Why your shorts keep performing poorly

LOGAN SMITH

21 Aug 202406:08

Summary

TLDRThe video script offers advice for creators struggling with low views on their shorts. It emphasizes the importance of objectivity in content creation, recognizing flaws, and improving based on viewer retention and engagement stats. It also suggests making content broadly appealing and using hashtags to find an audience. The script addresses posting frequency, avoiding shadowbanning, and acknowledges the unpredictable nature of the algorithm, especially for new channels, advocating for time and consistency to overcome initial challenges.

Takeaways

🔍 Be Objective: To improve your content, view it objectively as if you were a viewer and not the creator.
👀 Identify Flaws: Look for flaws in your videos by comparing them to the content you enjoy watching and by analyzing viewer statistics like retention and scroll-through rate.
📈 Broad Appeal: Make content that is appealing to a wide audience, even if your niche is specific.
🌐 Use Hashtags: Utilize hashtags to help find your initial audience, especially when starting out.
🎥 Quality Content: Regardless of niche, focus on creating high-quality content that can be enjoyed by everyone, including those outside your niche.
📅 Posting Frequency: Avoid posting too often; once or twice a day is recommended to maintain viewer interest without overwhelming them.
⏰ Scheduling Posts: Initially, avoid scheduling posts and instead post manually to gauge viewer engagement and preferences.
📹 Alter Footage: If re-uploading content, alter it in some way to avoid being flagged by the algorithm for duplicate content.
🔮 Algorithm Volatility: Understand that the algorithm can be unpredictable, especially at the beginning of a channel, and views may fluctuate.
🚀 Consistency: Be consistent with your posting schedule and content quality to overcome initial volatility and grow your channel.
📈 Growth Over Time: Recognize that growth in views and subscribers may take time, but with quality content and consistency, it is achievable.

Q & A

What is the primary issue the speaker addresses in the script?
-The primary issue addressed is the struggle of getting views on short videos due to the algorithm not promoting the content effectively.
Why does the speaker suggest that content creators may be biased in evaluating their own content?
-The speaker suggests that content creators may overlook flaws in their videos because they become too familiar with them or have a biased positive view since they are the creators.
What is the first step the speaker recommends to objectively evaluate one's content?
-The first step recommended is to imagine consuming the content as an average viewer, comparing the quality of the content one makes to the content they watch on a regular basis.
According to the speaker, what can be a sign that your content may not be as good as you think?
-A sign could be that if you wouldn't stop to watch your own short if you weren't the creator, especially if you're struggling to get views.
What method does the speaker propose to get an unbiased opinion on the content?
-The speaker proposes asking people you know to look at your content and provide feedback on how to improve, or by looking at the stats yourself, such as retention and scroll-through rates.
Why is it important to make content broadly appealing according to the script?
-It's important to make content broadly appealing to reach a wide range of people, even those outside of your niche, to increase the chances of your content being viewed and shared.
What does the speaker suggest about the use of hashtags for short videos?
-The speaker suggests that hashtags are a good way to find an initial audience for your shorts, especially when you haven't yet established a core audience.
What website does the speaker recommend for generating hashtags for short videos?
-The speaker recommends using 'rapid tags', a website that generates tags for your content.
What posting details does the speaker advise to check to avoid hurting views on short videos?
-The speaker advises not to post more than twice per day, not to schedule posts for the first few weeks, and to alter footage if it has already been posted elsewhere to avoid being flagged by the algorithm.
What does the speaker say about the unpredictability of the algorithm at the beginning of posting on a new channel?
-The speaker says that at the beginning, the algorithm can be volatile, with views being unpredictable, but emphasizes that this period doesn't last and consistency will eventually lead to growth.
What is the speaker's final advice for content creators who are struggling with views?
-The final advice is to focus on making great content, be consistent, and understand that the algorithm's initial unpredictability will pass as the channel grows.

Outlines

00:00

📈 Overcoming Struggles with Video Views

The speaker discusses common challenges in gaining views on short videos and offers advice to improve content visibility. They emphasize the importance of being objective about one's own content, comparing it to what is typically consumed on the platform. The speaker suggests looking at retention and scroll-through rates to identify weaknesses and refine content. They also highlight the need for content to be broadly appealing, even within a niche, and the use of hashtags to find and grow an audience. Additionally, they advise against posting too frequently or scheduling posts, and warn against re-uploading content that could be flagged by the algorithm.

