Small Channels.. DO THIS to GO VIRAL on YouTube Shorts in 7 Minutes (new algorithm)

Summary

In this video, the creator reveals a powerful strategy for small YouTube channels to go viral using YouTube Shorts. The key steps include optimizing video length, identifying content gaps, focusing on outliers, and leveraging engagement strategies. By ensuring videos are short yet engaging, finding untapped topics, and utilizing tools like Vid IQ, creators can dramatically increase their chances of success. Additional tips like responding to comments, linking videos, and using compelling thumbnails are shared to maximize viewer retention and growth. Implementing these tactics helped other creators achieve massive subscriber growth.

Takeaways

• 😀 Focus on keeping YouTube Shorts between 5 seconds and 31-45 seconds long for the best chances of going viral.
• 😀 Aim for a minimum of 75% 'stay to watch' rate on your videos to increase your chances of viral success.
• 😀 Content length and viewer retention (average view duration) are crucial metrics to monitor for viral potential.
• 😀 Identify and target content gaps in your niche using YouTube Studio and competitor videos for untapped topics.
• 😀 Search for high-volume topics and low-competition niches to stand out and gain traction on YouTube.
• 😀 Use tools like VidIQ to analyze outliers—videos from smaller channels that went viral despite low subscribers.
• 😀 Focus on creating content around high-search-volume terms for better discoverability and ranking.
• 😀 Responding to comments helps build trust and encourages viewers to return to your content.
• 😀 Link related videos together and use end screens to increase the chances of viewers watching more of your content.
• 😀 Thumbnails are key to increasing click-through rates—make sure they spark curiosity and stand out.
• 😀 Engage with your audience across multiple platforms to build a loyal fan base and boost your algorithmic reach.

Q & A

Why is it important to keep YouTube Shorts videos between 5 and 31 seconds long?

Keeping YouTube Shorts videos between 5 and 31 seconds helps to hit the 'sweet spot' for YouTube's algorithm, increasing the chances of going viral. Videos shorter than 5 seconds or longer than 31 seconds may not perform as well because they don't optimize for the right analytics, such as retention and average view duration.

What is the key metric to track in order to ensure a YouTube Shorts video goes viral?

The key metric to track is the 'stay to watch' percentage. For a video to go viral, this should be over 75%. A lower percentage indicates that viewers aren't staying engaged with the content, which can affect its viral potential.

How do video length and viewer retention impact YouTube Shorts performance?

The length of a video impacts how easy it is to maintain high viewer retention. Videos around 31 to 45 seconds long make it easier to achieve the required retention (over 75%) and average view duration (over 80%). Shorter videos, such as those under 30 seconds, can benefit from achieving close to 100% average view duration, which is crucial for viral success.

What is the purpose of finding content gaps on YouTube?

Finding content gaps on YouTube allows creators to identify under-served topics in their niche that have high viewer interest but limited content. By focusing on these gaps, creators can produce videos that meet an unmet demand, increasing the likelihood of going viral.

How can creators use YouTube Studio to find content gaps?

Creators can use YouTube Studio's analytics to search for topics with high interest among their viewers. By looking at the top searches for their niche and the content that viewers are watching, creators can spot content gaps and tailor their videos to fill these gaps.

What role does AI play in finding content gaps?

AI tools, such as ChatGPT, can analyze comments from competitors' videos to identify content gaps. By extracting common questions or unmet needs from the audience, AI helps creators generate new video ideas that address these gaps.

Why is a 50/50 strategy between outliers and ranking for search important?

A 50/50 strategy ensures creators focus on both viral content (outliers) and topics that rank well in search results. Outliers can drive viral success with less competition, while ranking for search helps attract targeted viewers actively looking for content.

How can VidIQ help creators in creating successful YouTube Shorts?

VidIQ helps creators identify outliers—successful videos from small channels in their niche. By analyzing these outliers, creators can replicate successful topics in their own Shorts, significantly improving their chances of viral success.

What are the benefits of responding to comments on YouTube videos?

Responding to comments builds trust with the audience and increases the likelihood of viewers returning for future content. Engaging with viewers also signals to the YouTube algorithm that the content is engaging, which can help boost its visibility.

Why is it important to link videos together on YouTube?

Linking videos together through related videos and end screens encourages viewers to watch more content. This increases overall viewership, which, in turn, signals to the YouTube algorithm that the content is engaging and relevant, helping to boost the channel's visibility.