Types of video content that attract the most views. Popular YouTube video content you should be making to promote your business and for social.
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Larry Mutenda YouTube’s most watched content consistently proves that entertainment reigns supreme—from viral music to comedic sketches, viewers flock to highly engaging formats. But it’s not just fun videos that perform: as mobile video consumption skyrockets, formats like product demos, tutorials, and vlogs are also gaining massive traction.
In fact, 89% of businesses now use video as a core marketing tool, and a striking 95% of marketers consider it essential to their strategy. Moreover, 68% of companies that haven’t yet embraced video plan to start by 2025 —proof that video isn’t just trendy; it’s becoming universal.
If your brand hasn’t jumped in, now’s the moment. Mobile-optimized videos—especially short-form clips under 90 seconds—are driving viewer engagement, boosting ROI, and helping businesses connect in a noisy digital world. In this guide, we’ll explore the top 10 video formats bringing in views and why they work.
Video content remains one of the most effective ways to connect with audiences, build trust, and drive action.
If your brand hasn’t jumped in, now’s the moment. Mobile-optimized videos—especially short-form clips under 90 seconds—are driving viewer engagement, boosting ROI, and helping businesses connect in a noisy digital world. In this guide, we’ll explore the top 10 video formats bringing in views and why they work.
As of October 2025, Baby Shark Dance by Pinkfong (uploaded June 17, 2016) holds the all-time crown with a staggering 16.3 billion views and 83 million subscribers.
We partnered with Paulette Nnorom, a lawyer out of Toronto, and created an animated music video. We’ve been making animated storytelling videos for a while, but this was our first time creating an animated video based on lyrics from a song.
That figure not only makes it the most-viewed YouTube video ever—it also highlights a broader trend: music and children’s entertainment dominate the platform’s top spots. Among the top 5 videos, three are children’s rhymes and two are hit singles, underscoring how catchy audio-visual content continues to captivate global audiences.
We may not be all good singers, but you can engage a good producer to create a music video or jingle that could possibly go viral.
While not all brands can replicate Pinkfong’s viral success, investing in a compelling music video or jingle—professionally produced, emotionally resonant, and optimized for SEO—offers an effective path to higher engagement and shareable content.
| Ranking | Video | Channel | Views | Published |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baby Shark Dance | Pinkfong Kids’ Songs & Stories | 16.3 Billion | 06-17-16 |
| 2 | Despacito | Luis Fonsi | 8.8 Billion | 01-12-17 |
| 3 | Wheels on the Bus | Cocomelon | 8 Billion | 05-24-18 |
| 4 | Johny Johny Yes Papa | LooLoo Kids | 7.1 Billion | 10-08-16 |
| 5 | Bath Song | Cocomelon | 7.2 Billion | 05-02-18 |
| 6 | See You Again | Wiz Khalifa | 6.7 Billion | 04-06,15 |
| 7 | Shape of You | Ed Sheeran | 6.5 Billion | 01-30-17 |
| 8 | Phonics Song with Two Words | ChuChu TV | 6.7 Billion | 03-06-14 |
| 9 | Uptown Funk | Mark Ronson | 5.6 Billion | 11-19-14 |
| 10 | Gangnam Style | PSY | 5.7 Billion | 07-15-12 |
Stats Updated September 2025*
So, what kinds of videos grab the most attention on YouTube? The answer comes straight from YouTube’s own data: music videos consistently top the charts, with children’s songs like Baby Shark Dance alone amassing over 16.3 billion views.
That said, short-form platforms—especially TikTok and YouTube Shorts—are powerful trend indicators, showing that snappy, bite-sized entertainment is highly sought after.
As a creative agency, we know it’s crucial to stay ahead of these viewer preferences. While not every video will go viral, creating video content that taps into proven formats—like music-infused content, Shorts, and entertaining jingles—can dramatically increase your chances of capturing attention and views.
