In 2024, creating high-performing Shorts requires more than just creativity—it’s about strategy. Want to level up your Shorts? We’ll guide you through best practices to boost your engagement.
What are YouTube Shorts?
YouTube launched Shorts globally on July 12, 2021, as a direct response to the growing demand for short-form video content popularized by TikTok and Instagram Reels.
With its 60-second vertical video format, Shorts gave creators and businesses a new way to engage audiences and compete in the rapidly growing short video market.
Why Do You Need YouTube Shorts?
Shorts are a powerful tool for businesses to generate leads and get more impressions. Its short-form, vertical video format is ideal for showcasing products, sharing relatable content, or jumping on viral trends to capture attention quickly.
Did you know? 43% of brands now use YouTube Shorts for advertising.
In 2024, Shorts saw consistent engagement rates of nearly 6% on average — outperforming competitors like Instagram and TikTok in user interaction.
YouTube Shorts provides a new channel for businesses and creators to build brand awareness and engage with wider audiences.
Low Engagement on Your Shorts? Here’s Why
If your Shorts aren’t gaining traction, here’s a hint: it might not just be your content. It’s likely about optimizing for the YouTube algorithm.
Here are the top 9 reasons why your Shorts aren’t reaching your audience:
1. Weak or Nonexistent Hook
The first few seconds of a video are everything. If you don’t grab attention right away, people will scroll past without giving it a chance. Starting with a generic “Hi everyone” or a long intro just doesn’t work. Viewers need to know instantly why they should keep watching. Without a strong, intriguing start, your video feels like a waste of time, and people will move on to something more exciting.
2. Trying to Do Too Much in One Video
Short videos are meant to be quick and focused, but cramming in too much information can ruin that. When you try to cover multiple ideas or dive into complicated topics, it overwhelms the viewer. They’ll either get confused or tune out completely. Instead of leaving with a clear takeaway, they’re left feeling like the video didn’t really go anywhere.
3. Lack of Visual or Emotional Variety
If your video looks or feels the same from start to finish, people are going to lose interest fast. A single angle or no changes in tone makes the content feel flat and boring.
Viewers love variety—whether it’s a new angle, an energetic shift in your voice, or some fun graphics. Without it, your video blends into the background of endless scrolling and gets forgotten.
4. Overloading with Text or Effects
Adding text or effects can make your video pop, but too much can have the opposite effect. When there’s a lot happening on the screen—flashing text, busy graphics, or endless transitions—it’s hard for people to focus. Instead of being helpful or interesting, it feels cluttered and chaotic, making viewers tune out instead of engage.
5. No Clear Call-to-Action (CTA)
If your video doesn’t tell viewers what to do next, they won’t do anything. People might enjoy your content, but without a clear nudge—like asking them to comment, like, or share—they’ll just move on. This leaves your video feeling incomplete, and you miss the chance to get real interaction or build a connection with your audience.
6. Posting Inconsistently
If you’re not posting regularly, it’s hard for people to stay connected to your content. When your uploads are random or rare, viewers won’t know when to check back, and the algorithm won’t see you as an active creator. Inconsistent posting makes it easy for your audience—and YouTube—to forget about you.
7. Poorly Optimized Videos
If your video isn’t set up to be discovered, it’s going to struggle to get views. Missing hashtags, dull titles, or boring thumbnails can bury even the best content.
When people can’t find your video or don’t feel drawn to click on it, all the effort you put into creating it goes to waste.
8. Low Production Quality
Even though you don’t need fancy equipment, videos that are blurry, too dark, or hard to hear can turn people off immediately.
Poor visuals or audio make your content feel unprofessional and less trustworthy. It doesn’t matter how good your message is—if it’s hard to watch, viewers won’t stick around.
9. Not Providing Value
If your video doesn’t teach, entertain, or inspire, people won’t see the point in watching it. Viewers are always asking, “What’s in it for me?” If your content doesn’t answer that, they’ll move on.
Random or self-centered videos feel like a waste of time and make it harder to build an audience that cares about what you’re sharing.
9 Best Practices for Creating Impactful YouTube Shorts
Now that you know what are deal breakers for getting engagement on your YouTube Shorts, let’s dive deep into the best practices that will help you make the most out of this short-form video format.
