So you want to repurpose your YouTube videos into X (formerly Twitter) shorts?
You’re sitting on a goldmine of content—those long, value-packed YouTube videos you’ve worked so hard to create. But the thought of chopping them up, finding the right moments, and reformatting everything for the rapid-fire world of X shorts feels overwhelming.
Maybe you’ve tried before, spending hours editing only to get minimal engagement. Or perhaps you’re worried your carefully crafted message will lose its impact when condensed into bite-sized clips.
The good news? Transforming your YouTube content into engaging X shorts isn’t just possible—it’s a strategic move that can dramatically expand your reach without doubling your workload.
Why you should repurpose YouTube videos into X shorts
X’s short video format offers a unique opportunity to reach audiences who prefer quick, digestible content. With attention spans shrinking, many users would rather consume 60-second clips than commit to a 20-minute video.
By repurposing your YouTube content for X, you’re tapping into a different audience ecosystem—one that might never find your content through YouTube’s algorithm alone.
The broader opportunity of content repurposing cannot be overstated. Most creators make the mistake of creating content in isolation, starting from scratch for each platform. This is not only exhausting but incredibly inefficient.
The truth is, you never really know which content formats will resonate best on which platforms. I learned this firsthand back in 2020. I had created several YouTube videos about note-taking that performed moderately well. On a whim, I decided to repurpose that content into written articles on Medium.
To my surprise, those repurposed articles exploded in popularity, eventually leading me to launch a profitable five-figure course and add 3,000 email subscribers to my list in just 12 weeks. Had I kept that content confined to YouTube, I never would have discovered its true potential.
This unexpected success wasn’t random—it happened because different platforms attract different audience behaviors. What works on YouTube might perform even better on X, or vice versa. The timing, algorithm preferences, and user expectations vary dramatically across platforms.
The main differences between YouTube long-form and X shorts
YouTube long-form videos and X shorts operate in completely different universes when it comes to content consumption:
YouTube long-form videos:
- Allow for deep dives (10+ minutes)
- Typically watched with sound on
- Viewers expect structured content with a beginning, middle, and end
- Success often depends on watch time and retention
- Often discovered through search (SEO matters)
X shorts:
- Ultra-brief (ideally 15-60 seconds)
- Often watched without sound
- Need to capture attention in the first 2 seconds
- Scroll-stopping visuals are critical
- Algorithm favors quick engagement (likes, comments, shares)
- Captions aren’t just for accessibility—they’re essential
These fundamental differences mean you can’t simply clip your YouTube video and post it on X. Effective repurposing requires strategic adaptation.
What makes good X video content
Effective X shorts have several distinctive characteristics:
First, they hook viewers instantly.
Unlike YouTube, where viewers have committed to clicking your video, X users are passively scrolling.
You have about 2 seconds to stop their thumb from continuing its journey.
It’s also about writing a compelling post above it:
The most successful X shorts typically include:
- An attention-grabbing visual or statement in the first frame
- Clear, readable captions (remember many viewers watch without sound)
- A strong pattern interrupt (something unexpected or visually striking)
- A single, focused point rather than multiple ideas
- High contrast and movement to stand out in the feed
- A direct call-to-action at the end
Build Your Swipe File Of Winning X Video Content
The quickest path to creating effective X shorts is studying content that’s already performing well on the platform. Each social network has its own unwritten rules and patterns that lead to success.
Don’t just look at any viral content, though. Find creators who are new to the platform but getting significant traction. Established influencers can often break platform “rules” and still perform well due to their existing audience. New creators who are succeeding have usually cracked the current algorithm code.
Look specifically for creators in your industry who are repurposing content from other platforms. Note how they transform their longer content, what sections they choose, and how they reframe their messaging.
PRO TIP: Focus on creators who have joined X within the last 6 months and are consistently getting high engagement. Their strategies are likely more relevant to your situation than established X celebrities.
Download my free templates of winning X video formats here to jumpstart your repurposing journey.
Simple workflow to turn YouTube videos into X shorts
Okay, so now that you’ve have these laid out…
You could either do this manually like a monkey.
Hire a VA that you need to train for weeks on Fiverr…
Or (my favorite way):
You could use AI and automation tools to make this process as smooth as butter.
Here’s an example:
As soon as you post on YouTube, an automation workflow can identify high-value segments, clip them to the right length, add captions, and prepare them for X posting with minimal human intervention.
You can create automations using tools like n8n, Make.com, or Zapier that leverage AI to streamline the process.
Here’s a simple but effective workflow that’s working right now:
1. YouTube video publishes
2. Using Make.com, trigger a workflow that sends the video to Opus Clip
3. Opus Clip analyzes your video and automatically generates 5-10 short clips with captions
4. Make.com then downloads these clips and sends them to your review folder
5. After approval, schedule them to post on X at optimal times using a tool like Hypefury
The key is creating prompts for AI tools that extract the most X-friendly segments. For example, using ChatGPT with a prompt like:
“Analyze this YouTube transcript and identify 3-5 segments (15-45 seconds each) that:
1) Make a single, powerful point,
2) Work as standalone content, and
3) Would create curiosity or surprise.
For each segment, provide the timestamp and suggest a hook sentence for X.”
This simple workflow can turn a 30-minute YouTube video into weeks of X content with just 15 minutes of your time.
Stop treating content creation as a series of isolated projects. Your YouTube videos are content gold mines waiting to be refined for new audiences on X. The audience you’re missing might be your most engaged yet.
For more tips on how to repurpose your content and grow your audience with less work, sign up for my free emails below: