Let be honest with you – when I started my YouTube channel, I thought the big, polished vlogs were going to be the ones that took off. The ones I spent hours editing, color grading, adding music, transitions, all that. But funny enough, the videos that actually brought the most traffic to the channel were in fact the Shorts. Real, simple, unfiltered Shorts.

Why YouTube Channel needs Shorts

First of all, it’s one of the key requirements for monetization. Whether you’re going for the watch time threshold or the Shorts view path, having Shorts on your channel can help you qualify faster.

Secondly, we’re in the age of scrolling. People are constantly on the move, flipping through YouTube Shorts, Reels, TikToks, not always looking for a 15-minutes story, but more like a quick moment they can connect with. And that’s where segmenting your long-form content into Shorts makes a huge difference.

A full vlog might be packed with value for sure, but not everyone has the time to watch it all the way through – especially if they don’t know you yet. A Youtube Short gives them a quick taste of your vibe, your story, your personality. And if they like what they see in those 60 seconds, they’re way more likely to check out your full videos, subscribe, or even binge your content.

YouTube Shorts actually worked for us

Some of the Shorts that brought the most views to the YouTube Channel were the ones I barely planned. Just raw moments, me waking through a local market, or when Bianca is trying Romanian dishes in Brasov and Bucharest. No editing, just direct upload to Youtube. Just real life.

6,300 views in 24 hours

5,400 views in 24 hours

That’s when it clicked for me:
You don’t always need fancy gear or effects, just a moment people can relate to.
The authenticity is what pulls people in. If they see something real, even in just 15 seconds, they’re more likely to click, follow, or check out your full videos.

The Short where Bianca is eating Romanian Sarmale, brought in 3.6K unique viewers and 28.9 hours of total watch time.🤯
Yes, from a clip that’s not even a full minute long.

The average view duration? 27 seconds, which means people actually stuck around and watched most of it. And that’s huge, especially for a Short.

It just proves again what I keep learning the hard way:
You don’t need perfection. You just need something real.

Another example is the short where i try out the Filipino Food at Kabayan Restaurant in Bucharest.

If you’re vlogging or sharing your story, don’t overthink it. Break down your long videos into relatable, quick moments and post them as Shorts.

People are scrolling, looking for something that feels genuine, and sometimes, that’s more powerful than any fancy transition.

Until next time, take care!