Why Your YouTube Shorts Are Stuck at 0 Views (And How to Fix It)

The Core Concept
The "Zero Views" phenomenon is typically a result of the algorithm failing to categorize your content, not a rejection by the audience. Unlike long-form video, the Shorts Feed relies entirely on rapid algorithmic testing (the "Seed Audience"). If your metadata, account history, or technical settings prevent this initial test, the video receives zero impressions.

The Strategy
To guarantee visibility, brands must adopt a "Technical First" approach. This involves optimizing three layers: Account Authority (warming up new channels), Metadata Clarity (using specific keywords to guide categorization), and retention engineering (ensuring the first 3 seconds prevent swipe-away). Consistency is less about frequency and more about maintaining a predictable data signal for the algorithm.

Key Metrics
Forget vanity metrics like likes. The 2025 algorithm prioritizes Average Percentage Viewed (APV)—aiming for >100% on videos under 30 seconds—and Viewed vs. Swiped Away ratio. A swipe-away rate higher than 40% signals to the algorithm that the content is irrelevant, halting distribution immediately.

The Shorts Feed Algorithm is a recommendation system designed to serve hyper-relevant, vertical video content to users based on immediate behavioral signals rather than subscribed channels. Unlike the traditional YouTube search algorithm, which relies heavily on keywords and clicks, the Shorts algorithm prioritizes retention velocity and completion rate to determine if a video deserves broader distribution.

In my experience auditing D2C accounts, misunderstandings here are the primary cause of failure. The algorithm tests content in "batches." It shows your Short to a small seed audience (100–500 people). If performance metrics exceed the baseline, it unlocks the next tier (1,000–5,000). If it fails the first test, it flatlines instantly.

If your Shorts are stuck at exactly zero or single-digit views, it is rarely a content quality issue. It is a distribution blockage. The platform hasn't even attempted to show your video to a seed audience. This usually stems from the algorithm flagging the upload as spam, low-quality, or unclassifiable.

Here is the diagnostic checklist I use when consulting for brands facing this issue:

1. The "Ghost Account" Check: Is the account brand new? YouTube often sandboxes new accounts for 24-72 hours to prevent spam. You need to prove humanity before you get reach.
   • Micro-Example: A new supplement brand posted 5 Shorts in one hour on Day 1 and got 0 views. After verifying their phone number and waiting 48 hours, the next post hit 2k views.
2. The Metadata Void: Did you upload a file named IMG_5922.mov with no description? The algorithm needs text data to know who to show the video to. Without it, it defaults to showing it to no one.
3. Copyright Strikes: Even a silent copyright claim can suppress distribution completely in the Shorts Feed, unlike long-form where it might just demonetize.

Industry Benchmark: According to recent data, over 70% of Shorts that receive zero views in the first 24 hours are from accounts that have not completed phone verification or have zero engagement history [1].

Metadata optimization is your manual override for the algorithm's categorization process. When you upload a Short, Google's computer vision and natural language processing (NLP) models scan the video to understand context. If your inputs are confusing, the system pauses distribution to protect user experience.

1. Title Optimization for Categorization
Your title isn't just for humans; it's for the indexing bot. A title like "New Drop!" is useless. A title like "Summer Skincare Routine for Oily Skin" gives the algorithm three distinct entities to index: Summer, Skincare, and Oily Skin.

2. The Hashtag Misconception
Don't spam generic tags like #fyp or #viral. In 2025, specificity wins. Use 3-5 hyper-relevant tags that describe the topic, not the goal.

• Bad: #viral #trending #funny
• Good: #coffeelover #baristalife #espresso

3. Vertical Formatting Compliance
Uploading a horizontal (16:9) video to Shorts is a death sentence for reach. The system detects the black bars and suppresses the content because it degrades the immersive feed experience. Always ensure your output is strictly 9:16 (1080x1920).

4. Restricted Mode Triggers
Certain words in your title or spoken audio can trigger "Restricted Mode," hiding your content from users under 18 or those with filters on. Words related to violence, excessive shock, or controversial topics can silently kill your reach.

Average View Duration (AVD) and "Viewed vs. Swiped Away" are the twin engines of Shorts growth. If people swipe past your video without watching, YouTube stops showing it. Period. Your goal is to hook the viewer so effectively that they stop scrolling.

The "Viewed vs. Swiped Away" Benchmark
This metric appears in your analytics and is arguably more important than likes. It measures the percentage of people who paused to watch your video versus those who instantly scrolled past.

• Danger Zone: < 60% Viewed (Your hook is failing)
• Growth Zone: 70-80% Viewed (Healthy distribution)
• Viral Zone: > 80% Viewed (Algorithm will push this aggressively)

Understanding Average Percentage Viewed (APV)
For Shorts, 100% retention often isn't enough. Because Shorts loop, a highly engaging video can have an APV of 150% or 200%. This signals that users are watching multiple times, which is the strongest possible signal for viral distribution.

Industry Reality: Short videos (under 15 seconds) generally need an APV of over 100% to go viral, while longer Shorts (45-60 seconds) can succeed with 70-80% retention [2].

"Shorts Jail" is a colloquial term for when a channel is shadow-banned or algorithmically suppressed. This often happens to marketers who try to scale too fast, posting 10 videos a day on a fresh account using automation tools. The algorithm flags this behavior as "spam bot."

The 7-Day Warm-Up Protocol
If you are launching a new brand channel or reviving a dead one, do not flood the feed. Follow this ramp-up schedule to build trust signals:

• Days 1-3: Post 1 Short per day. Manually reply to every comment (even if it's just one). Watch other Shorts in your niche for 10 minutes a day to build a viewing history.
• Days 4-7: Increase to 2 Shorts per day. Space them out by at least 6 hours. Ensure metadata is distinct for each.
• Day 8+: Analyze data. If views are stabilizing (even at 500-1000 views), you can slowly increase volume.

The "Delete and Re-upload" Trap
Never delete a Short that got 0 views and immediately re-upload it. YouTube hashes the file. It knows it's the same video. Re-uploading duplicate content is a fast track to being flagged as spam. If you must re-try, edit the video slightly—change the length by 1 second, add a new color grade, or change the music to generate a new file hash.

Even experienced marketers fall into specific traps that limit performance. Avoiding these pitfalls is often more effective than trying to hack the algorithm.

1. The "TikTok Repost" Watermark
Uploading a video with a TikTok watermark is the fastest way to kill your reach. YouTube explicitly stated they deprioritize content with competitor logos. Always use the raw file or a watermark remover.

2. Ignoring the "Safe Zone"
YouTube Shorts has overlay elements—like, comment, and share buttons—on the right side and bottom. If your text captions or product visuals are in these zones, they will be covered. This frustrates viewers and leads to instant swipes.

3. Using Expired Audio
Trending audio is powerful, but it expires. If you use a copyrighted track that gets removed or restricted, your video is muted and pulled from the feed. Always check the "Music" usage rights in YouTube Studio.

4. Inconsistent Posting Schedules
While viral hits can happen anytime, the algorithm builds a profile of your channel based on consistency. Gaps of weeks followed by bursts of activity confuse the predictive models. Aim for a steady cadence rather than erratic spikes.

5. Neglecting the "Related Video" Link
For 2025, YouTube added the ability to link a Short to a long-form video. Failing to use this is leaving free traffic on the table. It bridges the gap between awareness (Shorts) and deep consideration (Long-form) [4].