How to become a short video content creator in 2025?

In 2025, short videos are the backbone of digital content. Platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts dominate the industry, providing massive opportunities for creators to grow their audiences and monetize their content. Moreover, other social platforms with a focus on short videos continue to emerge, proving that the short video trend is here to stay.

But with so much competition, how do you stand out and build a successful creator career? This guide will walk you through everything you need to know:

1. Why Short Videos Are Taking Over in 2025

2. Finding Your Voice: What’s Your Content Style?

3. Where to Post: Best Platforms for Short Video Content in 2025

4. Building Your Audience: Marketing and Growth Strategies

5. Monetizing Your Short Video Content in 2025

This article is packed with insights to help you become a successful short video creator in 2025.

Keep reading and start your journey to digital success today! ✨

Why Short Videos Are Taking Over in 2025

In 2025, short-form video content is going to dominate the social media landscape. If you’re aspiring to become a content creator, understanding why this format is thriving is your first step toward success.

All popular social networks have a function for uploading and viewing short videos, one way or another. And some were actually created specifically for this format.

TikTok, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts are leaders in the distribution of short videos.

Just think about this:

TikTok currently has 1 billion monthly active users worldwide
More than 2 billion people interact with Instagram Reels every month
YouTube overall has 2.7 billion monthly active users and they spend an average of 30 minutes per day on YouTube Shorts

Lemon8, Pinterest, Rednote (also known as Xiaohongshu), Likee, Snapchat and many others where content creators can share their short videos in 2025 may be less popular but still famous. We’ll explore TikTok alternatives and actually places where you can share your short videos later. Here's what you need to understand now: short videos are popular and in demand.

Short videos thrive because they keep viewers hooked. This format also caters to mobile-first users, who now make up the majority of social media users.

For a novice content creator, short videos are the best format to start with and here’s why:

You don’t need expensive equipment or lengthy scripts.
You can test different ideas and niches quickly.
Since short videos are so popular, social media platforms are interested in them and promote them more than other forms of content.
Short videos have more potential of going viral because it’s easy to share them and users can watch them fast (they are s-h-o-r-t, you know)
Short videos have big opportunities for monetization: built-in ads, brand deals, affiliate marketing, community building.

So, the rise of short-form content shows no signs of slowing down in 2025. Now is the perfect time to embrace this format. And the first step is to find your unique content style.

The image shows a graph of the growth of social media users from 2017 to 2028. The number of users is predicted to grow from 2.73 billion to 6.05 billion during this period. — The number of social media users will reach 5.42 billion in 2025. Most of them will use social media on mobile phones. Resource: Keywords Everywhere

Finding Your Voice: What’s Your Content Style?

Yeah, the idea of becoming a content creator is exciting, but before you start your social media journey, you need to answer 3 important questions:

What are you going to shoot videos about?
What would your social media image be?
What’s your content style?

Finding your voice as a creator will help you stand out, attract the right audience, and stay motivated in the long run. Defining what makes you and your content unique is the key to success in the modern digital world when we have thousands of content creators.

There are 3 steps that will help you enter the world of content creation.

Step 1: Choose a Niche That Fits You

A niche is a field you are strongly passionate about or of which you have some knowledge. Some people can do creative makeup, others can easily joke or dance. The niche can be absolutely anything.

If at first glance it seems to you that you can’t do anything, take a sheet of paper and divide it into two columns: strengths and weaknesses. Reflect on your personality, life, what you have ever done. You can even ask friends or relatives to help you and give you an outside perspective.

Content ideas can come not only from your strengths, but also from your weaknesses! Are you unemployed? Make content about how you are looking for a job. Do you have a lot of loans? Start filming your way to paying them off. Are you in poor physical shape and want to improve it? Show your way!

Here are some popular short-video niches in 2025:

Entertainment & Comedy (skits, funny reactions, memes, relatable humor)
Education & How-To (bite-sized tutorials, hacks, scientific facts, industry insights)
Lifestyle & Personal Development (daily routines, productivity tips, wellness advice)
Beauty & Fashion (makeup tutorials, outfit ideas, fashion trends)
Fitness & Health (quick workouts, diet tips, motivational content)
Tech & Reviews (unboxings, app reviews, gadget recommendations)

Of course, a content creator of any niche can shoot videos in different formats. For example, DIY content creators can easily make funny videos about cases with customers or tech bloggers make a tutorial about building a gaming PC.

A niche shouldn't limit you or your creativity. It should just give you direction and the opportunity to find your first audience.

Step 2: Decide What Videos You Want to Try First

Once you’ve chosen a niche, it’s time to think about what kind of videos you will shoot first.

Here's what you need to keep in mind before you start thinking about your first content plan:

Live action video is the most commonly created type of video.

People love seeing other people. It is psychologically easier for us to associate ourselves with a person. By seeing a real person in a real situation, your audience will develop a connection with you and return to your content again and again.

Even if you're filming tutorials or sharing your animation work, we recommend not hiding your face and filming live videos from time to time.

An ideal length for short-form video is between 11 to 60 seconds.

The shorter the video the higher chances that viewers will watch it till the end. For some social media like TikTok it's crucial (you can learn more about the TikTok algorithm in our article How to Go Viral on TikTok?). For others it can be not so important but the length of your video still influences the engagement you get.

Finally, it will be easier for you to start with shorter videos because you will be able to test more different formats in the nick of time and it won’t be so time-consuming.

The image shows the dependence of the number of videos watched to the end on their length. The least watched videos are those shorter than 10 seconds. Videos from 1 to 3 minutes are watched to the end by no more than 15% of users. The best video length is from 11 to 60 seconds: such videos are watched to the end by up to 35% of users. — It is important to know that the greatest number of views are received by videos from 11 to 60 seconds long. Source: Yaguara.co

You need to find content creators in your niche and see what they are shooting (and how they do it).

Here’s the short algorithm on how to do it:

Analyze their short videos from the topic to the editing techniques.
Pay special attention to the latest videos, as they most likely contain topics and editing that are relevant now.
Take a look at comments on the videos as audience questions or things they shared can help you with topics for your own videos.
Save as references the videos that resonate most with you.

While doing this homework, you can already write down ideas for your first videos wherever you like.

If you still feel a lack of inspiration, we recommend paying attention to our article, which is suitable for both beginners and pros: How to Find Inspiration For New TikTok Content?

Although it is focused on TikTok, the advice there is universal and applicable to any social network!

And now it’s time to start filming!

Step 3: Stay Authentic and Adapt Over Time

Talking about making potentially popular content in social media, we (and others) often write about following trends. It’s really a great way to boost your visibility which is crucial for novice content creators. But there is a serious danger associated with trends: it is too easy to slip into plagiarism.

A trend can be anything: a topic that everyone is currently concerned about, a song or sound, an editing technique. It seems like everyone is just copying each other. Your video might actually soar in as a frame-by-frame copy of a trend, but it won't bring you subscribers, and it might bring a complaint.

How to avoid plagiarism? You can start with these 4 easy variants:

Put Your Own Spin on a Trend

Instead of copying a trending video exactly, add your personality, humor, or insights to make it fresh.

Think about how you can reinterpret a trend in your niche.

Mix & Match Ideas

Combine elements from different trends or formats to create something new and engaging.

Give Credit When Needed

If you’re inspired by another creator’s idea, acknowledge them in your caption or duet/stitch their video if your social media platform allows it (most of them do, just google how to do it).

Top notch: Write to a content creator and ask their permission to reuse an idea. Of course, you don't have to do this if you just want to use a popular tune (your content creator probably isn't the first to use it either). But if the idea or format is truly original and you haven't found it anywhere else – really – ask for permission.

Create Original Variations

Start your own spin-off of a trend, tweak the format, or change the context to make it distinctively yours.

At the beginning of your journey, it’s okay to experiment with different formats and topics. Over time, your unique content style will naturally develop.

It's also okay if your style or even the topics you're interested in change. We all grow, evolve, and learn new things. The key is to not let social media trends limit you.

