# Sora YouTube Prompts: 55 Shorts & Video Ideas That Get Views

**TL;DR:** YouTube success requires strong click-through rate (compelling thumbnails), high retention (engaging content throughout), and watch time optimization. These 55 prompts create YouTube Shorts (vertical under 60s) and long-form content (horizontal with retention hooks) using algorithm-friendly formats that drive views, subscribers, and monetization.

## YouTube Algorithm Essentials

### Shorts Algorithm

Vertical under 60 seconds, loop potential, immediate hooks, swipe-or-stay decision in 2 seconds, no mid-roll ads (yet), discovery-focused distribution

### Long-Form Algorithm

Horizontal any length, watch time priority, retention graphs crucial, mid-roll ad eligibility at 8+ minutes, subscriber feed and suggested videos distribution

### Key Metrics

Click-through rate (CTR), average view duration (AVD), watch time total, likes/comments/shares, subscriber conversion rate

## YouTube Shorts Prompts (20 Prompts)

Vertical under 60 seconds for Shorts feed.

1. **Quick Tutorial Hook:** "Hands demonstrating quick useful skill, vertical close-up, text overlay showing tip, under 60 seconds, immediate value delivery, save-worthy educational content"

2. **Before After:** "Split screen transformation, vertical format, left showing before, right after, dramatic improvement visible, satisfying comparison"

3. **Did You Know:** "Fascinating fact visualization, vertical format with text, surprising information hook, educational trivia content, shareable knowledge"

4. **Life Hack:** "Problem-solution demonstration, vertical tutorial format, practical utility, time-saving tip, household efficiency"

5. **Satisfying Visual:** "Oddly satisfying process, vertical close-up, ASMR appeal, loop potential, hypnotic repetition"

6. **Quick Story:** "Compressed narrative with twist ending, vertical talking head or visualization, story hook, entertainment value"

7. **Comparison:** "Side-by-side product or concept comparison, vertical split screen, informative decision-making content"

8. **Challenge Attempt:** "Quick challenge execution, vertical format, will-they-succeed tension, entertainment and relatability"

9. **Trend Participation:** "Current YouTube Shorts trend with unique spin, vertical format, algorithm boost from trending participation"

10. **Educational Explainer:** "Complex concept simplified in under 60 seconds, vertical with graphics, educational value, knowledge sharing"

11. **Motivational Moment:** "Inspirational quote with powerful visuals, vertical format, screenshot-worthy, motivational sharing"

12. **Comedy Sketch:** "Quick funny scenario, vertical comedy format, relatability humor, entertainment value"

13. **Product Demo:** "Quick product feature highlight, vertical demonstration, Amazon affiliate potential, purchase intent"

14. **Fitness Tip:** "Exercise form or quick workout, vertical fitness content, health utility, workout inspiration"

15. **Recipe Quick:** "Fast recipe demonstration compressed, vertical cooking format, food content appeal, culinary utility"

16. **Tech Tip:** "Phone or software trick, vertical screen recording style, digital literacy, tech utility"

17. **Travel Snippet:** "Stunning location highlight, vertical wanderlust content, destination inspiration, travel appeal"

18. **Pet Content:** "Cute or funny animal moment, vertical pet focus, universal appeal, shareable cuteness"

19. **DIY Quick:** "Fast craft or project, vertical DIY format, creative inspiration, maker content"

20. **Reaction:** "Genuine reaction to something surprising, vertical reaction format, relatable emotion, entertainment"

## Long-Form Content Prompts (20 Prompts)

Horizontal format for traditional YouTube videos.