Here’s a curated list of the top video ideas that consistently outperform others and get more views on YouTube, backed by real usage trends and engagement data.
| Type of Video | Description | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Music Videos | Live action and animated music videos. |
| 2 | Product Videos | Videos showing a product in action. |
| 3 | Video Interviews | Interviews of prominent figures and celebrities. |
| 4 | Explainer Videos | Videos explaining complex ideas and common everyday topics. |
| 5 | Video Testimonials | People talking about their experience dealing with an organization. |
| 6 | How-to Videos and Tutorials | Videos on how to complete certain tasks and how things work. |
| 7 | Video Reviews | Reviews of products that we use everyday. |
| 8 | Vlogs | Content creators discussing on issues related to their chosen area of interest. |
| 9 | Webinars | Online seminars broadcast to an online audience. |
| 10 | Live Streaming | Live video of an event where people can watch in real time. |
This was one of the many fun projects we get to work on at Creamy Animation. If you need an animated music video, don’t hesitate to reach out, and we’ll be happy to help.
How do product demos help sales? Product demo videos are one of the most effective tools for driving sales because they show rather than tell.
Great product videos connect with your audience on a personal level and help you sell your product better. Demos shift the focus from features to benefits by visually showing how the product solves a problem. Studies consistently show that including a product video can increase conversion rates by 30–80%.
HubSpot found out that in 2022 that 77% of marketers say their company uses YouTube to host marketing videos.
The DollarShaveClub video is both entertaining, funny, and has been an effective sales tool for the company. The video went viral and helped boost their business, and their products became an instant hit.
B2B videos may not have the same creative flexibility as a B2C video, but an experienced video production company can help you determine what type of video is best suited to achieve your goals. A product demo video walks users through how your product works. It showcases the interface, features, and value in action—removing uncertainty and building buyer confidence.
When tailored correctly, you can turn converting product demos into sales tools that outperform static content.
Entertainment and reaction videos dominate YouTube because they deliver instant emotional payoff. Viewers tune in to see authentic responses, whether it’s someone laughing at a prank, reacting to a shocking moment, or experiencing a song or video for the first time.
These videos spread fast because they feel relatable, create a sense of shared experience, and invite people to join the conversation in real time.
Tim and Fred Williams became viral by recording their first-time reactions to classic songs like Phil Collins’ “In the Air Tonight,” sparking a resurgence in the track’s popularity and even causing it to climb to #2 on iTunes weeks later.
Their style exemplifies how raw, genuine reactions can connect deeply with Gen Z and global audiences.
Hosted by Ethan and Hila Klein, this channel mixes reactions with sharp satire—often using reaction footage interwoven with sketches to comment on internet culture
Their approach shows how reaction videos can be transformed into engaging commentary and creative critique.
Video interviews are one of the most popular videos for business. On the Bloomberg website, we found that both Bloomberg and Wells Fargo leveraged the popularity of
The David Rubenstein Show to create one of the most watched interviews on YouTube. In their video interviews the host, who is the billionaire founder of the Carlyle Group, interviews notable personalities.
The most subscribed YouTube channels produce content such as music videos, movies, shows, entertainment sports, and other video content types.
As of November 2023, the current most subscribed YouTube channel is T-Series, with 253 million subscribers and counting. The channel has held the top position since April 14, 2019. T-Series in Hindi and Indian music label that hosts music videos with captivating songs and YouTube shorts.
The seconds most subscribed YouTube Channel is MrBeast, with 210 million subscribers. This is the highest subscribers held by an individual. MrBeast in an American Youtube content creator who has created a name for himself and become a world phenomena through his elaborate challenges and giveaways.
The list includes Cocomelon, Sony Entertainment, Kids Diana Show, PewDiePie, Like Natstya, Vlad and Niki, Zee Music Company, and WWE.
Explainer videos have grown in eminence as a marketing tool and as website landing page videos. Topics on healthcare, SaaS, science, engineering, finance, and many others, are pretty complex. That’s where we need video content that explains concepts and ideas that are hard to understand.
Take this video, What is ChatGPT, for example. The video tries to tackle an important subject and explain what this Ai tech concept is and why it is a game changer. There’s no better way than to watch a short video about how it works, than trying to read about it.
2D animation videos are a powerful marketing and communication tool that can hep a business explain what they do, engage audiences, and boost conversions.
At Creamy Animation we create visually appealing video content that breaks down difficult topics using metaphors and storytelling. Our animation studio has been around for over a decade.
Explainer videos are designed to simplify complex concepts and present your value proposition clearly and quickly. They’re often used at the top of the funnel to attract and educate potential customers.
