YouTube Shorts for Beginners: How to Start with Just a Text Prompt

YouTube Shorts is an incredible opportunity for beginners to break into video content creation without the need for costly equipment or on-camera appearances. Thanks to advancements in AI video apps, it’s now possible to create engaging, professional-looking Shorts with just a text prompt. This quick-start guide will walk you through using an AI-powered YouTube Shorts maker tool to create videos that feature automated scripts, scenes, voiceovers, and more—all without ever having to show your face.

Whether you’re an aspiring faceless YouTuber or a small business looking to connect with audiences, this guide will help you leverage AI video apps to create compelling content quickly and easily.

Why YouTube Shorts?

Before diving into the “how-to,” let’s look at why YouTube Shorts is such a valuable platform for content creators, especially beginners.

1. Wide Reach: YouTube Shorts has its own dedicated space on YouTube, allowing creators to reach millions of viewers.
2. High Engagement: With their quick, snackable format, Shorts keep viewers engaged and more likely to interact with content.
3. Easy Growth for New Creators: Because YouTube Shorts are short and fast-paced, they’re more likely to appear on YouTube’s home page, helping new creators grow their audience faster.

With the right tools, even beginners can jump into this fast-growing platform and start creating videos that capture audience attention.

How to Get Started with a YouTube Shorts Maker

Creating a YouTube short from scratch might sound challenging, but an AI-powered Shorts maker can simplify the process. Here’s how to start with just a text prompt:

Step 1: Choose a YouTube shorts maker

YouTube shorts maker tools like Pictory, Lumen5, and Invideo AI offer beginner-friendly interfaces and powerful features that generate scenes, scripts, and voiceovers. Here’s a quick overview of these popular tools:

• Pictory: Known for its user-friendly AI capabilities, Pictory transforms text prompts into full videos, complete with voiceovers, transitions, and subtitle options.
• Lumen5: Ideal for repurposing blog content into video format, Lumen5 provides automated visuals and voice options, great for faceless content.
• Invideo AI: With a large template library and AI-driven features, InVideo helps you craft compelling visuals and animations.

Choose a tool that fits your needs and budget (most offer free versions) and sign up to get started.

Step 2: Create Your Text Prompt

The beauty of YouTube Shorts Maker is that you don’t need a detailed script to get started—a simple text prompt will do! This prompt can be as basic as a sentence describing the video’s purpose, such as:

• “Top 5 benefits of drinking green tea”
• “How to stay productive while working from home”
• “Quick skincare routine for glowing skin”

For beginners, keep the prompt clear and focused. The AI will analyze this text and generate an outline for your video based on it.

Step 3: AI-Generated Script and Scene Selection

Once you input your prompt, the YouTube shorts maker will create a script and suggest scenes based on the content of your prompt. Here’s how this process typically works:

1. Script Generation: The app will turn your prompt into a detailed script. For instance, a prompt about green tea benefits might result in a script listing each benefit in short, engaging sentences.
2. Scene Selection: Using your script, the app will break down the content into separate scenes. Each scene is designed to present one part of the message, making it easy to keep viewers engaged.

Many AI video apps also allow you to edit the script and choose from different scene layouts, so you can tailor the video to your style and needs.

Step 4: Add Automated Voiceovers

One of the standout features for faceless YouTubers is the ability to add voiceovers without recording anything yourself. AI video apps offer a range of automated voice options that sound professional and engaging. Here’s how to use this feature:

• Select Voice Style: Choose from different voice styles—such as male, female, and various accents—to match your brand’s tone.
• Adjust Voice Speed: Most apps let you adjust the speed of the voiceover to ensure it syncs well with your visuals.
• Preview the Voiceover: Listen to a sample of the AI-generated voiceover. If needed, tweak the script or voice selection until it sounds right.

These AI-generated voiceovers make it easy to create professional, engaging content while remaining off-camera.

Step 5: Customize Visuals, Animations, and Text Overlays

With scenes and voiceovers in place, it’s time to add visuals and animations to make your video stand out. AI video apps make this process simple by offering pre-made templates and stock visuals. Here’s how to customize your visuals:

• Choose Visuals from a Library: Many AI video apps have a library of free stock images and videos, or you can upload your own images.
• Add Text Overlays: Use text overlays to emphasize key points. Choose from various fonts, colors, and styles to match your branding.
• Incorporate Animations and Transitions: Smooth transitions and subtle animations make your video more dynamic. AI apps often include options to fade, zoom, or slide between scenes.

For example, if you’re creating a “Top 5 Tips” video, you can use animations to introduce each tip and make it visually appealing.

Step 6: Preview and Adjust Your Video

After customizing the visuals and adding a voiceover, preview your video. This is your chance to make final adjustments:

• Adjust Timing: Ensure each scene flows well and is visible long enough for viewers to read or understand the content.
• Modify Text or Voiceover: If something doesn’t sound right or a scene feels too quick, use the editing tools to make adjustments.
• Add Background Music: Many AI video apps offer a selection of free music tracks. Choose one that matches the tone of your video.

Once satisfied, save and export your video in the appropriate format for YouTube Shorts, usually in vertical format (9:16 aspect ratio) and less than 60 seconds in length.

Tips for Creating Engaging YouTube Shorts as a Faceless YouTuber

Creating high-quality faceless content takes a few additional techniques to keep viewers engaged. Here are some tips to make your YouTube Shorts stand out:

1. Keep It Simple: Shorts are meant to be quick and to the point. Stick to one main idea per video to maximize clarity and impact.
2. Use Captions: Adding captions helps viewers understand the video even if they’re watching without sound. Many AI video apps have auto-captioning features.
3. Add Call-to-Actions (CTAs): Encourage viewers to like, share, or subscribe at the end of your video, helping boost your visibility.
4. Optimize with Keywords: Use relevant keywords in your title, description, and tags to increase discoverability. Phrases like “faceless YouTubers” and “AI video app” can attract the right audience.

Monetizing Your YouTube Shorts

Once you’ve created a few videos and established a following, consider ways to monetize your YouTube Shorts:

• Affiliate Marketing: Use Shorts to recommend products with affiliate links. For example, if your Shorts focus on skincare, add links to products in your video description.
• Brand Partnerships: Brands may reach out for sponsored content once you’ve gained some traction. Highlight their products or services in your Shorts.
• YouTube Shorts Fund: YouTube has introduced a Shorts Fund, where eligible creators can earn bonuses based on their Shorts’ performance.

By creating consistent, high-quality content, you’ll build a following that opens up various monetization opportunities on YouTube.

Recommended AI Video Apps for YouTube Shorts

1. Pictory: User-friendly with a strong emphasis on converting text into engaging visuals and voiceovers.
2. Lumen5: Excellent for converting blog posts or written content into video format, ideal for educational Shorts.
3. InVideo: Offers a wide range of templates, stock visuals, and customization features for creating polished, branded content.

These apps simplify video creation, making it accessible to anyone, even with no video editing experience.

Final Thoughts

YouTube Shorts is a fantastic way for beginners to jump into video content creation, and with AI video apps, you can produce professional, engaging videos using just a text prompt. For faceless YouTubers, this technology offers a unique advantage—creating high-quality content without ever appearing on camera. By following these steps and leveraging the tools available, you’ll be able to build an engaging YouTube Shorts presence, grow your audience, and open up monetization opportunities.

So go ahead, start creating your first Short with just a text prompt, and see where this exciting journey into video content can take you!