Ask any YouTuber and they will tell you that generating significant views and subscribers isn't easy. But with the right strategy and tools, any video creator can build an engaged subscriber base when they understand what those subscribers want to watch.

Appealing to an audience to watch content you are passionate about making is just the first step, you need to know how to reach them and get your videos discovered. Our guides to how to guide more views on YouTube will give you the best tips to succeed on the platform.

Getting Views

How To Get More Views on YouTube

Getting thousands or even millions of YouTube subscribers is a dream for most creators. In the articles below, we'll show you how to turn casual viewers into long-term fans. 

Subscribers

YouTube Subscribers

Do you want to make money on YouTube? Millions of creators are earning a very good living from monetizing the platform and uploading content that drives huge views and engagements. Whether that YouTube income is from advertising revenue, merchandise sales, or brand deals, or subscriptions, we keep you updated with best practices and ideas.

Monetization

How To Make Money on YouTube

Want to see how your channel is performing? Read these YouTube analytics articles to discover what's working and what isn't. You'll learn how to identify which videos have the most Watch Time, clicks, audience retention, revenue, and more.

Analytics

YouTube Analytics

Watch Time is arguably THE most important metric on YouTube right now, and creators won’t be able to monetize their content without 4000 hours of it. But what is it and how can creators increase the amount of Watch Time their videos attract? We keep you updated on the best practices around Watch Time, and how you can increase how much your video content generates.

Watch Time

YouTube Watch Time

YouTube Shorts content is set to explode! 

All the latest tips, tricks, and rock-solid advice you need for this new feature.

YouTube Shorts

Do you know how to do keyword research so you understand what videos people are actually searching for on YouTube? Do you know how to create a custom YouTube thumbnail? Do you know how to create a Playlist on YouTube?

vidIQ has a ton of tips that will help every creator maximise their video content. We publish content every week to keep you up to date with all the best practices.

Tips & Tricks

YouTube Tips & Tricks

At vidIQ we have incredible insights into what viewers are searching for on YouTube. Not only can we confirm the top keywords being searched for, we can also show you how you can leverage that interest to create content around trending topics and tentpole events. That's going to give you a clear edge over other creators!

Insights

YouTube Insights

Your In-Depth Guide to Building a Successful YouTube Channel

If you're reading this, you probably know that getting 

 is a critical checkpoint on the road to YouTube monetization. It's not easy, and many creators spend a year or more getting there, but it's ultimately worth it. Achieving this goal means you can monetize your videos with advertisements through the 

. It's a hands-off way to boost your income!

But first, what is watch time, and how is it calculated on YouTube?

Watch time is the cumulative duration that individuals spend watching a video. Each YouTube video has a watch time count, which contributes to your channel's overall count.

For your watch time to count toward monetization, you must gain 4,000 viewing hours in 12 consecutive months. The videos don't have to be published in the last 12 months, as long as viewers watched them over the previous year.

Also, only certain types of videos can collect watch time. Make sure you're getting 4,000 

 watch hours, as this is the main qualifier — so don't set your videos to private!

YouTube Monetization — Which Videos Count Toward 4,000 Hours of Watch Time?

Notably, you don't need 4,000 hours to get into the YPP. 

 and then monetize your videos through fan funding instead of ads. These include Super Chats, Super Thanks, channel memberships, and more. Below are the minimum requirements to join the YPP, but remember that 

you'll still need 4,000 hours to earn ad revenue

New requirements for joining the YouTube Partner Program

So, how many watch hours have you collected so far? Knowing this number is extremely helpful, especially when building a strategy to keep viewers' attention.

The Earn option on the YouTube Studio navigation bar

2. On the Become a Partner page, scroll down to 

. And there, you'll see how much watch time your channel has.

How to Get More Watch Time on YouTube: 9 Powerful Tips

Now that you know where you stand, use these powerful tips to increase your watch time on YouTube.

1. Master the Art of YouTube Storytelling

 is crucial for keeping viewers engaged, and thus, boosting your watch hours on YouTube. In every video, you want to grab viewers' attention, take them on a journey, and create emotional scenes that hook them along the way.