1. Start with a Strong Hook
The first few seconds of your YouTube Short are crucial. This is when viewers decide if they’ll keep watching or scroll away.
Instead of starting with something generic like, “Hi everyone, how’s it going?” dive straight into your message. Say something attention-grabbing like, “Here are three mistakes you’re making that are killing your social media engagement!”
2. Keep It Simple and Actionable
You don’t need fancy equipment or a high-tech setup to make great Shorts. The simpler, the better. A lot of the time, all you need is your phone, some good natural lighting, and a clear message.
3. Use the Right Video Format
Choosing the right format can make a big difference in how well your Shorts perform. You have a few options: talk directly to the camera for a personal touch, narrate over footage for a professional feel, use text and visuals if you’re camera-shy, or jump on trends to reach a wider audience.
4. Focus on Retention
Retention is everything. If people stop watching your video after a few seconds, the algorithm won’t push it to more viewers. To keep people watching, get straight to the point and focus on one main idea.
5. Incorporate Pattern Interrupts
To keep things interesting, add variety to your video. This could mean cutting between different camera angles, adding text overlays, or even changing locations mid-video.
6. Add Captions and Text Overlays
Many people watch Shorts without sound, so captions and text overlays are a must.
7. Leverage a Clear Call-to-Action (CTA)
Don’t assume people will know what to do next—tell them! A strong call-to-action can drive more engagement.
8. Optimize for Discoverability
To reach more people, optimize your Shorts for discoverability. Always add the hashtag #Shorts in the description, along with other relevant keywords.
9. Stay Consistent
Consistency is key to building an audience. Posting regularly helps you stay top-of-mind with your viewers and signals to YouTube’s algorithm that you’re active. Even if you start small—like uploading twice a week—stick to your schedule.
If you’re short on time, batch-create several videos at once and schedule them to go live over the week. Over time, this routine builds trust with your audience and helps you grow faster.
We recommend watching the video below, made by Social Media Examiner about tips for making great YouTube Shorts:
Meet our YouTube Shorts Maker: Cut Long-form Videos to Shorts Automatically
If you’re making long-form videos on YouTube, We have a tool called YouTube Shorts Maker that cuts up your longer videos into shorter clips (less than one minute) or longer snippets (detailed 2-5 minute videos) automatically.
20 Trendy YouTube Short Ideas
We have researched the top 20 Short ideas used by brands or leaders who are building awareness for their business. Here is the breakdown:
1. Product Demos
Show your product in action, all within 60 seconds. Keep it snappy and focused.
2. Tutorials
Create how-to guides on using your product and its features.
3. Behind-the-Scenes Content
Give your audience an exclusive look at how your business operates.
4. Customer Testimonials
Feature real customers sharing their positive experiences with your product or service.
5. Tips & Tricks
Share knowledge of a topic you specialize in to create value for your audience.
6. Cover Your Industry
Highlight trending topics or news in your industry to show you’re in the know.
7. Before-and-After Transformations
Showcase the difference your product or service can make with compelling visuals.
8. Solve Common Problems
Present a relatable issue and describe how your business offers the perfect solution.
9. Promote Deals and Offers
Use Shorts to announce discounts or limited-time promotions in an eye-catching way.
10. Interactive Q&A
Answer frequently asked questions in a quick, engaging format.
11. Success Stories
Share brief stories of how your clients or customers achieved great results with your product or service.
12. Preview Long-Form Content
Tease your longer videos or events by creating a short teaser to spark interest.
13. Team Introductions
Introduce your team members in a fun, approachable way to humanize your brand.
14. Unboxing or First-Looks
Share the excitement of launching a new product or feature.
15. Host Contests or Polls
Encourage viewers to share their opinions or participate in challenges.
16. Celebrate Milestones
Show off your achievements, whether it’s hitting a subscriber goal or celebrating an anniversary.
17. Product Comparison
Do you have more than one version of a product? Educate your viewers on how it works.
18. Team Challenges
Get your team involved in lighthearted challenges that relate to your business.
19. Seasonal Content
Create videos tied to holidays or seasonal events for timely engagement.
20. Provide Entertainment
Showcase memes and light-hearted content to emotionally connect with your audience.
By mixing these ideas with your brand's voice and goals, you can create impactful Shorts that resonate with your audience and drive business growth. Get creative, stay authentic, and let your content shine!