What if your next viral reel is already sitting in your latest YouTube video? In part three of this series on the Evercreen Content System, I’m sharing exactly how I repurpose long-form YouTube content into short-form Instagram Reels. This post is a behind-the-scenes look at my real workflow — the one I use to turn youtube videos into reels & stories, without starting from scratch!

Why Repurposing Your YouTube Videos Is a Must

Filming and editing a YouTube video takes time and effort. So why stop at uploading it once and moving on? That long-form content is packed with value — and you can squeeze so much more from it when you repurpose it well!

A single video can lead to dozens of shorter pieces of content. These can live on Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube Shorts, and more. And the best part? It helps you stay consistent online, even when you don’t have time to start fresh every day.

Step 1: Pull Out the Best Moments

Start by finding the strongest parts of your YouTube video. These are the lines or insights that grab attention or deliver a big “aha” moment. That’s what will make your audience stop scrolling.

I love using AI tools for this part — especially my custom GPT. You just drop in the transcript and let the tool scan for top quotes or ideas. These get turned into reels, story slides, or captions.

To get your transcript, I recommend otter.ai. It’s quick and easy to use. Once you’ve got it, drop it into ChatGPT or a similar tool, and start building out your content plan!

Step 2: Repurpose into Reels and Stories

Once you’ve got your best moments pulled out, it’s time to turn them into actual content. I do this in two main ways:

First, I crop and reuse actual video clips from the YouTube episode. These become vertical reels with my face on camera. I use tools like Opus Clip to make this step easier.

Second, I turn key quotes into text overlays. These work well for B-roll reels or story slides. You can create a storytelling sequence that leads to a freebie or offer!

Step 3: Make It Feel Native to Instagram

Just because it started on YouTube doesn’t mean it works perfectly on Instagram. You need to shape your content to fit the vibe of each platform.

Think about what works well on Instagram Reels right now. Is it face-to-camera? Quick text on B-roll? Do you need a strong hook at the start?

Use the content ideas you pulled from your transcript and shape them into something that actually works on the app. Reels are their own format, and your audience expects them to feel polished and platform-specific.

Step 4: Systemize or Delegate the Process

This process doesn’t need to live on your shoulders forever. I’ve had seasons where I did this myself, and others where my team stepped in. The key is having a repeatable system and making sure the person helping understands your brand.

AI can speed things up, and systems help your team know what to do. That way, you stay consistent even when life gets full. You can focus on creating long form content, while someone else helps break it down into smaller pieces.

What’s Coming Next

The next video in this series will dive into how I use Opus Clip to edit and crop my YouTube videos into ready-to-go short form videos. These clips are perfect for Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts!

If you’re ready to take action now, grab your transcript and start pulling content from your last video. You’ll be surprised how many ideas are already there, just waiting to be used again in a new way.

Ready to Go Deeper?

Want to see the AI assistant I mentioned in action? Curious about how I automate so much of this process to turn youtube videos into reels & stories? Check out my YouTube Class. I’ll walk you through how I use AI tools to come up with content, drive traffic, and create consistent sales. Plus, you’ll learn how to get access to the custom GPT I use myself.

You don’t need to be constantly creating from scratch to grow. Your long form videos are a goldmine — and repurposing is how you tap into them!