How to Go Viral on YouTube Shorts: Your Road to Millions of Views!

Some content creators like to debate whether going viral is actually worth it. Such videos really do get seen by a much broader audience, but, at the same time, they might set unrealistic expectations or bring too much attention that the creator simply does not know how to manage.

With that being said, we are certain that every Shorts maker dreams about going viral. And though the enormous serotonin boost might be followed by a rather challenging period of trying to create another clip that would be as successful, the journey would be worth it. 

So, how to make a viral YouTube Short? Today, we will walk you through some strategies that will increase your chances of getting a ton of views. 

{{blog-ad}}

What You Need to Know About the Algorithm

You might already know that the platform has two separate algorithms for traditional long-form content and for Shorts. And they are completely different!

Key Differences:

1. YouTube's algorithm gives more weight to watch time, whereas the one used by Shorts looks at engagement signals such as view count, likes, and shares.
2. The main ways people find YouTube videos are through searching, getting recommendations, or signing up for subscriptions. Shorts, on the other hand, show up in a separate feed and can also appear in the main YouTube feed.
3. YouTube has a solid Partner Program that lets creators make money off their content through ads. Shorts has its own 45/55 monetization model.

Of course, the algorithm takes the number of views into consideration when deciding whether to promote your content or not. But the completion rate and the number of likes and shares can sometimes be just as (if not more) important. It also looks like the Shorts algorithm gives a lot more attention to fresh Shorts. That’s exactly why a lot of creators like to re-upload some of their most successful clips. 

How to Viral Shorts Video: Creating Good Hooks

It's essential to capture your audience's attention in the first few seconds, no matter what type of video you're creating. With bite-sized content, this becomes even more crucial. Since users are likely to find your video in their feeds and switch to the next clip with a simple swipe, you have to make sure you have a killer hook to hold their attention.

‍

Start with some thought-provoking questions or statements to pique curiosity. For instance, instead of simply stating, "How to make coffee," try, "The coffee mistake you're making every morning." 

Pattern interruption is a great way to grab attention. Start with something unexpected—a visual or sound that breaks the viewer's usual scrolling pattern. This could be a surprising fact, an unusual image, or a sound effect that really stands out.

YouTube Shorts Viral Tricks: Get That Structure Right!

A good way to keep viewers hooked is to make sure your viral video follows a clear structure. Think of it like a mini-story: start strong, build suspense, and end strong. It should all fit into 60 seconds or less.

What’s the Perfect Length?

While you can make Shorts on YouTube that are as long as 60 seconds, videos between 27-45 seconds tend to get the best results. This length gives you enough time to share value while keeping the viewer engaged.

Pick Up Some Cool Editing Techniques

One of the main YouTube Short tips when it comes to virality is taking advantage of professional editing. It's a game-changer for turning a run-of-the-mill short clip into a viral sensation. Let's dive into the techniques that have been shown to be really effective:

Dynamic Transitions

• J-cuts and L-cuts for smooth audio transitions
• Whip pans for energetic scene changes
• Zoom transitions for emphasis
• Match cuts to maintain visual flow

Visual Effects

• Motion tracking for dynamic text
• Color grading for mood enhancement
• Speed ramping for emphasis
• Picture-in-picture for demonstrations

Audio Optimization

• Normalized audio levels (-14 LUFS for mobile)
• Strategic sound effects for emphasis
• Synchronized music beats with transitions
• Voice modulation for engagement

Don’t Forget About Your Analytics

Here’s one of the most important YouTube Short tips - it's essential to understand your analytics if you want your content to go viral. Let's take a closer look at the main metrics:

Average View Duration (AVD)

• Benchmark: Aim for >100% (indicating rewatches)
• Green zone: 80-120%
• Red flag: <50%

Retention Graph Analysis

• First drop-off point (typically 3-5 seconds)
• Engagement spikes (moments of high interest)
• Exit points (where viewers leave)

Traffic Sources

• Shorts feed performance
• Search traffic percentage
• External referrals

How to Go Viral on YouTube Shorts: Time to Think About Your Content Strategy

Nailing the Title

Here are a few words that consistently trigger high click-through rates:

• "Revealed"
• "Secret"
• "Nobody knows"
• "Hidden feature"
• "Pro tip"

Creating a Lovely Thumbnail

Custom thumbnails were not always available to Shorts creators. And though you can now add covers to make sure all of your content looks cohesive on your page, the process is not the easiest one.

How Do I Make My YouTube Short Go Viral?

It's not enough to just have a good technical execution if you want your content to go viral. You also need to understand what your audience and the wider YouTube community want to see.

Select a Great Topic

Check out what's trending in your niche with tools like Google Trends and YouTube's trending page. Look for topics with lots of searches but not too much competition. This is the best place to start for a viral hit.

Encourage Viewer Interaction

• Feature your most engaged viewers by stitching or duetting their responses.
• Take advantage of the question and poll stickers.
• Make your call-to-actions more playful. Ask viewers to "double tap if you're having a good day" or "comment your favorite emoji if you agree."
• Offer small prizes for the best comment.

Know When to Post

Check out YouTube Analytics to see when your target audience is online and schedule your uploads around that.

Typically, the best times to post are:

Weekdays (Monday-Friday)

• Peak engagement occurs during lunch breaks (12 PM - 2 PM)
• After work/school hours (5 PM - 7 PM)
• Late evening entertainment time (9 PM - 11 PM)

Weekend Performance

• Saturday: 10 AM - 11 AM (when people are starting their day)
• Sunday: 8 PM - 10 PM (before the work week begins)

Try Using Your Other Social Media Channels Too

While you're focusing on those YouTube Shorts viral tricks, you might as well cross-post your content to other platforms to give it the best exposure. 

This will take some time as you would have to make sure you optimize the format for each platform's specific needs. But it might be worth it.

Test, Test, and Test Again

It's all about testing and refining your approach if you want to succeed with viral shorts. Keep an eye on the metrics and tweak your strategy based on the data.

Here’s what you might want to check every day/week/month:

Daily Tracking (First 24-48 Hours)

1. View Velocitysome text
   • First hour views
   • 3-hour view count
   • 24-hour view count
   • View pattern/spikes
2. Early Engagementsome text
   • Like-to-view ratio
   • Comment velocity
   • Share rate in first 24 hours
   • Retention rate (first day)

Weekly Analysis

1. Performance Metricssome text
   • Total views per Short
   • Average watch time
   • Audience retention graphs
   • Traffic sources breakdown
   • Peak viewing times
2. Engagement Patternssome text
   • Comments sentiment analysis
   • Subscriber conversion rate
   • Click-through rates to channel
   • Cross-promotion effectiveness

Monthly Review

1. Growth Metricssome text
   • Month-over-month view growth
   • Subscriber growth from Shorts
   • Channel reach expansion
   • Average views per Short
2. Content Performancesome text
   • Best performing topics
   • Worst performing content
   • Optimal video length
   • Most engaging hooks
   • Best posting times

Is It Even Possible to Create High-Quality Shorts Consistently? 

If you're looking to create some viral YouTube shorts, you'll need to be dedicated, creative, and have the right tools. 

The good news is that there are ways to make your content creation process more efficient while maintaining high quality. BigMotion offers an all-in-one AI solution designed specifically for creating engaging, viral-worthy short-form content. 

With cool features like AI-powered scriptwriting, professional voiceovers from ElevenLabs, automatic captions, and unique AI-generated visuals, BigMotion helps you create unique content that stands out in a crowded Shorts market.