1. Show a Preview of a Longer Video
Many YouTubers use Shorts to show just a small part of a longer video. This gives viewers a “sneak peek” or a quick look at something interesting.
Example:
If a YouTuber makes a full video about cooking a cake, they can make a Short that shows just the moment the cake comes out of the oven. Then, they can say,
“Watch the full video to see how I made it!”
This makes people curious and more likely to watch the full video on their channel.
2. Post More Often
Shorts are quick and easy to make, so YouTubers can post more videos in a day or week. Posting more often helps the YouTube algorithm (the system that shows videos to people) learn about your content faster.
The more Shorts you post, the more chances you have to get discovered.
Tip:
Some creators post 1 to 3 Shorts every day!
3. Grab Attention in the First 2 Seconds
Most people scroll through videos quickly. If the start of the video is boring, they’ll scroll past it.
That’s why smart YouTubers start their Shorts with something exciting or interesting in the first 2 seconds. This is called a “hook.”
Example Hooks:
- “Wait! You’ve never seen this before!”
- “This life hack will blow your mind!”
- “Guess what happened next…”
A strong hook makes people stop and watch the whole video.
4. Reuse Videos From Other Apps
Many YouTubers also post videos on TikTok, Instagram Reels, or Facebook. Instead of making brand new videos each time, they reuse or edit the same videos to work on YouTube Shorts.
This is called repurposing content.
Example:
If someone makes a funny video on TikTok, they can cut it down a little and upload it to YouTube Shorts. This saves time and brings in more views from different platforms.
5. Use Good Titles and Hashtags
Even though Shorts don’t have thumbnails like long videos, YouTubers still use good titles and hashtags to help people find their videos.
What works:
- Use short, clear titles that tell what the video is about.
- Use hashtags like
#shorts,#funny, or topic tags like#minecraft,#makeup, or#lifehacks.
YouTube uses titles and hashtags to show the right videos to the right people. So this helps bring in more traffic.
Here are the 5 simple things YouTubers do to get more traffic with Shorts:
- Preview a longer video in a Short.
- Post often, sometimes daily.
- Hook viewers in the first 2 seconds.
- Reuse videos from other platforms.
- Use strong titles and hashtags.
6. Follow Trends and Popular Challenges
Many YouTubers watch what videos and topics are popular right now. They try to make their own version of these trending videos or join popular challenges.
For example, if a dance challenge is going viral, a YouTuber might make a Short doing that dance. This helps because many people are searching for that trend, so more viewers will find their video.
7. Add Captions or Text on the Video
A lot of people watch videos without sound, especially on their phones. Because of this, YouTubers add captions or text on their Shorts to help people understand what’s happening.
Captions also make videos more interesting and easier to follow. There are apps and tools that help add captions quickly.
8. Link Shorts to Longer Videos
YouTubers often use Shorts as a way to bring viewers to their longer videos. They do this by adding links or telling viewers where to find the full video.
For example, in the description or comments, they might write, “Watch the full video here” with a link. This helps increase views on their main content and keeps people on their channel longer.
9. Make a Series of Shorts
Some YouTubers create Shorts that are connected, like parts of a story or steps in a process. This encourages viewers to watch all the Shorts in the series.
If the first Short is interesting, viewers will come back for the next one. This helps the YouTuber get more views over time and build a loyal audience.
10. Ask Viewers to Subscribe or Comment
At the end of their Shorts, YouTubers sometimes remind viewers to subscribe to their channel or leave a comment. This is called a call to action (CTA).
A simple CTA might be, “If you liked this, please subscribe!” or “Tell me what you think in the comments.”
Asking viewers to take action helps grow the channel and makes YouTubers more visible on YouTube.
Here are five more ways YouTubers get more views with Shorts:
- Make videos about popular trends and challenges.
- Add captions or text for people who watch without sound.
- Link Shorts to longer videos to get more views.
- Create a series of Shorts to keep viewers coming back.
- Ask viewers to subscribe or comment.