Why do some YouTube Shorts go viral while others don’t? If you break it down by what makes a good video, the best ones always have the following:

Emotional transfer (happy, funny, moving, etc.)

In this post, we’ll focus on the most critical part — creating a strong concept for your video. So if you want more views this year, here are nine YouTube Shorts ideas to go viral!

YouTube Shorts may be brief, but there’s more than enough time to squeeze in a tutorial. That could be anything you’re good at, such as DIY projects, art, tech repair, or another topic related to your niche. Just make it brief and informative!

If you need some inspiration, here’s a skin-retouching tutorial from 

. It’s pretty short, but you get a step-by-step guide on improving anyone’s skin in Adobe Photoshop. Plus, the tutorial also has more than 5 million views!

Of all the viral YouTube Shorts ideas, life hacks may be one of the best. After all, everyone loves a shortcut to achieving their goals!

There are two ways to execute this idea on YouTube. You could react to a life hack that’s already trending, or you could film yourself attempting the hack in a brand new video. Either path could lead to a viral moment if the topic flows with your niche.

Before and after videos have a strong appeal on YouTube. They're just 

 in a way that most videos will never be, especially when something goes from dirty to clean or from boring to beautiful.

With these videos, just make sure the “after” looks better than the “before.” The gap between those states is what creates the “wow” factor.

Quick tips are like tutorials, except you have more space to play around with the format. You don’t have to go step-by-step, but you can find creative ways to break complex topics into bite-sized pieces of information.

 posted a Short about answering tricky interview questions. Instead of showing a list of tips, this creator mimicked an actual job interview! There are also captions to help people memorize what they’re learning.

Have you noticed any myths within your YouTube community? What about common mistakes people always make?

If so, set the record straight in a short, punchy video. Your findings may shock viewers so much that they 

 has a video about mistakes people never catch in popular movies. It has over 7 million views!

Motivational content works best for people chasing popular goals, such as getting in shape, staying healthy, or adopting the right mindset. They're extremely hard to accomplish, so a little motivation goes a long way.

You can make a difference by sharing a goal you achieved over time. Show a time-lapse of your progress, or find creative ways to break down your journey and get people inspired!

 has a great example of this, where she documented her full-body transformation in exchange for 

 disappoints? You can’t go wrong with fun facts!

For this idea, you’ll expose hidden truths that appeal to a curious audience (which includes most viewers). Combine that with 

, and you’ll go viral while entertaining millions of people.

But that’s just one side of the coin. Some facts can simply be relatable (not rare) and still get millions of views.

 posted a Short about actors who do the same thing in every movie. It has over 29 million views!

We have good news! You don’t have to post long videos on YouTube to start getting discovered. Many people create short, viral, unboxing videos, proving anyone can transform the idea for YouTube Shorts.

, for example. This creator posted an iPhone XR unboxing with more than 6 million views. Not bad for one YouTube Short!

If you have popular long-form videos, why not turn those into YouTube Shorts? You can see the 

 of a video now, making it easier to spot popular chapters that could go viral.

The most popular segment of a YouTube video versus the least popular

Once you find that special clip, it’s just a matter of “dressing it up.” Add music, captions, and special effects, then give it a title people can’t ignore. All of this helps you go viral on YouTube!

Need more guidance? Here's a video explaining all nine of the Shorts ideas we mentioned above.

Now that you have some video ideas, it’s time for the next step: 

A smartphone screen showing the YouTube Shorts logo

Need some video ideas for your YouTube Shorts? Here are 9 ideas that will help you go viral!

9 Video Ideas to Go Viral with YouTube Shorts

Are you a small creator looking to grow your YouTube channel? If so, you'll want to know about a recent update that could help you out.

As of August 18, the YouTube algorithm will consider recent long-form videos when recommending content to YouTube Shorts viewers. So instead of Shorts having no relationship with long-form videos, you could potentially use shorter videos to get views on longer YouTube content.

For example, let's say a viewer watches one of your Shorts with a whopping 50,000 views. Instead of that viewer never exploring your channel, YouTube will notice that they watched one of your Shorts and potentially recommend a longer video for them to watch (from your channel).

Todd Beaupré, director of discovery at YouTube, announced the algorithm update on Twitter.

"At VidCon, I spoke about YouTube building a bridge to better connect Shorts to long-form discovery. Today, the first lane on that bridge opened. Recommendations now consider recent long-form videos from channels the viewer watches in Shorts."