Typically animated or live-action, these videos run 60–90 seconds and are placed on homepages, landing pages, or social media. Their purpose is to answer: What does your product or service do, and why does it matter?
If you’re looking to create one, understanding the full explainer video production process helps ensure your message is well crafted and conversion-focused.
Video testimonials for business provide powerful social proof. Real customers describe their problems, how they found your solution, and the outcomes they achieved.
They’re often used on landing pages, in ad campaigns, or alongside proposals. If you’re curious about how we produce client testimonial videos, our portfolio showcases several examples across industries.
Testimonial videos drive views because they come across as unbiased and peer-focused. Social Fresh found that of all content types, customer testimonials ranked highest in effectiveness.
According to Google, six out of ten people prefer watching video online instead of watching TV. An Insivia study found out that mobile video consumption is growing by a massive 100% every year.
Short, practical how-to tutorial or training videos are all the rage. According to Google, how-to searches have grown over 140% over the last 13 years. This explains the rise of channels like iFixit, which uses tutorial videos to market its various repair tools.
Creating training and how-to videos can help reduce customer returns, technical support calls, and is a great video marketing strategy for business.
How-to videos offer real value by helping your audience solve problems. They teach a skill, demonstrate product usage. Here’s a step-by-step process on how to make testimonial and training videos.
This format is especially useful for customer onboarding, support, and content marketing. If you’re in HR or L&D, consider leveraging video content for employee onboarding and training to streamline learning.
Unboxing videos are a popular type of review videos. By offering viewers a visual experience of new phones and other gadgets, MKBHD has managed to amass a YouTube following of close to eight million subscribers.
The DailyVee is a daily vlog (short for video blog) published by Gary Vaynerchuk on YouTube, arguably one of the most influential social media marketing influencers. From his own admission, Gary published upwards of sixty pieces of content each day, most as repurposed content from his daily vlog.
People are always hungry for in-depth information about either your products or topics around your products. Help Scout uses monthly webinars to educate their users and potential clients on topics around customer success.
Case study videos are testimonial hybrids that explore a full customer journey—from challenge to result—with real data and outcomes.
These are ideal for B2B marketing and nurturing high-intent leads. Want to see how we built this case study video? Explore our recent work with YWCA on their community safety initiative.
Live video creates space for real-time interaction. Use it to host product launches, webinars, or virtual conferences
Streaming lets your audience comment, ask questions, and feel part of something current. Brands using live video to boost brand engagement often see higher retention and follow-through.
Live videos increase engagement because they create a sense of urgency and real-time connection—viewers don’t want to miss out. They allow direct interaction through comments and Q&A, making audiences feel involved rather than just watching.
The unscripted, authentic nature of live streams builds trust and humanizes brands or creators.
Algorithms on platforms like YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram also prioritize live content, boosting reach and visibility.
Product launches, new office location openings, major announcements, networking events are all great opportunities to shoot event-based video. Apple events have everyone tuned in and engaged. You too can create such engagement with an event video.
These videos focus on your company’s mission, values, and the people behind the brand. They connect emotionally by explaining the “why” behind your work.
A good brand video doesn’t sell; it inspires. Learn more about crafting an authentic brand story video that resonates with both customers and internal teams.
Short-form videos are optimized for social platforms like TikTok, Reels, and YouTube Shorts. These quick-hitting formats (15–60 seconds) are built to grab attention and drive action immediately.
From product teasers to branded challenges, social-first video content works best when visually dynamic and tailored to the platform.
Training videos are used for internal education, onboarding, compliance, and customer guidance. When animated, they’re easier to update and often more engaging than live footage or PDFs.
Organizations use custom eLearning and compliance videos to deliver content that’s consistent, clear, and aligned with their brand.
No. As a full services video production agency we handle the project from concept, scripting, to final finished video. All we need are your goals and aspirations.
A common thread in all these video types is quality content. To shine and attract more viewers, you will need to invest in developing quality content. If you do not have the in-house skills, you can choose to partner with us.
The best-performing video strategies use a mix of formats tailored to audience and intent. An explainer might capture attention, while a demo or testimonial builds trust. Case studies, social videos, and training content round out a video ecosystem that educates, inspires, and converts.
Choosing the right type of video at the right stage isn’t just smart marketing—it’s what keeps viewers watching and buyers moving forward.