21. **Tutorial Series Intro:** "Comprehensive tutorial introduction, horizontal format, what viewers will learn, value proposition clear, retention hook for full series"

22. **Documentary Style:** "Cinematic documentary opening, horizontal landscape shots, narrative hook, professional production value, story immersion"

23. **Review Format:** "Product review with b-roll, horizontal format, honest assessment, pros-cons structure, purchase guidance"

24. **Behind Scenes:** "Behind-the-scenes production footage, horizontal format, authenticity and connection, creator transparency"

25. **Interview Setup:** "Professional interview environment, horizontal two-shot or singles, conversational format, expert authority"

26. **Vlog Style:** "Personal vlog footage, horizontal handheld or gimbal, day-in-life format, creator connection"

27. **Educational Deep Dive:** "Detailed subject explanation with visuals, horizontal format, comprehensive teaching, thorough knowledge"

28. **Commentary:** "Commentary over gameplay or content, horizontal format, personality-driven, opinion and analysis"

29. **Experiment:** "Scientific or creative experiment documented, horizontal format, hypothesis-test-result structure, discovery narrative"

30. **Challenge Long:** "Extended challenge attempt, horizontal documentation, struggle-and-triumph narrative, entertainment journey"

31. **Comparison Review:** "Multiple products compared thoroughly, horizontal format, buyer's guide utility, decision-making help"

32. **How-To Complete:** "Step-by-step complete process, horizontal tutorial, comprehensive instruction, follow-along utility"

33. **Storytelling:** "Narrative-driven content, horizontal cinematic style, emotional arc, story engagement"

34. **Analysis:** "Detailed analysis of topic, horizontal format with graphics, intellectual depth, thoughtful commentary"

35. **List Format:** "Top 10 or ranking list, horizontal b-roll, countdown structure, curiosity retention"

36. **Transformation:** "Before-after transformation journey, horizontal documentation, progress narrative, inspirational arc"

37. **Collaboration:** "Creator collaboration, horizontal format, combined audiences, cross-promotion value"

38. **Event Coverage:** "Event documentation and commentary, horizontal reportage style, timely relevance, cultural participation"

39. **Unboxing Extended:** "Thorough unboxing and first impressions, horizontal format, consumer guidance, purchase decision help"

40. **Series Episode:** "Episodic content with callbacks, horizontal format, returning viewer reward, series investment"

## Retention Hook Prompts (15 Prompts)

Openings that prevent clicking away.

41. **Cold Open:** "Starting mid-action before context, horizontal format, immediate interest, explanation follows hook"

42. **Question Hook:** "Provocative question opening, horizontal format, curiosity gap, answer promise"

43. **Shocking Statement:** "Unexpected or contrarian claim, horizontal format, attention grab, proof to follow"

44. **Visual Spectacle:** "Stunning visual opening, horizontal cinematic shot, immediate wow factor, retention through beauty"

45. **Preview Payoff:** "Showing best moment first, horizontal format, promise of value, incentive to watch through"

46. **Pattern Interrupt:** "Unexpected opening breaking format norms, horizontal surprise, distinctiveness from typical content"

47. **Personal Story:** "Compelling personal anecdote opening, horizontal intimate framing, emotional connection, relatable experience"

48. **Countdown Start:** "Beginning with number countdown, horizontal format, list structure clear, retention through progression"

49. **Challenge Premise:** "Stating challenge attempted, horizontal setup, outcome uncertainty, resolution curiosity"

50. **Controversy Tease:** "Controversial opinion teased, horizontal format, debate spark, engagement anticipation"

51. **Before Reveal:** "Showing dramatic before state, horizontal format, after-promise, transformation curiosity"

52. **Expert Authority:** "Establishing credentials immediately, horizontal professional setting, trust building, authority positioning"

53. **Time Constraint:** "Limited time challenge setup, horizontal format, urgency creation, completion curiosity"

54. **Mystery Setup:** "Establishing mystery to solve, horizontal format, investigation promise, resolution anticipation"

55. **Relatable Problem:** "Universal problem statement, horizontal format, solution promise, personal relevance"

## Platform Optimization

### YouTube Shorts Specific

- Under 60 seconds mandatory

- Vertical 9:16 format

- Loop seamlessly when possible

- Hook within 2 seconds

- No mid-roll ads (monetization through Shorts fund/sponsorships)