In the past, Shorts and long-form videos were less connected. They had different watch histories, which meant viewers watching Shorts wouldn't be recommended long-form videos from the same creator.

Why Some YouTube Shorts Don't Attract Long-Form Viewers [Algorithm Update]

But now that the algorithm has changed, how will the update affect your channel?

1. You Can Use YouTube Shorts to Promote Long-Form Videos

For months, creators complained that their viral Shorts had no positive effect on long-form videos. They were no additional views, no extra subscribers, and no channel growth overall. If there was a boost, it was minuscule.

With the latest update, you could potentially use Shorts to drive views to your long-form videos — a valuable gift to small creators.

2. You Can Post YouTube Shorts and Long-Form Videos on the Same Channel

The traditional advice around Shorts was to keep them off your main channel. The general thinking was:

Most Shorts viewers aren't interested in long videos.

Views from Shorts don't seem to boost views on long-form content.

As a result, many creators made Shorts-only channels.

But the rules are changing. Shorts can send traffic to long-form videos, so putting both content types on the same channel makes sense.

Plus, you might benefit from doing so in the long run. According to Beaupré, YouTube plans to add a Shorts tab to all channels and help advertise those videos.

 have Shorts and longs on the same channel? There is one exception.

"The principle to follow is: Same audience? Same channel. Different audience? Different channel. So, it depends on your goals. Some creators (including MrBeast) made a separate channel to experiment with Shorts but are now uploading Shorts on their primary channel," Beaupré says.

So if you're trying to reach a completely different audience with your Shorts, it's best to make a separate channel for that content.

Here's how to grow a successful YouTube Shorts channel.

Thanks to an algorithm update, YouTube Shorts can help you get views on long-form videos.

YouTube Will Recommend Long-Form Videos to Shorts Viewers [Algorithm Update]

Imagine this. You're at home relaxing when an idea pops into your head. You envision a video — a 

 to be exact — filled with action, comedy, and a trending song everybody loves. As far as you know, the idea is 100% original.

 go viral, there's a good chance those viewers will watch some of the longer videos on your channel — not just the quick, addictive Shorts.

Intrigued, you spend hours bringing the idea to life, from scripting to filming to editing. And just as you predicted, the Short gets thousands of views in no time. 

But there's just one problem. None of the "Shorts" viewers decided to watch your long-form videos, which is slightly baffling. Normally, a viewer who watches something on one channel gets recommended another video from the same channel.

YouTube Shorts vs. Longs: Two Different Watch Histories

If you're wondering why YouTube Shorts views never make their way to your regular videos, it's because the YouTube algorithm has changed.

Todd Beaupré, director of discovery at YouTube, explained the update during a 

 at VidCon this year. Apparently, the algorithm was updated because it had problems recommending content to people watching Shorts.

"When the algorithm saw a viewer, [it said], 'Oh, look, the last 200 videos this viewer watched were all under a minute. This viewer only wants to watch short videos.' And so it basically stopped recommending those viewers long-form content," Beaupré says.

To fix the problem, YouTube separated the watch history of YouTube Shorts from long-form videos. That allowed the algorithm to look at both content types as entities that 

 compete with each other. So instead of someone watching 200 Shorts and getting recommended nothing 

 Shorts, long-form videos were suggested again.

the algorithm won't consider any watch history from YouTube Shorts when recommending a channel's long-form content.

"When a viewer goes into the main [side of] YouTube, we're not going to pay attention to what Shorts they watch because we don't want the algorithm to get the wrong idea," Beaupré says.

Need more details? Watch the video below to learn more about the algorithm update.

What This Means for Long-Form YouTube Videos

We know this update is disappointing for creators. In some ways, YouTube is ignoring your best Shorts so they don't "boost" your long-form content.

That doesn't mean your longer videos will 

 get recommended, though. It just means there are no more shortcuts. You can't ride the wave of a viral YouTube Short and expect your channel to get new visitors now. These days, your long-form videos need to be outstanding in their own right. They should entice viewers, satisfy their need for entertainment, and make them return to watch more videos.

Once you do that, YouTube will serve those videos to the right audience.

In the meantime, here are six things the YouTube algorithm likes to see on creators' videos.

A recent update to the YouTube algorithm makes it harder to use YouTube Shorts to gain long-form viewers. Here's why the change was necessary.

We know you’re focused on growing a regular YouTube channel, but what about a Shorts-only channel? So far, Shorts creators are attracting millions of subscribers. And, they’re going viral with less than 60 seconds of content.

How This YouTube Creator Got 1.5 Billion Views In Just 80 Days

 about how he gained a million subscribers on his Minecraft Shorts channel. His recipe for success is simple: Commit to a content style that’s working, and never give up.

Of course, there’s more to the story. Here are seven practical tips to grow a YouTube Shorts channel.

1. Determine How Long Your Shorts Need to Be

A YouTube Short can be a maximum of 60 seconds, or 59 if you count the extra second YouTube adds to every video. But that doesn’t mean you should use the full minute. If you can 

Below, notice how most videos on Block Facts' channel are 27 seconds. He tells viewers what they need to know in that short period, and it's working for him.

Answer these two questions to make your Shorts the right length:

Did I make my point or should I keep going?

Is there any “dead air” I can cut or eliminate?

2. Make Valuable Shorts That Entertain or Inform

You can create a variety of content with YouTube Shorts. Some people dance to music, play with pets, or produce funny skits. Others share their expertise by showing viewers how to do something in less than 60 seconds.

make sure the video is valuable for the viewer.

YouTube Success: 3 Steps to Create Valuable, Highly-Watched Videos

Block Facts uses this strategy for every Short, and the video below is a great example. In it, he shares facts about furnaces in Minecraft, which is useful information for those who play the game. The video has more than 2 million views.

3. Create Custom Thumbnails for Your Shorts

If you’re familiar with how Shorts work, we know what you might be thinking: “If viewers are watching from the Shorts shelf – a display area that plays vertical videos non-stop – 

why should I create thumbnails for Shorts?

 They don't show up in that area anyway.”

That’s true. But did you know that Shorts are also watched as regular YouTube videos? You can view them on a normal watch page, which has advertisements and a comment section. Before someone watches a Short in that area, 

If it’s not a custom one, YouTube shows a random video frame, which makes for a lousy graphic. That’s why more creators are making custom thumbnails for Shorts.

 started doing that as well,” Block Facts says. “He makes custom thumbnails for people [watching] on PC. They’re vertical but don’t actually appear in the video. I’ve tried to incorporate my thumbnail into the video so the one on the Shorts shelf is similar, but it’s always slightly different.”

Have you noticed the more prominent areas of the YouTube Shorts player? There’s the video, of course, which fills the entire screen. Then there’s the video title, the channel’s name, a subscribe button, like and dislike buttons, a comment icon, and a share icon.

 A viewer doesn’t know what’s going to happen in the next 60 seconds of a Short, but they will if they read the title. 

The video below is titled "Minecraft Salmon Facts." Click the play button to see if this Block Facts video is consistent with its headline.

What did you discover? We spotted several facts: how salmon used to look in Minecraft, the amount of health they restored, where to find salmon in the game, and more. The video's title lives up to the hype.

To get more views on every Short, make your titles interesting 

5. Use YouTube Stories to Increase Shorts Views

Here’s a hack anyone can use to promote their YouTube Shorts channel. Instead of posting a Short and hoping for the best, create some YouTube Stories that “highlight” your best Shorts.

“Stories helped a lot,” Block Facts says. “Every time I posted a Story, it tripled or even quadrupled the amount of subscribers for that day.”

Block Facts did two things to create such results. He asked people to

 about their favorite Minecraft block. He says the extra engagement may have pushed his content to new levels within the YouTube algorithm.

6. Don’t Post Long-Form Content on Your Shorts Channel

This probably goes without saying, but lengthy videos will underperform on a Shorts channel. Viewers originally subscribed for brief entertainment – videos that play within the same time you'd microwave a cookie. 

 so viewers are satisfied and in the mood to subscribe.

This tip isn’t just for Shorts. Whether you’re posting long-form videos, 

 polls, or YouTube Stories, one piece of content won’t help you gain millions of subscribers. You must be consistent and 

 That doesn’t mean you need to upload daily, but it’s smart to have some kind of schedule. 

 depends on the type of Shorts – or overall content – you want to make.

Also, don’t forget about style consistency. Having a recognizable format and appearance for your content helps viewers remember your work.

Want more YouTube Shorts tips? Here's a quick guide to 

Are you growing a YouTube Shorts Channel? Here are seven tips to help you out.

