5 Most Liked YouTube Shorts for Inspiration
Virlo Team
Discover the 5 most liked YouTube Shorts that captured millions—perfect for quick inspo or your next viral idea.
Apr 10, 2025
Consider you've come up with a brilliant idea for a YouTube Short. You write a clever script, film it, edit it, and post it. But instead of going viral, it barely gets any views. What's the problem? Maybe your short was too long or didn't follow the current trends. The first step to improving your chances of getting noticed on YouTube is researching popular YouTube Shorts ideas. In this guide, we'll help you get started by looking at the most liked YouTube Short of all time. By unpacking this success, you'll discover tips for creating your viral YouTube Short.
One way to reveal popular YouTube Shorts ideas is with the help of Virlo's viral analysis tool. With this feature, you can enter any short to uncover data on its performance and audience engagement, helping you identify trends and predict what will go over well with viewers.
Table of Contents
Benefits of YouTube Shorts for Marketing
1. Embrace the Next Big Thing: YouTube Shorts
YouTube Shorts has been steadily gaining traction since its launch in 2020, and it’s already come a long way. According to recent data, YouTube Shorts hit over 2 billion monthly active users in July of 2023, seeing a growth of 33% more than in the same month a year ago. That’s on top of recent statistics that almost 80% of YouTube users watch Shorts. For small businesses, these statistics reflect an incredible opportunity to carve out space and grow your audience on the platform by adopting short-form videos early. Whether it’s in the form of product demonstrations, the launch of a new product line, or taking your audience behind the scenes of your business operation, there is every likelihood of captivating viewers and enhancing your visibility by jumping on the YouTube Shorts bandwagon.
2. Improve Your YouTube Channel with Shorts
Shorts and long-form videos are all published on the one YouTube page and integrated into the main app. As well as showing up in Google search results, Shorts also appear in users’ regular YouTube feeds, notifications, and subscriptions, making it easy to maximize your reach and strengthen your YouTube presence. As YouTube product manager Pierce Vollucci explains, channels that incorporate both Shorts and long-form videos perform better overall than those that invest solely in long-form. Vollucci states, “The channels that made Shorts seem to be growing faster.
We anticipate that audience demand for short-form content is here to stay.” For small businesses, this translates to offering audiences a mix of content types. If you already have a strong audience from long-form videos, consider Shorts as an ad for your main channel, one that can be placed in front of more viewers before directing them to your longer videos.
3. Improve Your SEO Visibility with YouTube Shorts
With YouTube being owned by Google, both its long-form videos and YouTube Shorts can dominate the search results in the video category. This is great news for small businesses looking to boost their search engine visibility and reach relevant audiences who are searching for keywords and queries related to their brand. Just like long-form videos, SEO rules also apply to YouTube Shorts. Be sure to add relevant keywords to the title and video description to ensure your short-form content appears when your target audience searches for similar videos and that it is specific and relevant to the keywords used.
4. Repurpose Existing Video Content for YouTube Shorts
The beauty of YouTube Shorts is that it allows you to repurpose existing short-form vertical videos from Reels and TikTok, saving you valuable time that can be put towards more video content. By repurposing these vertical videos to YouTube Shorts, you can continue to show up consistently on social media, maximizing the value of your videos and boosting your brand’s reach. Unsure what short-form videos to repurpose for YouTube Shorts?
Consider these tips
Repurpose top-forming videos: Use analytics to get the data on your top-performing videos. The Reels that generated the most engagement should be the ones you prioritize cross-posting first.
Jump on a trend: If you’ve recently posted a TikTok or Reel that equipped trending audio, use this on YouTube Shorts to see how it performs on a new platform.
Focus on high-performing content themes: Top performers on YouTube Shorts include educational videos and tutorials, humorous videos, and user-generated content. Lean into these content themes when looking for videos to report from TikTok and Instagram Reels.
5. Get Paid for Your YouTube Shorts
Though YouTube Shorts initially weren’t part of the YouTube Partner Program (YPP), monetization options were announced in late 2022 to allow creators to earn money from their short-form content. To be eligible for YouTube Shorts monetization, you must have a minimum of 1,000 subscribers. As well as that, you need either 10 million public Shorts views in the last 90 days that are valid or 4,000 public watch hours of long-form videos in the last 12 months.
For those looking to primarily focus on the growth of YouTube Shorts, the former is recommended as watch hours from Shorts in the Shorts Feed don’t count towards the watch hour threshold. YouTube has also introduced an expanded program for new creators and those with smaller followings, allowing you to monetize through fan funding and YouTube Shopping. If you have 500 subscribers, three public uploads in the last 90 days and three million public Shorts views in the last 90 days, you can apply for the program.
