You can’t just upload your Shorts videos anytime you feel like it. It might hurt your content potential. That’s why you need to figure out the best time to upload Shorts on YouTube.
Sure, posting at the right time doesn’t guarantee instant views. But think about it, your best content could go unseen just because you missed the best time to post on YouTube shorts.
As a content creator, you need to tackle this well. And that’s why we put together this guide to help you set up a schedule that’ll boost your Shorts. So, let’s get into it!
Getting to Know the YouTube Shorts Algorithm
The YouTube Shorts algorithm is the system that decides which short videos to show to each user.
It’s totally different from the one for longer videos. To prove it, just look at your Shorts feed versus your regular YouTube suggestions to see the difference.
The Shorts algorithm is designed to keep you engaged on a stream of different videos. It’s like the TikTok’s “Not Recommended” system for fresh uploads.
So, when you upload a new Short, the algorithm shows your Shorts to a small, random group, let’s say around 100 people.
If those viewers don’t scroll past, the algorithm will then show your Shorts videos to a bigger crowd, like 1,000 viewers who are likely to watch them.
This whole process keeps going, widening your YouTube video’s reach as long as it keeps getting good engagement.
Read Also: How to get More Views on YouTube
Best Time to Upload Shorts on YouTube
So, what’s the best time to upload YouTube Shorts? You can try Mondays, Tuesdays, or Fridays around 10 AM and 5 PM.
The idea is simple: to get the most views, you need to upload your video one or two hours early before the peak times. That’s usually when people are on a break or not focused on work.
This allows YouTube’s algorithm to work on your video and suggest it to people who are ready to watch Shorts. When you hit those times, you might see a boost in traction for your new content.
And what about the weekends? On Saturdays, try posting between 1 PM and 3 PM. For Sundays, posting around 7 PM works well for most niches.
Finding the right time to post YouTube shorts on weekends can be hard. While people usually have more free time, their watching habit might change depending on the niche.
So, if you want to know what works best,you can do A/B testing to see which time gets better traction.
But if you look at some research from Hopper HQ, StatusBrew or TubeBuddy, best time to upload shorts on YouTube are as follow:
- Monday: 10 AM, 12 PM, 5-7 PM
- Tuesday: 10-11 AM, 5-7 PM
- Wednesday: 12 PM, 7 PM
- Thursday: 10-11 PM, 6-9 PM
- Friday: 9-11 AM, 4-6 PM, 9 PM
- Saturday: 1-3 PM, 9 PM
- Sunday: 1-3 PM, 7 PM
Best Time to Upload Shorts on YouTube by Country
When it comes to best time to upload YouTube shorts, your viewer demographic plays a significant role in getting traction for your new content.
Actually, it isn’t that different. You can always target the sweet spot of 10-11 AM.
But if you want to reach those who commute to work or school, consider posting before they start their day. 7-8 AM is a good time to start uploading your Shorts videos.
Most of your followers are from Asia, like Japan or Singapore? Then, you might want to upload your content a bit earlier. They start the office and school hours around 8 AM.
Also, if your audience tends to stay up late, like in Thailand, Spain, or the US, you might want to post your YouTube Shorts later in the evening, especially if you’re sharing more than one video in a day.
8-9 PM can be a good starting point before you adjust based on the data you have from YouTube Studio.
Best Time to Post on YouTube Shorts By Days of The Week
If you really want to grab attention fast and set your Shorts up for success, make sure you know what the best time to upload shorts on YouTube is.
Based on some examples, Tuesday seems to be a strong choice. Take “Real life transforming Cinderella dress!” which has gained 1.7B views and was uploaded on a Tuesday.
Looking at some examples, Tuesday stands out as a solid option. Take “Real life transforming Cinderella dress!” for instance; it gained up 1.7 billion views and was uploaded on a Tuesday.
Another example is “If Cleaning Was a Timed Sport Part 2,” which also saw 1.6 billion views and was shared on a Tuesday.
In contrast, the first video, “If Cleaning Was a Timed Sport,” was uploaded on a Monday and “only” reached 337 million views.
Read Also: Best Time to Post on YouTube
Benefits of Posting at the Optimal Time for Shorts
Well, there is no single perfect time for everyone to share their content. Then, “why should we stress about the best time to upload shorts on YouTube?“
1. You’ll Get More Views in the First Hours
The first benefit of posting your YouTube Shorts at the right time is increased viewership, especially in the first hours. This is vital for getting traction.
When you upload a Short, think about who’s going to watch it first and make sure it’s your audience. If it doesn’t, your video might end up in front of people who will just skip right past it.
