How to Turn Horizontal Video into Short Form Vertical Content

Why You Should Turn Horizontal Video into Short Form Vertical Content

The rise of mobile-first content has made it essential to turn horizontal video into short form vertical content. Platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts prioritize vertical formats that fill smartphone screens entirely, delivering a more immersive viewing experience. Over 75% of global video viewing is now mobile, and vertical videos outperform horizontal ones in both completion rates and engagement metrics (Statista).

Mobile-first viewing and the vertical revolution

People are consuming content on-the-go. Vertical video, designed to match how users naturally hold their phones, feels native and intuitive. Social media platforms are rewarding creators and brands who turn horizontal video into short form vertical content with higher reach and visibility.

Higher engagement and watch-through rates with vertical videos

Vertical content holds attention better. TikTok reports that vertical videos see a 40% higher watch-through rate than horizontal videos. To capitalize on this trend, turning horizontal video into short form vertical content ensures you stay competitive and relevant.

How Harloop puts your short form content in front of warm leads

Harloop leverages this trend by showcasing short form video directly on your home page. With customizable video carousels and AI-driven prioritization, Harloop lets you turn horizontal video into short form vertical content that appears front and center for engaged visitors, increasing conversion and page time (Harloop).

Tools to Turn Horizontal Video into Short Form Vertical Content

The process is easier than ever with today’s software and AI tools.

Editing with tools like CapCut, Adobe Premiere, or Final Cut Pro

You can manually crop and adjust footage in editing suites to transform horizontal videos into vertical masterpieces. CapCut offers mobile editing capabilities, while Adobe Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro allow more professional control over framing, transitions, and effects.

AI-assisted cropping and resizing

Smart tools like Adobe Sensei and Descript use machine learning to auto-detect focal points and crop around them, speeding up how you turn horizontal video into short form vertical content.

Repurposing horizontal footage into vertical storytelling formats

Instead of filming new content, you can repurpose existing horizontal assets. Creative use of split screens, zoom-ins, and motion graphics can turn any footage into a compelling short form vertical story.

Step-by-Step Guide to Turn Horizontal Video into Short Form Vertical Content

Choose moments with high engagement potential

Identify sections of your video where people are likely to engage, laugh, react, or feel compelled to share. These become the core moments of your vertical short.

Crop or split-screen for vertical dimensions (9:16)

Use the 9:16 aspect ratio, standard for vertical content. If the subject isn't centered in the horizontal video, reframe to keep attention on them.

Add captions, effects, and CTA overlays for mobile users

80% of social video is watched without sound (Verizon Media). Add captions, visual emphasis, and clear CTAs to drive viewer actions.

Best Practices When You Turn Horizontal Video into Short Form Vertical Content

Keep it under 60 seconds for max retention

Viewers have short attention spans. Most platforms limit videos to 60 or 90 seconds, but even shorter can be better.

Hook viewers in the first 3 seconds

Use bold visuals, quick motion, and curiosity-driven captions to grab attention fast. Those first seconds determine if the viewer will scroll or stay.

Ensure audio-optional viewing with subtitles

Don’t assume viewers have sound on. Clear subtitles are not only inclusive but also boost retention.

Showcase Your Short Form Vertical Content to Warm Leads Using Harloop

Embed vertical content directly on your storefront

Harloop integrates video into your homepage, allowing vertical content to become part of the buyer’s journey. Instead of burying great video content on social, bring it forward.

Highlight best-performing clips for returning visitors

Harloop’s analytics show what clips drive engagement. Use that data to surface those clips more often and make repeat visits more meaningful.

Use Harloop’s AI to prioritize content based on user behavior

Harloop analyzes 24 user data points and tailors which videos display first. This personalization turns short form vertical content into a lead-nurturing tool.

Brands That Successfully Turn Horizontal Video into Short Form Vertical Content

Real-world examples of repurposing content

Brands like Red Bull, Sephora, and Gymshark regularly transform long-form YouTube or TV-style content into vertical videos for social platforms. Their strategy? Focus on action, emotion, or transformation.

Benefits seen in engagement and conversions

Sephora’s vertical tutorials receive 2-3x more engagement on Instagram than their traditional landscape ads. Red Bull’s high-energy moments clipped into Shorts often outperform their full-length versions.

Leveraging Harloop to capture more from your existing traffic

Harloop customers report increased time on site, improved SEO metrics, and higher conversion rates by embedding short form vertical content on their main product pages.

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Book a demo with Harloop to see how you can put your short form vertical content in front of your warmest leads and maximize conversions with smart, front-page video displays. Get started now.