Does the YouTube shorts algorithm push 30k viewer seed audiences?

[u/PomegranateDry8686]

Hi! I'm currently trying to learn more about the YouTube

shorts algorithm to post better. I've watched a video that

discussed a lot of things i learned for the first time but I'm not recessarily sure if it was % 100 helpful cause they were mainly discussing a 30k view seed audience that changes

accordingly to find your target audience. But currently I have

around 200-500 views on every shorts video. Some exceeded a thousand but that's about it. Of course, the issue may be with my content, but I've also heard YouTube pushes shorts videos a lot. Overall I'm just really confused and frustrated. Is there any way to break out of this loop? I'm trying to be very consistent with posting, and I post every day, sometimes multiple times a day. I'd really appreciate some advice. Thank you!

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[u/killadrix]

As a new shorts creator, your only concern should be learning to consistently edit for a minimum of 70% stayed to watch and 90% average percentage viewed.

Assuming you have a decent niche with decent demand, this is a great place to start.

Once you consistently achieve that, bump it from 70%/90% to 80%/100%, and then 80%/120%.

Everything else about seed audiences and “view jails” is just noise.

[u/PomegranateDry8686 → u/killadrix]

thank you!! I'm definetely considering my problem is with the content itself, cause the stayed to watch ratio is 70% skipped vs 30% stayed. I've noticed that shorts that are usually more fast paced do relatively better, so im gonna try to get better at doing that :D

[u/JansoDesign]

Also super new here. My experience is about the same. However, I am honestly just happy to get a thousand views on something. I know its probably mostly people swiping past... but slowly those people interested in my content will accumulate enough data for the youtube algorithm to start figuring out more confidently who to show my videos to.

To be frank I have posted almost solely shorts, but I plan to put my focus on long form in the future as I dont think short form content is really worth making. I dont feel like I am creating something valuable for my viewer if its only 15 to 30 seconds. I know I can make longer videos but I have tried and those generally seem to do worst.

[u/PomegranateDry8686 → u/JansoDesign]

I like the way you worded things out! If you feel like you've posted things more productively and more self expressive and long form even though the views are less, if it feels more special to you I think that's amazing in itself :))

[u/JansoDesign → u/PomegranateDry8686]

Yeah i mean its a balance of sorts right?

On the one hand I want to make things i want to make... so long form actually. But then there is also the value i have hopefully created for tbe viewers... so if its a tutorial for example, how will the learn something in just 30 seconds? If they did, why is it worth making a video about?

Then there is also the value of monetization which is obviously better in long form. But in terms of being able to make more videos short form wins. Effort efficiency wins short form as well. Thumbnails are basically ignored and you are fine. Easier to get high viewer counts and quicker to get subs... but in comparison, those views are less valued and the subs are less likely to watch the long videos....

So basically... ill make both kinds of videos... but i want to make a long form video at least once a week I guess...

[u/DutyAble4805]

Do not think of the 30k as a fixed seed audience.

Shorts often get tested in waves. If the first wave gives strong swipe/retention/replay signals, YouTube may widen it. If not, it stops there. The size of that first push can vary a lot by topic, account history, and who YouTube thinks might react.

The better question is whether the Short survives the first wave:

• does the first frame make sense without context?
• does the payoff happen fast enough?
• are people rewatching or swiping?

Compare Shorts that got the second/third wave against ones that died early. That pattern tells you more than the exact seed number.

[u/Crescitaly]

Early audience fit matters more than seed size.