How to Get More Views on YouTube Shorts | RemotionAI Blog

If you want to get more views on YouTube Shorts, you really only have one job: stop the scroll.

Your entire video lives or dies in the first three seconds. This isn't just about flashy editing; it's about creating an immediate, almost subconscious need for the viewer to see what happens next.

Crafting the Unskippable First Three Seconds

Think of it as creating an "information gap." You need to present a question or a visual that the viewer's brain feels compelled to answer. Instead of a slow build-up or a standard intro, hit them with the most intriguing part of your video right away. Show the "after" of a transformation before the "before." Start with a bold, maybe even controversial, statement.

One of my own Shorts went from zero to thousands of views just by changing the first few seconds. The hook was simple, just a bold text overlay that read: "This is the biggest mistake you're making." People couldn't help but stick around to find out what "it" was.

The strongest hooks are a combination of a sharp visual, a compelling text overlay, and sound design that grabs attention. Getting this formula right is a huge part of learning how to make YouTube Shorts go viral. Mastering these opening moments is the foundation for everything else.

Mastering Audience Retention to Win Over the Algorithm

Views are great, but the YouTube algorithm is absolutely obsessed with watch time and retention. Nailing your retention is the real key to getting more views on your Shorts. It’s worth taking the time to understand how the YouTube Shorts algorithm works because it fundamentally changes how you should approach your content.

For a while, I was all-in on quick, 15-second Shorts, thinking faster was better. But when I actually dug into my analytics, I spotted a surprising trend.

It turned out my Shorts in the 50-60 second range were consistently outperforming everything else. This wasn't a fluke; wider data shows that Shorts of this length pull in an average of 1.7 million views each, blowing shorter formats out of the water.

That extra time gives you more room to build a story, deliver value, and keep people watching—all powerful signals to the algorithm that your content is worth pushing.

A simple but powerful trick to boost retention is engineering a 'perfect loop.' If you can make the end of your Short flow seamlessly back into the beginning, you can easily double your watch time by tricking viewers into watching it again without even realizing it.

Unlocking the Hidden SEO of YouTube Shorts

Most creators I talk to treat Shorts like lottery tickets—a game of pure chance. But they’re missing the most reliable way to get consistent views: search engine optimization. The moment I started applying the same SEO principles to my Shorts as I do for my long-form content, everything changed. It’s the key to getting views long after that initial 48-hour spike is over.

This isn’t just about slapping #shorts on your video and calling it a day.

Your title has to do double duty. It needs a clear, searchable keyword, but it also has to be intriguing enough for a human to actually click. "Cool Gadget" is forgettable. "The One Kitchen Gadget I Can't Live Without" creates a story and a reason to watch. It's specific, and it sparks curiosity.

Here’s something most people don't realize: YouTube’s algorithm now actively scans your spoken words and any on-screen text for keywords. This means what you say and what you show are just as critical as your written title for discovery.

Don't neglect your description and hashtags, either. Even a brief, keyword-focused description gives YouTube crucial context about what your Short is about. I’ve found the best strategy is to blend broad hashtags like #tech with more specific, niche ones like #smartkitchen. This gives you a shot at immediate reach from the big tags while building long-term visibility in search.

How to Ride Trends Without Selling Out

Jumping on a trending sound is one of the fastest ways to get your Shorts in front of new viewers. But there's a right way and a wrong way to do it. Just copying the format won't build an audience that sticks around for the long haul.

The trick is to find that sweet spot between what's popular and what's genuinely you. You have to make the trend serve your content, not the other way around.

The 90/10 Approach

I have a simple rule for this: the 90/10 approach. You borrow 90% of the trend's recognizable structure—the sound, the pacing, the general camera movement—but you inject a 10% unique twist that’s specific to your niche and your expertise.

This makes your Short instantly familiar to people scrolling, but it also gives them a reason to actually watch and remember it.

For instance, let's say a trend involves pointing to different text bubbles on screen. Instead of listing random fun facts, use the format to compare two software tools in your industry. Or use it to debunk a common myth your audience actually believes.

The goal isn't just to get cheap views. It's to use the trend as a Trojan horse to deliver valuable information that's authentic to your brand.

Use Trending Audio Strategically

Not all audio is created equal. Trending audio gets you reach, but original audio can build authority. Knowing when to use each is key.

Some trends are built entirely around a specific sound clip. In these cases, using the audio is pretty much non-negotiable if you want to participate. But for your regular, evergreen content, a voiceover or a consistent brand sound can be more powerful.

Here’s a quick breakdown of how to think about it:

Trending Audio vs. Original Audio: A Strategic Comparison

This table outlines the trade-offs between using what's popular and creating your own sound.

Ultimately, a mix of both is your best bet. Use trends to get discovered, then use your unique voice and original content to convince those new viewers to subscribe.

Using AI to Create More Content in Less Time

Let's be honest: consistency is everything on YouTube, but trying to churn out daily Shorts is a recipe for burnout. The algorithm wants a steady stream of content, and that pace can feel impossible to maintain when you're doing everything by hand.

This is where AI stops being a buzzword and becomes a genuinely useful part of your workflow. It's not about replacing your creativity; it's about offloading the tedious stuff so you can stay consistent without sacrificing quality (or your sanity).

Instead of spending hours in an editor, you can use AI tools to generate high-quality, fully captioned Shorts in minutes. You can describe an idea for a quick promo or an educational clip, and an AI can build out a professional video complete with a voiceover and perfectly synced captions.

This approach gives you back your time to focus on what actually matters: strategy, ideas, and finding that next big trend. This is the core loop of Shorts growth.

This cycle is simple: you spot a trend, add your own spin, and get it out fast. Tools like RemotionAI's Seedance video generator are built for this exact process, handling the technical heavy lifting so you can focus on the creative part. You find the angle; the AI handles the edit.

A viral Short feels great, but what's the point if those viewers just scroll away and forget you exist? Turning a quick traffic spike into a loyal community is the real endgame.

Think of every Short as a trailer for your channel. It's your job to give viewers a compelling reason to stick around for the main feature. Don't just let that potential audience disappear.

One of the easiest wins here is the pinned comment. It’s prime real estate. Use it to ask a genuinely interesting question to get a conversation started, or better yet, link directly to a related long-form video on your channel.

You can also drop a clear, verbal call-to-action that feels helpful, not just salesy. Something simple like, "If you want to see the full breakdown of this, I've linked the main video for you down below."

The impact Shorts can have on channel growth is massive. We see creators pulling in an average of 16.9 new subscribers for every 10,000 views on their Shorts. It's a powerful subscriber magnet if you use it right.

Frequently Asked Questions

As you dive into creating Shorts, you're bound to run into a few questions. Here are some of the most common ones we hear from creators, along with answers based on what we've seen work.

How Long Does It Take for a Short to Get Views?

This one varies wildly. A killer Short with a perfect hook can catch fire and pull in thousands of views within the first hour. The algorithm sees people are sticking around and pushes it out to more feeds.

But don't be so quick to hit delete if a video seems dead on arrival. We've seen plenty of Shorts have a "slow burn," where they sit for days or even weeks before finding their audience and taking off. Give them time.

Do Hashtags Really Work on YouTube Shorts?

Yes, they still matter. While you should definitely include #shorts to help YouTube categorize your video, the real value is in niche-specific tags.

Think of it this way: using three to five highly relevant hashtags is like giving the algorithm a roadmap. You’re telling it exactly what your video is about, which helps it find the viewers who are most likely to watch the whole thing.

Hashtags are signposts. They guide both the algorithm and users directly to your content, which is crucial for getting views long after that initial push.

Is It Better to Post a Lot or Just a Few High-Quality Shorts?

Quality always, always wins. There's just no substitute for it.

Posting one well-planned, tightly edited Short per day will always outperform five rushed, low-effort videos. The algorithm rewards watch time above all else, and high retention almost always comes from content you've put real thought into.

Can I Re-Upload a Short That Did Not Get Views?

You can, but just re-uploading the same file is a wasted opportunity. If a Short flopped, there's usually a reason.

Instead of a simple re-upload, treat it as a second chance. Rework the hook to be more compelling, try a completely different title, or add more engaging text overlays. Figure out what went wrong, fix it, and then post the improved version. That's how you turn a failure into a lesson.

Stop wrestling with clunky video editors and start creating scroll-stopping content faster. With RemotionAI, you can turn your ideas into high-quality, fully captioned Shorts in minutes. Let our AI handle the heavy lifting so you can focus on strategy and growth. Try it for free and see how easy it is to make videos that get views. Learn more at our website.