H1: The best YouTube Shorts formats are the ones your data proves Intro: Creators chase trending templates and get volatile results. The fix isn’t a new trick; it’s consistent outlier analysis, packaging diagnosis, and format detection across your recent uploads. Your best YouTube Shorts formats are already in your data. H2: What creators think is happening - “There’s a universal best format.” - “Trending audio or hashtags will carry the video.” - “Titles and thumbnails don’t matter for Shorts.” - “Shorter is always better.” - “More cuts = more retention.” H2: What the data actually shows - No single format wins across channels. A small set of formats reliably overperform for each creator. - First-frame clarity drives viewed vs swiped-away rate more than anything else. - Retention curves cluster by format (e.g., reveal-first vs setup-then-payoff) and by how fast the promise is delivered. - Recycling a proven format with new topics tends to hold performance longer than chasing new templates. - Titles and thumbnail CTR still matter for search, channel, and external surfaces even if they don’t appear in the Shorts feed. H2: Why this happens - The feed rewards high view-start rate and steady hold; formats shape both. - Packaging (hook text, visual contrast, face size, immediate context) sets promise clarity on frame one. - Payoff timing is format-dependent; slow setups cause early swipes. - Titles and thumbnail CTR influence non-feed traffic that compounds over time (channel page, search, suggested on long-form surfaces). H2: What to try instead - Map formats, not topics: Tag your last 30–50 Shorts by structure (reveal-first, before/after, list, A/B compare, tutorial-steps, storytime, reaction/greenscreen, vox pop). Identify outliers on viewed vs swiped-away and average view duration relative to your baseline. - Repackage winners: Keep the same winning format and rotate topics. Or keep the topic and test 3 different format structures for the opening 5 seconds. - Fix the first frame: Big subject, readable on-screen promise, immediate motion/sound cue, no logo stingers. Make the payoff obvious up front; earn context after. - Compress the payoff window: Move the reveal to the first 3–7 seconds, then explain or escalate. Cut dead air; tighten transitions; end on a soft loop or sequel hook. - Maintain thumbnail hygiene: Design vertical thumbnails with clear contrast and 2–4 words for your channel and search surfaces. Track thumbnail CTR for Shorts shown off-feed; it often lifts total view accrual over days. H2: How GrowIt analyzes this automatically GrowIt tags each Short by format (e.g., reveal-first, before/after, list, tutorial, A/B compare, story, reaction) and detects first-frame promise, on-screen text, face size, motion, and pacing. It runs outlier analysis against your recent median to spot formats that lift viewed vs swiped-away and retention. Packaging diagnosis highlights hook frames, caption density, and color contrast. It also monitors title quality and thumbnail CTR on channel/search to show where off-feed views can compound. CTA: Send a link, and we’ll run a format and packaging scan on your latest Short.