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10 Tips for Creating Successful YouTube Shorts
1. Use Virlo for Finding Trends for YouTube Shorts
Virlo helps short-form content creators crack the code of virality through AI-powered trend analysis. Our platform combines creator insights with advanced analytics to identify winning content patterns, optimal posting times, and successful audio/video combinations that help your content stand out in today's fast-moving social landscape. Perfect for independent creators looking to build a sustainable side business, Virlo takes the guesswork out of content strategy. We analyze the latest viral trends and help you understand when to post and what combinations of elements drive engagement. Whether you're just starting or looking to optimize your existing content, Virlo enables you to navigate the ever-changing algorithms to increase your chances of going viral. Go viral with Virlo's virality analysis tool.
2. Give it an Attractive Title
Optimizing the title/caption of your Short is just as important as making the video itself engaging. Think about how to use the title as a hook to keep viewers watching your Short until its end. You’ll need to experiment with this since different kinds of language work for various audiences. That said, it’s a good idea to keep your title short and punchy and use words that resonate with your audience.
3. Make the First Few Seconds Count
Come up with a compelling hook to get your viewers’ attention within the first few seconds of your video. Avoid clickbait, though! Nothing makes a viewer swipe to the next YouTube Short faster than a clickbait video. It’s a great idea to brainstorm a few hooks before filming your Short and to ensure you experiment with different kinds of hooks across your videos.
4. Create the Perfect Loop
YouTube Shorts are played on a loop by default. If the viewer doesn’t swipe to the next Short video, they will see the same Short again for the second time, or even more times. A perfect loop will help make your Shorts look crisper. When filming and editing a Short, create a smooth loop to encourage multiple views.
5. Re-Hook Your Audience
It isn’t enough to create a strong hook for the beginning portion of your Short. Despite the short length of the video, you need to keep viewers engaged throughout its duration. Ideally, you should aim to re-hook your audience every three to five seconds, whether with a trending sound, text, or other visuals.
6. Create Consistently
Whenever a new platform — or a feature like YouTube Shorts — gets released, content creators will pour themselves into testing it out and figuring out how to make it a part of their strategy. But all too often, these creators give up after a few attempts that don’t go far. If you want to go viral with Shorts, you have to create them consistently. That can be one video a day or one a week, but just make sure you stick with them. That’s the only way you’ll start seeing results!
7. Use Relevant Hashtags
Hashtags are a great way to make your Shorts more discoverable and should be part of your YouTube Shorts strategy. Do some research and see what hashtags top creators in your specific niche use or what hashtags are featured in viral videos, and include them in your content.
8. Post Your Shorts at the Right Time
While there’s no hard-and-fast rule for the best time to post on YouTube Shorts, you can follow some general tips. According to research from HubSpot, most marketers post YouTube content between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays, or Saturdays. That’s generally a good time to post. But if you have a big enough audience, you can check YouTube Analytics to see when your subscribers will most likely be on the platform—post at those times for the best chance of going viral.
9. Learn from the Competition
Have you ever heard the saying, “Great artists steal?” It has been attributed to everyone, from Russian composer Igor Stravinsky to Steve Jobs, but the whole saying goes like this: “Good artists copy, great artists steal.” The difference? Copying would mean just taking what the competition’s doing and doing the same thing. “Stealing” means finding out what works and putting your spin on it — injecting your creativity into an established format or trend. Doing this should be an essential part of your research.
10. Jump on Trending Music
With YouTube Shorts’ built-in Sound tool, creators can add popular songs from major labels to their videos without getting penalized. Whenever appropriate, consider featuring trending music in your Shorts to improve their chances of going viral. Pick a song that matches closely with what your Short is about.
5 Most Liked YouTube Shorts for Inspiration
1. "Would You Fly To Paris For A Baguette?" by MrBeast
Likes
Over 54 million likes as of January 2025.
Description
In this video, MrBeast sends a subscriber on an all-expenses-paid trip to Paris to purchase a baguette.
Reasons for Popularity
Engaging Concept: The extravagant and humorous idea of flying to Paris just for a baguette captivates viewers.
High Production Quality: MrBeast is known for his well-produced and entertaining content, attracting a large audience.
Strong Fanbase: With over 170 million subscribers, MrBeast's videos receive significant attention upon release.
2. "Our MOST INTENSE Balloon Popping Race!!" by How Ridiculous
Likes
Over 37 million likes as of January 2024.
Description
This video features a thrilling balloon-popping race, showcasing the creators' competitive spirit and creativity.
Reasons for Popularity
Exciting Content: The high-energy and fun challenge keeps viewers engaged.
Creative Challenges: How Ridiculous is known for unique and entertaining challenges that appeal to a broad audience.
3. "If Cleaning Was A Timed Sport, Pt. 2" by Daniel LaBelle
Likes
Approximately 37 million likes as of January 2024.
Description
Daniel humorously portrays cleaning as a competitive sport, emphasizing speed and efficiency.
Reasons for Popularity
Relatable Humor: The comedic take on a mundane task resonates with many viewers.
Physical Comedy: Daniel's expressive and physical humor appeals to a broad audience.
4. "OMG BEST TEACHER" by Dednahype
Likes
Around 35 million likes as of January 2024.
Description
The video showcases a teacher demonstrating an impressive and entertaining act, earning admiration from students.