To do this effectively, master three areas of YouTube storytelling:

The title and thumbnail (convince people to click)

The video introduction (persuade people to keep watching)

Emotional connectivity (keep viewers invested in the story)

Your title and thumbnail are like two sides of the same coin. They should give viewers a snapshot of what the video is about and communicate how it will 

to watch it. For example, notice how the creator's dread in this thumbnail reinforces the video's title: "

Big Mistakes Small YouTubers Still Make."

Man looking devastated in YouTube thumbnail

get straight to the point by mentioning what viewers care about in the first three seconds. If you're struggling to 

, study the best–performing YouTube Shorts and the introductions they have. Introductory phrases like "They don't want you to know this secret" or "I never do this, and here's why" are effective curiosity drivers.

Emotion makes your content 10 times more relatable. Try using 

 like fear, nostalgia, novelty, and scarcity to make your videos seem urgent and relevant to the viewer's life.

2. Increase Engagement with Pattern Interrupters

A good story may pique viewers' interest, but knowing how to edit that story is the real watch-time booster.

 are your secret weapon for this. They turn a good video into a great one by adding variety to what's already there. On YouTube, a pattern interrupter is any visual or auditory element that changes someone's thought pattern. 

is one thought you want to interrupt in a viewer's mind!

Some examples of pattern interrupts include:

Getting someone to watch your video for longer is much easier 

. Think about it: "Reading along" takes pressure off of viewers who don't want to listen to a video or have some degree of hearing loss. Plus, viewers in crowded, noisy areas benefit from reading captions versus listening to audio.

Additionally, subtitles should be your go-to if you have a multicultural audience on YouTube. They translate your audio into multiple languages so people in faraway regions understand you better!

Filming a long outro feels natural, but did you know there are better ways to close out a video? Most viewers click away when they hear goodbye phrases, such as:

Instead of announcing the end of a video, leave before anyone knows what's happening. Your watch time will improve when you don't signal that a video is ending.

Evergreen content is popular year-round, so you need those types of videos to get watch time fast. Evergreen topics like how to change careers, how to cook brown rice, and tips for making friends in your 30s have a high search volume from January to December.

As you can see, many evergreen videos are 

and offer steady watch time through sheer popularity.

If you're struggling to find evergreen video ideas, ask yourself a question:

What do my viewers care about more than anything else?

For example, vidIQ subscribers love to hear growth tips for small channels. One of our videos on the subject has over 78,000 watch hours since it was published six months ago. And the hours are 

Watch time from streaming will always count toward your 4,000-hour goal, so bond with viewers in real time. It's the perfect way to 

When we started our live stream journey, 50-100 people showed up. Now we get hundreds of concurrent viewers, and with that boost in viewership comes plenty of additional watch time.

For example, check out the watch time from this two-hour live stream:

Give streaming a chance when you have about 12 months of YouTube experience. By then you should have 100 or more subscribers who may show up to watch your streams.

Why do people binge videos for hours on Netflix? Simply put, it's because their shows are organized with the help of 

. Viewers don't have to keep selecting episodes when they want to watch a romantic comedy or learn about nature through a documentary. They click on a show, and Netflix plays the episodes automatically.

This is an excellent strategy to bring to your YouTube channel. Figure out which topics viewers care about the most, then create YouTube playlists that hold 10 or more videos. It's one of the easiest ways to increase your watch hours!

How to Grow Your Channel with YouTube Playlists

In the current age becoming a successful creator often indicates holistic growth in the content ecosystem. While some social media platforms might appeal to you more than others, it is important to spread your content as far as possible.

Graphic of many people interacting with various forms of social media

Some of the best places to promote your YouTube channel are outside the platform itself. A few of those apps and websites include:

These are the best apps to promote a YouTube channel, but it helps to know the flavor of each community. What type of discussions do they have there, and better yet, how do the conversations take shape? Once you know that, you can create content in the best style for those users. Eventually, some of these viewers might trickle into your YouTube channel and consistently give you watch time!

 Promote Your YouTube Channel: 17 Tips for Small Creators

YouTube end screens are interactive outros that appear in the last 5-20 seconds of a video. You can add all sorts of clickable elements to them, such as website links, a subscribe button, or even a YouTube channel you want to promote. But it's wise to "send" viewers to the rest of your content if you want more watch hours.

So, instead of creating an "outro," make your last point, then quickly transition to an end screen. Now you can recommend one more video to viewers!

