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If you’re ready to turn one long-form YouTube video into multiple short-form viral clips with just a few clicks, this post is for you. In the final part of the Evergreen Content System series, I’m sharing a behind-the-scenes look at how I create short form clips from YouTube videos with Opus Clip. This process not only fills my social media calendar, but also drives long-term growth. I’ll walk you through how the platform works, how I personally edit clips, and how to use this strategy to grow your business organically across platforms.

Why I Use Opus Clip for Short-Form Video Creation

Let’s be honest—short-form video isn’t going anywhere. But consistently creating those clips from scratch every week can be time-consuming. That’s why I’ve been loving Opus Clip!

This tool lets you upload your YouTube video (or paste a live link), and within a few minutes, it auto-generates multiple short-form clips. Even better, it scores each one to show how likely it is to perform well. It’s super intuitive and takes a lot of the heavy lifting off your plate.

For anyone using YouTube as a core content platform, this is a game-changer. Instead of only reaching people on YouTube, you can repurpose that content and share it everywhere—Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and beyond.

Here’s the link to get started with Opus Clip!

A Step-by-Step Look Inside My Workflow

I’ll take you through exactly how I use Opus Clip, starting from when a video goes live. First, your YouTube video needs to be public (not unlisted or scheduled) if you want to paste the link. But you can also upload the file directly if you want to work ahead.

Once the video is in, click “Get Clips,” and it’ll do the rest. The clips it creates are editable, so you’re not locked into anything. I like to click through the first few and watch them back to decide which ones I’ll use!

Editing and Branding Your Clips

When editing, I always turn on closed captions. I have a custom caption template saved in my brand colors and font, so it’s automatically applied. I use a bright yellow to highlight spoken words and a dark background so the text pops. My font of choice is Rethink Sans!

One small but impactful thing I do is add a text hook at the top of the video for the first 7–8 seconds. Something like: “Why YouTube is the best organic platform for course creators.” This helps grab attention immediately, especially on platforms like Instagram reels where you need to hook someone quickly.

I prefer to keep the editing simple—clean captions, minimal B-roll, and short, punchy videos. But the tool gives you plenty of options if you want to get more advanced.

Using Short Clips to Drive YouTube Views

The main goal of these short clips is to drive more traffic back to the full YouTube video. I often add a call-to-action like “Comment ‘video’ below to get the link to the full video” in the caption or as on-screen text.

This strategy is not just about views—it’s about nurturing your audience. Long-form video is where I share more detailed insights and where viewers are more likely to convert into email subscribers or buyers. That’s why I focus on encouraging people to click over and watch the full version!

You can also use these clips to start conversations or connect with your audience in the DMs using tools like Manychat.

Keep It Simple and Consistent

One of the best parts of this system is that once your templates are saved, it becomes incredibly fast to produce high-quality content. Just upload, select your clips, adjust a few settings, and you’re done. I recommend saving your brand style as a default caption template to save time on every new video.

And remember, you don’t need to use every single clip the platform generates. Be intentional about which ones you choose and tailor them to your audience and platforms!

Ready to Try Opus Clip?

If you want to see how this works for yourself, I’ve linked Opus Clip here so you can try it out. Whether you’re a course creator, coach, or content marketer, this tool can seriously streamline your content repurposing workflow and keep your brand visible across multiple platforms. I hope you feel ready to create short form clips from YouTube videos with Opus Clip!

Final Thoughts

This wraps up the Evergreen Content System series. If you haven’t watched all the parts yet, now is the perfect time to go back to the playlist and dive in from the start. Each video is designed to help you simplify your content creation process and show up consistently online in a way that leads to real growth!

If this strategy helps you, or you have more questions about creating short-form video clips from long-form content, leave a comment below. I’d love to hear what you think and what else you’d like to learn!

Thanks for following along with this series—I’ll see you next Tuesday with even more content to help you grow your brand!