### Long-Form Specific

- 8+ minutes enables mid-roll ads

- Horizontal 16:9 format

- Strong first 30 seconds prevents bounce

- Retention graph optimization

- End screens and cards for traffic

### Thumbnail Strategy

First frame or custom thumbnail must be click-worthy - high contrast, readable text, expressive faces, curiosity gap

### Title Optimization

Front-load keywords, create curiosity, avoid clickbait that video can't deliver, emotional triggers, searchable terms

### Description SEO

First 2 lines visible before "show more", keywords naturally integrated, timestamps for long videos, links to related content

## Monetization Considerations

### Advertiser-Friendly Content

Family-friendly generally safer, avoid controversial topics if monetization priority, swearing limits ad categories, violence/sensitive content restrictions

### Sponsorship Appeal

Define clear audience demographics, consistent niche focus, engagement rates matter more than raw views, professional production quality

### Affiliate Integration

Product reviews and recommendations, Amazon affiliate links, honest disclosure maintains trust, genuine recommendations only

### Membership/Patreon

Behind-scenes exclusive content, early access to videos, community connection value, super thanks and donations

## Frequently Asked Questions

**What's better: Shorts or long-form?**

Both serve different purposes. Shorts for discovery and growth, long-form for watch time and ad revenue. Successful channels use both strategically.

**How long should YouTube videos be?**

Shorts under 60 seconds. Long-form 8-15 minutes for monetization sweet spot. Longer if content justifies and retention stays strong.

**Do I need custom thumbnails?**

Absolutely. Custom thumbnails drastically improve click-through rate versus auto-generated options. Investment in thumbnail design pays immediate dividends.

**Should I focus on retention or length?**

Retention. 70% retention on 5-minute video better than 30% retention on 15-minute video. Quality over duration always.

**How important is upload consistency?**

Very. Algorithm favors consistent creators. Weekly minimum recommended. Daily for rapid growth if quality maintained.

**Can I repurpose TikTok content for Shorts?**

Yes, but remove watermarks. YouTube penalizes content with competitor watermarks. Re-export clean versions.

**What makes thumbnails click-worthy?**

Human faces with expressions, high contrast colors, minimal readable text, curiosity gap, pattern interrupt from surrounding thumbnails.

**Do Shorts help long-form channels?**

Yes. Shorts drive discovery and subscriber growth. Many viewers discovered through Shorts convert to long-form audience over time.

**Should videos have music?**

Shorts benefit from trending audio. Long-form use music carefully - avoid overpowering dialogue, respect copyright, consider ambient over lyrical.

**How do I get monetized faster?**

Focus on watch time (4,000 hours) and subscribers (1,000). Shorts views don't count toward 4,000 hour requirement. Long-form necessary for monetization threshold.

## Conclusion

YouTube success requires understanding two distinct algorithms: Shorts (discovery and virality) and long-form (watch time and monetization). Both demand strong hooks preventing immediate clicking away. Shorts need instant value in under 60 seconds. Long-form requires sustained engagement with retention optimization throughout.

These 55 prompts provide foundations for both formats. Shorts leverage quick tutorials, satisfying visuals, and trending participation for discovery. Long-form uses comprehensive teaching, entertainment narratives, and thorough value delivery for watch time accumulation and ad revenue.

Master thumbnail design, title optimization, and format-appropriate retention strategies. YouTube rewards creators who understand its dual-algorithm ecosystem and create content optimized for both discovery (Shorts) and monetization (long-form).

**Continue mastering Sora:**

- **[Sora TikTok Viral Prompts](/sora-tiktok-viral-prompts/)** - Platform comparison and optimization

- **[Sora Viral Video Prompts](/sora-viral-video-prompts/)** - Cross-platform viral strategies

- **[Best Sora Prompts](/best-sora-prompts/)** - 100+ tested prompts across categories