7 Reasons Your YouTube Shorts Are Not Getting Views

YouTube Shorts is a relatively new section on YouTube that offers creators an exciting way to share brief, vertical videos up to 60 seconds in length. It gives viewers the same experience as scrolling through Instagram Reels or the TikTok feed. Creating YouTube Shorts can feel discouraging when your view counts are low. Plus, the fast-paced, fleeting format is a far cry from the long-form videos we know and love. Are your YouTube shorts not getting views despite your efforts? Well this blog will let you know why your shorts are not getting views.

Shortspilot

January 05, 2025
4 min read
7 Reasons Your YouTube Shorts Are Not Getting Views

7 Reasons Why Your YouTube Shorts Are Not Getting Views

1. YouTube Shorts Algorithm

The YouTube Shorts algorithm plays a massive role in getting your content seen. It dictate what content gets promoted and seen by a wider audience, rely on various factors including the use of trending hashtags, viewer engagement rates, and strategic posting times. So, if your Shorts have missing titles, descriptions, and relevant tags, it could hinder the algorithm’s ability to understand and recommend your content to the right audience.

2. Using Improper or Incorrect Hashtags

Hashtags are crucial to improving the discoverability of the Shorts you post online. However, they only work if you use them the right way. While it’s essential to promote branded hashtags for brand recognition, avoid overloading with keywords to align with Google’s guidelines. When you misuse hashtags, your content may not reach the intended audience and could be penalized by the algorithm. Using the wrong hashtags can also throw off your Shorts into oblivion. Make sure the spellings are correct, and the hashtags are relevant.

3. You’re Posting Horizontal Videos

Since YouTube shorts are formatted for vertical videos, horizontal videos will have to be cropped to fit the screen, Shorts, like Reels, are meant to be vertically oriented videos that last up to 60 seconds. Always ensure that your content for Shorts is recorded vertically, preferably in the 9:16 ratio. This is how YouTube Shorts are meant to be viewed, and it provides the best experience for mobile users. Also, keep your video under 60 seconds to align with the Shorts guidelines. Adhering to these format specifications will make your Shorts look more appealing and stand a better chance of attracting more views.

4. Lack of Promotion

Lack of promotion is a common oversight that can affect the reach of your YouTube Shorts. While your Shorts can certainly succeed with just the algorithm, if you’re only relying on YouTube’s platform to showcase your content, you might be missing out on expanding your audience as YouTube alone is not sufficient to lure your target audience to your videos. Start by researching the best way to promote your videos to reach your target audience. A good technique you can incorporate is cross-promoting your videos on social media platforms, for instance, Facebook or Instagram. That allows you to leverage your already existing followers.

5. Too Much Competition

The competition for viewer attention is intense. Your Shorts are not just competing against a few videos but potentially thousands with similar themes or styles. The only way to stand out from the crowd is to find creative and unique ways to create your YouTube shorts. An excellent example is by using your humor and storytelling skills to create a fresh perspective in your content. That will immediately set you apart from the rest.

6. Poor Video Quality

Videos with the most views on YouTube are of high quality. Viewers do not like watching videos with poor audio and video quality. That makes it a crucial factor you need to consider before uploading YouTube videos. Poor quality can drive viewers away, so invest in good equipment and editing software. For instance, a microphone, camera, or a good smartphone. Next, understand your audience’s preferences and needs.

7. Audience Engagement

For YouTube Shorts, engagement metrics like likes, comments, and shares are more than just vanity metrics; they are important indicators of content appeal and relevance. Low engagement on your Shorts could mean they’re not interesting to viewers, leading YouTube to perceive the video as “bad” or irrelevant. Encourage viewer engagement with a strong call to action. Ask viewers to like, comment, share, and subscribe. Engaged viewers are more likely to share your content and help it reach a broader audience.

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3 Easy Steps to make your contents using Shortspilot.ai


1. Click "Create New Series".

2. Connect your social media channel and choose one of many niches from the drop down, select your preferred voice and language then click on "create", wait for less than a minute and your video is ready!

3. Adjust the script or the title as needed and click on update, then post video and it will automatically be posted on your preferred social media platform.