Formats that are pulling views in Gaming, Education, Comedy and Tech, how to make your own version, and where AI fits into each one. Refreshed every Sunday.
Copy the structure, never the video. Each card shows an example opening line, why the format works now, how to make it yours, and an AI angle.
Make AI the topic of your Shorts, or use it as a tool to make them faster. YouTube allows AI-made videos. It stops paying for low-effort, mass-produced ones, so keep your voice and your opinion in every Short.
Prices come from published reviews and may change. YouTube's own AI clips carry an invisible SynthID watermark and an AI label.
Every idea on this page fits the same shape. Drawn to scale: each tick is one second.
Lead with the payoff or the tension. If the first two seconds don't grab, people swipe.
Cut every pause and every "hi guys". Add captions so it works on mute.
End on a frame that flows into the first one. Rewatches help the Short travel.
Length reported to perform best for going viral. Shorts can run 3 minutes, but long ones must hold attention.
Average watch time per Short across 799,718 videos analysed by Metricool. Get to the point.
Minimum watch time for a view to count. Views are easy; retention decides who sees your next Short.
Viewers subscribe to a promise. Tie your genres together with one through-line, like "games and gadgets, explained, with jokes." Comedy works best as the tone across everything.