Stay authentic. Audiences connect with creators who are real and relatable. Focus on bringing your personality, voice, and perspective to your videos instead of using all trends at once.

The image contains screenshots of popular TikTok and Instagram Reels creators. Each of them has their own authentic style and their videos are recognizable in the general social media feed. — All popular content creators have their own authentic style and features that help distinguish their content in the feed from others. This is important in order to stand out. Source: Instagram, TikTok

Where to Post: Best Platforms for Short Video Content in 2025

There are dozens of platforms that let content creators share short videos. Each platform has a unique audience, algorithm, and style.

Posting in multiple places can maximize your reach. Besides, having popular profiles on multiple social networks can be your backup plan in case something happens to one of them. It doesn’t mean that you should be everywhere: 2-3 social media platforms is enough.

Below are the best platforms for short video content in 2025 and why you should consider them.

TikTok

Despite the controversy, TikTok remains the most influential short video platform, with over 1 billion monthly active users. It’s built for trends, challenges, and viral moments, making it ideal for creators looking to grow fast.

There are 3 reasons why TikTok is worth it:

✅ Powerful discovery algorithm (even small creators can go viral)

✅ Engagement-driven (likes, comments, and shares boost your content)

✅ Monetization (brand deals and affiliate marketing is very widespread on the platform)

TikTok is really great for entertaining, trend-based, and personality-driven content. Although other niches are also popular there.

The image contains screenshots of TikTok, demonstrating the following features of this application: video recommendation feed, video search by topic, live broadcasts and trending audio. — TikTok is the most influential short video platform that consist of trends, challenges, and viral moments. The majority of trends appear on TikTok. Source: TikTok

Instagram Reels

Instagram is a powerhouse for personal branding. And while it all started with photos, Instagram's algorithm now seems to prioritize reels. With over 2 billion users, it’s a great place to convert viewers into loyal followers.

There are 3 reasons why Instagram Reels is worth it:

✅ Possibility to share different content (apart from short videos, you can share photos and stories)

✅ Easier for brand sponsorship (seamless product tagging and brand partnerships)

✅ Monetization (brand sponsorships and affiliate marketing is also popular here)

Instagram Reels is best for lifestyle, fashion, fitness, beauty, and business-related content.

YouTube Shorts

YouTube has 2.7 billion monthly active users, and Shorts are now a major focus. Unlike other platforms, YouTube has great integration with Google, so your content may appear even on the first page of the search engine.

There are 3 reasons why YouTube Shorts is worth it:

✅ Monetization through ads (YouTube shares ad revenue on Shorts)

✅ SEO benefits (Shorts appear in YouTube and Google search results)

✅ Easy transition to long-form content (there can be room for future growth)

YouTube is great for tutorials, educational content, entertainment, and niche content. And also, if you want to experiment with short videos and then start making long ones.

YouTube Shorts has a secret power thanks to its integration with Google Search. Shorts are also can be simply monetized through built-in ads. Source: YouTube

Lemon8

Lemon8 (owned by TikTok’s parent company) is a blend of Instagram and Pinterest, focusing on aesthetic and informative content. It’s growing fast and could be a hidden gem for creators.

There are 3 reasons why Lemon8 is worth it:

✅ Great for niche audiences (beauty, travel, fitness, and wellness do well)

✅ Less competition (easier to stand out compared to TikTok, Instagram or YouTube)

✅ TikTok’s algorithm (since they’re owned by the same company, there’s potential algorithm overlap)

Lemon8 is best for lifestyle, beauty, wellness, travel, and fashion creators.

RedNote (Xiaohongshu)

This platform is a mix of Instagram and Amazon, blending social media and e-commerce.

There are 3 reasons why RedNote is worth it:

✅ Pretty high engagement rates (users actively seek product recommendations)

✅ Niche oriented (great for beauty, fashion, and travel content creators)

✅ E-commerce integration (easier to sell products)

RedNote is really great for beauty, skincare, fashion, and travel content. Also it’s great if you have a product and want to sell it.

