10 YouTube Shorts Ideas to Boost Views and Engagement

If you thought YouTube was only for lengthy, high-effort video content, think again. 

In 2020, YouTube introduced Shorts — short-form, vertical videos designed for quick, spontaneous content. Since then, brands and creators alike have jumped on it. Why? Shorts are easy to produce, highly discoverable, and an effective way to grow your audience fast.

If you’re ready to start leveraging this format but aren’t sure what to post, you’re in the right place. Here are 10 YouTube Shorts ideas your brand can use to boost views, drive engagement, and stay top of mind, without spending hours in post-production. 

10 YouTube Shorts ideas to try today for your business 

Here are 10 YouTube Shorts examples from brands using this content format to grow on YouTube. 

1. Share a quick tutorial 

Why it works: Quick tutorials are one of the most effective formats on YouTube Shorts because they strike the perfect balance between education and entertainment. They teach something new, fast, while keeping the viewer engaged through simple visuals, satisfying progress, or a clear “aha” moment.

This blend of value and brevity taps into curiosity. The viewer sees a problem being solved or a trick revealed, and they stick around to see how it ends. The YouTube algorithm wants people to stay on the platform for as long as possible. So, when people watch your video till the end, it signals to the algorithm that your video is worth showing to more people, which improves your visibility.

2. Share data 

Why it works: Anyone can throw out tips, but data-backed insights signal authority. That’s why data-driven Shorts capture your audience’s attention. They answer questions people are already asking in your industry using verifiable evidence. 

The best way to use data is to frame it as an answer to a common question in your industry. For example, Buffer uses data to answer the question of the best time to post on YouTube. This increases the chance that people will find the data valuable, engage with your content, and even share it with others in their network. 

3. Repurpose long-form videos

Why it works: Repurposing long-form content into Shorts saves time and increases the reach of your existing videos. Instead of recording something new, you can take a strong moment from a webinar, tutorial, or product demo and turn it into a 30–60-second clip.

It reduces video production time because you’re using already existing content. And the Short doubles as a magnet for the long-form video. YouTube lets you link a Short to the full-length video, so it becomes a preview that drives traffic to the main piece.

The key is to choose a moment that sparks curiosity or delivers a quick insight on its own. This could be a surprising stat, a bold claim, or a question your audience already cares about. Once they’re interested, the link to the full video gives them an easy next step.

4. Share event recaps 

Why it works: Event recaps serve as a post-promotion tool.  Instead of the buzz dying once the event ends, a short, energetic recap can keep the momentum going for days after. When people see themselves or their team in the clip, they’re more likely to engage, comment, or reshare with their audience — boosting your reach.

Event recaps are super easy to create with PlayPlay. You can combine different event highlights, add exciting music, and voila — you have an engaging video that shows off the best moments from your event. 

5. Share a day-in-my-life content 

Why it works: Day-in-my-life videos strengthen the connection between the audience and your brand. It takes them behind the scenes to experience your brand (whether it's a work day, event, or product launch) from a first-person point of view.

Unlike polished marketing videos, this format feels authentic. You can’t script every moment, and that’s the point. The unfiltered nature of these clips builds trust. It shows your team, your process, or your environment as they really are: human, imperfect, and relatable.

6. Interview your audience 

Why it works: Audience interviews are a win-win. You get authentic user-generated content for your brand. And your audience or customer gets publicity. 

You also enjoy two-way promotion because they are likely to share the video with people in their network. Plus, you can repurpose the content for other channels like Instagram, Facebook, or even your blog. 

The most important thing is to make it about them. Keep the focus on their story or insight. Don’t try to slip in a product pitch or steer the conversation toward your marketing goals. If it feels like you’re using them as a prop, it’ll fall flat. But if it feels genuine, it builds trust and gives your audience a reason to care about what you’re doing. 

7. Create skits 

Why it works: Not everything on Shorts needs to be a product pitch or even about your brand. Sometimes, the most effective thing you can do is lean into creativity and make people laugh.

Skits with relatable humor work because they reflect your audience’s real-life struggles or inside jokes. Think: the client who wants a full rebrand by Friday, or the marketer explaining ROI to their CFO for the fifth time. These bite-sized scenes are funny because they’re true.

More importantly, they’re memorable. A clever skit can say, “We understand you” better than any sales copy. And because they’re entertaining first, skits get shared. People tag coworkers, send them to group chats, and help you reach new audiences without feeling like they’re being marketed to.

8. Jump on trends 

Why it works: When you jump on a trend early, you ride the wave of what people are already watching, sharing, and talking about.

This doesn’t mean you need to copy every viral sound or meme. The goal is to find a trend that overlaps with your niche and put your own spin on it. If done well, trend-based content shows that your brand is relevant, plugged-in, and knows how to have fun.

It also boosts discoverability. Trending formats often get a lift from the algorithm, meaning your Short is more likely to land in front of new viewers. And because it feels familiar (but with a twist), people are more likely to stop and watch.

9. Share helpful tools and hacks 

Why it works: People love anything that makes their work easier, and that’s precisely what tool recommendations and hacks do.

