You may be spending hours on creating a catchy YouTube shorts and then reposting it a hundred times to get views, but no result. It is a very frequent thing among YouTubers so don’t assume it is your fault. There are several reasons why your shorts not getting views on YouTube ranging from algorithm compatibility issues to wrong settings. This article will cover all the reasons that may prevent your shorts from getting visibility along with quick solutions.
Why are my shorts not getting views on YouTube?
The very first thing that needs to be discussed is the approach of YouTube to new accounts. If your account is new, YouTube may decide to observe your organic growth before it starts showing your shorts in discovery. At this stage, you need to wait a couple of days and don’t stop posting your shorts. On the contrary, you want to become more active and also improve the quality of shorts by considering the video’s best practices, especially if you are posting for YouTube Shorts Monetization purposes.
Algorithm and Keywords
YouTube, similar to all search engines, has its algorithm. The algorithm decides what content is relevant for the users and who would like to see a specific piece of content. The key elements that these algorithms consider are keywords. Keywords are those search phrases that users intentionally look for. For example “DIY jewelry” or “how to wash a car”. So, if the platform identifies your video to contain these keywords it will appear in the search results.
As for the shorts, you do not have that much choice with the keyword usage. Especially, if your shorts are memes, entertainment, sketches, or mute videos. Here are the four tips for helping your shorts get views on YouTube with keywords:
- Use keywords as #hashtags in the title – use relevant search phrases in the title of your short. YouTube also recommends that you use #shorts hashtag itself within the title (so make sure you do use it)
- Include the keywords in the caption – if your video uses captions then make sure you sneak in your keywords
- Include the keywords in shorts description – don’t forget about the description, always write it. Try to incorporate your keywords within the description
- Mention the keywords – if you are talking in your video or if there is a voice-over try to use the keywords.
The key here is not to overdo it. Don’t stuff your shorts with keywords. If it seems unnatural and artificial, YouTube will hide your shorts altogether.
User Engagement
YouTube also pays attention to how users like your content and how they engage with it. If your shorts engagement rate is very low then YouTube will stop showing it to the audience. You can access the data in YouTube Analytics for further exploration. The engagement rate considers several metrics:
- watch time
- comments
- likes
- shares
- dislikes
- subscriptions
The most crucial engagement metric is watch time. For example, if on average users view your video for less than 3 seconds it means that your video does not meet the expectations/standards of viewers. YouTube will notice it and will avoid showing your videos to broad audiences. Here are the tips on how to improve engagement rates for your shorts not getting views on YouTube:
- Ask questions to your audience – use the captions or descriptions to ask questions to viewers (make sure you respond within the comments)
- Engage with other channels – you may get more attention by being an active community member yourself. You can also suggest your content (if it is relevant) within the comments of other shorts/posts
- Promote your shorts on other channels – you can use other social media platforms to promote your shorts. You can post it on Facebook, share it in your Instagram story, or post it on TikTok. If you have a website, you can also embed your videos on your landing pages or blog post
- Come up with creative thumbnails – use dynamic colors and intriguing, clear captions on your shorts
Technical Issues
There often is a funny answer to why are my shorts not getting views on YouTube – because they are set as private. Make sure that what you publish is available to the public. You can find the visibility options in settings.
You may also have a copyright issue. Maybe you are using music or a song that you do not have a right to use. Check that there are no copyright infringement problems with your shorts content. Furthermore, sometimes, people will take their TikTok videos and directly upload them to YouTube. This will not always result in visibility issues but very often it can. It is always better to create separate video content for TikTok and YouTube.
New YouTubers can also forget about the ideal length of YouTube shorts. According to the latest findings, the ideal YouTube shorts length is 15-20 seconds. If you are posting content that is nearly a minute in length it can become a reason why your shorts are not getting views on YouTube.
How do I increase my YouTube Shorts views?
YouTube shorts let anyone be a creator. But, the quality standard is lower, so putting in extra effort is crucial for real growth. Shorts has a unique recommendation system that might turn your video into a game-changer. At the same time, achieving virality is tricky due to unclear instructions and changing algorithms.
Using SEO for YouTube Shorts
Using Search Engine Optimization for YouTube shorts means choosing words that people often search for. You can use tools like TubeBuddy to find the best keywords for your videos. Put these keywords in your title, description, and hashtags. Also, use at least three hashtags to help YouTube categorize and find your content easily.
Make your captions interesting and include keywords to get more clicks. You can test different captions to find out which ones get more views and engagement. Furthermore, YouTubers often use transcripts to make their content accessible and searchable by search engines.
Storytelling techniques to get more views on YouTube
Make your YouTube shorts more interesting by using the best practices of video storytelling techniques. Here’s how:
- Start with a hook: grab attention with a surprising fact, common problem, or intriguing question
- Introduce a challenge or goal: it starts a journey and keeps the story engaging
- Include visuals and sounds: use trending sounds, attractive visuals, and subtitles for more engagement
- Build towards a climax: provide resolution or a valuable insight, don’t share the best part of your shorts at the beginning
- Consider a circular narrative: you can tie the end back to the beginning for satisfying finish of your video
Experimenting with the content type
To keep your YouTube shorts channel fresh and at the same time prevent your shorts from not getting views on YouTube you need to diversify your content. You can blend various formats of content and experiment to see which one works best for your audience. Here are some ideas for your next shorts content type:
- share quick tips to demonstrate your expertise and knowledge
- offer behind-the-scenes looks and share your creative process
- create vlogs for personal connections and sharing experiences
- conduct interviews or collaborate with other creators
- trend-surf by exploring seasonal or trending topics relevant to your shorts profile
- encourage audience requests for community engagement
- reply or assess other viral shorts that are relevant to your profile (you can do remixes as well)
Have a consistent posting schedule
Keep your YouTube shorts channel growing by developing a consistent posting schedule. Here are some tips and guidelines on schedule-building:
- Choose a posting frequency: decide if you can post daily, weekly, or biweekly without compromising on quality or your schedule
- Inform your audience: let them know when to expect new content through shorts, videos, channel descriptions, or community posts
- Batch your content: you can save time by creating and editing multiple videos at once which also helps having your videos ready for posting at any time
- Sync with other platforms: if you post on other short-form video platforms (like TikTok), you can sync in your posting schedule with YouTube
- Have evergreen content ready: keep a small reserve of timeless content (always relevant) for emergencies
- Stay relevant: while consistency is useful, make sure you include seasonal or trending topics that also fir your niche
- Use scheduling tools: plan and post your videos at times when your audience is most active for maximum engagement. For this, you can use YouTube scheduling tools
Build a personal brand
There are a lot of creators online and they compete with each other either voluntarily or involuntarily. So it is crucial to stand out as a creator and offer something authentic and unique that viewers cannot find with anyone else. For these purposes, YouTubers often seek to build a personal brand. Here is how to achieve it:
- Be genuine: build trust and loyalty by being authentic in your interactions, content, and the way you talk to your subscribers
- Maintain a consistent visual theme: use a uniform color palette, fonts, and graphics across your shorts for instant recognition
- Develop a distinct voice: whether humorous, inspirational, or educational, make sure your content resonates with your brand identity and audience
- Share your journey: connect with viewers by sharing not just successes but also relatable and human experiences, including failures and mistakes
- Clearly propose value: let your audience know what they can gain from subscribing and watching, be it entertainment, education, or inspiration
- Build a community: engage with your audience through comments, live streams, and social media to create a sense of community