YouTube videos get discovered through a combination of algorithms, user behavior, and optimization strategies. Here’s an overview of the key factors that contribute to the discovery of YouTube videos:
- YouTube Search
Keywords and SEO: Just like with Google, YouTube has its own search engine optimization (SEO). Videos are discovered when users search for keywords in titles, descriptions, tags, and closed captions.
Relevance: YouTube’s algorithm prioritizes videos that are most relevant to the user’s search query. - Recommendations
Watch History: YouTube recommends videos based on what users have watched in the past.
Related Videos: After watching a video, YouTube often suggests related content in the sidebar or at the end of the video.
Engagement: Videos with higher engagement (likes, comments, shares) are more likely to be recommended. - Trending
Popularity: Videos that quickly gain views can appear in the Trending section.
Current Events: Videos related to trending topics or events can also appear here. - Subscriptions
Subscriber Feed: Videos from channels users have subscribed to appear in their subscription feed.
Notifications: Users can opt to receive notifications when a new video is uploaded by a channel they subscribe to. - External Traffic
Social Media: Sharing videos on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Reddit can drive views.
Backlinks: Videos embedded on websites or blogs can attract views from external sources. - Engagement Metrics
Watch Time: YouTube values videos that keep users engaged for longer periods. Higher watch time often leads to better rankings.
Click-Through Rate (CTR): Thumbnails and titles that attract clicks can improve a video’s visibility. - YouTube Ads
Paid Promotions: Creators can use YouTube Ads to promote their videos, which can significantly increase visibility. - Playlists
Inclusion in Playlists: Videos that are added to popular playlists can get more views as users watch multiple videos in a sequence. - Metadata
Tags: Proper tagging helps YouTube categorize and understand the content, aiding in its discovery.
Thumbnails: Visually appealing and relevant thumbnails can attract more clicks. - User Interaction
Comments and Sharing: Videos that prompt discussions or are widely shared can benefit from increased visibility.
By optimizing these factors and understanding YouTube’s algorithm, creators can improve the chances of their videos being discovered by a larger audience.
Average Time Viewed and Average Percentage Viewed are two key metrics on YouTube that help you understand how viewers are interacting with your videos.
- Average Time Viewed
Definition: This metric shows the average amount of time that viewers spend watching your video.
Importance: A higher average time viewed suggests that your content is engaging and holds viewers’ attention. YouTube’s algorithm favors videos with higher average watch times because they keep users on the platform longer.
Calculation: It is calculated as the total watch time of your video divided by the total number of video views.
Average Time Viewed - Average Percentage Viewed
Definition: This metric shows the average percentage of a video that viewers watch before leaving.
Importance: It indicates how much of your video content is consumed on average. A higher percentage viewed is often an indicator that your content is relevant and engaging. For example, if the average percentage viewed is 50%, it means that, on average, viewers are watching half of the video.
Calculation: It is calculated as the average time viewed divided by the total length of the video, multiplied by 100 to get a percentage.