As the YouTube algorithm evolves, creators learn to prioritize different metrics on their channels. They might be interested in views, click-through rate, subscribers gained, and other markers of success. But did you know that the most obvious one, YouTube views, 

 the best catalyst for growth? In 2023, watch time and viewer satisfaction (also known as engagement) are clearly in the lead.

The truth is that it's hard to get more views without first satisfying your audience and making them watch longer. Only then does the YouTube algorithm recommend your content to more people!

Understanding the YouTube Algorithm in 2023

But, how do you strike the perfect balance between keeping your audience glued to the screen and ensuring they walk away fulfilled? Let's break it down.

Watch Time is often considered the holy grail of YouTube metrics. 

It indicates how long viewers stay on a platform and can impact a channel's ability to rank and gain suggested views. In many cases, watch time on YouTube is more important than the average viewer retention rate.

Of course, it is one of the essential factors for getting monetized, and for good reason. A high watch time for your channel would typically mean that viewers like to binge on your content and that’s one of the best signals to the algorithm!

YouTube has been increasingly focusing on viewer satisfaction, which encompasses likes, comments, and overall engagement. With the help of these indicators, the recommendation system on YouTube learns how to serve the viewer the best possible video every time.

More recently, YouTube has also used surveys to ask the viewers directly about their experience on the platform, which makes the viewers feel more included in the platform. The positive response has prompted YouTube to make viewer satisfaction the central aspect of the new and improved algorithm.

YouTube's 'Suggested Videos' Algorithm: How to Crack It

Ah, the age-old question. While views give you an overview of your content's reach, watch time offers a deeper look into viewer engagement. A video with fewer views but higher watch time often indicates content that resonates more deeply with your audience. So, if you're looking to build a loyal community around your channel, 

Striking a balance between watch time and viewer satisfaction is essential for long-term success on YouTube. While watch time can help you climb the algorithmic ladder, focusing solely on it can lead to short-term gains. On the other hand, viewer satisfaction is about building a lasting relationship with your audience, which is invaluable for any creator.

, Todd Beaupre, who leads YouTube's growth and discovery team, emphasizes focusing on long-term satisfaction rather than just maximizing watch time. Todd advises creators to think about what their audience wants and find the best fit, as the algorithm will then match that.

So how do you balance watch time with viewer satisfaction? Here are some tips:

In the age of pumping out content with AI, this advice seems counter-intuitive. But, instead of focusing solely on watch time, aim for content that provides real value. Whether it's a how-to guide or an in-depth review, make sure your videos offer something meaningful.

When viewers find value in your content, they're more likely to engage with it, binge it, share it, and discuss it with others. And soon enough, enable you to 

 satisfy viewers, make your content engaging from start to finish. Use

, and even interactive elements like polls to keep your audience invested.

Always keep an eye on the comments section and any feedback you receive through social media or direct messages. This real-time feedback is gold when it comes to gauging viewer satisfaction. It's also a good way to spot new video ideas!

How to Get Subscriber Feedback from a YouTube Analytics Deep Dive

Don't be afraid to experiment with different video formats and lengths. 

 to track how these changes affect both watch time and viewer satisfaction. 

For example, if you notice that shorter videos are being watched to completion but contribute less watch time than longer videos, that's a sign you're striking a good balance.

The YouTube algorithm is a complex beast that creators often find themselves trying to tame. It helps to keep an eye on your analytics to understand what's working and what needs improvement and act upon it. 

Watch Time and Viewer Satisfaction Go Hand-in-Hand

If you satisfy viewers with the right content, you’ll see results in the form of an improved retention rate, higher returning viewers, and hopefully, more watch time! The key takeaway is to find the right balance.

So, go ahead and experiment, analyze, and most importantly, create content that you're passionate about. The numbers will follow. If you're a small creator looking to improve, 

People in a circle watching videos using colorful phones

Everyone wants to get more views on YouTube, but watch time and engagement are more important to the YouTube algorithm. Here's how to balance the two!

YouTube Algorithm Hack: Chase Watch Time and Engagement — Not Views

Almost every creator who starts out on YouTube has the same goal, which is reaching monetization status. And most of the time, creators look at CPM (cost per 1,000 impressions), to understand how profitable their channel is. However, there’s a better way to see the monetary value of your content!

Unlike CPM, which is pretty outdated, RPM takes into account the various ways a monetized channel can generate income. Let's understand the difference better.

RPM vs CPM: The Two Metrics Of Monetization

First off, RPM is not to be confused with its close relative, CPM (cost per mille). While CPM focuses solely on ad revenue, RPM (revenue per mille) is the all-encompassing metric. It includes not just ads but channel memberships, Super Chats, and even YouTube Premium revenue. So while CPM shows you what advertisers are paying, RPM estimates what you'd earn after YouTube takes its cut.

And, by the way, YouTube receives 45% of your ad revenue and 30% of your fan-funding revenue.

Notably, RPMs do not show what you've actually earned

, but they're closer to reality than CPMs.

Like every other metric, you can look at the numbers on your YouTube Studio to find your RPM. Follow these steps:

1. Head over to the YouTube Studio and click on the 

Analytics option on the YouTube Studio menu

 tab in the top navigation bar and click on 

The YouTube revenue tab and the see more option below it

4. Take a look at your overall RPM for a specific date range. Notice how the vidIQ channel has an RPM of $2.73 and a CPM of $15.74 (for the month of August). CPM is typically the higher number, while RPM is more realistic.

The overall RPM for the vidIQ channel in August

If you want to calculate RPM for yourself, it's not too difficult. Take your total revenue for a given period, divide it by the total number of views you received, and then multiply by 1,000. Here's the formula to make it even simpler:

RPM = (Total Views/Total Revenue) × 1000

Fun fact, the average in RPM in 2023 is between $1.25 to $2.5.

Ready to give your RPM a facelift? Here's how:

Make sure you’ve turned on all ad formats and at every eligible position on your videos.

 The more likes and shares you get, the more YouTube's algorithm favors you. And guess what? A favored video equals more views, and, possibly, a higher RPM.

 Don't rely solely on ad revenue. Explore channel memberships and Super Chats to give your RPM a boost.

These actions will bring about a holistic change to your channel for the better and your improved RPM will reflect that!

RPM may be the go-to metric for a snapshot of your channel's financial health,

 but it's not the all-knowing oracle. So, what's missing from the RPM narrative?

 If you're rocking that merch shelf and raking in sales, RPM doesn't factor that in.

 Cashing in on brand collabs? Awesome, but RPM won't include this (unless it's through YouTube BrandConnect).

 Offering consulting services or hitting the speaking circuit? RPM turns a blind eye to these income avenues.

Here's where it gets tricky. RPM lumps together various revenue sources, making it a bit of a mystery box. You might see your RPM dip even when your views are soaring—why? Because not all those views are ad-enabled. On the flip side, your RPM could be climbing even if your view count hasn't budged, thanks to new Channel Memberships.

Our advice? Don't rely solely on RPM to gauge your channel's financial pulse. YouTube offers a smorgasbord of analytics to help you decode the fluctuations in your RPM. Use them to get the full picture.

It may look like a long-winded process, but taking deliberate steps to improve your channel’s RPM is a crucial goal in the path to making it as a full-time creator.

RPM is more than just a number; it's a comprehensive look at your channel's earning potential. The next time you're knee-deep in analytics, give your RPM the attention it deserves. Trust us, your future self will thank you. 

And if you’ve just unlocked monetization on YouTube, use these tips to boost your ad revenue!

RPM, CPM — what do these strange abbreviations mean on YouTube? In this post, we'll explain what RPM is (and isn't) regarding your channel's revenue.

Understanding YouTube RPM and Your Channel's Real Revenue

Before we dive in today, let's take a moment to acknowledge the importance of our YouTube subscribers. They're more than just a changing figure on our channel. These folks are our audience, our critics, and our cheerleaders. They're the lifeblood of our channels, silently guiding us and helping us to shape our content to be the best it can be.

Well, that's all very nice, but my subscribers aren't exactly flooding me with comments and feedback!

 If that's you, fear not. Your subscribers are communicating with you, just not with words. That's right; we're talking about YouTube analytics, particularly about certain data that can indicate important things about audience behavior on your channel.

How to Turn Silent Viewers into YouTube Subscribers

Now, we're all familiar with the rush of 

 But, what if those views are people clicking on your video, saying, "Meh" after five seconds, and leaving? 

That's where view duration and audience retention come in. These metrics show you how long your viewers are staying on a video to watch what you've posted.

