Do you want to push your YouTube channel or your YouTube videos?
These various facts and insights will help you to better understand the YouTube algorithm.
“Next to Google, YouTube is the largest search engine in the world.”
The video platform has over 1.9 billion active users every day. In view of this enormous reach, it quickly becomes clear: YouTube videos are an absolute must-have in every successful marketing mix. How well your video content is found by potential viewers; however, is subject to the YouTube algorithm. If you want to get the best possible benefit from your video campaigns, you should play by the rules of the algorithm.
What is the YouTube algorithm?
Let’s take a step back so that you can understand what the YouTube algorithm actually is. The algorithm is based on a mathematical process, the function of which is to ensure that users are only shown video suggestions that exactly match their search query. This is achieved with the help of several different indicators.
The most important factor here is the so-called “watch time“, which in turn comprises several metrics. With these, the algorithm evaluates how well your content corresponds to the search queries of the users.
The watch time, the multi-index of the YouTube algorithm is made up of:
- Video length,
- Playback time of a channel,
- View Duration,
- YouTube session start,
- YouTube session duration,
- YouTube session end and
- Upload frequency.
It is often wrongly assumed that the algorithm evaluates videos itself. With the help of the Watch Time criteria just listed, however, you can see at first glance that the behavior of those who consume your videos is being analyzed.
On this basis, the mathematical process ultimately judges the value of your content. If they correspond to what the audience wants to see and if they ensure that the viewers linger on the platform for a long time, the chances increase that your videos will be played with a certain search query or appear in the list of “Suggested Videos”.
The elementary question now is how exactly do you attract attention, keep interested and also persuade viewers, once you have been won, to use the YouTube service for as long as possible?
Well, we will help you get acquainted with both the shortcut and the longcut.
The short way out is to gather YouTube videos views and likes by purchasing them to allure people towards it and then to buy YouTube comments that further helps to ease the suspicions that your views and likes are non-organic and prove that they are 100 natural and genuine.
Next, while traversing the long route, there are actually seven tricks you can use to counteract the YouTube algorithm and optimize your videos, driving web traffic gradually.
Top Tricks to Optimize YouTube Videos
1. So Important is the Length of Time your Viewers Spend on YouTube
While the playback time of individual videos and the entire channel, as well as the upload frequency, are self-explanatory terms, the two terms “View Duration” and “YouTube Session” may need to be explained in more detail.
The former includes the number of minutes your videos are viewed – and the more that is, the better. “YouTube Session” means the duration for which a user consumes YouTube videos.
To do this, you can use playlists or end cards that provide your audience with further information on the topic. It doesn’t necessarily have to be your own content that you redirect to. The main thing is that they fit thematically and keep the audience on the platform.
2. Watch Data vs. Metadata Optimization
In order to correctly index and rate a video, YouTube – like Google – uses so-called metadata. This includes the title, description, and tags (subject-relevant keywords) of a video. In order to strengthen the performance of such videos, it is common to combine this data with user-relevant keywords to provide.
As described above, Watch Time is now considered a multi-index for the evaluation of YouTube videos and channels. However, this does not mean that the metadata can be disregarded. User relevance is and will remain a decisive factor.
Only when your video has been able to generate enough view time will these on-video texts gradually lose their importance. To do this, potential viewers must first find your videos using optimized metadata.
To increase the presence of your content in YouTube search, make sure that the metadata of your videos corresponds to the search behavior of your target audience. This not only includes a catchy title and a meaningful video description. The right keywords and matching tags are just as important.
3. Never Underestimate the Title and Thumbnail
Did you know?
The majority of the high-ranking videos, almost 90 percent of them, include a variant of the keyword in the title.
Now, what does that tell us?
Right title tags are essential when it comes to pushing your own videos.
But don’t make the mistake of overloading the titles of your videos with keywords. The keywords and tags you use should be incorporated into an interesting title that makes you want more – that is downright click-worthy.
But not only that. The video title should also reflect the content as closely as possible.
An absolute no-go and frowned upon by YouTube viewers worldwide are false titles that are only intended to encourage people to click (also called “clickbait”), but have absolutely nothing to do with the content of the video.
The YouTube algorithm will also perceive the high bounce rate and accordingly rate your video negatively. In this context, one also speaks of so-called “short clicks” and “long clicks”. You will find out what that is in detail in the next section.
4. Not All Clicks are Created Equal
If a user clicks on your video, you have eight seconds to convince them of your content. If the viewer switches before this period of time, this means for YouTube that your content was not satisfactory for the user. It is essential to avoid this “short click”. What you are aiming for are “long clicks”.
But what exactly is a “long click”?
Quite simply: If a viewer consumes a video for at least eight minutes or longer and/or continues to watch more videos during this session, it is referred to as a “long click”. The YouTube algorithm rates this extremely positively
Do you also want to give away such potential?
Certainly not! So what does it take to improve audience retention? In another sense, how do you turn “short clicks” into “long clicks”?
The answer to all is: you need a compelling video introduction and good storytelling to pique the viewer’s interest and keep it going throughout the video. After all, it is about establishing user engagement that truly depends on how long your video can hook them up with the content.
5. The Video Length Influences the Ranking
You now know how long users should at least watch your videos so that your content is rated positively by the YouTube algorithm. But is that even better? Yes! Because on average, videos that are between two and 20 minutes long achieve the best ranking results.
The view time is therefore one of the most important ranking factors for the YouTube algorithm. So don’t be surprised that longer videos – when the right storytelling techniques are used to build and maintain interest throughout the video – generally rank higher than very short ones.
6. Freshness Boost for New Videos
Studies have shown that brand new videos experience a significant ranking boost in the first three weeks after publication due to their topicality. In order to be the center of attention with your channel on a regular basis, I recommend increasing your upload frequency and taking advantage of this “Freshness Boost”.
If you’ve uploaded a video every three weeks up until now, you’d better post a brand new video every week. And if you already upload a video every week, you should do so every other day. If you find it too difficult, you may find out the best place to buy YouTube likes to enhance your engagement.
7. Embeds Views are Also Rewarded by the Algorithm
The views of videos embedded on external websites correspond to the same value as views on YouTube directly. Would you have thought that The only catch is that YouTube sessions started by external websites usually do not last long?
However, in order to accommodate the algorithm and to strengthen your own performance on the platform, you should make sure that your video is the first, but not the last, that a viewer consumes in their current YouTube session.
Playlists or info cards that provide the viewer with further information on the subject of your video can help. Everything you need to embed video on your website is provided by YouTube in the form of an embed code.
Significant Aspects of the YouTube Algorithm At a Glance
Short and sweet for those in a hurry:
-Descriptions, titles, and thumbnails should not only reflect the content of the video, they should also be interesting. Do not make any false promises (keyword: clickbait).
-The optimal upload frequency of videos is two to three pieces per week.
-Ideally, your videos should be five to eight minutes long.
-Regularly structure your YouTube channel meaningfully by creating playlists.
-Use the latest features from YouTube and apply them sensibly to your channel.
-Link with info cards to other videos on the topic to extend your audience’s YouTube sessions.
Read more on KulFiy
I didn’t know these facts about the Youtube algorithm this is something new. Thanks, for sharing this amazing information with us. These facts are helping Youtube to grow better than ever that’s why Youtube is the No.1 videos platform.