short-form-converter

name	short-form-converter
description	Convert long-form videos into short-form content for TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and Instagram Reels. Identifies viral moments, creates hooks, and adapts scripts for vertical format. Use when repurposing videos, creating Shorts from long videos, or planning multi-platform content.

Short-Form Converter

Transform long-form content into viral short-form clips.

Short-Form Platform Specs

Platform	Max Length	Optimal	Aspect Ratio	Audio
TikTok	10 min	15-60 sec	9:16	Critical
YouTube Shorts	60 sec	30-45 sec	9:16	Important
Instagram Reels	90 sec	15-30 sec	9:16	Critical
Facebook Reels	60 sec	15-30 sec	9:16	Important

Viral Moment Identification

What Makes a Clip Viral-Worthy?

✅ STRONG VIRAL INDICATORS:
1. Emotional peak - Surprise, shock, joy, anger
2. Unexpected twist - Plot reversal, revelation
3. Valuable insight - "Aha moment", key takeaway
4. Relatable moment - "This is so me" content
5. Controversial take - Debate-starting opinion
6. Satisfying conclusion - Before/after, completion
7. Funny moment - Genuine humor, reaction

❌ WEAK CLIP MATERIAL:
- Long setup without payoff
- Inside jokes requiring context
- Technical explanations without visual
- Slow-paced segments
- Content requiring full video context

Clip Selection Process

STEP 1: Timestamp key moments from long video
- Mark ALL emotional peaks
- Note all "quotable" statements
- Identify visual highlights
- Flag unexpected moments

STEP 2: Score each moment (1-10)
- Hook potential: Does it grab in 1 second?
- Standalone value: Makes sense without context?
- Engagement likelihood: Will people comment/share?
- Platform fit: Right vibe for TikTok/Shorts/Reels?

STEP 3: Select top 3-5 moments for clips
- Prioritize variety (don't all same type)
- Ensure each has different hook angle

Conversion Formulas

Long Tutorial → Short Tutorial

ORIGINAL (10 min):
- 2 min intro
- 6 min walkthrough
- 2 min conclusion

SHORT VERSION (45 sec):
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
0:00-0:03 | HOOK: "The [result] trick nobody knows"
0:03-0:08 | CONTEXT: "When you need to [problem]..."
0:08-0:40 | CORE STEPS: Just the 3 most important steps
0:40-0:45 | CTA: "Follow for more [topic]"
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
CUT: All intro fluff, slow explanations, tangents
KEEP: Core value, best tips, before/after

Long Review → Short Verdict

ORIGINAL (15 min):
- Unboxing, specs, testing, pros, cons, verdict

SHORT VERSION (30-45 sec):
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
0:00-0:03 | HOOK: "Is [Product] worth it?"
0:03-0:10 | QUICK CONTEXT: Price, who it's for
0:10-0:25 | TOP 3 POINTS: Best feature, worst flaw, comparison
0:25-0:35 | VERDICT: "Buy it if... Skip if..."
0:35-0:40 | CTA: "Full review linked"
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

Long Story → Short Teaser

ORIGINAL (20 min vlog):
- Full story with buildup, climax, resolution

SHORT VERSION (30-60 sec):
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
0:00-0:03 | HOOK: Climax moment or dramatic statement
0:03-0:10 | REWIND: "Let me explain how I got here..."
0:10-0:35 | CONDENSED JOURNEY: Key beats only
0:35-0:45 | CLIFFHANGER: Stop before full resolution
0:45-0:50 | CTA: "Part 2?" or "Full video for ending"
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

Long Interview → Clip Gold

IDENTIFY:
- Hot takes / Controversial opinions
- Personal revelations
- Quotable wisdom
- Emotional moments
- Surprising facts

FORMAT:
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
0:00-0:02 | HOOK: The most shocking quote
0:02-0:05 | CONTEXT: "When asked about [topic]..."
0:05-0:40 | THE CLIP: Let it play with captions
0:40-0:45 | REACTION/CTA: Your take or "thoughts?"
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

Output Format

═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
SHORT-FORM CONVERSION PLAN
Original Video: [Title]
Original Length: [X:XX]
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

📋 IDENTIFIED VIRAL MOMENTS:
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
1. [Timestamp] - "[Quote/Description]" - Viral Score: X/10
2. [Timestamp] - "[Quote/Description]" - Viral Score: X/10
3. [Timestamp] - "[Quote/Description]" - Viral Score: X/10
4. [Timestamp] - "[Quote/Description]" - Viral Score: X/10
5. [Timestamp] - "[Quote/Description]" - Viral Score: X/10

🎬 CLIP 1: [Clip Title]
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Source: [Start] - [End] from original
Target Length: [XX seconds]
Best For: [TikTok/Shorts/Reels]

SCRIPT:
[0:00-0:03] HOOK:
"[Opening line]"
Text on screen: "[TEXT]"

[0:03-0:XX] CONTENT:
[Scene/dialogue description]
Caption style: [Auto-captions/Custom]

[0:XX-0:XX] CTA:
"[Closing line]"
Text: "[CTA text]"

EDIT NOTES:
- Music: [Trending sound suggestion or original audio]
- Captions: [Style - bold, animated, etc.]
- Transitions: [Cut type suggestions]
- Speed: [Normal/Speed up sections]

POSTING STRATEGY:
- Platform priority: [TikTok → Shorts → Reels]
- Best posting time: [Based on content type]
- Hashtags: #tag1 #tag2 #tag3

🎬 CLIP 2: [Clip Title]
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
[Same format...]

🎬 CLIP 3: [Clip Title]
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
[Same format...]

📅 RELEASE SCHEDULE:
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Day 1: Clip 1 (TikTok + Shorts)
Day 3: Clip 2 (TikTok + Reels)
Day 5: Clip 3 (All platforms)
Day 7: Compilation/Best of (if clips perform well)

💡 CROSS-PROMOTION:
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
- Link full video in bio
- Pin comment with full video link
- Add "Full video" text at end
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

How to Use

From Video File

Convert this video to short-form clips:
Video: [Title/description]
Length: [X minutes]
Key moments: [If you know them]
Target platform: [TikTok/Shorts/Reels/All]

From Transcript

Here's my video transcript. Identify the best clips:
[Paste transcript]

Looking for: [X] clips of [30-60] seconds

From Topic/Script

I'm making a [length] video about [topic].
Help me plan short-form clips in advance.
Key points I'll cover: [list]

Platform-Specific Adaptations

TikTok Optimization

- Trending sounds matter A LOT
- Fast pacing (cut every 2-3 seconds)
- Text-heavy (assume sound off)
- Casual, authentic vibe
- Strong community engagement (duets, replies)
- Hashtags: Mix trending + niche

YouTube Shorts Optimization

- Can be more polished than TikTok
- Original audio often works better
- Clear value proposition
- Works well with educational content
- Less sound-dependent than TikTok
- #Shorts hashtag helps discovery

Instagram Reels Optimization

- Slightly more curated aesthetic
- Trending audio helps but less critical
- Strong visual composition
- Carousel-style content works
- Story crosspost strategy
- Hashtags in caption, not on video

Editing Tips for Conversion

✅ DO:
- Add captions (85% watch muted)
- Use jump cuts to remove dead space
- Add b-roll or visual variety
- Include text overlays for key points
- Match platform's native style
- Trim the fat ruthlessly

❌ DON'T:
- Just crop and post (feels lazy)
- Keep long pauses/transitions
- Use horizontal clips (except split-screen)
- Ignore platform-specific features
- Post same exact clip everywhere
- Forget the CTA

Short-Form Checklist

Before posting each clip:

• Hook in first 1-2 seconds
• Captions/text added
• Vertical format (9:16)
• No dead space/pauses
• Clear CTA at end
• Relevant hashtags
• Thumbnail/cover selected (if applicable)
• Links in bio updated
• Platform-optimized (native features used)