YouTube End Screens — How to Make Cool Video Outros

YouTube's recommendation system has one job, but it's a pretty big one. It has to suggest the right content to viewers based on their watch history and other factors.

YouTube can do this faster and easier if you're always making videos. After all, how can the algorithm rely on any channel for quality recommendations if there isn't much content?

You don't have to upload every day, but stick to a schedule that keeps viewers engaged and doesn't burn you out.

Are you tired of digging through the YouTube Studio to see your watch time? If so, 

 for FREE. In addition to watch time, it also tracks views per hour and subscribers gained.

Image of vidIQ's Real-Time Stats Bar for YouTube channels

FAQ: More Details About YouTube Watch Time

A group of people looking at their phones

Can I watch my own YouTube videos for more watch time?

You can press play on your own videos, but doing so to increase your watch time isn’t a good idea. According to 

, the platform “doesn’t allow anything that artificially increases the number of views, likes, comments, or other metrics.” Plus, many creators have found that 

 coming from their own browser after 48 hours.

Unfortunately, watch time from Shorts does not count toward the 4,000 hours you need to join the YouTube Partner Program. Those hours must come from regular videos. An alternative route is getting 1,000 subscribers plus 

10 million public Shorts views in 90 days

How Long Should It Take to Get 4000 Hours of Watch Time?

Ready to reach 4,000 watch hours and make money on YouTube? Keep reading for 9 solid strategies.

YouTube Watch Time: 10 Ways to Reach 4,000 Hours and Monetize Your Channel

There's nothing like hitting 10,000 YouTube subscribers in just a few weeks! It's an amazing feat, and that's why we're celebrating 10 creators who hit that number through hard work, creativity, and a whole lot of 

To all those talented creators, welcome to the 10K Subs Club!

Remember, being part of the vidIQ community means you're on a journey to stardom using 

. Whether you've hopped aboard to jazz up your videos, hunt down the perfect keywords, or spark fresh video ideas, this celebration is all about you. Here's to every victory, big and small! 🎈🎊

Top Channels Passing 10,000 Subscribers in November

Medizen Healing Music posts binaural beats and tunes for meditation.

DailyRandomFacts shares the fascinating secrets of our world.

Smiling Corner is filled with funny skits and videos to you make laugh.

Paths of Prosperity and Abundance is a motivational channel bringing viewers closer to God, money, and miracles.

Wild Wonder Watchers is a channel that narrates (and edits) videos showing interesting moments between animals.

Vega Jewellers a jewelry store showcasing antique pieces, diamonds, and gold creations.

Deltа Gaming makes game-style videos that also have animations.

格蘭修行日記 (Grant's Practice Diary)

Grant's Practice Diary explains the benefits of practicing Buddhism.

English Kids teaches children about colors, sounds, counting, and more through catchy songs.

Majid Nirban is a channel where inspiration meets spirituality in the world of Islamic motivation.

Congrats to everyone who had amazing subscriber growth last month! 🥳 If you want to see your channel grow, don't forget to 

 and get robust tools, data, and video ideas.

A graphic showing the words 10,000 subscribers 

These phenomenal YouTubers got 10,000 subs in just 30 days! Meet 10 rising creators who talk about spirituality, wildlife, jewelry, gaming, and more.

10 Small YouTube Channels that Hit 10K Subs [November]

Are you looking for Black Friday deals this week? As a content creator, this is a great time to look at your production equipment and see if anything needs upgrading. For example, it might be time to invest in a DSLR camera if you started your YouTube channel with a smartphone. Or maybe your microphone is a bit old and worn out!

No matter where you're starting from, one thing is true: 

Some YouTube equipment is more critical than others.

 Small creators can drastically improve their videos with better audio, lighting, and visuals before most other upgrades. 

Even still, you probably don't want to pay $1,000 for a camera that was marked down from $1,200. So, here's the best YouTube equipment to buy, offered at an affordable price!

Looking for the best camera under $500? These four entry-level options will upgrade your videos by leaps and bounds! On the list, we have DSLR cameras, point-and-shoot options, and even action cams.

The Lumix FZ300 has everything you need to create aesthetically pleasing videos. It offers 4K recording, 24X optical zoom, and a quick autofocus. If you have to film in various conditions, you'll also love the weather-resistant design. It isn't an action cam (per se), but it has 5-axis image stabilization to keep your shots steady. Overall, the Lumix FZ300 is a point-and-shoot camera that goes above and beyond.