RedNote is a mix of TikTok and Amazon as it has an e-commerce integration. Although this may not work well in some countries. Source: RedNote

Pinterest isn’t just for images anymore: Idea Pins (short videos) drive millions of views. Content here stays relevant for months, making it perfect for long-term growth.

There are 3 reasons why Pinterest is worth it:

✅ Search-based discovery (content is recommended based on user interests)

✅ Great for driving website traffic (perfect if you’re selling products or have a blog)

✅ Monetization through affiliate links (Pinterest allows direct links to products)

Pinterest is best for DIY, home decor, recipes, fashion, aesthetic and self-improvement content.

Content on Pinterest stays relevant for months thanks to its recommendation system and built-in search engine. Pinterest also allows you to link directly to products, making it ideal for affiliate links. Source: Pinterest

Likee

Likee is similar to TikTok but focuses more on music, dance, and fun effects. It has over 100 million global users.

There are 3 reasons why Likee is worth it:

✅ Easier to go viral (less competition than TikTok)

✅ Strong music and special effects features (if you want to make content based on music and with a lot of filters)

✅ Monetization through virtual gifts and live streaming (great if you love to communicate live)

Likee is great for music, dance, and entertainment content.

Snapchat Spotlight

Snapchat Spotlight is a TikTok-style feed where top-performing videos earn payouts. If you already use Snapchat, this is an easy way to repurpose content.

There are 3 reasons why Snapchat is worth it:

✅ Easy monetization (through Spotlight payouts)

✅ Great for younger audiences (Snapchat has a strong Gen Z user base)

✅ Low competition (higher chances of being discovered)

Snapchat is great for comedy, behind-the-scenes, and storytelling content.

The image contains screenshots of the Snapchat app. The content creators' profiles and the display of the videos themselves are similar to TikTok. — Snapchat Spotlight has its own monetization program called Spotlight Payouts. It's great if your target audience are Gen Z. Source: Snapchat

If you’re just starting out, focus on one or two platforms based on your content style and target audience. Once you gain confidence, repurpose your videos across multiple platforms for maximum exposure.

Building Your Audience: Marketing and Growth Strategies

Don't be scared, but creating and posting content is just the beginning! You need a strategy to attract and retain viewers if you want to grow as a short video creator in 2025.

Here are 4 key strategies to help you grow!

Stay Consistent

One of the biggest mistakes new creators make is posting randomly. Social media platforms favor consistent creators, meaning the more regularly you post, the higher your chances of being seen.

How many short videos is “consistensy”? Let’s analyse the industry’s leaders.

TikTok advice to post 1-4 times per day. For Instagram, the general advice is to post 4-7 reels per week. It’s recommended to post 1-3 Shorts per day to maximize engagement on YouTube.

So, consistency may depend on the platform. We recommend posting at least 1 short video per day, no matter what platform you have chosen. But it’s better to make more. If you want to achieve results faster, try to post 2-3 short videos per day. This is enough to get visibility in social media feeds, but not suspicious for algorithms (they will not think that you are spamming).

But staying consistent is not only about posting content. It’s also about your unique style. While you can experiment, try to maintain some recognizable details so followers either can identify your content among other videos or even return to see these very details.

Details can be practically anything: from your makeup or some pieces of clothes or accessories to some catch phrases or use of filters.

Don’t worry if it’s difficult for you to come up with your own recognizable details at the very beginning of your creative journey, it’s totally ok!

Engage With Your Audience: Comments & DMs

Social media isn’t just about posting, it’s about building connections.

Some social media platforms like Instagram don’t hide the fact that their algorithms take into account how often the content creator responds to the user's comments. Others can not be so transparent but they can count communication between content creators and users as engagement.

So, it’s useful to know how to engage with users on the platform! And here are 3 ideas to start with:

Reply to Comments and DMs

Show appreciation by responding to comments on your videos. A simple “Thanks for watching 😊” can make a difference.

You probably won't have many DMs, but that just means you'll have time to answer them all! At least the ones that don't look like spam.

Ask Questions

Encourage interaction in the ending and captions of your videos. You can use questions (e.g., “What do you think?” or “Have you tried this before?”).

