How to Analyze YouTube Shorts Performance

Posting YouTube Shorts is one thing, but knowing if they're actually working is a whole different ballgame. If you're tired of checking your view count and hoping for the best, you're in the right place. This guide will walk you through exactly which metrics to track, where to find them in YouTube Studio, and how to use that data to create Shorts that get more views, drive more subscribers, and build your brand.

Where to Find Your YouTube Shorts Analytics

First things first, let's get you to the right screen. YouTube houses all its performance data inside YouTube Studio. Getting to a general overview of your Shorts performance is straightforward.

Here's the step-by-step path to your main Shorts dashboard:

1. Log in to your YouTube account and navigate to YouTube Studio.
2. In the left-hand navigation menu, click on Analytics.
3. At the top of the Analytics page, click on the Content tab.
4. You'll see a few format options like 'All', 'Videos', 'Shorts', and 'Live'. Click on Shorts.

Voila! You're now looking at the high-level performance dashboard for all your YouTube Shorts. This screen gives you a bird's-eye view of your total Shorts views, likes, and subscribers gained from shorts over a chosen period. It's great for spotting general trends.

To analyze a specific Short, the process is slightly different:

1. In YouTube Studio, click Content from the left-hand menu.
2. Select the Shorts tab.
3. Hover your cursor over the Short you want to analyze and click the Analytics icon (it looks like a small bar graph).

This takes you to the detailed analytics for that individual video, which is where the most valuable insights live. Now that you know where to find the data, let's talk about what all those numbers really mean.

Key Metrics to Track for YouTube Shorts (And What They Mean)

Not all metrics are created equal. While it's tempting to obsess over views, the analytics that truly tell you if a Short is resonating with viewers are a bit deeper. These are the metrics that matter most for the algorithm and your growth.

1. Viewed vs. Swiped Away

If you only track one metric, make it this one. Found in the Key moments for audience retention section of an individual Short's analytics, this percentage is the most powerful signal you can send to the YouTube algorithm.

• What it is: A simple, binary metric that shows the percentage of people who started watching your Short versus those who saw it in their feed and immediately swiped away before it even really began.
• Why it matters: A high "Viewed" percentage tells YouTube, "Hey, people who see this video actually stick around!" In turn, YouTube's algorithm is incentivized to show it to more people. A low percentage means your hook wasn't strong enough, so YouTube quickly stops promoting it.
• What to aim for: Every niche is different, but a good benchmark is 70% or higher. If you're consistently seeing numbers in the 80s or 90s, you've created an incredibly effective hook. If you're seeing numbers below 60%, it's a clear sign that the first one to three seconds of your video need to be rethought.

2. Average Percentage Viewed (APV)

Once you've hooked the viewer, the next goal is to keep them watching until the end. Average Percentage Viewed tells you exactly how good you are at doing that.

• What it is: This metric shows, on average, what percentage of your Short people watch. If your Short is 30 seconds long and the average person watches for 27 seconds, your APV would be 90%.
• Why it matters: Like watch time on long-form videos, APV is a huge ranking factor for Shorts. High APV signals that the content is engaging all the way through. Even better, if your Short is designed to loop seamlessly, you can achieve an APV of over 100%, which is a massive positive signal to the algorithm. For example, a 110% APV means the average viewer watched your entire Short and then re-watched the first 10%.
• What to aim for: For Shorts, you should be aiming for an APV of at least 80%. Top-performing Shorts regularly sit between 95% and 125%. A low APV is a sign that your video might have a strong hook but fails to deliver on its promise or becomes boring midway through.

3. Audience Retention Graph

The audience retention graph gives you a second-by-second visual breakdown of when people stop watching. This graph is fantastic for diagnosing exactly where your Short goes wrong.

• What it is: A line graph showing the percentage of your audience that is still watching at any given point in your video.
• What to look for:
  • A Steep Drop at the Beginning: This confirms that your hook isn't working. Too much context, a slow build-up, or a confusing opening will cause people to swipe before you get to the good stuff.
  • A Gradual Decline: If the line slopes steadily downward, it means the content is losing steam. Your pacing might be slow, the visuals might be uninteresting, or the story might not be compelling enough.
  • A Flat Line or Upward Spike: A high, flat line is the goal - it means almost everyone is making it to the end. Small spikes are even better, they indicate moments that people re-watched, which is extremely valuable feedback. Note what's happening on screen during those spikes!

