How to Create a Content Plan for a New YouTube Channel (30 Days of Shorts)

Ready to get your next 10,000 subscribers?

Join thousands of creators who use Subscribr to create faster, better YouTube videos.

Free trial No credit card required

How to Create a Content Plan for a New YouTube Channel (30 Days of Shorts)

Starting a new YouTube channel can feel overwhelming, especially when you're trying to figure out what content to create and how often to post. If you're looking to kickstart your growth and potentially reach monetization faster, focusing on YouTube Shorts for your first 30 days is a powerful strategy.

Shorts offer a unique opportunity to get discovered quickly by new viewers. But success requires more than just making short videos – it needs a plan. This guide gives you a specific 30-day content framework designed to help aspiring and beginner creators overcome strategy overwhelm and inconsistency, laying a solid foundation for growth.

Why Focus on Shorts for Your First 30 Days?

YouTube Shorts provide a faster path to visibility than traditional long-form videos for new channels. The Shorts shelf and feed expose your content to a broad audience, giving you a chance to rapidly test ideas and find what resonates. Consistent Shorts can quickly build initial watch time and subscriber numbers, bringing you closer to eligibility for the YouTube Partner Program, including Shorts monetization.

This 30-day plan isn't just about posting videos; it's about systematic experimentation, idea validation, and building the crucial habit of consistent content creation.

How Many Shorts Should a New Channel Post Daily?

This is a common question with slightly different answers depending on who you ask. Our research from YouTube strategy experts suggests varying approaches:

• Some successful creators recommend posting at least once a day when starting. The logic here is that daily uploads give the YouTube algorithm consistent new content to test with different audiences. Uploading multiple videos too quickly might not give the algorithm enough time to fully assess each one's performance before the next is released, potentially hindering the reach of a well-performing Short.
• Other strategies point to uploading 2-3 (or even more) Shorts per day in the initial phase for faster growth. The idea is that higher volume increases your chances of hitting on a winning video through sheer frequency and provides more data points for you (and the algorithm) to learn from.

Our recommendation for beginners: Start with a frequency you can realistically maintain consistently for 30 days. Posting 1-2 high-quality Shorts daily is far better than attempting 3+ and burning out after a week.

Aim for at least one Short per day. If you can comfortably create, edit, and publish two Shorts daily without sacrificing quality or consistency, go for two. The key is consistency – train the algorithm and your audience to expect content from you regularly.

Your 30-Day Shorts Content Framework

This plan breaks down your first month into four phases, focusing on different aspects of content creation and strategy.

Week 1: Experimentation & Consistency

Goal: Establish a daily posting habit and test a variety of basic content ideas within your niche. Daily Target: 1-2 Shorts

This week is about getting comfortable with the Shorts workflow and seeing what initial types of content get any traction. Don't overthink it; focus on quantity of basic tests and consistency.

Idea Prompts for Week 1:

• Answer simple, frequently asked questions related to your niche.
• Share quick tips or "hacks."
• Show a sped-up process or transformation.
• React to something relevant in your niche.
• Share a quick opinion or thought.
• Introduce yourself and your channel's topic in a few seconds.
• Show a "day in the life" or "behind the scenes" snippet.
• Create a simple list (e.g., "3 things I wish I knew about X").
• Demonstrate a basic skill.
• Show before/after results (if applicable).

Action Steps:

1. Brainstorm at least 10-14 basic ideas based on the prompts above.
2. Film and edit your first 7-14 Shorts. Keep editing simple.
3. Schedule or manually post 1-2 Shorts every single day.
4. Don't obsess over views yet. Focus purely on the process.

Week 2: Idea Validation & Refinement

Goal: Identify which types of content showed the most promise in Week 1 and start refining them. Daily Target: 1-2 Shorts

Look back at your Week 1 performance in YouTube Analytics. Which Shorts had slightly higher views, watch time percentage, or likes? Even small differences matter at this stage. These are the content types you'll explore further.

Idea Prompts for Week 2:

• Create variations of your best-performing Shorts from Week 1. (e.g., If a "quick tip" Short did well, create 2-3 more quick tip Shorts on different subtopics).
• Expand on a popular idea with a slightly different angle.
• Try a slightly more complex version of a simple idea that worked.
• Look at successful Shorts from other channels in your niche (use tools like Subscribr's Intel feature to see what's working for others) and adapt their formats or topics to your unique voice. Remember to adapt, not copy!
• Answer follow-up questions from comments (if you received any).

Action Steps:

1. Analyze Week 1 performance in YouTube Analytics. Note which content types performed best.
2. Brainstorm 10-14 ideas that build on those successful types.
3. Film and edit your Week 2 Shorts, focusing slightly more on pacing and hook in the first few seconds.
4. Post 1-2 Shorts daily.

Week 3: Doubling Down & Pacing

Goal: Focus primarily on the content types that showed the most promise in Weeks 1 & 2. Daily Target: 1-3 Shorts

By now, you should have a clearer picture of what resonates with the audience YouTube is showing your content to. This week, you double down on those formats and topics. If you are consistently hitting 1-2 Shorts daily and feel you have more capacity, try increasing to 3 Shorts on a few days to see the impact.

Idea Prompts for Week 3:

• Create multiple Shorts based on your top 2-3 performing content types from the previous weeks.
• Go deeper into a popular subtopic.
• Experiment with slightly different hooks for your successful formats.
• If a specific video type consistently gets higher watch time percentage, make more of those.

Action Steps:

1. Identify your strongest performing content types from Weeks 1 & 2.
2. Brainstorm 7-21 ideas focusing on these winning formats/topics.
3. Film and edit your Week 3 Shorts. Pay close attention to the hook (first 1-3 seconds) and maintaining fast pacing throughout.
4. Post 1-3 Shorts daily, pushing your consistency.

Week 4: Analysis & Future Planning

Goal: Analyze the full 30 days of data, understand what worked best, and plan for month two and beyond. Daily Target: 1-2 Shorts (or maintain the higher frequency from Week 3 if sustainable)

The final week is about gathering data and preparing for the next phase. Continue posting consistently while you analyze the month's performance.

Idea Prompts for Week 4:

• Continue creating Shorts in your best-performing formats.
• Test 1-2 completely new ideas that you haven't tried yet, just to see if anything new surprises you.
• Create Shorts summarizing key takeaways or popular tips from the past month.

Action Steps:

1. Post consistently throughout the week.
2. Dedicate time to analyze your full 30 days of data in YouTube Analytics. Look at views, watch time percentage, audience retention graphs (for individual Shorts), likes, and subscriber gains.
3. Identify your top 5-10 performing Shorts based on a combination of these metrics, especially watch time percentage and views.
4. Identify your worst-performing Shorts and try to understand why (Was the hook weak? Was the topic uninteresting? Was the pacing slow?).
5. Use the insights from your analysis to start brainstorming ideas and planning your content strategy for the next 30-60 days. What types of videos will you make more of? What will you avoid?

Systematic Idea Generation for Beginner Shorts Channels

Coming up with daily ideas for 30 days can feel daunting, but a system makes it easier.

