Let’s see the best way to publish YouTube Shorts to finally get your channel off the ground this year. We tend to think that if a pair of Shorts doesn’t get views, it’s because the video is bad; in fact, the problem isn’t there: it’s the way you upload your Shorts. The right post settings allowed me to go from a Short with 388 views to a Short with almost 100,000 views.
1. Publish from the application, not from a browser
Does not publish from a browser on a computer. This is the error that I see most often: on browser, there are options that are not available, such as adding trending music or better thumbnail control. Instead, use the YouTube mobile application or YouTube Studio (Play Store / Apple Store). Before publishing, check that the application is up to date.
The steps to upload a Short correctly :
- Open the YouTube app.
- Press the “+ » button at the bottom of the screen, then Add to select the Shorts you have edited (or create them directly from the app if necessary).
- Once the video is selected, options appear on the right. If your Shorts are already fitted, you can press the check button directly on the bottom right.
- Add trendy music and adjust the volumes
- At the top, add some trendy music: this really increases your chances of appearing in the Shorts tab.
- Click on the volume icon at the top right: leave the original audio at 100% and turn down the music so that everything is audible.
- Press Next.
You will arrive at the upload parameters of your Shorts, with differences compared to long videos.
2. Miniature
For Shorts, you cannot import your own thumbnail: you can only select an image from the Shorts. This limits the possibilities, but here are two tips to create an eye-catching miniature :
Use the most “wow” moment of the video: a strong expression or a striking action that attracts attention.
Create an eye-catching image yourself during editing: add a very strong visual for 0.3 seconds at the end of the Shorts. Then, click on the pencil to modify the thumbnail and select this image.
- Title: short, powerful, keyword-oriented
- The title is complementary to the thumbnail to get the clicks.
- Choose a short title (less than 50 characters).
- We sometimes see #shorts in the title: why not; on the other hand, avoid adding #viral or #foryou in the title.
3. When to publish your Shorts to maximize views
The time of publication can have a huge impact on views.
If you have active subscribers, publish when your viewers are on YouTube: in YouTube Studio > Audience > When your viewers are on YouTube. A spike in engagement just after going live sends a very good signal to the algorithm.
If you’re just starting out or don’t have a big audience yet, try less saturated schedules: early in the morning or late at night to come out with less competition in the Shorts feed.
In general, the weekend (from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon) remains a good period: people have more time to scroll.
Test several niches and compare the statistics: what works for one channel may be very different for another.
4. Conclusion
To explode the views of your YouTube Shorts, don’t focus only on the video itself: publish via the application, add trendy music by adjusting the volumes well, optimize the thumbnail (by inserting a “wow” moment to capture), choose a short title with two strong keywords, write an optimized description with keywords and measured hashtags, complete the advanced options (tags, category, visibility, remix), then publish at the right time. By applying these publication parameters, you give the algorithm every chance to propel your Shorts and really get your channel off the ground.