format Factor

YouTube Short

Whether the video is a YouTube Short — a vertical video under 60 seconds. Shorts are distributed through a completely separate algorithmic feed from regular videos.

YouTube Shorts reach a different audience through a different algorithm. They can dramatically increase impressions and subscriber growth, but Shorts viewers are less likely to convert into regular video watchers. Shorts also have different engagement patterns — views are high but watch time per view is inherently capped.

Average Video
+697%
solid pattern
Top 10% Video
+517%
solid pattern

Average Video is the effect on a typical video. Top 10% Video is the effect on the videos that broke out (top decile of views) — so you can see whether a factor helps most videos a little, or pushes the top performers much higher.

When present

The video is a YouTube Short — vertical format, under 60 seconds, distributed through the Shorts feed.

Videos with this factor

167K views
9K views

When absent

The video is a standard-length YouTube video in landscape or square format.

Videos without this factor