This can lead to real problems. If it keeps showing your video to others and they react the same way, it might get marked as “not recommended” for promotion.
What’s even more worrying is that this seems to be happening to new creators. Every video they post might have to go through a “sandbox” process.
2. It Leads to Better Engagement
Once you have those views, you might think about: “how to get better engagement, right?” The good news is that it can happen.
Uploading your YouTube Shorts at the right time can help you reach your ideal audience. If you work hard to make the best content that connects with your viewers, you’ll start to get more likes, comments, and shares.
And if a lot of people share your content in the first few hours, it’ll boost the YouTube algorithm’s confidence in promoting your videos. Getting hundreds of millions of views is possible.
YouTube Shorts are all about whether people scroll past or stop to watch, so if your audience engages with it, that means your content is valuable.
3. You’ll See Improved Watch Time
What if your hook doesn’t grab the right audience? They won’t stick around to watch your content all the way through.
Getting people to stop and check out your video is one thing, but keeping them engaged until the end is another challenge. That’s where the best time to upload shorts on YouTube into play.
The more viewers you attract, the better your chances are of keeping them engaged. Sure, having great content and a solid strategy helps, but posting at the right time is just as important.
If you don’t post at the best time to upload YouTube shorts, you might not get the results you’re hoping for. And remember, watch time is a key part of the YouTube Shorts algorithm.
4. You Can Expect Consistent Audience Growth
Knowing the best time to post YouTube Shorts is also about a consistent schedule. When you upload regularly, it makes your channel look more organized and professional.
As people watch your videos, they’ll start to expect new ones at specific times. This is especially important for viewers who haven’t subscribed to you yet.
Being consistent also shows YouTube that you’re an active creator, which can help you get more attention.
5. Your Content Strategy Aligns with the Algorithm
The last thing you want is to create great content and work hard on it, only to ignore the YouTube Shorts algorithm.
That is not recommended. The algorithm plays a big role in how your videos get seen by people. Sharing them at the right times can help your content get pushed out even more.
What else can you do? Make sure your content is relevant by using popular keywords and topics, and post it as soon as you can while it’s still trending. This will help more people find it in search results and recommendations.
Read Also:
Finding Best Time to Post Shorts on YouTube
Now that you understand why it matters and have a good sense of when to share shorts on YouTube, let’s find out the best time to post for your channel:
- Open YouTube and head to YouTube Studio.
- On the right side, click on Analytics, then select the Content tab.
- You’ll see options for Videos, Shorts, Live, and Posts. Pick Shorts.
- Here, you’ll get an overview of how your Shorts are doing, including when viewers find your content and the Viewed vs. Swiped ratio.
- If you want more details, just click on See More.
- For even deeper insights, hit Advanced Mode.
You can learn those steps using the example from Buffer above.
Tips to Find the Best Time to Post Shorts on YouTube
Now, here are the tips to find the best time to post YouTube shorts:
- Start With Universal Timing — Finding the best time to upload shorts on YouTube is important. But if you’re just starting and don’t have much data yet, stick to times that work for most people.
- Check Your YouTube Insights — After you’ve posted for a week or two, take a look at your stats. The dark purple areas show when most people are tuning in. Use that info to tweak your posting times.
- Try Different Posting Times — Don’t just stick to what seems to work. Experiment a bit. Make similar videos and post them at different times throughout the week. Pay attention not just to views, but also to watch time and engagement.
- Watch For 48 Hours — Your Shorts might get a second wave of views in the first two days after posting. Keep an eye on them during this time.
- Match Content With Time — Different types of videos work better at different times. Educational content might do better during morning commutes, while fun videos could get more love in the evening.
- Think About Time Zones — If you have viewers from other countries, don’t just post based on your local time. Check where your audience is and when they’re watching.
- The First 45 Minutes Matter — The first 45 minutes after you post are vital. Try to post when you can jump in and reply to comments right away.
- Use Scheduling Tools — YouTube Studio lets you schedule posts in advance. Tools like TubeBuddy or VidIQ can help you post at the right times and track how well your videos perform.
Best Time to Post Shorts on YouTube: A Wrap Up
You’ve learned the best time to upload shorts on YouTube to get more views and likes. But even the best time won’t help if your videos are boring.
Think of the right time as a launchpad and exciting videos as fuel. When you use both, your channel can grow a lot.
So, never let your great videos go unseen. Use the data from YouTube Insights to know when to post your content to attract more audiences.
That’s it for now. And if you like this article, you can subscribe to Gank blog to get updates about content creation, monetization and social media tips. See you!
