7 YouTube Shorts Ideas

You’re probably:

• Running out of YouTube Shorts content ideas
• So you want to know what’s proven to work
• To apply that to your channel

This guide gives you all the answers you’re looking for!

7 Viral Ideas for YouTube Shorts

1. Tips and Tricks

Quick tips and hacks are effective because they provide immediate value and can easily be applied by viewers. This format caters to the audience’s desire for efficiency and practical knowledge. When viewers see content that simplifies their lives, they are more likely to engage and share.

• Why this performs well:
  • Offers immediate value to viewers.
  • Easy to share and discuss among friends.
  • Encourages repeat viewership for more tips.
• How you can do it:
  • Identify common problems in your niche.
  • Create a script outlining the tip and its benefits.
  • Use engaging visuals and text overlays to emphasize key points.
• Difficulty: Easy to Moderate

2. Behind the Scenes

Behind-the-scenes content creates a sense of intimacy and authenticity, drawing viewers closer to your brand or persona. It humanizes your content and makes your audience feel like they are part of your journey. This type of content fosters a stronger connection, encouraging engagement and loyalty.

• Why this performs well:
  • Builds a personal connection with the audience.
  • Provides unique insights that are often not seen by viewers.
  • Makes viewers feel involved in your process.
• How you can do it:
  • Plan a day where you capture your typical activities.
  • Highlight interesting or unexpected moments throughout the day.
  • Use candid shots and casual narration for a more authentic feel.
• Difficulty: Moderate

3. Trending Dances

Participating in trending challenges or dances can increase visibility as these topics often dominate searches and feeds. Users are drawn to trending content, and adding your unique twist can help you stand out. Engaging with trends allows you to tap into the community, increasing interaction and shares.

• Why this performs well:
  • Capitalizes on current trends and audience interests.
  • Increases discoverability through trending hashtags.
  • Engages viewers who enjoy entertaining and relatable content.
• How you can do it:
  • Research current trends on YouTube and other social media.
  • Film your take on the challenge or dance.
  • Add your own unique spin or commentary to make it personal.
• Difficulty: Easy to Moderate

4. Storytelling

Short storytelling captivates audiences with relatable narratives that evoke emotions or laughter. Engaging stories encourage viewers to share their thoughts and experiences in the comments, fostering community interaction. The storytelling format makes your content memorable, increasing the likelihood of shares.

• Why this performs well:
  • Connects with viewers on an emotional level.
  • Encourages discussion and interaction in comments.
  • Leaves a lasting impression, increasing shareability.
• How you can do it:
  • Choose a relatable or humorous story from your life.
  • Keep it concise, focusing on a clear beginning, middle, and end.
  • Use visuals or props to enhance the storytelling experience.
• Difficulty: Moderate

5. Reaction Videos

Reaction videos tap into the viewers’ curiosity about different perspectives on trending topics. They provide entertainment and allow for spontaneous, authentic responses, making the content relatable. This format encourages audience interaction through comments and can lead to a viral effect as people share their favorite reactions.

• Why this performs well:
  • Engages viewers through relatable and spontaneous reactions.
  • Encourages sharing and commenting, increasing engagement.
  • Taps into trending content, boosting visibility.
• How you can do it:
  • Select trending videos or memes to react to.
  • Record your genuine reactions while watching.
  • Add commentary or insights to make it engaging.
• Difficulty: Easy

6. Before and After

Transformation content showcases progress and inspires viewers to undertake their own journeys. This format is visually appealing and often encourages viewers to follow for updates on future transformations. It builds anticipation and engagement as audiences become invested in the outcomes.

• Why this performs well:
  • Visually engaging and inspiring for viewers.
  • Encourages shares and discussions around personal journeys.
  • Creates anticipation for future updates.
• How you can do it:
  • Document a journey or project from start to finish.
  • Use clear visuals for before-and-after comparisons.
  • Narrate the process and challenges faced along the way.
• Difficulty: Moderate

7. Educational

Educational snippets provide valuable insights in a concise format, appealing to viewers’ desire for quick knowledge. This type of content establishes you as an authority in your niche, fostering trust and loyalty among your audience. Engaging visuals and clear explanations help keep viewers focused and encourage them to share the content.