Audience retention and view duration graph

If you notice a drop in retention at a certain point in your video, it might indicate that your audience found something off-putting or boring. This can help you make changes to how you approach your content. But remember, pick a flaw and fix (one at a time), and then allow your audience to respond.

Shorts, Longs, and Lives: How to Compare YouTube Views from All 3

 is another significant metric. A sudden increase might mean you hit a sweet spot with your audience, so try to figure out what you did right and do it more! 

Conversely, a drop might indicate that something's not clicking with your audience. Try to identify any changes you made during this period. Was it a new video format, or maybe a change in posting frequency?

More than the actual number of subscribers that you have for a given period, it’s important to observe a steady rate of subscribers gained. As long as you’re in the green, you’re doing a great job!

1. Log into YouTube, click your profile icon, and go to YouTube Studio.

3. Here you can filter the date accordingly to find your rate of subscription.

8 Ways to Help Viewers Subscribe to Your YouTube Channel

YouTube analytics can also show you where your viewers are coming from within the platform. For instance, are they discovering your videos through YouTube search or are they finding your content via video recommendations? This information can help you understand what's driving people to your channel and inform your content strategy.

By the way, YouTube shows a list of traffic sources for every video. Simply go to YouTube Studio > Content (pick a video to analyze) > Analytics > Overview. Then scroll down to see where traffic is coming from for that particular video.

YouTube Channel Analytics - The 6 Most Important Video Metrics

If there’s one thing we can agree on, it’d probably be this: Someone who is watching your video for the second time would be more likely to subscribe to your content than a new viewer. So, it’s important to track how many people actually click "subscribe" out of 

1. Under the Audience tab in Analytics, look at the graph in the middle, and click 

2. You can change the metrics here to find the graph of returning viewers versus subscribers.

Returning viewers vs new subscribers graph

While we’re on the subject, it’s also important to understand the type of content that keeps bringing viewers back to your the channel. You can check this in more detail on the 

So there you have it, folks. Your subscribers may not be directly communicating with you, but they're constantly offering feedback through their behavior. And, if they took time out of their lives to hit subscribe, it means that they connect to you and your content in a meaningful way. So, the onus is on you to deliver the best possible upload to them, every time. 

If you want to get your creative juices flowing, learn how to automate your YouTube channel in just a few seconds!

When it comes to understanding your subscribers, these silent indicators can shape your content strategy and lead to YouTube success. 

One thing we love to talk about in the creator landscape is 

We’re talking billions of views across six different channels. Millions of loyal subscribers. Hundreds of challenges that changed YouTube forever.

 recognized MrBeast as an award-winning video creator, philanthropist, and entrepreneur. You might have seen his face — one that millions have come to recognize — on the cover of the spring Creators Issue.

But for those who don’t know, MrBeast (real name Jimmy Donaldson) is famous for doing expensive stunts and challenges on YouTube. Imagine mixing the best game show ever with the craziness of a real-life video game, and that’s what you get from a MrBeast video: high energy and lots of competition.

To grow on YouTube, it’s a good idea to learn from the best and be inspired by the best. Get a head start by getting to know MrBeast, his YouTube stats, and  why he’s so successful on the platform.

Started his YouTube channel in 2012 at age 13

Spends $48 million a year making videos [

Raised more than $20 million to plant trees around the world [

Raised more than $30 million to remove sea trash [

Spent $3.5 million to create the YouTube version of Squid Game [

The first content creator on the cover of Rolling Stone [

Launched the MrBeast Burger virtual brand [

So, how many channels does MrBeast have? There are six altogether:

: Currently, a somewhat inactive MrBeast channel

Altogether, MrBeast’s subscriber count is slightly more than 

Are you ready for this mind-blowing stat? As of July 28, 2022, MrBeast has more than

So far, MrBeast’s Squid Game is his most popular YouTube video. It has a whopping 

To get billions of views like MrBeast, you have to go above and beyond on YouTube. If we’ve learned anything from his journey, it’s that

exciting challenges, cash prizes, and making videos with zero wasted minutes is a recipe for success.

Here’s the typical flow of a MrBeast video:

Follow contestants as they face the challenge

Take a look at this recent upload from MrBeast, “Would You Swim With Sharks For $100,000?” Do you see the classic pattern?

Part of the reason MrBeast is so successful is that he’s not the focus of a video. He gives viewers something to enjoy each step of the way: the contestants, the expensive video sets, and the action that unfolds.

