How to go viral on YouTube Shorts How to go viral on YouTube Shorts

How to go viral on YouTube Shorts

Going viral can be luck, but most times it is when hard work meets a little dash of sporadic genius, and luck. Here's the tricky secrets to going viral on YouTube Shorts.

Elie

Content Creator at Submagic 🧡

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When your YouTube Shorts don’t get views, it’s not just frustrating—it’s costing you real growth and real money.

The creators who do go viral aren’t just lucky — they’re intentional. They understand how the algorithm works, what their target audience craves, and how to hold a viewer’s attention.

In order to grow a YouTube channel, build your personal brand, and turn short-form content into a serious business, you’ll need a blueprint. We’re giving you a simple formula for going viral on Shorts.

What counts as “viral” on YouTube Shorts?

Going viral doesn’t have a universal benchmark — it depends on your niche and audience size. But in general these are the metrics we’re looking for:

10K–100K views is impressive for beginners
500K+ views is a strong viral signal
1M+ views means the Shorts algorithm loved you

Viral growth is about more than views. It’s also about propelling you to new audiences and growth for your business. You should see a spike in:

Subscribers gained
Watch time
Engagement (likes, comments, shares)

If you're not seeing that momentum, your content isn’t just underperforming — it’s invisible.

The top 5 viral YouTube Shorts trending now

We studied the most viral Shorts in 2025. These are crushing the Youtube algorithm and reaching a wider audience:

Comedy sketch with a shocking twist
Tutorial showing a satisfying visual result in 30 seconds
Motivational clip from a podcast
Behind-the-scenes moment with an unexpected outcome
Side-by-side reaction to trending TikToks

Common thread? Every single one hooks the viewer instantly and keeps them watching until the end.

What do viral YouTube Shorts have in common?

These five traits showed up in almost every viral short-form video:

🧠 Smart captions – 85% of Youtube Shorts are watched without sound. Submagic can auto-caption your video content instantly.

📈 High retention – If your viewer drops off in the first 3 seconds, it’s game over.

🎯 A clear hook – Great Shorts capture attention with either curiosity, humor, emotion, or a big promise.

🔁 Trending sound or topic – YouTube favors Shorts that align with current trends.

📲 Mobile-first visuals – Vertical videos with sharp transitions, tight framing, and no dead space win. Quality content still matters!

How to get more YouTube Shorts views while avoiding burnout

You don’t need to post daily. You need to post smart. Here’s how:

Start strong – Use a hook that teases the outcome, not just the setup.
Use relevant hashtags – Mix trending hashtags with niche-specific ones.
Post at peak times – Test what works best for your audience using YouTube Analytics.
Repurpose from long-form content – Turn your YouTube video or podcast into a 60-second goldmine.
Add a strategic call to action – Try “Watch to the end,” “Comment your answer,” or “Subscribe for part 2.”

What’s the point of a viral short?

Virality is not the goal — it’s the gateway. What you really want is:

✅ More subs
✅ Monetization
✅ More authority in your niche
✅ More deals, brand growth, and long-term impact

Focus on that, and your videos will reflect the value you really offer. When you make Youtube Shorts, you invest in your future.

What should you post right now?

Here are the content formats currently dominating the Shorts feed:

“3 Tips in 30 Seconds” (tutorial or hack)
Podcast-style talking head with auto captions
Reaction to a trending clip
Behind-the-scenes moments (especially if they go wrong)
Quick rants or controversial opinions
“POV” relatable moments

Tip: Pull content from what you’re already doing on other social media platforms or clip your best moments from long-form videos. Don’t create a short from scratch every time.

How to find trending hashtags to make your YouTube Shorts go viral

Want to boost discoverability? Try this 3-step hashtag strategy:

Search YouTube Shorts with your niche keyword
Study the top 5 videos and copy overlapping tags
Use online hashtag tools to check volume + relevancy

Include a mix of:

Broad trending hashtags (#shorts, #foryou)
Niche-specific (#filmmakingtips, #skincare101)
Brandable or campaign-based hashtags

What to do if your YT Shorts are failing

If your content is flopping, don’t quit. Adjust.

Check retention in YouTube Analytics – Where are people dropping off?
Test 3 new formats over the next month
Cut the fluff – Start faster, end sharper
Take a look what trending topics are making the rounds right now and see if any of those fit within your brand of content
Use AI tools like Submagic for editing, captions, and hooks

Not every Short will be a hit. But every Short is an opportunity for a viral video. Be consistent, but be intentional when you upload Shorts.

Don’t forget - your audience isn’t just on YouTube

If you want to grow fast — cross-post. YouTube Shorts, TikTok, and Instagram Reels work together. One viral short-form video can bring attention across platforms.

Remove watermarks before reposting
Adjust the caption or CTA slightly for each platform
Make sure your thumbnails work for the platform they’re posted on — the YouTube app is different than TikTok and Instagram
Watch how the algorithm works differently on each one

Submagic helps creators go viral — without burnout

Want more views without spending 6 hours of video editing?

Submagic gives creators:

✅ AI-powered captions
✅ Templates made for YouTube Shorts
✅ Optimized hooks, CTAs, and viral formats

Built for content creators who want to grow without burning out.

Ready to make your next YouTube Shorts video go viral? Try Submagic for free, like right now. And start turning your content creation into real results.

About the author

Elie

Content Creator at Submagic 🧡

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Examples of Videos with automatic captions from Submagic

So many creators currently use Submagic to create captivating automatic captions on their social pages with amazing engagements. Here are a few examples of automatic captioning for videos created with Submagic by creators across different countries in different languages.

Vick Tipnes

@vicktipnes