Top of the search. How Does the YouTube Algorithm Work

Online advertising is a constant process of experimentation, a difficult path of constant trial and error. Last year's promotional tools may turn out to be ineffective. What worked last year may not work this year. So what do you do? Try, test, analyse the results. And then scale up and use the tools that got results - leads, orders and sales.

The world lives online. Online we search for information, choose products, buy and sell, socialise, entertain and relax. YouTube has become an integral part of this global online landscape. Users are changing their 'search behaviour', but they are still doing what they are used to doing. For example, watching videos, commercials, movies, video reviews, streams.

YouTube algorithm
Of course, the secrets of YouTube's algorithm can be discussed at length, unravelled and guessed at using open data, our own experience and the guesses of experts and users. YouTube's algorithm manages different search modes.

Users are most often presented with personalised videos based on their preferences and viewing history, or in response to search queries. YouTube analyses session time, viewing time, viewer retention, engagement, clickability.

The algorithm analyses the data:
  • what the user watches/doesn't watch
  • what they search for/what they ignore
  • likes / dislikes
  • related videos / similar characters
  • recently uploaded/removed from view

The more views a video has, the higher it ranks. The more time a user spends on the YouTube platform, the more money the system makes.

YouTube's trending algorithm takes this into account:
  • number of views
  • how fast a video gains views
  • what platforms other than YouTube the video is being watched on
  • how long ago the video was uploaded to YouTube
How do I get to the top of YouTube?
The basis of any popular video is a high-quality video sequence and useful content. But even that doesn't guarantee popularity. To increase your channel's reach, improve viewer engagement and drive more traffic to your website, you need to optimise your video.
  1. Select keywords (include the most important keywords in the first few sentences of the description)
  2. Add metadata (video title, description: what the video is about, for whom, CTA)
  3. Place tags: words or phrases (keywords relevant to your video)
  4. Place timecodes (simplifies navigation, improves channel accessibility)
  5. Add captions (valuable keywords and phrases)
  6. Increase the number of subscribers, reactions to the video, comments
  7. Group playlists (this attracts additional traffic, use keyword orientated titles)
  8. Brand the channel (background, unique and unusual name)
  9. Style the video (banners, colour, fonts)

How do you attract traffic to your YouTube channel?
Publish videos regularly so viewers know when to expect new content. Post video snippets (short videos) on social media. In the long term, focus on building a loyal audience. Encourage viewers to subscribe to the channel and offer to recommend it. Pay attention to the comments below the video. Don't ignore questions, answer them, respond to criticism.
Video quality
Not everyone can afford a professional studio. But that doesn't mean the quality of your video has to suffer. A video shot on a mobile phone can go viral. Prepare a script by shooting the video and adding subtitles. Choose the right lighting. Even a cheap microphone will improve the sound quality. Subtitles and other text content increase video views by 80%.

The optimal length of a video depends on the type of content, topic and audience. Some people like long, in-depth videos, while others prefer short videos. Ruthlessly trim the size of your videos and eliminate pauses. Make every second count. The average length of the top ten most popular videos on YouTube is 4 minutes and 20 seconds.

Don't think about the algorithm - think about the people watching the video
Over 500 million hours of video are watched on YouTube every day. The average web user watches 19 hours of video per week. 88% make a purchase decision after watching a video.

HLTS Co. Ltd recommends that before you start filming, determine what you want to achieve with this video. Do you want to promote a specific product or service, attract new customers, increase brand awareness or improve engagement with loyal customers? Who is your target audience? A simple structured video will increase traffic and influencer engagement.
Quick Links
Important Links
We collected the best practical
Tools for realizing
Your company’s potential
Copyright © 2023 - 2024 HLTS co, ltd