YouTube Shorts is not going to be the next big thing for content creation. It is now. You’re already behind if you’re sleeping in shorts. But here’s the thing: creating a bunch of vertical videos will not get you noticed. What will happen? Memes. Quick, humorous, culturally relevant, and easy to share. When used correctly, memes are like jet fuel for Shorts. And in this piece, I’ll show you how to create memes that go viral on YouTube Shorts in seven simple steps.
This is not merely a theory. This is a technique that works, based on years of experimenting, failing, winning, and seeing Shorts artists go from having no views to millions of views.
Let’s get started.
Step 1: Learn What Makes a Meme Work on Shorts.
Let us begin with the essentials before moving on to formats, sounds, and editing.
A meme is no longer limited to a picture with the Impact typeface. It is a moment. A reference. An inside joke for the digital age. What makes a meme popular on YouTube Shorts is its relatability in 15 to 60 seconds. People browse with the sound on, have a five-second attention span, and if your Short does not pique their interest right away, they will leave.
Then, the real question is: what is effective?
- Pop-culture scenes, but with something different.
- People’s responses to popular Tweets
- A famous audio trend is the “bombastic side-eye look”.
- A visual gag enhances the humorous effect and makes it more exciting.
Being funny is not necessary, but you do have to get the joke the whole group is ready for. Work on making your play even better.
Also see: How To Create The Perfect Instagram Meme?
Step 2: Select Your Format. 3 That Work Like Magic
There are three meme genres that are continuously crushing it on Shorts:
1. Text-Overlay Storytelling
Think about the popular “when you…” memes. You video something mundane, overlay it with relatable text (for example, “When you open one tab and your laptop sounds like a jet engine”), and voila. It hits.
2. Green Screen Reacts
Use the Green Screen effect to place oneself in front of a tweet, Reddit post, or amusing photo. Kindly express your opinions. Doing this gives you a chance to stay up to date with trends and show your flair at the same time.
3. Sound-based Memes
The quality of sounds really matters. When popular meme sounds are in the trend, add your own flavor to them. Some added value comes when you surprise viewers with an original video concept.
A tip: Study what’s already functioning, not to replicate, but to identify trends. What about the pacing? Where is the hook? What punchline worked?
Step 3: Identify Viral Meme Material Before It Peaks
Here’s a dirty secret: Most viral meme shorts aren’t unique. They’re simply timely.
So, where do you get meme ideas before the wave crests?
Reddit has subreddits such as r/memes and r/WhitePeople. Twitter and r/Instagramreality are meme goldmines.
X (previously Twitter): Follow meme curators and keep an eye out for tweets that go viral.
TikTok Trends: Whatever is popular today will most likely become viral tomorrow.
YouTube’s Trending Tab is not simply for long-form content. Many Shorts makers test their content here before distributing it elsewhere.
While conducting competitor analysis, I came across Tubepilot, a service that offers valuable utilities such as Viral topic finder, as well as Shorts caption, title, and hashtag generators, which are excellent for swiftly packaging meme-based content in ways that correspond with how people consume and interact with Shorts.
Step 4: Nail the Hook. You Have 1.2 Seconds
Literally. If the viewer is not interested inside the first second, your Short is dead.
What works for meme-based hooks?
- Begin with a big statement: “This is why I don’t trust vending machines anymore…”
- Display an outlandish image immediately.
- Flash the joke early, and then loop back to context.
- evoke inquiry or feeling, not just amusement.
And always format the first frame as a thumbnail. The first 0:01 is your poster.
Step 5: Editing
In short films, time and pacing are more important than perfection. Here are some editing tricks to keep viewers engaged. People seek speed, surprise, and enthusiasm.
Use the following editing moves:
Jump cuts: Remove pauses. Even milliseconds.
Text punches are lines of sounds or ideas that appear in bold text.
Sound Effects: Comedic timing cues make even the most basic memes more effective.
Captions: Most viewers watch with the sound turned on, but effective captions improve retention regardless.
Pro tip: Loop it seamlessly. Some of the most popular meme shorts feature looping punchlines that entice viewers to replay. That dramatically increases your average view duration.
Also see: Discovering Effective AVIF To PDF Conversion Tools
Step 6: Algorithm Boost – Which Signals Matter?
Let’s talk numbers.
YouTube Shorts’ algorithm is obsessed with:
- Watch the duration.
- Repeat views
- Shares
- Comments
Notice what isn’t on that list. Subscribers. Clickthrough rate. Your channel size. Meme Shorts give beginners a real chance.
To improve these signals:
- Make the videos loopable. End your Short in a way that connects to the beginning.
- Add a question at the end. Even “What would you do?” elicits responses.
- Encourage discreetly. Something like, “Send this to someone who’d freak out like this.”
Yes, volume matters. Do not post a short message and then disappear. Try 3–5 each week. Over time, the system gradually increases your organic exposure.
Step 7: Post, analyze, tweak, and repeat
Here is the truth. Not every meme Short becomes viral. That is the game.
But here’s what sets champions apart: they test, iterate, and improve. They don’t just post; they carefully monitor their stats.
Consider where viewers may have dropped off.
Did the hook work?
Did anyone remark or just scroll?
Did the joke land?
You will begin to discover trends. Perhaps your reactive face offers value. Maybe your text is too small for mobile. Maybe your pace is too slow.
Which viral creators do you admire? They failed 50 times before striking once. However, when that single video goes viral, it changes everything.
Also see: Vintage Music Revival: Why Retro Aesthetics Are Taking Over the Stage and Screen
Final thoughts:
If you think memes are a quick way to grow your YouTube channel, you’re missing the point. Memes are contemporary storytelling devices that represent culture, emotion, time, and identity. When you master using them in Shorts, you’re not just following trends; you’re creating them.
And the best part? You need not need a fancy camera, a large budget, or a staff. All you need is timing, awareness, and a little bit of confidence to test out ideas that may fail until one explodes.
So, start experimenting. Study what works. Make it yours. And remain consistent. Because of the next viral short? It may be the one you prepare tomorrow.
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