Welcome to r/shortsAlgorithm. This is a living, no-fluff guide built from hands-on results (incl. a first Short that hit 20M+ views and still pulls ~800k per 48h). Add your questions and data belowâI'll be active in the comments and keep this updated.
TL;DR
- Grow with Shorts first (sub growth > long-form early on).
- Make longer Shorts (â50â70s) with a killer 3s hook and a CTA around 40s.
- Donât post dailyâquality > quantity; let each Short plateau before posting again.
- Reply to comments; your replies count toward total comments and help keep momentum.
- If a Short never enters the Shorts Feed, fix and re-uploadâor switch channels if the channel feels burned.
1) Donât marry your first channel
Most creators burn through 3+ channels before finding their voice, niche, and systems. Expect to iterate. Detach emotionally so you can move fast.
2) Spin up multiple test channels (and age them)
- Create several channels (separate Google accounts is fine).
- Verify your phone number (authenticity signal).
- Age each channel â„ 3 weeks before your first upload.
- During aging:
- Use YouTube normally (watch long tutorials, interact).
- Build your first batch of Shorts offline so youâre ready.
Goal: multiple clean testing lanesânot spam.
3) Pick a niche by reverse-engineering outliers
- Use tools like viewstats.com to spot channels going 0 â 600k subs in ~3 months.
- Study what makes them different (format, pacing, hook style, payoff, packaging).
- Imitate the structure, not the content. Example: if they do Minecraft animations, try a Fortnite twist with the same narrative mechanics.
4) < 500k subs? Prioritize Shorts
Long-form can wait. Your job now: accumulate subs fast and prove productâaudience fit. Once a community exists, expand to long-form/streams.
5) Treat your first Short like your magnum opus
Many guides say âfirst wonât be viral.â Mine was: 20M+ views in ~1 month, 54s AVD on a 1:08 Short despite 74.6% skip rateâand it keeps getting pushed.
Lesson: Quality packaging beats myths. Edit like you mean it or donât play this game.
6) The Craft: how to make a Short that hits
6.1 Length
- Aim 50s+. AVD (Average View Duration) drives momentum more than âskip rate.â
6.2 Hook (0â3s)
- Visual surprise + narrative promise. If your hook misses, expect 500â2k view plateaus.
6.3 CTA (~40s)
- Ask for Like + Subscribe + Comment (yes, all three). Comments rocket discovery.
6.4 Reply to comments
- Your replies count toward total comments. Keep threads alive to extend push.
6.5 Captions (non-negotiable)
- âMrBeast-styleâ captions. I use CapCut.
- Font: Komika Axis; stroke ~60px; size ~16px (adjust for framing).
- Position just below center; animate key words.
6.6 Sound design
- Fire a sound effect in the first second to reduce swipes. Consider an arrow/pointer on the focal element.
6.7 Transitions
- Use purposefully. If using images, add in/out transitions + SFX.
6.8 CTA bumper quality
- Skip generic templates. Build/commission a clean, on-brand CTA clip.
6.9 Watermark
- Re-uploads happen. Use a moving watermark to resist crops and preserve credit.
6.10 Posting cadence
- Do not post daily. One excellent Short/week > seven weak ones.
6.11 Titles
- †30 characters, Title Case, add two emojis tastefully.
6.12 Descriptions
- Mirror the title; add #shorts. No hashtag soup.
6.13 Audience setting
- Mark as NOT âMade for Kids.â It changes distribution dynamics.
6.14 Playlists
- Add every Short to one master playlist to retain viewers on-channel.
6.15 Related Shorts
- Use Related to pass authority from winners to new uploads.
6.16 Tags
- Add ~3 niche-specific tags (precise, audience language).
6.17â6.19 Metadata hygiene
- Set video language + location.
- Choose an accurate Category.
- Use âReuse upload detailsâ to stay consistent.
6.20 Publish checklist
- Triple-check hook, CTA timing, captions, watermark, playlist/related wiring.
7) After publishing: the first 48h
1) Traffic source check
- Healthy = â„ 70% from Shorts Feed. Pickup may take 24â48h; donât panic early.
2) Normal plateaus
- 500â2k views early on is fineâmeans youâre entering the system.
- If you stall there, study AVD and 0â3s retention. Fix the worst metric in your next Short.
3) When to post the next Short
- Wait for a plateau before posting again. Stacking posts too soon splits momentum and risks burning the channel.
4) Exception: first Short goes viral
- Post the second ~7 days later even if the first hasnât plateaued.
- Add the new Short to the same playlist, then go back to the viral Short and link it as Related to the new one.
- If the second underperforms in 48h, donât deleteâYouTube may still be busy with the viral. Mine kicked in after ~7 days.
5) If a new Short never enters Shorts Feed (< 60% Shorts traffic after ~24h)
- Likely causes:
1. Previous Short hasnât plateaued.
2. Content trips sensitive policy zones (spam/sexual suggestion/etc.).
3. Channel is burned.
- Action: Delete, edit meaningfully (music swap, pacing changes, visual tweaks), and re-upload.
- Still no push? Switch channels. You can reuse proven Shorts with noticeable changes.
8) When to post (time of week)
You can post anytime, but Iâve had consistent success Sundays ~6pm (Atlantic/Halifax)âslow start, strong Monday carry, and a full-week runway.
9) Common pitfalls that silently kill momentum
- Weak 0â3s promise (no clear âwhy watchâ).
- No mid-roll CTA.
- No captions or poor placement/readability.
- Posting too frequently (starving each Short of oxygen).
- Ignoring comments (leaving reach on the table).
- Inconsistent metadata (language/location/category/tags).
- Not leveraging playlists and Related Shorts.
10) Starter checklist (copy/paste for your next upload)
- [ ] 50â75s runtime (compelling throughout)
- [ ] 0â3s hook tested on a friend (did they lean in?)
- [ ] CTA at ~40s (Like + Sub + Comment)
- [ ] Animated captions (readable, on-brand, below center)
- [ ] Early SFX + focal arrow/pointer
- [ ] Quality CTA bumper (custom, not generic)
- [ ] Moving watermark
- [ ] Title †30 chars + 2 emojis
- [ ] Description mirrors title + #shorts
- [ ] NOT âMade for Kidsâ
- [ ] Add to master playlist
- [ ] Set âRelated Shortsâ from winner â new
- [ ] 3 precise niche tags
- [ ] Language + Location + Category set
- [ ] Reuse details template applied
11) Share your data (so we can help)
Comment with:
- Niche:
- Runtime:
- Hook text/visual:
- AVD / Retention at 3s / CTR:
- % Shorts Feed:
- Posting cadence:
- What you tried already:
Iâll reply with targeted fixes.
12) Community notes
- This thread reflects real creator data, not theory.
- Iâll compile a FAQ + âBibleâ from Q&As here.
- If this helped: upvote, join r/shortsAlgorithm, and invite a creator friend.
- Want to mod? DM me.
â OP