Reasons for Popularity
Positive Content: Highlights a teacher's dedication and talent, promoting a feel-good atmosphere.
Shareable Theme: Viewers are inclined to share uplifting content featuring educators.
5. "How Zach King Gets Away With Doing Graffiti" by Zach King
Likes
Over 31 million likes as of January 2024.
Description
Zach King uses his signature editing skills to create an illusion of transforming graffiti into art in a magical way.
Reasons for Popularity
Visual Illusions: Zach's mastery of digital effects creates captivating and surprising visuals.
Creative Storytelling: The short narrative combined with magic tricks keeps viewers intrigued.
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10 Content Ideas for YouTube Shorts
1. Refresh Old Content for New Purpose
Content repurposing offers a chance to breathe new life into old content. Look at past content and see which pieces yielded the most engagement. Repurposing past content helps their engaging content resurface. You can refine this content that did so well with your audience in the past and rework it so it keeps its relevance.
2. Give Fans A Glimpse Behind The Scenes
Film a YouTube Short that takes your audience behind the scenes of your business. This gives your viewers a deeper look into the behind-the-scenes. You can reach a new level of connection with your audience. Your audience will appreciate the authenticity and risk of adjusting the focus of your content.
3. Showcase A Before & After
Filming a before-and-after for your viewers allows you to reap numerous benefits. You can take this opportunity to promote a product or service, inform them how to use it, and also how to purchase it. Show your audience exactly why they need your product by explaining its effect in a before-and-after YouTube Short.
4. Reveal Hacks & Tricks
Think about the challenges, if any, that pop up when using your products. Consider what some users have requested to see or if they have aired out any concerns. Then, you can make a YouTube Short addressing those concerns. Share your knowledge with your users and teach them hacks and tricks to make things easier. After all, you know your product inside and out, so why shouldn’t your users?
5. Motivate Your Audience
Take a second to inspire your viewers and set the bar high. Show them what new heights they can reach with your product or service, and encourage them to reach for the sky. Remind your audience you’re in their corner and are always there for questions/support. Begin cultivating a strong relationship with your audience that’ll withstand the test of time.
6. Provide Tutorials
YouTube Shorts are the perfect chance to film tutorials. With its naturally shorter video length, it’s easy for viewers to watch short, helpful tutorials. Make it easy for your audience to stop in and take the information they need while saving valuable time.
7. Share A Day In Your Life
Show your audience what a day in your life looks like. You can personalize this and make it your own. Whether you use this YouTube short to inform, entertain, or engage is up to you! Allow your audience to get to know you past just the surface level.
8. Reveal Your Workspace
Someone’s workspace says a lot about them. Reveal your workspace to your viewers and give them a tour of where all the magic happens! You’ll provide them helpful insight about yourself and your work without knowing it. You get to show a little bit more of who you are as a worker, and you can use it to get organized and tidy up too, just like this person did!
9. Answer FAQs
Make a YouTube Short dedicated to answering all of their burning questions. It proves you listen to your audience and care about resolving their concerns. Always encourage questions as it build relationships and improve future efforts! Answering their questions helps you understand your audience more and gives you insight into what they may want to see in the future.
10. Share User-Generated Content
Include your users! Take their content that features your products and services and show everyone what it helped them accomplish! Every single one of your users is unique and special, it’s time to shine the spotlight on them! This proves how your goods and services genuinely help users, and will urge more people to use your products. User-generated content comes solely from the customer, which can increase trust and engagement throughout the entire audience. For example, here is a user who promoted a skin care product!
Virlo helps short-form content creators crack the code of virality through AI-powered trend analysis. Our platform combines creator insights with advanced analytics to identify winning content patterns, optimal posting times, and successful audio/video combinations that help your content stand out in today's fast-moving social landscape. Perfect for independent creators looking to build a sustainable side business, Virlo takes the guesswork out of content strategy. We analyze the latest viral trends and help you understand when to post and what combinations of elements drive engagement. Whether you're just starting or looking to optimize your existing content, Virlo enables you to navigate the ever-changing algorithms to increase your chances of going viral. Go viral with Virlo's virality analysis tool.
Go Viral with Virlo's Virality Analysis Tool
The most liked YouTube Short is the short video on YouTube with the highest number of likes. It changes frequently as new videos gain traction and go viral. Virlo helps short-form content creators crack the code of virality through AI-powered trend analysis. Our platform combines creator insights with advanced analytics to identify winning content patterns, optimal posting times, and successful audio/video combinations that help your content stand out in today's fast-moving social landscape.
Perfect for independent creators looking to build a sustainable side business, Virlo takes the guesswork out of content strategy. We analyze the latest viral trends and help you understand when to post and what combinations of elements drive engagement. Whether you're just starting or looking to optimize your existing content, Virlo enables you to navigate the ever-changing algorithms to increase your chances of going viral. Go viral with Virlo's virality analysis tool.
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• Why Are My YouTube Shorts Not Getting Views
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• How to Go Viral on YouTube Shorts
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