Anyone who starts recording and publishing videos on a YouTube channel seeks a magic wunderwaffe to help them reach a wide audience with their content and earn at least a silver button within two months. There are ways to help your channel grow faster and feed the algorithms, and that's what I'm writing about in today's article.
What's the best time to Publish Videos on YouTube?
After a lot of research, the best days and times to publish YouTube videos are 3:00 PM and 6:00 PM on Monday through Friday and Saturdays and Sundays between 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM. The most active days are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. The observations show that much depends on the type of content, the specific subscriber base, and, above all, the timing of the content. I recommend collecting data after a series of frequent postings on different days and at different times. Such data will allow you to gather more information about audience activity and analyze it on the YouTube Studio dashboard.
How often to post videos on YouTube
The frequency of publication depends on the creator's capabilities and how regularity will impact their audience. Publishing once a day, or perhaps once a week? It all depends on the specifics of their audience, but I wouldn't worry about "audience fatigue" – after all, not every viewer needs to see every video.
Even if they miss something, a well-developed channel can still share a video, say, three months later. Of course, you need to "feed" your audience constantly, because the older the video, the fewer people will be willing to watch it.
It's worth finding a balance and maintaining regularity, which will build interest among viewers anticipating a new episode. However, it's important to be clear – statistics from smaller channels clearly show that 70-90% of video views are not from subscriptions or the bell but simply the result of scrolling through YouTube.
How to promote a YouTube channel
At the beginning, promoting videos on other social media platforms is crucial to increasing reach. Therefore, it's worth posting a link to the video on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and X. I must say that, based on my observations, it's clear that platforms promote embedded videos. Significantly more Facebook users will see the video if, instead of a link to YouTube, we embed it directly.
How to Write a YouTube Titles
The title should be eye-catching, evoke emotion, and be unique. YouTube recommends reviewing similar videos to understand which titles attract viewers and then creating your own distinctive title. Titles are a key factor in video positioning and views, especially for lesser-known channels.
Create Eye-Catching YouTube Thumbnails
What a YouTube user sees in a thumbnail is crucial – I don't recommend leaving it to automatic selection of a random scene, as this immediately suggests low-quality content. Even if it's not true, you can use tools like Canva, Adobe Express, or Microsoft Designer to create thumbnails, all of which are easy to use and free in their basic versions.
What about YouTube Shorts?
Shorts videos have their own rules – the first 3-5 seconds are crucial, as they determine whether a viewer stays or scrolls forward. For both long and short videos, YouTube allows you to see exactly when viewers stop watching, allowing you to better tailor your content. It's worth putting in the effort to create a catchy intro to effectively grab attention and "buy" more viewing time.
How does the YouTube algorithm work, and what is worth knowing?
As a new creator, you might feel like the YouTube algorithm is ignoring your channel—and there might be some truth to that. The algorithm relies on users' viewing histories to recommend relevant content. This means your videos will be recommended more often if viewers watch a few of them and your channel starts appearing in their viewing histories.
Use keywords in the title and description of your video
For new videos that don't yet have a "history" in the algorithm, YouTube relies primarily on metadata in titles and descriptions. Therefore, good keywords can increase your chances of attracting new viewers.
Rather avoid viral and very popular content—especially at the start
Instead of competing for attention with highly popular content, it's worth choosing less crowded topics. Tools like Google Trends can help you find niches that have potential but aren't yet saturated with content. This approach allows you to stand out and attract viewers who are looking for specific, less popular content. While creating a viral video may be tempting, it's not a long-term strategy. It's better to focus on building a base of interested viewers by regularly creating valuable content. This way, the algorithm will start recommending your content to an increasingly larger audience, provided, of course, that the chosen topic is relatively popular and the delivery is engaging.
Promoting your videos and gaining those first views always takes a lot of work initially, but over time, when the algorithm "notices" your channel, and you're consistent and skillful in applying the above tips, it's highly likely that YouTube will start recommending content to the right users, and your channel will steadily grow.