1. Define Your Niche (Simply): What is your channel generally about? (e.g., beginner guitar lessons, quick healthy recipes, daily fitness motivation, coding tips for students). Keep it focused but broad enough for many ideas.
2. Break Down Your Niche: What are the main subtopics or common problems/questions within your niche? (e.g., Guitar: chords, strumming, scales, practice tips. Recipes: breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, specific ingredients. Fitness: exercises, mindset, nutrition, routines).
3. Use Idea Frameworks: Apply different formats to your subtopics:
   • How-To/Tutorial: "How to play C chord in 30 seconds," "How to make scrambled eggs perfectly," "How to do a perfect push-up."
   • Tips/Hacks: "3 tips for faster chord changes," "Kitchen hack for chopping onions," "Fitness hack for staying motivated."
   • Lists: "5 essential chords for beginners," "Quick meal ideas for busy weeknights," "Top 3 bodyweight exercises."
   • Myth vs. Fact: "Myth: You need expensive gear to start guitar," "Fact: Eating carbs won't ruin your diet."
   • Quick Review/Recommendation: "Best beginner guitar app," "Favorite healthy snack," "Must-have workout gear."
   • Behind-the-Scenes/Day-in-the-Life: Show a quick glimpse of your practice routine, cooking process, or workout.
   • Transformation/Result: Show a quick before/after (if applicable and ethical).
4. Answer Questions: Think about what beginners in your niche constantly ask. Use tools like Google Search (the "People also ask" section) or look at comments sections on larger channels in your niche for inspiration.
5. Analyze Successful Content: Use tools designed for YouTube analysis, like Subscribr's Channel and Video Intel features or the Research Assistant, to see what types of Shorts are performing well for other channels in your space. Look at their popular videos for format and topic ideas you can adapt.
6. Batch Brainstorming: Don't try to come up with an idea every morning. Set aside time once a week (or even just before you start filming) to brainstorm 7-14 ideas at once using your niche breakdown and idea frameworks.
7. Keep an Idea List: Use a simple note-taking app or a spreadsheet to jot down ideas as they come to you. Even half-formed ideas can be developed later.

How to Grow Fast with Shorts from Zero

Rapid growth with Shorts from a brand new channel comes down to a few key factors, reinforced by your 30-day plan:

1. Consistency is Non-Negotiable: Posting daily, or even multiple times a day if sustainable, gives your channel the best chance to be discovered. The more high-quality content you put out, the more data YouTube has to find your audience.
2. Focus on the Hook: The first few seconds of a Short are critical. You need to grab attention immediately to maximize viewer retention. Experiment with different hooks.
3. Maintain High Audience Retention: YouTube pushes Shorts that keep people watching until the end (or looping). Keep your videos fast-paced, visually engaging, and deliver value quickly.
4. Validate Ideas with Data: Don't just guess what works. Use your analytics (and tools like Subscribr's analytics features) to see which content types perform best and make more of those. This is the core of the Week 2 and Week 3 strategy.
5. Study Successful Shorts (But Be Original): Analyze popular Shorts in your niche using tools like Subscribr's Video Breakdown to understand their structure, pacing, and what makes them engaging. Adapt successful formats and concepts to your unique topic and personality.
6. Engage (When You Can): Respond to comments on your Shorts. This builds community and signals to YouTube that your content is generating interaction.

By consistently executing a plan like this, focusing on creating engaging content based on validated ideas, you create the conditions for rapid initial growth. This can lead to reaching the Shorts monetization thresholds (1,000 subscribers and 10 million valid Shorts views in the past 90 days) much faster than relying solely on long-form content.

Tools & Resources

Creating a content plan and executing it consistently is easier with the right support. Tools built specifically for YouTube creators can streamline your workflow:

• YouTube Studio: Your essential free tool for uploading, editing basic details, and most importantly, analyzing your performance data. Pay close attention to the "Content" tab, specifically the Shorts performance metrics and audience retention graphs.
• Subscribr: A comprehensive AI-powered platform designed for YouTube creators. Use Subscribr's Research Assistant and Channel/Video Intel features to analyze successful channels and videos in your niche for idea generation. Leverage the AI Script Writer and planning tools to quickly outline and draft your Shorts content, ensuring consistency in voice and format. Subscribr's analytics features can provide deeper insights into what's working.

Conclusion

Launching a new YouTube channel with a dedicated 30-day Shorts content plan is a strategic way to build initial momentum and audience. By focusing on consistent daily uploads, systematically testing and validating your content ideas based on performance data, and refining your approach week by week, you overcome the common hurdles of overwhelm and inconsistency. Stick to the plan, analyze your results, and use the insights to fuel your growth beyond the first month. Your journey from zero starts with a single Short, backed by a solid plan.