How to Get Views on YouTube Shorts and Actually Make Money

Summary

This video script offers a comprehensive guide to achieving viral success on YouTube Shorts. It emphasizes the importance of selecting an unsaturated niche, leveraging strategies like Niche Arbitrage and Niche Innovation. The speaker shares insights on the YouTube algorithm's focus on watch time and provides a step-by-step framework for creating engaging content, including tips on video clips, flow, voiceovers, sound effects, and music selection. Additionally, the script covers monetization methods like merchandising, ad revenue, and establishing a long-form channel. The video concludes with advice on utilizing YouTube analytics to refine content and the necessity of patience and persistence in the content creation process.

Takeaways

• 🎯 Selecting a unique and low-competition niche is crucial for YouTube short success, avoiding saturated areas like 'funny football moments'.
• 🔄 'Niche Arbitrage' involves bringing successful content from other platforms to YouTube shorts to exploit untapped audiences.
• 🌟 'Niche Innovation' is about modifying existing viral content to create something new and unique.
• 🔍 'Niche Search' suggests finding emerging trends on YouTube shorts before they become saturated.
• ⏱ The YouTube algorithm prioritizes 'watch time' over likes, comments, and subscribers to determine content promotion.
• 📈 High watch time in the initial audience push can lead to further algorithmic promotion and potential virality.
• 🎨 'Steal like an artist' by taking inspiration from successful content and adapting it to create your own unique short.
• 📹 Aim for the maximum short length of 59 seconds to increase watch time and engagement.
• 💰 Monetization strategies include opening a merch store, earning ad revenue through the YouTube Partner Program, and creating a long-form channel.
• 📊 Analyzing 'swipe rate' and 'average view duration' in YouTube analytics is key to understanding viewer engagement and improving content.
• 🚫 Be aware of YouTube's re-used content policy to avoid demonetization and ensure value-added editing in your shorts.

Q & A

What is the most important step in creating successful YouTube Shorts according to the script?

The most important step is selecting a niche. The script emphasizes that choosing a low-performing or saturated niche is a common mistake, and instead, one should select a niche that is not yet popular on YouTube Shorts.

What are the three options suggested for finding a niche in YouTube Shorts?

The three options suggested are Niche Arbitrage, Niche Innovation, and Niche Search. Niche Arbitrage involves bringing a viral niche from another platform to YouTube Shorts. Niche Innovation is about modifying an existing viral niche to make it unique. Niche Search is about finding a niche that is going viral on YouTube with minimal competition.

How does the YouTube algorithm initially assess the performance of a short?

The algorithm shows the short to a small audience (100 to 4,000 viewers) to gather initial engagement data, focusing primarily on watch time rather than likes, comments, or subscribers.

What is the significance of watch time in the YouTube Shorts algorithm?

Watch time is the key metric the algorithm uses to determine if a short is high performing. High watch time indicates that the content is engaging and keeps viewers on the platform longer, which aligns with YouTube's goal of increasing ad revenue.

Why is it recommended to create the longest short possible, which is 59 seconds?

Creating the longest short possible is advised because YouTube's goal is to keep viewers on the platform for as long as possible. Longer shorts have a higher chance of being shown to more viewers due to their potential to retain viewer attention for a longer duration.

What are the five components to take notes on when creating a viral short?

The five components are: using keywords, video flow (graphics, video cuts, and visual effects), script (first sentence and main talking points), sound effects, and music style. These components should be analyzed from a piece of content that is already performing well.

How can one monetize a YouTube Shorts channel?

There are three main methods: opening a merch store, earning ad revenue through the YouTube Partner program after meeting certain view and subscriber thresholds, and opening a long-form channel to share the journey of going viral on shorts.

What is the importance of swipe rate and average view duration in YouTube analytics?

A swipe rate under 70% indicates that the video is not grabbing viewers' attention, suggesting a need to improve the hook. An average view duration under 40 seconds for a 59-second short implies that pacing and editing need work to keep viewers engaged.

Why is it advised to have an active YouTube channel for at least one week before uploading shorts?

Having an active channel for at least one week helps establish the channel as legitimate and not spam, which can prevent the channel from being removed and ensure that the uploaded shorts receive views.

What is the recommended approach for determining whether to continue with a particular niche on YouTube Shorts?

After uploading five different shorts over a 5-day period, if the views are consistent, continue uploading. If the views are inconsistent or low, it may be necessary to revisit the niche selection process to ensure the niche is not saturated.