Level up your YouTube Shorts with these five creator tips
Gain insights from YouTube and popular creator Jordan Howlett to help your short-form content stand out.
YouTube recently sat down with creator Jordan Howlett, known for his punchy and super-engaging storytelling, and Todd Sherman, former Head of Product for YouTube Shorts. Together, they dropped five tips to help you create Shorts that not only rack up views but also build lasting connections with your audience.
Shorts allow creators to engage with audiences through small short-form clips. They’re quick to make, easy to watch, and are a powerful way to grow your audience. They’ve even exploded in popularity to the point where Shorts now matches long-form YouTube videos in revenue potential.
Five creator tips
If you’re ready to take your Shorts game up a notch, here’s what Jordan and YouTube suggest.
1. Be authentic
It’s easy to fall into the trap of playing a character or chasing an image. It sounds cliche, but being yourself is crucial. By offering a unique voice and perspective, viewers can directly buy into you and your content. That way, the viewers will want to keep coming back.
Of course, some people do build huge audiences through carefully played out personas. It can work, but it’s often harder to sustain over the long term, and it risks feeling hollow if you can’t keep it up.
Take Jordan for example. He made his mark by sharing relatable stories from his 9-to-5, and told them in a way that felt fresh and engaging.
That kind of authenticity works just as well in collaborations too. Just like fans, other creators can spot a persona from a mile away. If you want to connect with other creators and create genuinely great content, be yourself.
2. Stats can help, but so can your gut
Jordan can usually tell within an hour if a video will take off by checking the view-to-like ratio. If it feels right and the numbers back it up, you’re probably onto a winner. If not, you can treat it as a learning opportunity. Take these insights into consideration when making new content, and try to expand upon content that you know works.
YouTube recently made it even easier to track performance, by updating the view count to include when your Short appears in the feed. This should help you gain faster insights into your content’s performance.
3. Don’t overly rely on trends
Jumping on trend can be a smart move though, especially if you’re just starting out. They provide quick ideas that quickly let you latch onto content that is clearly already popular.
Original ideas shouldn’t take a backseat though. Trends come and go fast, but your original ideas that showcase your personality are what will keep your audience hooked long-term.
“Trends are fantastic, especially for a newer creator… But I do think that there’s a lot of benefit in just forging your own path, because those videos will last a lot longer.”
Jordan Howlett
In short: sure, trends are great. However, they shouldn’t be the sole focus of your creations.
4. Consistency beats overnight success
Not every one of your videos will be a viral hit that is viewed by millions. That’s normal. Some will flop, some will simmer, and a few might take off. The trick? Persevering.
It can be difficult to keep going at first, and there may be challenges along the way. However, sticking with it counts.
Jordan sums it up perfectly: “It’s impossible to beat somebody that doesn’t give up”.
5. What about AI?
When it comes to AI, a balance is important. YouTube has recently announced a flurry of new AI editing features for Shorts, alongside the upcoming integration of Veo 3 AI video generation into Shorts later this summer. So, there’s no better time to talk about what’s best when it comes to using it.
There is no doubt that some AI content will explode, and the tools will definitely streamline your workflow. However, they’re no substitute for your own creative voice. Becoming dependent on AI for your Shorts could take away from your originality that kept viewers engaged in the first place. As YouTube themselves recently warned, “unique creativity is truly what makes Shorts shine!”
Jordan even believes that AI’s rise will inspire creators to double down on authenticity and human storytelling. As the novelty of AI wears off, more viewers and creators may begin to value original human craftsmanship more.
Final thoughts
These tips aren’t the be all and end all, they’re springboards. Try them, tweak them, and figure out what works best for your voice and your audience.
This isn’t the first time YouTube has shared its own tips on how to master Shorts either, with plenty of more Shorts advice on the RouteNote Blog: