Reels & Shorts Ideas Generator
Type your niche and choose a goal. Get 15 to 30 short-video ideas, each with a hook line, a format and a suggested length, for Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts and TikTok-style video.
Enter your niche, for example “dog grooming” or “real estate”, pick a goal such as reach or enquiries, and choose how many ideas you want. The generator returns 15 to 30 short-video ideas with a hook line, a format (tutorial, before-and-after, POV, myth vs fact and more) and a suggested length. Copy one idea or the whole list.
Your video ideas
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Get a free social media audit Get a custom quote WhatsApp +91 8827409728Free tool by Viral In City, an independent social media agency. Not affiliated with, endorsed or sponsored by Instagram, Meta, YouTube, Google, LinkedIn, X or TikTok; platform names only describe what the tool is for. Nothing you type is stored or sent.
How to use the ideas generator
- Enter your niche. The tool recognises 15 business types, from restaurants, gyms and salons to real estate, clinics, trades, online shops and SaaS, and fills each idea with words that fit. For anything else it uses general templates you can adjust.
- Pick a goal. Ideas that suit your goal come first: reach for new followers, enquiries for sales, trust for expertise, community for comments and loyalty, launch for a new product or offer.
- Choose a platform and how many ideas. The ideas work on all short-video apps; the platform setting changes the tips at the top of the list.
- Copy and plan. Copy single ideas or the full list into your content calendar. Press “Shuffle new ideas” for a different mix.
What makes a short video work
- A hook in the first second or two. Open with the result, a question or a bold line on screen, not with a logo or “Hi guys”.
- One idea per video. One tip, one transformation, one answer. If you have five tips, you have five videos.
- Text on screen. Add captions or on-screen text so the video makes sense with the sound off.
- Movement and pace. Cut every few seconds, change the angle, show hands at work. Static shots lose attention.
- A clear ending. End with the payoff, a loop back to the start, or one call to action: follow, comment or book.
Want the full method? Our guide on how to go viral on Instagram Reels explains what Instagram says it ranks, trial reels and a weekly testing routine. Posting Shorts for income? See how YouTube Shorts monetization works.
Focusing on YouTube? Our practical guide on how to grow on YouTube Shorts covers hooks, titles, related video links and Shorts analytics.
New to YouTube? Start with our step-by-step guide on how to start a YouTube channel. For Instagram, see how to choose the best hashtags for Reels.
The formats explained
Every idea comes with a format. These are the ones you will see most:
- Before and after: the fastest way to show a result. Works for salons, detailing, cleaning, renovation and fitness.
- Myth vs fact: state a common belief, then correct it. Builds authority quickly.
- Process video: film a job from start to finish and speed it up. No presenter needed.
- Reply to a comment: show a real question on screen and answer it. Turns comments into content and shows you listen.
- POV and expectation vs reality: short, relatable skits that people share.
- Day in the life and behind the scenes: make your team and place familiar, which builds trust before people buy.
- List and quick tip: numbered, saveable, easy to film with text overlays.
How long should each video be?
Let the idea decide. According to YouTube Help, Shorts can now be up to three minutes long, but a longer limit is not a reason to pad. Each idea here has a suggested length: 7–15 seconds for polls, reveals and before-and-afters, 15–45 seconds for tips and lists, up to 90 seconds for stories and case studies.
One idea, three platforms
Film once, then adapt. For Instagram Reels, write a keyword-rich caption and choose a clear cover. For YouTube Shorts, put the keyword in the title and link a related longer video where it fits. For TikTok-style video, lead with bold on-screen text and reply to comments with new videos. Always export a clean file without another app’s watermark.
Exporting your Reels? Check the official specs in our Instagram Reels size and length guide.
Example: a dog grooming salon
With the goal set to enquiries, the list for “dog grooming” includes a before-and-after of a fluffy groom, a reply to “How often should my dog be groomed?”, a walkthrough of what happens at a first visit, and a myth-vs-fact video on whether shaving keeps every dog cooler. Film three of these a week and you have a month of content from one afternoon of planning.
Want short videos without the filming and editing headache? Our Instagram management and YouTube management teams plan, edit and publish 15 Reels or Shorts a month for your brand, and our YouTube Shorts agency page explains how. Start with a free social media audit, write the caption with the Instagram caption generator and title your Short with the YouTube title generator.
Sources
- YouTube Help, Understand three-minute YouTube Shorts (Shorts up to three minutes long), checked 6 October 2026.
Reels & Shorts Ideas FAQ
How long should a Reel or YouTube Short be?
As long as the idea needs and no longer. YouTube Shorts can now be up to three minutes long, according to YouTube Help, but most ideas in this generator work in 7 to 60 seconds. Quick tips, before-and-afters and polls are short; stories, tours and case studies run longer.
How many Reels or Shorts should I post a week?
Choose a rhythm you can keep for months. Two or three good videos a week, every week, usually beats a burst of daily posts followed by silence. Our Instagram management plans include 15 Reels a month for this reason.
Can I post the same video on Reels, Shorts and TikTok?
Yes, as long as you own it and adapt it. Export a clean file without another app’s watermark, rewrite the caption or title for each platform and check the on-screen text sits clear of each app’s buttons.
What is a hook in a short video?
The first line people see or hear, in the first second or two. It tells viewers why they should keep watching: a question, a bold claim, the result, or a problem they recognise. Every idea here comes with a suggested hook you can say or put on screen.
Do I need to show my face?
No. Process videos, before-and-afters, voice-over with B-roll, screen recordings and text-on-screen videos all work without a presenter. Many of the formats in this generator are built for faceless content.
Is anything I type saved?
No. The ideas are generated in your browser from built-in templates. Nothing you type is sent to us or stored.
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