05:02

🔄 Algorithmic Volatility and Consistency

In this paragraph, the speaker shares an experience with a friend, Luma, who despite having a successful track record, faced initial struggles with a new channel. The speaker explains that the algorithm can be unpredictable, especially for new channels, leading to fluctuations in views. They stress the importance of time and consistency in overcoming these initial hurdles. The speaker concludes by reinforcing the idea that high-quality content is essential for sustained growth, and encourages viewers to watch a follow-up video for a comprehensive guide on creating engaging short videos.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Algorithm

The term 'algorithm' refers to the set of rules or processes that a system follows to perform a certain task. In the context of the video, it refers to the mechanism used by social media platforms to determine the visibility and distribution of content, such as videos. The script mentions that the algorithm can be unpredictable, especially for new channels, affecting the number of views a video receives.

💡Views

In the script, 'views' is the count of how many times a video has been watched. It is a key metric for content creators as it indicates the reach and popularity of their content. The video discusses the struggle of getting views and offers advice on how to increase them.

💡Content Quality

Content quality refers to the overall value and appeal of the material presented in a video. The script emphasizes the importance of being objective about one's own content quality, suggesting that creators should compare their work to what they watch and enjoy themselves to ensure it meets the same standards.

💡Bias

Bias in this context is the inclination or preference towards one's own content due to personal attachment or involvement in its creation. The video mentions that creators may overlook flaws in their videos due to bias, which can hinder their ability to objectively assess and improve their content.

💡Retention

Retention, as used in the script, is a metric that measures how long viewers watch a video before moving on. High retention indicates that viewers find the content engaging. The speaker suggests that analyzing retention rates can help identify weaknesses in the content.

💡Scroll Through Rate

The scroll through rate is a measure of how quickly viewers are skipping past a video. A high scroll through rate may indicate that the video is not capturing the viewer's interest. The script suggests looking at this metric to identify areas for improvement in the content.

💡Broad Appeal

Broad appeal refers to the ability of content to attract a wide range of viewers, even those outside of a specific niche. The video advises making content that is entertaining and accessible to a general audience, using the example of a niche martial art being made interesting to a broader demographic.

💡Hashtags

Hashtags are metadata tags used on social media to categorize content and make it discoverable. In the context of the video, hashtags are recommended as a way to help new content reach an initial audience by categorizing it and making it more searchable.

💡Posting Details

Posting details refer to the specifics of when and how often content is published. The script advises against posting too frequently or too infrequently and suggests altering footage for reposts to avoid shadowbanning by the algorithm.

💡Shadowban

A shadowban is a practice where a platform's algorithm limits the visibility of content without the creator's knowledge, effectively suppressing it. The video warns against re-uploading content without alterations, as this can trigger a shadowban.

💡Volatile

The term 'volatile' in the script describes the unpredictable nature of the algorithm, especially at the beginning of a channel's life. The speaker shares an anecdote about a channel that initially struggled with views but eventually saw an increase, illustrating the volatility of the algorithm.

💡Consistency

Consistency in the script refers to the regular creation and posting of content. It is presented as a key factor in overcoming the initial volatility of the algorithm and building an audience over time.

Highlights

The speaker used to struggle with getting views on their shorts due to the algorithm not promoting them.

Content creators often become blind to the flaws in their own videos due to over-familiarity or positive bias.

To be objective, imagine watching your own shorts as if you were a viewer scrolling through content.

Asking for feedback from others or analyzing retention and scroll-through rates can help identify content weaknesses.

The algorithm favors shorts that deserve views, which are refined to meet quality standards.

Making content broadly appealing is crucial, even if the niche is specific.

An example of broad appeal is content about a niche martial art that is entertaining to a wide audience.

A quote by Mr. Beast suggests making videos watchable by a wide age range, from 8 to 80.

Hashtags can help find an initial audience for shorts, especially when starting out.

The website 'Rapid Tags' is recommended for generating hashtags for shorts.

Posting frequency should be considered; posting more than twice a day is not recommended.

Scheduling posts is advised against in the initial weeks of building an audience.

Altering footage in some way can prevent shadowbanning by the algorithm.

The algorithm can be volatile, especially at the beginning of posting on a new channel.

Consistency and time are key to overcoming initial unpredictability in views.

A conversation with Luma, who owns several shorts channels, highlights the importance of patience.

Even with great content, views may initially be low due to the algorithm's unpredictability.

A full guide on making great shorts is suggested for further improvement.