Shorts are perfect for sharing this type of value. In three minutes or less, you can share a useful tool roundup that boosts your audience’s productivity or a hack that makes something in their workflow much easier. 

This type of Short gets saved, shared, and rewatched, which boosts engagement. But for that to happen, you need to know your audience and share something they’ll actually need. Take the video from PlayPlay, for example. Our audience is busy video marketers, so we shared AI video creation tools to speed up their work and make the process easier. 

10. Share a solution to a pressing problem or pain point 

Why it works: One of the fastest ways to grab attention on Shorts is to speak directly to a real problem your audience is facing. When someone sees a video that mirrors their current frustration, they stop scrolling because it feels personal. 

This format works exceptionally well in B2B and service-driven niches, where your audience is often searching for quick answers or better ways to work. It builds trust, positions you as a problem-solver, and encourages repeat views.

Why post YouTube Shorts? 

Here’s why posting YouTube Shorts is worth your time. 

• Reach new audiences faster: YouTube Shorts are pushed to a different algorithmic feed than long-form videos. That means your content can be discovered by non-subscribers, even if you’re a small channel. It’s one of the few formats where you can go from 0 to 10,000 views without an existing audience.
• Stay top-of-mind without high production work: Creating Shorts doesn’t require polished scripts, pro editing, or a fancy studio setup. You can record quick tips, reactions, or behind-the-scenes moments that keep your brand visible — without spending hours in post-production.
• Repurpose existing content Into bite-sized videos: Got a webinar, podcast, or blog post? Break it down into 15–60 second Shorts that focus on one clear idea or takeaway. This gives your long-form content a second life and helps drive traffic back to your main video or site.
• Capture mobile-first viewers: YouTube is mobile first. In 2024, the majority of the visits to youtube.com came from mobile devices.

Shorts are built for mobile — full-screen, vertical, fast. If you’re not creating content in this format, you’re missing a huge chunk of the platform’s active users.

5 Tips to make your YouTube Shorts stand out

Use these quick tips as a gut check when making your next YouTube Short. 

1. Hook the viewer in the first 2 seconds

YouTube Shorts autoplay as users scroll, and you only have about 1–2 seconds to grab attention before they swipe away. If you don’t capture interest immediately, your video won’t get watched no matter how good the rest is.

Start your video with something visually striking or mentally jarring. That could be:

• A direct, curiosity-provoking question: “Why do most videos get ignored?”
• A bold claim: “You’ve been making video content wrong for years.”
• A fast-cut visual: A jump cut to a screen recording or animated graphic.

2. Use text overlays to reinforce and structure the message

Text overlays make your video more accessible. If someone watches it on mute, they’ll still get the context and message you’re trying to share. 

Use bold, easy-to-read text overlays to highlight key points, emphasize value, or even preview what’s coming next. This also helps with retention because it gives visual structure to your message.

• Emphasize key points (e.g., Quick AI video tool #1).
• Preview what’s coming next (“Watch till the end for the one tactic no one talks about.”)
• Recap or reinforce the takeaway (Focus on a core message, not just video elements)
• Use dynamic placement and movement to hold attention, but don’t overwhelm the screen with clutter.

3. Tap into trends (But make it yours)

Trends can give you a visibility boost because the algorithm often favors familiar formats. But blindly copying what everyone else is doing won’t work long-term. Instead, adapt trending sounds, formats, or memes in a way that fits your brand or audience.

For example, if a trending audio is being used for “things I wish I knew sooner,” turn it into:

• Things I wish I knew before creating video content
• Things no one tells you about using AI for video creation

The key is relevance. Your twist should feel natural and helpful for your audience.

4. End with a memorable punch or clear next step

Don’t just trail off at the end. Think about how your Short ends because endings drive action. A punchy closing line can leave a lasting impression, and a strong call-to-action can guide viewers to what’s next.

Here are some options for endings:

• Drop a bold insight or summary: “That’s why most videos fail.”
• Pose a question: “What’s your go-to video creation tool?”
• Tease another video: “Part 2 shows how to fix it.”

If you're trying to grow your channel, point them to a playlist or ask them to follow for more. But make it natural: nobody likes a generic “like and subscribe.”

5. Cut the fluff

Viewers reward content that respects their time. A tight, engaging Short is more likely to be watched till the end, boosting completion rate and helping the algorithm promote your content.

Cut out long intros, redundant phrases, or slow transitions. Focus on quick cuts, tight edits, and crystal-clear delivery. If a sentence doesn’t move the story or idea forward, delete it.

As YouTube says, “Your Short should be as long as it needs to be — but no longer. As short as it can be – but no shorter.” Stick to the ideal length that captures your message — no more, no less.  

Start creating YouTube Shorts with PlayPlay.

Ready to scale your YouTube channel with Shorts? Let PlayPlay help! 

PlayPlay is the easiest way to create engaging videos for any social channel, including Tiktok and YouTube. You can create Shorts from customizable templates or use our AI assistant to generate video drafts of TikTok videos from prompts. 

You can add your brand elements — color, logos, font — and so much more. Once the video is set, you'll be able to share it with your team for review or download it and post it to YouTube as Shorts in a few clicks. 

Want to try our video editor for your team? Start with our seven-day free trial — zero commitments!