According to stats from Global Media Insights, YouTube Shorts generates between 70–90 billion views daily, up by +133% to +200% from 30 billion in 2021.
So, if YouTube's short-form video format isn't already a part of your social strategy yet, consider this a sign.
We're sharing everything you need to know about YouTube Shorts. Plus, discover 10 proven tips to get more views and optimize your content.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- What Are YouTube Shorts?
- How Long Are YouTube Shorts?
- Can You Earn Money From YouTube Shorts?
- Why Should You Make YouTube Shorts?
- 10 Proven Tips To Get More Views on YouTube Shorts
- #1: Grab Attention
- #2: Keep It Short & Sweet
- #3: Schedule Your YouTube Shorts
- #4: Include a Catchy Title
- #5: Tease Long-form Content
- #6: Leverage Trends
- #7: Track Performance
- #8: Use Captions
- #9: Be Consistent
- #10: Experiment
- Final Takeaway to Maximize Your YouTube Shorts Strategy
What Are YouTube Shorts?
Similar to TikTok and Reels, YouTube Shorts are short-form vertical videos housed on the YouTube platform. And if you're curious which platform is best to go viral, check out our video: Reels vs TikTok vs Shorts: Which one is easier to go viral?
They’re linked to creators’ and brands’ YouTube channels where users can capture, edit, and add music from major labels like Universal, Sony, and Warner Music, before hitting upload.
The best part? YouTube Shorts provide plenty of opportunities for boosted views, subscribers, and momentum (more on that later).
How Long Are YouTube Shorts?
According to YouTube Help, YouTube Shorts can be up to three minutes in length. This was increased from 60 seconds prior to October 2024 to "give you more time to tell your stories, showcase your creativity, and captivate your audience."
Can You Earn Money From YouTube Shorts?
Good news: Thanks to the YouTube Partner Program (YPP), users can earn money directly from their short-form content.
To see if you're eligible, check out the YouTube Partner Program overview & eligibility criteria.
Why Should You Make YouTube Shorts?
By developing a YouTube Shorts strategy, you can boost your engagement, optimize your long-form content, and reach potential subscribers.
Plus, if you’re already creating TikToks and Reels, repurposing your video content on Shorts is the perfect way to tap into a new audience and establish yourself as a YouTuber with minimal effort. Win-win.
PRO TIP: Read How to Effortlessly Schedule YouTube Shorts in Bulk (2025 Guide) to learn how to plan, optimize, and schedule your videos.
10 Proven Tips To Get More Views on YouTube Shorts
Ready to get started with YouTube Shorts? Here are our top 10 tips to grow your channel:
Grab Attention
Keep It Short & Sweet
Schedule Your YouTube Shorts
Include a Catchy Title
Tease Long-form Content
Leverage Trends
Track Performance
Use Captions
Be Consistent
Experiment
Let's dive into each tip deeper!
Tip #1: Grab Attention
The ultimate goal of short-form content is to grab users’ (and the algorithm’s) attention, so it’s important to get right into it.
Our advice? Make use of hooks, like skinfluencer and dermatologist Dr. Shah of Doctorly:
Simple as that.
Tip #2: Keep It Short & Sweet
It’s in the name, so be sure to keep your videos short and sweet.
Whether you’re plugging your long-form content or sharing behind-the-scenes snippets, you don't have to use all 3 minutes to get your message across.
Like Sims 4 creator Hextra Hunt, do what makes the most sense for your content!
Tip #3: Schedule Your YouTube Shorts
The best hack to optimize your YouTube Shorts strategy? Schedule them in advance!
Lucky for you, we’ve already told you how. Learn how to effortlessly schedule YouTube Shorts in bulk with our 2025 guide, or watch our tutorial video below:
Then, sign up for Later for the easiest way to bulk upload & schedule YouTube Shorts. Get started today:
Tip #4: Include a Catchy Title
Spoiler: An engaging title is just as important as your YouTube Shorts themselves.
So, think about how you can use a few words to hook your audience and keep users watching until the end (without clickbaiting).
Our main observation? Since the “subscribe” button is noticeably visible on most YouTube Shorts, a written CTA isn’t always needed to drive followers.
In other words, an engaging video + a catchy, keyword-filled title = the perfect recipe for discoverability.
Tip #5: Tease Long-form Content
A top tip for YouTube Shorts? Repurpose your long-form content.
Why? Teasing your most interesting long-form clips is a foolproof way to get more views and subscribers.
We’ve already seen larger creators like Chicken Shop Date host Amelia Dimoldenberg use this tactic to promote new videos:
Try it out and watch the engagement roll in.
Tip #6: Leverage Trends
PSA: Video trends aren’t exclusive to TikTok and Reels!
From the YouTube Shorts’ built-in Sound tool to the YouTube ‘Trending’ page, there are plenty of ways to track down trends, apply them to your niche, and reach potential subscribers.
Tip #7: Track Performance
Similar to TikTok and Reels, tracking your best-performing Shorts is crucial to informing future posts.
You can access your Shorts analytics under the Content tab in YouTube Studio Analytics.
Here, you’ll see a ‘Shorts’ tab where you can explore data like your top Shorts, change in subscribers, and how often your content is shown in the Shorts feed.
Or, you can track your performance across your socials (including YouTube!) with Later Analytics and take the guesswork out of reporting. No more crunchwork; start your free trial today:
Tip #8: Use Captions
Not only is it a great rule of thumb for accessibility, but adding captions to your YouTube Shorts is necessary to keep users engaged.
Case in point: 69% of social media users view videos with the sound off in public places, and 25% watch with sound off in private places.
But don’t fret, there are three easy ways you can caption your YouTube Shorts:
By manually entering captions using YouTube Studio
Relying on auto captions generated by YouTube
TL;DR: Don’t skip the captions!
Pro Tip: Use Later's AI Caption Writer to help you generate attention-grabbing social media captions quickly. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy — create an account and try for yourself:
Tip #9: Be Consistent
If you really want to grow your audience with YouTube Shorts, consistency is key.
This includes everything from your chosen content pillars to your posting cadence.
Currently, Later’s social team posts 2-3 times per week.
Which leads us to our final tip…
Tip #10: Experiment
Our golden advice for getting started with YouTube Shorts? Don’t be afraid to experiment.
Try your hand at different hooks, content types, keywords, and hashtags to start.
Then, make a note of what works to really hone your strategy. For expert tips on YouTube and other social platforms, subscribe to Later on YouTube!
Final Takeaway to Maximize Your YouTube Shorts Strategy
And that’s that... everything you need to know to develop your strategy and grow on YouTube Shorts.
With this shortlist of tips in your back pocket, you’re bound to show up in feeds again and again.
ICYMI: You can plan, manage, analyze, save time, AND grow your brand on YouTube and other social media platforms with Later. Repurposing video content made easy. Get started today, for free.
