the exact timing for each line of text.
Adding Text with Third-Party Mobile Apps
CapCut is a popular mobile video editing app offering a wide range of features, including adding text to your YouTube Shorts. With CapCut, you can create professional-looking text overlays and animations to make your Shorts stand out.
Step 1: Download and install the CapCut app on your mobile device.
Step 2: Import your YouTube Shorts video into the CapCut app.
Step 3: Tap on the “Text” button in the bottom menu and select the desired text style.
Step 4: Type your text and customize its font, color, size, and alignment.
Step 5: Use the timeline to adjust the duration and timing of the text appearance.
Step 6: Add additional text animations or effects to enhance the visual appeal.
Step 7: Export and upload the edited video to your YouTube Shorts channel.
Using Desktop Video Editing Software
Adobe Premiere Pro is professional-grade video editing software that offers advanced tools for adding and customizing text in your YouTube Shorts. While it may have a steeper learning curve than other methods, Adobe Premiere Pro provides unparalleled control and creativity options.
Step 1: Import your YouTube Shorts video into Adobe Premiere Pro.
Step 2: Create a new text layer by selecting the “Type Tool” or going to “Title” > “New Title.”
Step 3: Type your text and customize its font, color, size, and alignment using the “Essential Graphics” panel.
Step 4: Position the text layer above your video and adjust its duration using the timeline.
Step 5: Apply any desired text animations or effects using the “Effects” panel.
Step 6: Export the edited video using the appropriate settings for YouTube Shorts.
Step 7: Upload the exported video to your YouTube Shorts channel.
Why Add Text to YouTube Shorts?
Adding text to your YouTube Shorts offers several benefits that can significantly improve your content’s performance and viewer engagement. Here are some key reasons why you should consider incorporating text into your YouTube Shorts:
Enhanced Clarity and Understanding
Text can help convey your message more clearly and effectively, especially when the audio or visuals alone may not be sufficient. By adding captions, subtitles, or explanatory text, you can ensure that your viewers fully understand the content and context of your YouTube Shorts.
Improved Accessibility
Including text in your YouTube Shorts makes your content more accessible to a wider audience. Captions and subtitles can help viewers who are deaf, hard of hearing, or non-native speakers comprehend your videos more easily. This inclusivity can lead to increased viewership and engagement.
Increased Engagement and Retention
Engaging text overlays, questions, or calls-to-action can encourage viewers to interact with your YouTube Shorts. By prompting viewers to comment, like, or share your content, you can boost engagement and foster a sense of community around your channel. Moreover, interesting and informative text can keep viewers hooked and improve overall retention rates.
Branding and Consistency
Incorporating text in your YouTube Shorts allows you to maintain a consistent brand identity across your videos. By using specific fonts, colors, and styles that align with your brand, you can create a recognizable and memorable visual presence. Consistent branding helps establish trust and loyalty among your viewers.
SEO and Discoverability
Adding relevant keywords, hashtags, and descriptions in your text overlays can improve your YouTube Shorts’ search engine optimization (SEO). When users search for specific topics or keywords, your videos have a higher chance of appearing in the search results, leading to increased visibility and organic reach.
Tips for Creating Engaging Text in YouTube Shorts
- Keep the text concise and easy to read, as viewers have a short attention span on the platform.
- Use a font and color to complement your video’s theme and ensure good visibility.
- Ensure proper timing and duration of text display, allowing enough time for viewers to read and comprehend the message.
- Experiment with text animations and placement to add visual interest and keep viewers engaged.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I add text to existing YouTube Shorts?
You can add text to existing YouTube Shorts using the built-in editor or third-party apps like CapCut.
- Are there any character limits for text in YouTube Shorts?
While there is no strict character limit, keeping your text concise and easily readable within the short video duration is best.
- Can I use copyrighted fonts in my YouTube Shorts?
Using royalty-free or licensed fonts is recommended to avoid copyright issues. Many apps offer a selection of free fonts for commercial use.
- How can I make my text stand out in YouTube Shorts?
Use bold and legible fonts, contrasting colors, and strategic placement to make your text more prominent. Adding animations or effects can also enhance the attention your text receives.
Conclusion
Adding text to your YouTube Shorts is a straightforward yet effective way to enhance your content and engage your audience. Whether you prefer the built-in YouTube Shorts editor, third-party mobile apps like CapCut, or advanced desktop software like Adobe Premiere Pro, there’s a method suitable for every skill level and creative vision. By following the steps outlined in this guide and implementing the tips for creating engaging text, you’ll be well on your way to producing captivating and informative YouTube Shorts that stand out.
