H1: Which YouTube Shorts formats actually work right now? Intro You don’t need more ideas—you need repeatable youtube shorts formats that open strong and hold attention. Most underperformance is packaging, not topic. Use outlier analysis on your past Shorts to find which formats reliably beat your channel’s baseline. What creators think is happening - “The algorithm is random.” It isn’t. It rewards formats that minimize early swipes and create rewatches. - “Topic > format.” In Shorts, structure and first-frame packaging usually decide outcomes. - “Thumbnails and titles drive CTR like long-form.” On the Shorts feed, swipe behavior matters more; thumbnail CTR matters mainly on Home/Search/Channel. - “Longer Shorts win.” Extremes (very short or max-length) often under-deliver unless the format supports it. - “Volume fixes everything.” Repeating a weak format faster just scales failure. What the data actually shows - On most channels, 1–3 recurring formats consistently outperform baseline when analyzed by format detection, not just topic. - Winners share traits: result-first opens, legible on-screen text in frame 1, clear promise by second 0–1, frequent visual resets, and a clean payoff. - Retention curves on outliers show a flatter first 3 seconds and at least one mid-video spike (replay or reveal). - Mid-length arcs (not ultra-short jump cuts, not stretched stories) often hold better. - Titles help discovery outside the Shorts feed; thumbnails influence only the surfaces where they’re shown. Treat thumbnail CTR as a secondary lever for Shorts. Why this happens (packaging / format reasons) - First-frame clarity drives stay vs swipe. Viewers need an immediate “why stay” signal. - Predictable structures reduce cognitive load: numbered lists, countdowns, before/after, challenge timers. - Visual legibility wins: large text, high contrast, face within the central safe area, fast cut density, clear audio. - Closed payoff with a small open loop encourages rewatches and shares. What to try instead - Result-first micro-tutorial - Frame 0: show the end result; overlay “Do X in 10s”. - Structure: 3 fast steps with big numbers; end with the reveal replay. - Title: “How to [result] in 10s (No [objection])”. - Before/after transformation - Frame 0: split-screen before/after; on-screen progress bar. - Structure: quick setup → speed ramp → reveal; no intro fluff. - Title: “[Before] ➜ [After] in 30s”. - 3 mistakes / 3 fixes - Frame 0: “3 [niche] mistakes I see daily”. - Structure: numbered hits with visual examples; each beat ≤3s. - Title: “3 [niche] mistakes killing your results”. - Green screen reaction + explain - Frame 0: “This take is wrong/right—here’s why”. - Structure: 1 claim → 1 proof → 1 takeaway; keep source visible. - Title: “The truth about [trend/topic]”. - Challenge timer - Frame 0: visible countdown; “Can I [achieve] before 0:15?” - Structure: escalating attempts → payoff at 0:12–0:14. - Title: “I tried [challenge] in 15s”. Packaging checkpoints - First 0.5s: promise on-screen in ≤7 words; movement in frame. - Text: 5–8% of frame height, high contrast, top/bottom safe zones. - Visual resets every 1–2s; crop, zoom, B-roll, or cut-in. - Audio: crisp voice, minimal music ducking; clear transients for beats. - Titles: include the core query/keyword for non-Shorts surfaces. - Thumbnails: design a simple version for Home/Channel; 1–3 words max. Treat thumbnail CTR as bonus lift for Shorts, not the main driver. How GrowIt analyzes this automatically GrowIt runs outlier analysis on your Shorts by grouping videos into formats (talk-to-camera, green screen, screen-record, before/after, listicle, challenge). It performs packaging diagnosis on first frames, hook text legibility, face presence, cut density, and payoff timing. It cross-checks retention patterns, rewatches, and saves, then compares each format against your channel baseline. It also tracks title variants and thumbnail CTR on non-Shorts surfaces, highlighting which formats and hooks are truly carrying your views. CTA Drop a Short, and I’ll run a quick format and packaging scan to pinpoint your next repeatable winner.