He also keeps your attention with superior editing. Each clip is only seconds long, which creates a hurried yet exciting pace for his content. You don’t have time to think about leaving the video because you're hopelessly hooked.

There's also a feel-good factor to MrBeast's content. Not only does he give money to the lucky winners of his challenges, but he also donates to family, friends, the homeless, and various charities. Sometimes the entire point of a video is, "If we can successfully do 

In a nutshell, all of these things make MrBeast 

Ready to reach stardom on your own channel? 

Here’s the ultimate guide for boosting your views on YouTube.

Are you curious about MrBeast's YouTube stats? Keep reading to see how many views, subscribers, and accomplishments he's collected over the years.

So Far, These Are MrBeast's Most Impressive YouTube Stats


Growing a YouTube channel is no joke. While making videos is a fun hobby, it takes more than filming, editing, and uploading to reach the biggest YouTube milestones:

A trophy case filled with YouTube plaques

What you truly need is an understanding of YouTube analytics.

That means you’ll need to get cozy with the YouTube Studio. In it, you’ll find metrics for analyzing and growing your channel, from video views to click-through rate.

There’s a lot to explore when you first dive in, so here are the most important analytics on YouTube.

Click-through rate (CTR) is the percentage of people who click on a video after seeing the thumbnail.

If 10,000 people see a video’s thumbnail, but only 500 people click it, that’s a 5% CTR. In other words, 5% of people who saw the thumbnail decided to watch the video.

There’s an easy formula for calculating CTR: number of clicks / number of impressions x 100 = CTR.

You’ll never have to calculate it, though. YouTube’s channel dashboard shows your CTR for multiple time periods. 

Simply go to YouTube Studio > Analytics > Reach to see your channel’s CTR.

Why should you care about click-through rates when there are other things to analyze? It’s the only YouTube metric that opens 

. People have to click on a thumbnail before giving your video some Watch Time, a like, or a comment. Plus, viewers tend to subscribe after watching good videos.

6 Tips to Get a Good Click-Through Rate on YouTube

Want to grow your YouTube channel faster? Take a look at the audience retention on individual videos.

You’ll want to pay attention to the average percentage viewed (APV), which is how much of the video viewers watched.

For example, here’s a screenshot of our audience retention for a 10-minute video. As you can see, most people watched 33% of it.

YouTube recommends videos to viewers based on Watch Time metrics like APV. Try to boost yours to at least 50% so you can get more views.

How to Increase Audience Retention on Every YouTube Video

3. Traffic From Recommended YouTube Videos

“YouTube recommendations” is a critical traffic source on YouTube. As we mentioned above, having YouTube suggest your content to viewers is a massive help. You don’t have to do anything because the algorithm does the work for you.

By the way, YouTube shows a list of traffic sources for every video. 

Simply go to YouTube Studio > Content (pick a video to analyze) > Analytics > Overview

. Then scroll down to see where traffic is coming from for that particular video.

Keep an eye on this traffic source to see which videos get suggested the most, then make similar content for your audience.

YouTube Algorithm Guide - How Your Videos Are Recommended to Viewers

4. Subscribers Gained from Each YouTube Video

With its flashy, ego-boosting ways, subscriber count isn’t a useful YouTube stat. It doesn’t affect your views, and it doesn’t change your favor with the YouTube algorithm. 

The only way to get more views is to make good videos.

identify videos that bring in subscribers

 – not to track the overall count but to discover what’s growing your community. This is the only YouTube subscriber analytic you need.

. You’ll see a dashboard showing how many people subscribed after watching a particular video.

6 Honest Reasons You Might Be Losing YouTube Subscribers

5. YouTube Engagement (Comments, Likes, Video Shares)

Likes, comments, and video shares aren’t popular like other YouTube channel statistics. Many creators think video views are the thing to pay attention to, and hey, maybe they’re right.

But we can’t ignore the little things. Most viewers are passive on YouTube, so it 

 a triumph convincing them to do anything: liking, sharing, typing a comment. Even getting them to click on an end screen or info card is a win.

 You’re building a real community on YouTube when people start engaging with your content.

Are you obsessed with YouTube channel views? Well, don’t limit yourself to tracking video views only.

 metric, and you need it to grow your channel.

To see new versus returning viewers for any video, go to

 YouTube > Content (pick a video to analyze) > Analytics > Audience.