How to Grow a YouTube Shorts Channel

 These TikTok-style clips have helped creators go viral with billions of global views. Animator 

, for example, earned more than 5 billion views while creating video game Shorts. He reached that milestone in less than a year.

Do This One Thing to Increase YouTube Shorts Views

Views aside, YouTube is monetizing Shorts; that’s another reason to learn how to make brief, vertical videos. The platform announced a $100 million fund to pay top creators through 2022. The fund hasn’t launched yet, but YouTube already has a process for selecting recipients.

“Starting later this year, we'll reach out to thousands of creators every month whose Shorts received the most engagement and views and reward them for their contributions,” Jenson of TeamYouTube wrote in a 

. Anyone who creates unique Shorts is eligible to participate in the fund.”

With the fund launching “later this year,” you still have time to learn how to make Shorts and possibly earn some money. Watch the video below for a visual guide:

Need a written version you can bookmark for later?

Use this glossary to navigate our written guide.

Open the YouTube mobile app and look for the plus button at the bottom of the homepage. If you have access to Shorts beta, you’ll see an option to “create a Short.”

By default, you can record for 15 seconds using the Shorts camera. Tap the “15” above the record button to 

To the left of the record button, tap the square button outlined in white. This allows you to 

 roll rather than record something new. The next thing you’ll see is a video editor, which allows you to trim the recording. Clicking “next” at the top right corner of the screen takes you to the fun editing tools – motion controls and special effects you’ve probably seen on TikTok.

What to Do If You Don’t Have Shorts Beta

You don’t need Shorts beta to upload a Short, but you 

 need it to access Shorts editing features. Right now, the beta version is available to creators in the U.S. and India. If you’re outside of those regions, you can still post a Short by 

making a vertical video under 60 seconds.

 Post it the way you would a normal YouTube video, and the platform will automatically recognize it as a Short.

There are three features that make Shorts super easy to record:

As you record, you’ll see these options along the right side of the screen.

 is at the top, and it’s exactly what it sounds like. Use this option to switch from your phone’s front-facing camera to the back camera, and vice versa.

You can record a fast-moving or slow-motion video using the 

. Tap the speedometer for a menu of options ranging from 0.3x to 3x, with 0.3x being the slowest and 3x being the fastest. Keep in mind that 0.3x doesn’t create a smooth, slow-motion video. The graphics are a little choppy and somewhat blurred.

 is an amazing feature for recording brief videos. It’s the last option and looks like a standard clock. Tap that icon to set a recording duration (the maximum is 15 seconds). You can also set a timer that counts down the seconds before recording. You can choose between a three, 10, and 20-second countdown.

Starting and Stopping the Recorder: Two Methods

When you’re ready to make a Short, you have two options for stopping and starting the video. 

 is tapping the red button to start, and then tapping the stop button when you’re done. 

, press and hold the record button, and then release it to finish the recording.

You can record as many scenes as you’d like, as long as they’re a maximum of 60 seconds combined.

Each scene is marked by a white bar on the video timeline (at the top of the screen). If you make a mistake, tap the backward arrow in the bottom left corner to remove a scene. Likewise, you can tap the forward arrow in the bottom right corner to re-add a scene you’ve deleted.

The best part of creating Shorts is the TikTok/Instagram appeal of adding music. YouTube has partnered with music labels to make sure popular songs can be used in short videos. As a creator, you won’t get a copyright claim or strike for using music in your content, especially if you’re adding songs via Shorts beta.

The text feature is a nice add-on; it helps viewers quickly understand jokes, memes, or the educational value of a Short.

These 5 YouTube Shorts Upgrades Will Help You Make Better Content

How to Add Music to a Short Before You Record

Tap the plus icon on the homepage of the YouTube app (near the bottom of the screen).

Use the search bar to find and browse music tracks. On the right side of the screen, you can “favorite” tracks to save for later.

When you find the right track, tap it once to hear a preview. Then tap the blue button with a black arrow to add the music to your Short.

YouTube will take you back to the record screen. Press the red button to start recording, and the music will play as you film. You can dance to the beat of the track or do something entirely different. It’s up to you!

How to Add Music to a Short After You Record

Record your Short and advance to the next screen. Tap 

Use the search bar once again to find, browse, and preview music. Tap the blue button with a black arrow to add the track to your Short.

The music won’t sync perfectly, so you’ll have to do some editing. Tap 

 at the bottom of the screen to choose the exact portion of the song you need. Then you can slide the entire track to the right position, making it sync with your movements or other action in the video.

