Whether you’re a brand, content creator, or simply a YouTube
viewer, you probably want to know how the algorithm behind YouTube’s
recommendation system works. This algorithm is responsible for surfacing videos
in 6 different locations on the platform and can have a significant impact on
your video’s reach.
YouTube’s home page is one of the most visited areas on the
platform, and a great place to start if you’re trying to drive more viewers to
your channel. The algorithm here is designed to provide the most relevant and
personalized recommendations for users.
The suggested videos section on the right-hand side of the
screen is a popular location for users to find new content to watch. The
suggested videos section pulls in videos based on a user’s activity and
previous engagement with content, but it also considers a user’s intent for
visiting the video platform.
The first thing that the YouTube algorithm does when someone
searches for a topic is analyze millions of videos and identify what’s relevant
to a specific search term. The algorithm then ranks videos based on factors
like popularity, length (how long people watch), age when they were uploaded,
and more.
The recommended streams section is a good place to show
users videos that are related to what they’re currently watching. The algorithm
looks at how often videos from the same source are watched together, as well as
which other videos a user has previously watched.
The retention rate on YouTube is a key indicator that shows
how effective you are at keeping your audience engaged with your content. The
algorithm is designed to keep you in front of your audience as much as
possible, so optimizing for this metric is crucial.
The description that you write for your video is a vital
part of its journey through the YouTube algorithm. The more details you can
include in your video’s description, the better it will rank in search results.
Getting subscribers is one of the best ways to drive organic
growth on YouTube. However, it’s important to make sure that your subscribers
are genuinely interested in what you have to offer. If your subscribers aren’t
engaged with your content, they won’t stay subscribed for very long.
Since 2015, viewer satisfaction has been a top ranking
signal for YouTube’s algorithms. The platform sends out surveys asking users
how they feel about a video, and uses that data to train its prediction models.
The survey data is combined with other signals, such as clicks of the ’not
interested’ button and likes and dislikes.
Lastly, video engagement is another crucial indicator for
the YouTube algorithm to understand how satisfied a user is with your content.
The more likes, comments, and shares you receive, the higher your video will
rank in the suggested feed.