It’s a genius metric because it reflects every YouTube creator’s goal: growing an audience while satisfying current viewers.

How to Track Returning Viewers on Your Channel

Every Creator Needs These YouTube Analytics Tools

Are you ready to track your YouTube channel stats? Here are some tools to analyze your progress:

: A real-time stats bar that lets you see specific metrics without opening the YouTube Studio. See video views in the last 60 minutes, 48 hours, and seven days – or view the YouTube Watch Time tracker for monetization.

: Too busy to audit your channel? This tool does the hard work for you, identifying your best content and suggesting improvements to your channel.

: Want a YouTube growth tool that plugs into your channel? Download vidIQ to see channel stats, YouTube keywords, and video ideas.

Doing a YouTube analysis of all your content can be intimidating. That’s why you need these powerful metrics to cut the fluff and find tangible ways to make better videos.

Speaking of satisfaction, do you want to satisfy the YouTube algorithm and get more views? Here are six signs you’re well on your way.

Which video metrics are important for growing on YouTube? There’s a lot to explore with YouTube channel analytics, but here are six that lead to better videos.

YouTube Channel Analytics: The 6 Most Important Video Metrics

YouTube thumbnails are like mini-billboards that advertise your channel. Without them, viewers have no idea why they should click on your videos. Even worse, some people won’t notice your content at all – especially on competitive search pages.

 to boost clicks and grow your channel. Mainly because…

Click-through rates (CTR) can send positive or negative signals to YouTube’s video recommendation system.

How Thumbnails Affect Your Click-Through Rate

On YouTube, click-through rate is the percentage of people who clicked your video after seeing its thumbnail. Here’s an example: If 20,000 people see your video somewhere on YouTube, but only 400 people click, that’s a 2% click-through rate. In other words, 2% of people were interested enough to click on your video.

Number of clicks / Number of impressions x 100 = CTR

Thumbnails are the first thing many viewers see on YouTube.

 That’s why they're crucial for boosting CTR and why creators spend hours crafting thumbnail images.

6 Powerful Tips to Get a Good Click-Through Rate on YouTube

Generally, a good CTR is any percentage that beats your channel average. So if 5% of people click your content, you should set a goal to reach 6%, 7%, 8%, and beyond.

Also, according to YouTube, 50% of channels have a 2-10% CTR. That’s another benchmark you can use to track your progress.

How do you create enticing images viewers can’t resist? We have a few suggestions – nine to be exact – to get more clicks from your thumbnails.

1. Use the Right YouTube Thumbnail Dimensions

YouTube’s thumbnail rules are pretty straightforward. To create the best image, aim for a 16:9 aspect ratio (rectangular shape) and a resolution of 1280x720 pixels (the standard YouTube thumbnail size). Also, use an accepted image format, like JPG, GIF, or PNG.

Have you ever seen a grainy, pixelated thumbnail that made you cringe? You’re not alone in feeling that. No one wants to watch a video after seeing a confusing preview image.

That’s why you should use high-quality photos for your thumbnails, like the one below.

People watch YouTube on various devices, such as laptops, smartphones, and tablets. So whether your thumbnail is stretching across a widescreen or shrinking into a small one, it makes sense to use high-resolution images.

If your thumbnail has too many elements, people will keep scrolling in search of something simple. It makes sense when you think about it. How long would you spend analyzing something you don’t understand?

 simplifying your YouTube thumbnail background. 

 video, "Lighting for Youtube Videos in Small Rooms and Spaces."

Notice how Ben removed the original background to insert a clean, colorful backdrop. He also made proper use of positive and negative space. 

Overall, the best thumbnail designs have elements that take up space without suffocating the entire image.

Nothing attracts people more than vibrant colors. We love the golden arches at McDonald’s as much as we love Christmas lights in December. Why should thumbnails be any different?

To make those images pop, create a bright design. Also, try to stick to three colors – two “contrasting” hues and one “base” color.

 appear on opposite sides of the color wheel and complement each other well: purple and yellow, blue and orange, red and green, etc.

Imagine this. You’ve filmed your dog jumping from couch to couch, and the thumbnail you want to use shows your dog soaring mid-flight. Did you know that adding even 

 word to the image will encourage clicks?

If you want a good click-through rate, you need better YouTube thumbnails. Here are 9 tips to help you create images viewers are likely to click.

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