Want to enhance your video quality for less than $300? The NBD DSLR creates the most bang for your buck with 4K video, 33-megapixel resolution, and tons of accessories. You'll get two lenses, including a wide-angle and telephoto lens for capturing different angles. The deal also comes with a camera strap and bag, 32GB SD card, and LED spotlight.

Action cameras pack a lot of power in a small package, and the Osmo Action 3 is no different. You get 4K video recording, a waterproof design, and a vivid touch screen for previewing your content. The camera also comes with RockSteady stabilization. Whether you're mountain biking, skateboarding, or capturing any high-movement activity, the footage looks incredibly smooth.

The GoPro HERO9 is an action camera with 5K recording and 20-megapixel resolution. It's famously small, a huge advantage for vloggers, sports enthusiasts, or anyone who needs light-weight equipment. And, if you're into water sports, the Hero9 has you covered with waterproofing technology. The camera also has HyperSmooth stabilization to smooth out bumpy rides on motorcycles, ATVs, and other wheeled vehicles.

Black Friday Microphone Deals (Under $250)

The best microphone for YouTube is one that fits your budget and produces clear audio. Start your search here with our list of Black Friday deals on microphones.

Looking for a quality microphone that fits a tighter budget? The Blue Snowball matches that description, especially for the current sale price of $39! But don't be fooled by its affordability; this is a plug-and-play mic that doesn't compromise on sound. The Blue Snowball is incredibly user-friendly, and you can use it for voiceovers, livestreaming, or basic music recordings.

This microphone is a favorite among content creators for its crisp sound quality and ease of use. It's a USB microphone that plugs right into your computer, which is pretty convenient. Best of all, Blue Yeti has several recording options, including cardioid, bidirectional, omnidirectional, and stereo. This means you can record just about anything, from solo podcasts to interviews, music, or even a roundtable discussion. Overall, the Blue Yeti is one of the best USB mics on the market.

Stepping up your audio has never been easier and more affordable than with the Shure MV51. This is a digital, large-diaphragm condenser microphone. It doesn't have your standard field recorders, but this mic can record audio onto an iOS device, which some might say is even cooler. It works for iPhone, iPod, and iPad! Plus, the Shure MV51 has preset recording modes for podcasting, singing, playing an acoustic instrument, and more.

The Shure MV88+ Video Kit is your ticket to quality sound, all for under $300. It features a smartphone condenser microphone, which works for Apple and Android users. The full kit includes a Manfrotto PIXI tripod, a clamp for your phone, a mount, plus iOS and USB-C cables. This is the perfect solution for hands-free recording!

What's the best lighting for YouTube videos? If you're on a budget, these four options will upgrade your visuals significantly!

The cheapest light source on our list, the Godox M1 is a compact LED panel. It features RGB color options, allowing you to choose from a spectrum of colors to set the perfect mood for your videos. The M1 also has multiple lighting modes, including standard bicolor options, such as red-green and yellow-green.

The Panel Go has a slim, lightweight design that fits into almost any camera bag. But what makes this panel stand out is the ability to adjust color temperature and brightness. With those features, you can easily tweak the lighting to match your environment. Additionally, the Panel GO comes with a built-in battery, which is rechargeable via USB-C.

The BOLING Pocket LED is an excellent pick, especially if you want to light your videos for less than $100. Like other options on the list, it offers a full spectrum of colors, the ability to adjust color temperature, and a few brightness options. But this light stands out because it's specifically for 

 and has a 360-degree mount for that purpose.

We hope you found something on this list to enhance the visuals, audio, or lighting of your YouTube videos. After all, the more quality you put into your content, the more views you'll see in return!



Speaking of views, here's how to go insanely viral at the end of the year!

Cameras, lenses, and more equipment on a table

Did you know there are tons of Black Friday deals for content creators? Here are the best YouTube cameras, mics, and lighting for a discount!

11 Pieces of YouTube Equipment on Sale for Black Friday

Creating your videos in the correct format is vital, especially if you want to make an impact with YouTube Shorts. While the basic rules are straightforward — keep the video under 60 seconds and make it vertical —  there's more to the equation.

 vertical? Which aspect ratio will YouTube accept?

