How to Get YouTube Shorts into the Shorts Feed

Getting your YouTube Shorts to appear in the Shorts feed feels like the secret to unlocking massive channel growth, and honestly, it is. The good news is that it’s not based on luck, it's a process you can master. This guide breaks down the exact steps and strategies you need to follow, from technical formatting to creating content that the algorithm and viewers can’t ignore.

Understanding the Shorts Feed Algorithm

First, let’s get on the same page about how the Shorts feed works. Unlike your main YouTube homepage, which heavily features creators you're subscribed to, the Shorts feed is a discovery engine. Its primary job is to show viewers content from channels they’ve likely never seen before, all based on their viewing habits and interests. The algorithm is trying to find the perfect Short for the perfect viewer at the perfect time.

When you upload a Short, YouTube doesn't just blast it out to everyone. It starts by showcasing it to a small test group of people. Then, it watches their reaction closely. Did they watch the entire video? Did they swipe away immediately? Did they like, comment, or share? Based on these initial signals, the algorithm decides whether to push your video out to a wider audience, and then a wider one, and so on.

Your goal is to nail two key metrics:

• Audience Retention (Watch Time): How much of your Short do people watch? A viewer watching all 15 seconds of a 15-second video is a huge positive signal. If they watch it twice (a 200% retention rate), it's an even better one.
• Engagement Rate: Do viewers just watch, or do they interact? Likes, comments, shares, and new subscribers from your Short tell YouTube this content is resonating with people.

The Non-Negotiables: Formatting for the Shorts Feed

Before you even think about content, you have to get the technical details right. If you miss these steps, YouTube might not even classify your video as a Short, meaning it has zero chance of appearing in the feed. These are the absolute basics you must follow every single time.

1. Keep it Vertical

YouTube Shorts are designed for mobile phones. They must be in a vertical aspect ratio. The standard, and best, format is 9:16. This means your video should be taller than it is wide. A resolution of 1080x1920 pixels is perfect. If your video is square (1:1) or horizontal (16:9), it will likely be ignored by the Shorts algorithm and appear as a regular (and awkwardly formatted) video on your channel.

2. Keep it Short (Under 60 Seconds)

The name says it all. Your video must be 60 seconds or less to qualify as a Short. You can technically upload a 59-second video, but that’s not always the best strategy. The ideal length depends on your content, but a good starting point is between 15 and 30 seconds. Shorter is often better because it's easier to achieve a high audience retention rate. It’s better to have a powerful 12-second story that people watch twice than a rambling 50-second video that people swipe away from halfway through.

3. Use the #shorts Hashtag

This is the final signal you give to YouTube to classify your video. Include #shorts in either the title or the description of your video. While YouTube's system can often detect Shorts automatically from the format and length, including the hashtag removes all doubt. It’s good practice to always put it in the title. For example: “3 Common Coffee Mistakes You Make Every Morning #shorts”.

Creating Shorts People Actually Want to Watch

Once you've nailed the formatting, it's all about the content. An endless stream of users is just one swipe away from your video, so you have to earn their attention instantly. Here is how.

Hook Them in the First 3 Seconds

If you don't grab a viewer's attention in the first three seconds, they're gone. There are no long, cinematic intros here. You have to start with your strongest point, your most shocking statement, or the biggest question. Your hook should make the viewer think, "Wait, what happens next?"

Effective hooks include:

• Posing a Question: "Are you making this one critical mistake with your resume?"
• A Provocative Statement: "You’ve been lied to about productivity."
• Start in the Middle of the Action: Show an exciting result or a moment of chaos, and then explain how you got there.
• Visual Intrigue: A strange gadget, a beautiful scene, an unexpected transformation.

Deliver Value, Fast

Every Short should answer one unspoken question for the viewer: "What do I get out of watching this?" A quick scroll through the feed reveals that successful Shorts generally fall into one of three categories:

• Education: Teach something quickly. A 30-second coding tip, a life hack for cleaning pans, a quick breakdown of a complex news story.
• Entertainment: Make them laugh, amaze them with a skillful trick, show them a satisfying process, or tell a relatable, funny story.
• Inspiration: Share an inspirational story, explain a motivational quote, or share something that brings joy.

Pick one lane and stay in it for each Short. Trying to be educational, entertaining, and inspiring all at once usually results in a messy video that achieves none of those things.

Pacing is Everything

Shorts move at a breakneck pace. Use quick cuts, dynamic camera angles, and text on screen to keep the energy high. Don’t linger on any shot for too long unless it’s for a very specific dramatic effect. A static talking-head video with no cuts can feel incredibly slow in the Shorts feed. Trim any pauses, "ums," or "ahs." Every single second counts towards keeping the viewer locked in.

How to Optimize Your Shorts for Viral Potential

Getting the basic content right gets you into the game. Optimizing is how you win it. These strategies encourage rewatches and signal to the algorithm that your content is high quality.

Use Trending Audio

Audio is half of the Shorts experience. When you create a Short using the YouTube app, you gain access to the Shorts audio library, filled with licensed music and viral sounds. Using trending audio is a powerful signal to the algorithm. It helps YouTube categorize your content and show it to people who have recently engaged with other Shorts using that same sound. Don't force a sound that doesn’t fit, but if you find a trend that works for your niche, jumping on it can give you a significant lift in views.

Note on Captions: A huge percentage of people watch Shorts with the sound off. Always bake in captions or on-screen text for your key points. This makes your video accessible and ensures your message gets across even when muted.

Create Seamless Loops

A "seamless loop" is a video that ends in a way that allows it to start over without any jarring break. The first second of the video matches up perfectly with the last second. When done well, a viewer might not even realize the video has looped and end up watching it two or three times. This is absolute gold for your watch time metrics. A perfect loop can easily push your average view duration over 100%, which is one of the strongest indicators for the algorithm to push your Short to more people.

To create one, script your video with the beginning and end in mind. For example, your first line of dialogue could be the second half of a sentence that your last line starts.

Craft Intriguing Titles

Your title should build on the hook, not just neutrally describe the video. You’re not writing a title for SEO search like you would for a long-form video. You're writing a preview that creates curiosity.

• Instead of: How to Use an Air Fryer
  Try: I’ll Never Use My Oven Again #shorts
• Instead of: My Favorite Work Shortcuts
  Try: This trick saves me hours every week #shorts

Create a tiny information gap that viewers feel compelled to fill.

Final Thoughts

Getting into the Shorts feed isn't a fluke, it's a combination of nailing the technical specs, creating instantly engaging content, and smartly optimizing each video. Focus on powerful hooks, deliver real value in seconds, keep your pacing tight, and you'll give the algorithm every reason to show your work to thousands, or even millions, of new viewers.

Of course, consistency is right up there in importance, and managing a content schedule across YouTube Shorts, let alone adding Reels and TikTok to the mix, can get chaotic fast. That's why we created Postbase. Our visual calendar lets you plan and see everything at a glance, so you can easily schedule your Shorts (and other social content) ahead of time. It brings a sense of calm and organization, helping you publish consistently without the last-minute scramble.