YouTube Shorts offers something for everyone.

With 70 billion daily views as of October 2023, there’s a lot of activity on Shorts—but you have to be strategic to go viral.

What are YouTube Shorts?

YouTube Shorts launched in 2021. The feature helps creators reach new viewers quickly using their smartphone—without leaving YouTube. 

The short-form video content is similar to Instagram Reels and TikTok videos. Just like with any YouTube video, viewers can like, dislike, or share Shorts, which run up to 60 seconds. Audiences can even comment on your upload or subscribe to your channel while they’re watching.

Unlike Instagram Stories and Snapchat, YouTube Shorts are published for the long haul. Viewers can find your Shorts videos on YouTube via the search bar, the home screen, or simply by scrolling. 

Are YouTube Shorts easy to create?

All you need to create Shorts is your smartphone. The feature is designed for creators to shoot and share vertical video content right from their cell phone camera.

Just hit the record button, adjust the settings, and take it from there. Creators have the option to experiment with their recording speed, add filters and captions, and blend different clips into a single Shorts video. You can even add music to your YouTube Shorts. 

From auto reframing to brand templates, you can also use third-party tools to fine-tune your content. Otherwise, you can work directly on the YouTube app. Just follow these steps to create your first Shorts upload:

Log in to the YouTube app.

Tap the + button and select Create a Short.

Want to make your Short over 15 seconds? Tap 15 s in the upper-right corner to record up to 60 seconds.

Hold the Capture button to shoot a clip.

Tap Undo to remove the last clip you recorded or Redo to get it back.

Tap the X button to exit, or select Start over or Save as draft instead.

Tap Done to preview and edit your video.

Tap < to go back to the recording screen.

Tap NEXT to add a title and other details to your video.

From there, select your audience and privacy settings, and upload your Short.

Sharing short-form YouTube videos is that easy. Don’t forget to use filters, retouching, and transitions to make your Shorts come alive. 

Can I earn money from YouTube Shorts?

You may be wondering whether you can monetize your YouTube shorts—and the answer is a resounding yes. In early 2023, YouTube announced that Shorts creators can qualify for the site’s Partner Program.

To join the program, Shorts creators need at least:

• 10 million public Shorts views from the last 90 days

or

•  1,000 subscribers and 4,000 public Shorts watch hours from the last 12 months

Once you’re in, you can earn 45% of the ad revenue from all your YouTube Shorts videos. (Click Notify me when I’m eligible in your YouTube Studio dashboard, and you’ll receive an email once you qualify.) 

You can learn more about earning money by uploading YouTube Shorts here. 

What’s the best time to post YouTube Shorts?

Want your YouTube Shorts to go viral? Then you’re probably curious about the best time to post. 

Before we share our take, it’s important to consider variables like your target audience’s time zone and the type of content you put out. 

For instance, if you appeal mostly to working professionals, you may want to post Shorts during the workday. But if your content caters to viewers who want to relax, evenings or weekends may be a better option.

Now, there’s no rule about when to post YouTube Shorts. Yet experts recommend uploading between 2–4 p.m. on weekdays, or between 9–11 a.m. on weekends. And you may get a higher number of views on Mondays and Tuesdays, when people are more likely to be on their devices (after unplugging over the weekend).

But when it comes to YouTube Shorts, the algorithm is king. This means you’ll need to work it to your advantage in order to go viral. 

How does the YouTube Shorts algorithm work?

Understanding the algorithm will help you build your YouTube Shorts content.  

YouTube uses a number of “triggers” to decide whether videos appear on viewers’ feeds. These signals are the result of different metrics, including: 

• Whether people stop to view your Short

When a Short shows up on someone’s YouTube feed, that viewer can either continue watching or keep on scrolling. The breakdown of how many people watch your content instead of swiping away will factor into the algorithm. Translation: Shorts with a strong hook are more likely to go viral. 

• Total watch time

Your Shorts content’s total watch time will also play a key role in the algorithm. This is the total amount of time people engage with your Shorts. The longer someone spends watching your upload, the more they enjoy viewing it. This shows the YouTube algorithm that others may like it too.

• Audience retention

This metric shows which viewers stuck with your Short until the very end. The higher this number, the more your content will benefit from the powers that be (aka the YouTube algorithm).

Note that in your YouTube Studio dashboard, you can take a look at your audience retention percentage over time. This is a solid way to identify where viewers dropped off during your Short.  

• Watch history

The top-performing YouTube Shorts appeal to viewers’ interests, so make sure you give your audience what they want to see.  

This is where watch history metric comes in. The algorithm looks at the type of content users have interacted with in the past. If you don’t know where to start on YouTube Shorts, trending keywords or ideas can help you benefit from the algorithm.

• Posting frequency

You don’t need to go overboard, but most creators have better results on YouTube Shorts when they post consistently. Aim for a cadence of at least once a week for the highest chance of going viral. 

YouTube Shorts: tips to go viral

We’ve discussed the YouTube algorithm and how you can use it to your benefit. But when it comes to making your short-form content go viral, you need to stand out.

In other words, you need to give your audience the content they crave—and make it a cut above the rest. Your YouTube Shorts videos will be more likely to reach a wide viewership if you follow the tips below.

Create a hook

The first few seconds of your Shorts videos are critical. You only have a few moments to grab your audience’s attention, and your opening should reflect that.

To engage viewers (and keep them interested in what you have to say), say something intriguing or controversial. Add suspense, like Techranium did when he opened his Short with “Apple doesn’t want you to know about this secret.” Naturally, viewers wanted to know what, exactly, the creator was talking about. The video now has over 17 million views.

Add text overlays and captions

Not everyone can watch your YouTube Short with sound. To reach a wider audience, consider features like text overlays and captions.

A word of warning, though—your text overlays need to be aesthetically pleasing and easy to read. Don’t overlook this if you want your YouTube Shorts videos to succeed.

Thoughtfully edit your videos

You won’t go viral if you rush the editing process. Take the time to sync each Short to a catchy song, add captivating B-roll, or even use quick cuts to create tension.

Feel free to play around with special effects, but don’t overdo it. Every decision you make should feel intentional.

Think about what your audience wants

You may have created an amazing YouTube Short—but that doesn’t mean anything if no one watches it. Optimize your video based on what your audience is looking for.

For instance, use Google Keyword Planner to pinpoint strong keywords. From there, add them to your Shorts video titles and descriptions. This will help you narrow down on a specific theme and identify some popular hashtags that can help you go viral.

Include a powerful CTA

Don’t forget to inspire action at the end of your YouTube short. Think carefully about what you want viewers to do after they watch your video, and act accordingly.

Consider a call-to-action (CTA) like asking people to subscribe to your YouTube channel, visit your website, or follow you on Instagram. Be concise and creative, and take action as you work toward going viral.

Oh, and did we mention you need to shoot vertically? Short-form videos are meant to be viewed on mobile, so don’t make the mistake of recording your Shorts videos horizontally.

Conclusion

The great thing about YouTube Shorts is that it’s a seamless way to convert viewers into subscribers. And in 2024, it's creators' best chance at going viral. Short-form content can help take your YouTube channel to the next level—by way of digestible, engaging video contthat resonates with your target audience. OpusClip can help you navigate this by turning long videos into Shorts, and then publishing them to your YouTube channel in just one click.

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