• Why this performs well:
  • Provides quick, valuable information that viewers appreciate.
  • Positions you as an authority in your niche.
  • Encourages viewers to follow for more educational content.
• How you can do it:
  • Choose a specific topic or concept to explain.
  • Break down complex information into simple, digestible points.
  • Use engaging visuals and text to reinforce key concepts.
• Difficulty: Moderate to Hard

Feel free to customize any of these points to better fit your target audience or personal style!

How to Come Up with the Best Ideas for Shorts

1. Research Trends

Start by exploring current trends on YouTube Shorts, TikTok, and Instagram Reels to see what’s resonating with audiences.

Look for topics that align with your channel’s theme but add your unique perspective to make the idea fresh and relevant.

2. Audience Interest

Think about what your viewers want to see and the types of content they find engaging.

Analyze your most-viewed Shorts and comments for insights, as these can guide you toward ideas that align well with your audience’s preferences.

3. Repurpose Existing Content

Review your longer videos for key moments or valuable points that can be repurposed into Shorts.

By breaking down popular videos, you can offer highlights in a bite-sized format, appealing to viewers who prefer quick, impactful content.

4. Answer FAQs

If your channel has a specific niche, address common questions or problems that viewers often encounter.

Creating Shorts that quickly answer these questions makes your content useful, shareable, and likely to attract new subscribers.

5. Use AI Tools for Idea Generation

Leverage AI tools designed for content inspiration to brainstorm topics, titles, and even scripts.

These tools can provide new angles on popular subjects or generate entirely new ideas, helping keep your content fresh.

6. Experiment with Different Formats

Try various formats for Shorts — like tutorials, challenges, or “behind-the-scenes” clips to see what performs best.

Experimenting allows you to discover what resonates with your viewers and opens up more possibilities for future content.

Following these steps will help you generate engaging, relevant ideas for YouTube Shorts that capture attention and keep viewers coming back for more.

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SendShort helps you Never Run Out of Shorts Ideas

With SendShort’s AI, you’ll never run out of ideas for YouTube Shorts!

SendShort offers creative prompts and inspiration, helping you keep your content fresh and engaging.

Here’s how SendShort’s AI helps you generate endless Shorts ideas:

• Content Suggestions: Get tailored topic suggestions based on trending themes and viewer interest, so you’re always creating relevant content.
• AI-Powered Brainstorming: SendShort can help generate unique angles or ideas based on your past content, making it easy to build on what resonates.
• Platform Optimization Tips: Receive insights on what types of Shorts perform best on YouTube, helping you shape ideas that align with platform trends.

With SendShort, you’ll always have a source of new ideas, keeping your Shorts consistent and engaging.

FAQ: YouTube Shorts Ideas

1. Which topic is best for YouTube Shorts?

The best topics for YouTube Shorts include: trending challenges, quick tutorials, behind-the-scenes content, funny skits, and bite-sized tips or hacks that resonate with your target audience.

2. What is the best thing to upload on YouTube Shorts?

The best things to upload on YouTube Shorts: engaging clips like tutorials, funny moments, behind-the-scenes footage, and relatable stories that capture viewers’ attention quickly.

3. How to make YouTube Shorts interesting?

1. Grab Attention Quickly: The first few seconds are crucial. Start with a hook—an intriguing question, a bold statement, or a visually captivating moment to draw viewers in.
2. Keep It Concise: Shorts are meant to be brief. Aim for a clear and focused message or story that can be delivered quickly, ideally within 15-30 seconds.
3. Engage Emotionally: Use humor, surprise, or relatable situations to connect with viewers emotionally. Content that evokes strong feelings tends to perform better.
4. Use Eye-Catching Visuals: Bright colors, dynamic movements, and interesting camera angles can make your Shorts visually appealing. Ensure good lighting and clear audio as well.
5. Incorporate Trending Sounds or Music: Using popular audio clips or trending music can boost visibility and engagement. Check the latest trends on YouTube to find what resonates.

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Thanks a lot for reading this,
David Ch
Head of the Editing Team at SendShort