Schedule YouTube Shorts directly from Viraly. This guide covers the complete workflow for creating Shorts, including required fields like title and category, privacy settings, and video specifications.
Creating a YouTube Short
Follow these steps to create and schedule a YouTube Short in Viraly:
Step 1: Open the Post Composer
Open the post composer using any of these methods:
- Click Create Post in the sidebar
- Click the + button in the calendar header
- Click on any date in the calendar view
Step 2: Select YouTube
Click the YouTube icon at the top of the composer. Selected platforms appear in full color with a red border (#ff0000), while unselected platforms are grayscale.
Step 3: Upload Your Video
Drag and drop your video file, click to select, or choose from your Media Library. YouTube Shorts must be:
- Duration: Up to 3 minutes (180 seconds)
- Aspect Ratio: 9:16 (vertical) or 1:1 (square)
Step 4: Fill in Required Fields
YouTube requires several fields for Shorts:
- Title — Up to 100 characters (required)
- Category — Select from YouTube’s category list (required)
- Privacy — Public, Unlisted, or Private (required)
Step 5: Add Optional Details
Enhance your Short with:
- Description — Up to 5,000 characters
- Tags — Keywords for discoverability
- First Comment — Up to 500 characters (Influencer+ plan)
- Custom Thumbnail — Upload a cover image
Step 6: Schedule Your Short
Click Schedule Post to set a date and time, or use the dropdown menu for other publishing options.
Required Fields
Unlike most platforms, YouTube requires specific fields before you can schedule:
Title
- Character Limit: 100 characters
- Required: Yes
- Use descriptive titles that help viewers find your content
Category
- Required: Yes
- Select from YouTube’s standard category list (Entertainment, Education, Gaming, etc.)
Privacy Level
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Public | Anyone can find and watch your Short |
| Unlisted | Only people with the link can watch |
| Private | Only you can see the video |
Description
- Character Limit: 5,000 characters
- Required: No
- Include relevant keywords and context
Video Requirements
| Requirement | Specification |
|---|---|
| Duration | Up to 3 minutes (180 seconds) |
| Aspect Ratio | 9:16 (vertical) or 1:1 (square) |
| Formats | MP4, MOV, WebM |
Recommended Video Dimensions
| Aspect Ratio | Dimensions | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| 9:16 (Portrait) | 1080 x 1920px | Standard Shorts |
| 1:1 (Square) | 1080 x 1080px | Alternative format |
Use the video editor to crop your videos to the correct aspect ratio for YouTube Shorts.
Custom Thumbnail
Choose a cover image for your Short:
- Frame Selection: Pick a frame from your video using the slider
- Custom Upload: Upload your own thumbnail image (max 8MB)
- Formats: JPEG, PNG, GIF, WebP
- Recommended: 9:16 aspect ratio to match vertical Shorts
YouTube-Specific Features
First Comment
Add a first comment that posts automatically after your Short goes live.
- Maximum 500 characters
- Requires Influencer plan or higher
- Requires
youtube.force-sslAPI scope
Tags
Add keywords to help YouTube understand and categorize your content. Tags can improve discoverability in search results.
Video Settings Toggles
Configure additional video settings using these toggles:
| Setting | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
| Notify Subscribers | Send a notification to your subscribers when the Short is published | On |
| Allow Embedding | Allow others to embed your Short on their websites | On |
| Made for Kids | Indicate if your content is made for children under 13 (COPPA compliance) | Off |
Important: If you mark a video as “Made for Kids,” certain features like personalized ads and comments may be disabled per YouTube/COPPA regulations.
License
Choose the license type for your Short:
- Standard YouTube License — Default license, all rights reserved
- Creative Commons – Attribution — Allows others to reuse your content with credit
Caption Tools
- AI Generator: Generate, shorten, expand, or rephrase descriptions with customizable tone and keywords
- First Comment: Add a comment that posts automatically (speech bubble icon)
- Hashtag Lists: Insert saved hashtag groups from your library
- Emoji Picker: Insert emojis in your description
- Link Detection: URLs in descriptions are clickable
Additional Features
Access these features from the toolbar at the top of the composer:
Categories
Organize your posts using Viraly Categories (separate from YouTube’s video categories). Click the + Category button to assign the post to one or more categories for filtering and organization in your calendar.
Recycle Posts
Enable the Recycle toggle to automatically repost your Short at specified intervals. Recycled posts are re-added to your queue after publishing.
Shorten URLs
Enable the Shorten URLs toggle to automatically shorten links in your description. Shortened URLs provide click tracking and analytics.
Scheduling Options
After creating your Short, choose how to publish it:
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| Schedule Post | Set a specific date and time for publishing |
| Publish Now | Post immediately |
| Save as Draft | Save without scheduling |
| Add to Queue | Add to your posting queue |
| Request Approval | Send to team members for review |