Have you used Instagram or YouTube Stories? The text controls for Shorts work the same way:

Use your mobile keyboard to type a short message.

Change the color of your text or its highlighted background using the color palette above your keyboard.

Change the font of your text at the top center of the screen.

 in the top left corner. To the left of that, tap the paragraph icon to switch between centered or justified text.

Use the slider on the left side of the screen to shrink or expand the text.

Take a look at the screenshot below to see where all the text controls are:

When you’re finished adding music and text to your Short, click 

 in the top right corner of the screen. The next thing you’ll see is the video details screen. Here, you have three tasks to complete:

Set the video’s visibility to public, unlisted, or private.

 Anyone can search for the video and view it.

 Anyone with the link can view the video.

 Only people you choose can view the video.

Schedule your video to publish in the future, if desired.

You can’t add a video thumbnail, tags, or description at this stage, so make your title count.

Also, consider adding #Shorts to the end of your title. That’s what YouTube recommends, and it might make your Shorts more visible on YouTube.

Adding a Video Description and Tags to Your Short

As of now, you have to add video descriptions and tags after a Short is uploaded. Here’s how to do that:

 in the bottom right corner of the screen.

Find the video you want to edit and tap the three dots beside it. On the menu that appears, select 

On the next screen, you can add a description and tags.

Thumbnails are a bit tricky. You need to use a desktop computer or the YouTube Studio app to add thumbnails to your Shorts.

Creating a Short is a process all its own. The next thing to focus on is views. The number of people who watch your Shorts will depend on how entertaining and attractive they are; here are four methods to help you win at those things.

4 Tips to Grow Your Channel With YouTube Shorts

1. Consider Adding Thumbnails to Your Shorts

Thumbnails are important for regular YouTube videos, but what about Shorts? Do viewers really need to see a thumbnail to watch a brief video?

 people watch your Shorts in the YouTube app. Go to the YouTube Studio and take a look at the traffic sources for your Shorts. Most of the time, people watch these videos on a display shelf within the app. Those views are labeled as 

. But viewers can also watch Shorts as a regular YouTube video – one with ads, comments, and suggested videos nearby. When viewed outside of a display shelf, the traffic source could labeled as:

YouTube is going to monetize Shorts, which means you should learn to make brief, vertical videos. Here's an ultimate guide for making YouTube Shorts.

How to Make a YouTube Short In 2021: The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide

What’s your average view duration on YouTube? For every video you post, do people watch to the end or leave midway?

To us, a 50% duration is phenomenal. It’s hard to get viewers to go any further than that. Meeting or even crossing the 50% threshold means you’re doing something right on YouTube.

If you’re not there yet, don’t worry. We have two suggestions to increase your average view duration:

Post some YouTube Shorts on your channel.

This simple hack for YouTube Shorts will help you double your Watch Time. Keep reading to harness the power of looped content.

YouTube Shorts

9 Video Ideas to Go Viral with YouTube Shorts

YouTube Will Recommend Long-Form Videos to Shorts Viewers [Algorithm Update]

Why Some YouTube Shorts Don't Attract Long-Form Viewers [Algorithm Update]

How to Grow a YouTube Shorts Channel

How to Make a YouTube Short In 2021: The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide

How to Double Your YouTube Watch Time by Looping Shorts

4 Tips to Grow Your Channel With YouTube Shorts

These 5 YouTube Shorts Upgrades Will Help You Make Better Content

Do This One Thing to Increase YouTube Shorts Views

3 Reasons to Upload YouTube Shorts Before the Competition Gets Tough

How This YouTube Creator Got 1.5 Billion Views In Just 80 Days

How to Create a YouTube Short: The Complete Beginner's Guide

How To Win at YouTube Monetization

These Are the Best Video Dimensions for YouTube Shorts

How This Creator Got 852K Views in 58 Seconds From YouTube Shorts

YouTube Shorts Monetization: How to Profit from Short Videos

YouTube Shorts Thumbnails: How to Upload Them for a Boost In Views

How to Get More YouTube Shorts Views on Your Channel

YouTube Shorts Analytics: Why Every Creator Needs This Data

YouTube Shorts: The Ultimate Guide

How To Get More Views as a Small YouTube Channel

How Creators Can Get More Views With YouTube Shorts

YouTube Shorts: What We Know About How They Work