YouTube Shorts have exploded in popularity as a way to generate quick views, grow channels, and even make money. Many creators have bragged about achieving viral success seemingly without any SEO (Search Engine Optimization) efforts, but is this true? Can you rank well on YouTube with no SEO at all, or is it just a matter of luck and timing? We’ll explore how SEO impacts YouTube Shorts and whether it’s possible to rank highly without it.

The Rise of YouTube Shorts

YouTube Shorts are a relatively new feature, designed to compete with platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels. They’re short, engaging videos that are typically 60 seconds or less, offering creators a new way to capture audience attention. The appeal of Shorts is clear: they’re easy to produce, they fit the trend of bite-sized content, and they have the potential to go viral quickly.

Some creators have reported significant success with Shorts, gaining large numbers of views and subscribers in a short period of time. However, there’s a common thread in many of these success stories—most claim to have achieved high rankings with little to no SEO effort. So, how much truth is there to this claim?

How YouTube Ranks Videos

To understand whether ranking without SEO is possible, we first need to look at how YouTube determines which videos appear at the top of search results or in the “Suggested” feed. YouTube’s algorithm takes multiple factors into account, including:

• Engagement: Likes, comments, shares, and watch time are crucial signals for YouTube’s algorithm. Videos with higher engagement are more likely to be recommended to other viewers.
• Click-Through Rate (CTR): How often people click on your video when it appears in their feed or search results. Thumbnails and titles play a big role in attracting attention.
• Metadata: This includes the video’s title, description, and tags. Optimizing these elements with relevant keywords helps YouTube understand what your video is about, making it more likely to appear in searches for related content.
• Consistency: Channels that post regularly and create content that resonates with their audience are more likely to gain steady growth.

Can You Rank Without SEO?

It’s true that some creators get a lot of attention without actively optimizing their videos. Viral trends, timing, and high engagement can sometimes cause a video to take off, even without perfect SEO. This happens because YouTube’s algorithm may prioritize content that it believes will capture viewers’ attention based on current trends or audience interest.

However, relying solely on this type of virality is unpredictable and risky. There are several reasons why SEO should still be part of your YouTube strategy:

• Discoverability: SEO ensures that your content is discoverable when users actively search for specific topics. Titles, descriptions, and tags help YouTube understand the context of your video, allowing it to surface when people are looking for content on that subject.
• Long-Term Traffic: While viral videos can generate short-term success, consistent SEO practices can help you attract a steady stream of organic views over time. This is crucial for sustainable growth, as viral hits are often fleeting.
• Better Targeting: SEO allows you to target specific audiences through keywords and video metadata. This ensures that your video is being shown to the right people, increasing the chances of engagement and improving your video’s ranking.
• Increased Revenue Opportunities: Higher-ranking videos are more likely to get monetized, and having SEO-optimized videos increases the likelihood of earning revenue from ads, sponsorships, and product placements.

What Happens If You Don’t Use SEO?

While it’s certainly possible to see short-term success without SEO by relying on trending content or algorithmic promotion, not using SEO can limit your channel’s potential. Without it, your content may not reach its full audience or be ranked as highly in search results. This could mean less visibility, fewer clicks, and ultimately slower growth.

Additionally, as YouTube’s algorithm becomes more sophisticated, it’s likely to rely more on metadata and engagement to surface videos to relevant audiences. SEO may become more important, not less, in ensuring your content stays visible in a highly competitive space.

Best Practices for YouTube Shorts SEO

Even if you want to focus on creating content that resonates with trends or viral moments, there are simple SEO practices you can incorporate into your Shorts strategy to maximize success:

• Craft Compelling Titles: Your title should be concise, clear, and include relevant keywords. This helps viewers and YouTube understand what your video is about.
• Use Descriptive and Keyword-Rich Descriptions: Even though Shorts are brief, your description should provide additional context and include keywords that viewers may search for.
• Tags Matter: Including relevant tags that are aligned with your video content and target audience helps YouTube categorize your video.
• Create Attention-Grabbing Thumbnails: Thumbnails are often the first thing viewers notice. Make sure your thumbnail is visually appealing and reflects the content of your video.
• Encourage Engagement: Ask viewers to like, comment, and share your videos. High engagement signals to YouTube that your content is valuable, which can lead to better rankings.
• Consistency Is Key: Posting regularly can help you build an audience that expects and interacts with your content, further boosting its visibility.

While it’s possible to gain traffic and views from YouTube Shorts without actively engaging in SEO, relying solely on virality or trends is risky. SEO remains an essential part of a long-term content strategy, ensuring that your videos are discoverable, consistently engaging, and reaching the right audience.

If you want to make your content stand out, optimize it for both the YouTube algorithm and the viewers who are actively searching for content related to your niche. In the competitive world of YouTube, a blend of creative, engaging content and smart SEO can help you build a sustainable presence and grow your channel over time.

Some so called YouTubes brag about copying viral videoes and gain subsribers and followers. 

Evidence:

Copying and reposting viral videos without permission can lead to serious consequences on YouTube, including channel termination. YouTube’s policies prohibit uploading content that you don’t own or have authorization to use, such as videos made by other users.

For instance, in August 2021, the channel Super JoJo faced a lawsuit from Cocomelon for copyright infringement due to copying video ideas. This legal action resulted in Super JoJo losing views and, on September 8, 2021, the channel was terminated. In July 2023, a jury ruled in favor of Cocomelon, ordering Super JoJo to pay $23.5 million. Subsequently, on January 27, 2024, all Super JoJo’s channels were terminated again for copyright infringement.

Additionally, YouTube has a system of copyright strikes that can lead to channel termination. If a channel receives multiple strikes for using copyrighted content without authorization, it can be permanently banned.

These examples highlight the importance of creating original content or obtaining proper permissions before using others’ work to avoid potential bans and legal issues.

Those who advertise this method have faced penalties.