Getting the Right Size for YouTube Shorts

The ideal YouTube Shorts resolution is 1080x1920 pixels and the aspect ratio is 9:16. This is the standard for most modern smartphones in portrait mode, making it the go-to choice for creators.

: 1920 pixels by 1080 pixels (standard length-by-width ratio for vertical content)

The 9:16 aspect ratio aligns perfectly with the portrait mode feature inside most smartphones. It offers a full-screen viewing experience without any black bars, making it ideal for mobile-first audiences.

Viewers are used to seeing the vertical aspect ratio on platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and other short-form videos. Creating in this format ensures a seamless and engaging experience.

YouTube itself recommends the 9:16 aspect ratio for Shorts. This format is optimized for the Shorts shelf and the algorithm that  promotes short-form content.

There's a tiny caveat to YouTube's rule that Shorts need to be vertical videos. Apparently, 

Shorts don't have to be vertical as long as they're 

That means you can create Shorts with a 1:1 aspect ratio and dimensions of 1080x1080 pixels. Those videos will look like perfect squares — so, technically not vertical at all — but YouTube will categorize them as Shorts.

Check out the square format versus the vertical format below. When a Short is square (left), you'll see black bars above and below the video frame. That extra bit of artificial "length" is what helps the video qualify (probably) as a Short. Vertical videos (right) fill the entire mobile screen.

 channel years ago. And we know square videos can become YouTube Shorts because:

Our test video (a square) made it to the Shorts shelf, which 

A large percentage of video views came from the Shorts traffic source.

Here's the test video we used to confirm the results:

Even still, there are advantages and disadvantages to making square Shorts.

 The video will have an unsightly black bar at the top and bottom of the frame.

 Square videos leave the bottom of the screen empty, and viewers can easily see your channel name, the video's title, and the subscribe button.

YouTube Shorts: Can They Be ‘Wider’ or 'Narrower' Than Perfect Squares?

For our next test, we attempted to make a Short wider than a square. So, we uploaded a video that was just 10 pixels wider than it was tall, and as we expected, the video didn't appear in our featured Shorts section. That's an area YouTube auto-populates, so the results are clear: Our video was 

That means the widest Short you can make is a square video.

 If the video is wider than it is tall, it won't be considered a Short.

Here’s another rule to follow: Don’t make a video skinnier than what you’d shoot on a smartphone. We created a video with a resolution of 360x1920 pixels, and while people 

 view it on YouTube, it didn’t make it to the Shorts shelf.

To see all of our Shorts testing — and view what might be the skinniest video on Earth — check out the explainer below:

Pros and Cons of Wider Aspect Ratios (e.g., 16:9)

Traditional YouTube content creators are familiar with wide content.

Wide content is better for displaying landscapes or group scenes.

Not optimized for mobile viewing; can result in black bars on the top and bottom in portrait mode.

May not be as engaging for the mobile-first audience.

Suitable for mobile viewing, though not as optimized as 9:16.

Offers a middle ground for content that doesn’t fit well in extremely vertical formats.

Not fully utilizing the screen real estate on mobile devices.

May not be as immersive as 9:16 for viewers.

The most important thing to know? Shooting a vertical video with your phone (as intended) is the easiest way to make YouTube Shorts. You will automatically use the correct aspect ratio and completely avoid the "technical" stuff.

Now that you know the correct dimensions for vertical content, here's how the Shorts algorithm works!

What's the perfect aspect ratio for a YouTube Short? They need to be vertical in size, but what does that really mean? Keep reading to find out.

YouTube Shorts Dimensions: How to Get the Right Size for Vertical Content

Do you want to boost your chance of going viral this holiday season? The good news is that you don't need tons of 

 to grow your views. With a good strategy and the right type of content, you can snag a million or more views by Christmas!

How do I make my video go viral on YouTube?

 It helps to prioritize short videos, find trendy keywords, and share your content across social media. Keep scrolling for more ideas!

1. Research Holiday Videos that Went Viral Last Year

One underrated hack is to find videos that where popular last Christmas and Thanksgiving. This kind of research has the power to reveal themes and topics that lend themselves to viral moments. After that, it's just a matter of reverse-engineering those traits to build newer, trend-worthy videos.

Viewers may be distracted this holiday season, but that doesn't mean you can't go viral. Here are 6 ways to grow your YouTube views at the end of the year.

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