4. Likes, Comments, and Shares

While watch time metrics are the heavyweights, traditional engagement signals still play a supportive role in building your community and providing qualitative feedback.

• What they are: Likes, comments, and shares are direct user interactions. Shares are arguably the most valuable of the three because they signify that someone found your content good enough to pass on to someone else.
• Why they matter: These aren't the primary drivers of the algorithm, but they add positive social proof and help you connect directly with your audience. Reading comments tells you what your audience is thinking, what questions they have, and what content ideas they might be interested in.
• Actionable Advice: Don't be afraid to ask for engagement. A simple call to action like, "Let me know your thoughts in the comments!" or posing a question in your Short or its description can make a big difference.

5. Subscribers

Views are temporary, but subscribers are a long-term investment in your channel. This metric shows you which of your Shorts are effectively converting casual viewers into fans.

• What it is: This number, found both in the main Shorts dashboard and individual Short analytics, shows how many new subscribers you've gained directly from your Shorts.
• Why it matters: Growth isn't just about getting seen, it's about building a loyal audience. If a Short gets millions of views but brings in zero subscribers, it entertained people but didn't connect with them. On the other hand, a Short with modest views that brings in hundreds of subscribers might reveal a powerful niche topic for your channel.
• Actionable Advice: Check the analytics of your top 10 Shorts by subscribers gained. What was the theme, style, or message of these videos? That's what's resonating with potential subscribers. Make more content like that.

How to Turn Data into Action: Your Weekly Shorts Analysis Checklist

Knowing what the metrics mean is one thing. Using them to make better content is what separates struggling creators from successful ones. Follow this simple framework once a week to create a powerful feedback loop for your creativity.

1. Identify Your Winners: Navigate to your Shorts analytics and filter the date range to "Last 28 days." Look at the videos with the highest views. Now, dive into the individual analytics for your top 3-5 performers. Ask yourself:
   • What is their "Viewed vs. Swiped Away" percentage? Why was the hook so effective?
   • What is their "Average Percentage Viewed"? Was it a satisfying payoff, a perfect loop, or something else that kept people watching?
   • What was the topic, format, sound, or editing style? Look for common patterns.
2. Analyze Your Underperformers: Now, do the opposite. Find your 3-5 Shorts with the lowest views or a terrible "Viewed vs. Swiped Away" score. Be honest and critical here:
   • Where did the audience retention graph drop off steeply?
   • Was the title confusing? Was the video quality poor?
   • Was the pacing too slow within the first five seconds?
3. Form a Few Hypotheses: Based on your analysis, create 2-3 educated guesses about what works for your audience. A hypothesis isn't just a random idea, it's a specific, testable statement. For example:
   • Hypothesis 1: "My Shorts that use viral trending audio from TikTok get at least a 20% higher 'Viewed vs. Swiped Away' rate than those with original audio."
   • Hypothesis 2: "Shorts that are under 15 seconds have a higher Average Percentage Viewed because they are more re-watchable."
   • Hypothesis 3: "When I add a text hook on-screen in the first second, viewers are more likely to watch the entire video."
4. Test Your Hypotheses: With your next batch of Shorts, intentionally create content that tests these ideas. Create a few Shorts using viral audio, a few under 15 seconds, and a few with that on-screen text hook. Don't change too many variables at once, or you won't know what caused the change in performance.
5. Review and Repeat: After a few days, check the analytics on your test Shorts. Were your hypotheses correct? Did your changes move the needle? Whether they did or didn't, you've learned something valuable. Use those findings to form new hypotheses and continue refining your content strategy.

This process transforms you from a content creator who hopes for engagement into a strategist who creates it intentionally.

Final Thoughts

Analyzing your YouTube Shorts performance is less about chasing vanity metrics and more about understanding audience psychology. By focusing on metrics like "Viewed vs. Swiped Away" and Average Percentage Viewed, you can get a clear picture of what grabs attention and holds it, allowing you to consistently refine your strategy and create better content.

We know that juggling content creation, posting consistently, and then analyzing it all is a lot to handle. To help streamline at least part of that process, we built Postbase with a clean, visual calendar to help you plan and schedule your Shorts and other social content with ease. By keeping your scheduling organized, you have more mental space to focus on the creative work and data analysis that truly drive your channel's growth.