Go Live

Live streaming helps you connect with your audience in real time. The majority of platforms have this feature.

If you do not know how to talk with an audience live, this article can help you.

The image contains screenshots of live streams from TikTok. — Live streaming is a great way to engage with your audience. Almost every short video platform allows live streaming. More importantly, you can even earn during a live stream, such as through TikTok gifts. Source: TikTok

Use Hashtags, Captions & Platform Algorithms to Your Advantage

Understanding how social media algorithms work is key to getting your videos seen by more people. Each platform prioritizes different factors, but they have a lot of things in common.

You can learn a lot about YouTube Shorts and TikTok algorithms in this article. We also tell a lot about the Instagram Reels algorithm in this one. If you are really interested in TikTok, check this article!

Here's what's important to know if you're a novice content creator: every social media platform in 2025 is a search engine. That’s why using topical captions and hashtags for your short videos is crucial!

Pay attention to this 3 thing:

Use Relevant Hashtags

Include 3-5 strategic hashtags per post. Mix general ones (#fyp, #viral) with niche-specific hashtags (#fitnessmotivation, #skincarehacks).

Here you also can read about the importance of using hashtags!

Write Relevant Captions

Social platforms use captions for content categorization, making it easier for the right audience to find your video. So, captions work as hashtags but give you more freedom in using emotions, humor, or extra details.

Just keep your captions short, relatable, and aligned with your style!

Hook Viewers Fast

The first 3 seconds of your video are crucial. Use eye-catching visuals and text to grab attention.

Our article How to Grab Attention on TikTok and Instagram Reels? will help you to master the art of hooks for any social media of your choice!

Cross-Promote Your Content on Different Platforms

Relying on just one platform can slow your growth. Besides, it's hard to say what will happen to any platform in 2025. It's always important for a content creator to have a backup plan!

That’s how you can drive traffic between platforms:

Repurpose Your Content

Share your short videos on several platforms at once. You can have a better chance of being seen on at least one platform.

The essence of short video content is the same on different platforms, so it takes minutes.

Important: some platforms prioritize native content, so consider uploading directly instead of sharing watermarked TikTok videos on Instagram Reels.

Share Your Links in Your Bio

Be sure to add links to your other social platforms in your bio or profile description.

If you want to share multiple links, you may need link-in-bio services. They allow you to create a small homepage with multiple links while some social media let you add only one link in bio.

Linktree is one of the most popular services like this. You can learn more about it and how to use it: How to Use Linktree?

Encourage Your Followers to Follow Elsewhere

Once you get your first subscribers, it’s time to tell them to check out your other platforms!

The first thing you can tell them is that if they don't want to lose you or your content, they need to follow you on another social network.

Once you have a sufficient number of followers and you have a little more free time, you can start to think about adding something unique to each of your social networks.

For example, create a guide and share it on Instagram while continuing to make short videos on TikTok. Or stream on YouTube while the main platform for your short videos is Instagram.

Building an audience takes strategy, patience, and engagement. By staying consistent, interacting with viewers, leveraging trends, and cross-promoting your content, you’ll set yourself up for success as a short video creator. And once it happens, it’s time to think about monetization!

The image contains screenshots of TikTok content creators' profiles. In their bios, you can see that content creators tend to leave links to their other social networks in order to promote several of their profiles at once. — Links in bio are the versatilel tool for repurposing your content, cross-promoting, and even monetizing if you sell any products. Source: TikTok

Monetizing Your Short Video Content in 2025

Creating short videos is appealing because it's a great way to express yourself. And it can also be a real source of income!

In 2025, content creators have different monetization opportunities and it’s really awesome.

We will least 6 main opportunities for monetization and tell a little about each one:

Social Media Platform Payouts

Many platforms now pay creators directly for their content based on views, engagement, and ads embedded in creators' videos or shown between them in the feed.

These programs usually have their own names and are promoted by social media platforms themselves. Probably, you have heard about TikTok Creator Fund or YouTube Partner Program.

It’s easy to find info about content creators bonuses in other social media. Just try to google the name of the platform with words like “creator bonuses”, “partner program”, “creator payouts”.

Two major drawbacks to social media payouts are that they are not always high and may not work in a certain country/region. Keep in mind that payout amounts may also vary by country/region.

So, it's best to combine them with other monetization methods.

Brand Deals & Sponsored Content

One of the most profitable ways to earn money as a creator is through brand collaborations. Companies are constantly looking for influencers to promote their products or services.

And also 61% of brands are primarily working with nano- and micro-influencers which is great news for novice content creators!

Again, some social media platforms have their ways to connect content creators and brands like TikTok Creator Marketplace or Instagram Collabs. Sometimes, brands reach content creators by themselves. But you also can reach brands!

We have a detailed instruction on how to contact the brand and propose them cooperation here: 5 Ways to Make Money on TikTok

Important: check platform’s rules and guidelines before posting your first sponsored content. Probably, you’ll have to add something to your content like hashtags #ad, #sponsored, or special mark to avoid problems with the platform. Also beware of scams disguised as brand deals!

Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing lets you earn money by recommending products and earning a commission on every sale made through your unique link.

You have to sign up for an affiliate program, get a custom tracking link, and share it in your video description or bio.

Some of the affiliate programs you can check are Amazon Associates, ClickBank. Brands also can have affiliate programs!

The secret to successful affiliate marketing is choosing products relevant to your audience. People trust authentic recommendations. It’s ok to hear recommendations of sportswear or even body products from a fitness content creator. It’s strange to get a recommendation of make-up products from a DIY content creator.

The image contains a graph of content creators, with whom brands prefer to work. 41% of brands prefer to work with nano influencers, 20% with micro influencers. Only 11% of brands are ready to cooperate with influencers from 250k subscribers. — Brands love working with nano and micro influencers, and this is great news for newbie creators. The reason is that the audience trusts less popular bloggers and their fees are usually lower. Source: Aspire

Selling Digital or Physical Products

Selling something made by yourself or with your control gives you more freedom than advertising of other products and brands. You are confident in your product, can convey its value more easily, and most likely know exactly who will benefit from it.

It’s better to start with creating a digital product, since a physical product (unless you make something yourself) requires more resources and time.

The most popular digital products to sell are courses, ebooks, cookbooks, printables and templates.

Most likely, you will have to learn how to use another platform where you can upload your digital product. So, this method of monetization is unlikely to suit you at the very beginning. We recommend turning to it when you already have a loyal audience, even if it’s a small one.

Fan Subscriptions

This method is also suitable when you already have a loyal audience. But fan subscriptions are one of the most stable ways to earn money from content. Instead of relying on unpredictable views, you get monthly payments from your biggest supporters.

Fans usually pay a subscription fee and get access to exclusive content, perks, or behind-the-scenes access. You also can offer private Q&A sessions, hidden live streams, more personal communication and even ways to influence your everyday content.

Your content must be hidden behind a paywall, which is usually not allowed by regular social networks. So, you will have to use special services, for example Patreon, Ko-fi, Buy me a coffee, One2fan.

If you want to learn more about One2fan, you can check this article: What is One2fan?

This way of monetizing your content can seem energy-consuming because you have to make exclusive content as well as short videos you’ll continue to share with everyone. But fan subscriptions let you devote yourself to creativity, remain independent of brands and their terms of partnership, and stay close to your audience.

Monetizing short video content takes time and strategy, but with consistency and the right approach, you can turn your passion into a full-time career!

The short video industry is evolving fast, and 2025 is full of opportunities for content creators. Finding your niche, staying consistent, and leveraging platform algorithms will be key to your success, no matter the social media platform you are going to post your videos.

Growing an audience takes strategy and engagement, while monetization comes through brand deals, social media payouts, and fan subscriptions. The most successful creators don’t just follow trends: they set them.

If you’re ready to turn your creativity into a career, now is the time to start. Experiment, engage, and stay persistent. Your audience is waiting! 🚀

How to Become a Short Video Content Creator in 2025?