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

Amidst the countless creators, getting verified is one of the best ways to distinguish yourself and set your channel apart. Creators that get verified on YouTube are basically recognized by the platform as trusted channels. This can help improve the channel’s visibility and bring various opportunities within and outside the platform.

This is why YouTube verification is highly sought-after status for creators, brands, and businesses alike. This post will delve into the YouTube verification process, explain the necessary steps to qualify, and explore how smaller creators can improve their chances of earning that prestigious checkmark.

What Is YouTube Verification and Why It Matters?

YouTube verification is a process that provides a gray checkmark next to your channel’s name. This symbol is more than just a badge—it indicates to your audience that your channel is authentic, trustworthy, and officially represents the creator, brand, or business it claims to be​.

The checkmark appears across YouTube, from search results to comment sections, making it easier for viewers to distinguish your official account from imposters.

 A verified channel appears more legitimate, making it easier for new viewers to trust and engage with your content​

Verification helps protect your brand from copycat channels and impersonators who may try to capitalize on your name

Verified channels often receive more visibility in search results, increasing the chances of growing your audience.

What are the Eligibility Requirements for YouTube Verification?

To get verified on YouTube, your channel must meet specific criteria. While these requirements may seem stringent, they’re essential for ensuring that only authentic and established channels are granted the checkmark.

For YouTube verification, a channel must meet a few essential criteria that demonstrate its authenticity and activity on the platform. YouTube requires channels to have a minimum of 100,000 subscribers, which shows a significant following and credibility. However, subscriber count alone isn't enough. Your channel must accurately represent the creator, business, or entity it claims to be. This involves having a complete profile, including a well-designed banner, recognizable profile picture, and an informative description that clearly reflects your brand or identity.

Beyond appearance, YouTube values consistent engagement. Channels that actively post content, interact with their audience, and follow community guidelines are much more likely to be approved for verification. In contrast, inactive or dormant channels, regardless of subscriber count, are often rejected. By maintaining both a professional profile and regular activity, your chances of getting verified increase significantly.

How to Get Verified on YouTube: Step-by-Step Process

Once you’ve met the basic requirements, you can apply for YouTube verification. Below is a step-by-step guide to help you through the process.

Ensure your channel meets YouTube’s subscriber and content standards before proceeding. Even if you haven’t hit 100,000 subscribers, building a strong community and consistently creating quality content can improve your chances of approval.

, where you’ll find the form to apply for verification. If your channel qualifies, you will be able to access the form.

You’ll need to input your channel name and ID. If you’re unsure of your Channel ID, you can find it by navigating to your YouTube settings under "View advanced settings."​

Advanced settings feature on YouTube account

Once you’ve filled in your information, submit your application. The review process can take several weeks, and YouTube may ask for additional documentation to confirm your identity​.

After submitting your application, YouTube will review several factors, including your channel’s age, activity, and authenticity. If everything checks out, your channel will receive the verification badge.

Can You Get Verified Without 100K Subscribers?

It’s widely known that you need at least 100,000 subscribers to apply for verification, but there are exceptions. Smaller channels may qualify if they have a substantial presence outside YouTube.

If your channel represents a well-known brand, celebrity, or entity, YouTube may consider verifying you even with fewer subscribers.​ Musicians can also apply for the Official Artist Channel badge, even with fewer than 100,000 subscribers. This requires having an official music video distributed on YouTube and being part of the YouTube Partner Program.

While it is rare, exceptions can occur, so if you believe you have a significant presence or impact outside YouTube, you can reach out to YouTube’s support team for consideration​.

How to Increase Your Chances of Getting Verified?

Even if your channel doesn’t yet qualify for verification, there are ways to boost your chances. Focus on building a robust channel, improving engagement, and increasing your subscriber base.

1. Create High-Quality, Consistent Content

YouTube prioritizes channels that post regularly and create valuable content. Focus on producing high-quality videos that engage your target audience. Having a consistent upload schedule helps, as it demonstrates your commitment to building your channel.

No More Scrambling: How to Craft a Foolproof YouTube Upload Schedule

Ensure that your profile is complete, professional, and aligned with your brand’s identity. This includes:

Choosing a clear, recognizable profile picture.

Writing a compelling description that explains who you are and what content you create

Customizing your channel banner and organizing playlists to improve user experience.

Actively engaging with your audience through comments, likes, and discussions is a great way to show YouTube that you are dedicated to fostering a community. Encouraging viewers to subscribe and interact with your content signals that your channel is authentic and active​.

How to Use the YouTube Community Tab and Engage with Viewers

Optimizing your videos for YouTube search is crucial for increasing your visibility. By using relevant keywords in your video titles, descriptions, and tags, you can improve your chances of ranking higher in search results. High-performing videos help demonstrate your channel’s influence and authority.

YouTube SEO: How to Optimize Your Videos for Maximum Views

Approach your channel with a long-term strategy in mind. Focus on building a solid brand, setting goals for content creation, and using data analytics to improve your performance. Collaborating with other creators and being active in the YouTube community can also give your channel the boost it needs

If you thought the hard part was over, you were wrong. Once you’ve earned your verification badge, you must ensure that you remain compliant with YouTube’s rules to maintain it. Some key points to remember are:

Any breach of YouTube’s Community Guidelines or Terms of Service could result in your badge being revoked​.

Changing your channel’s name will automatically remove the verification badge. You’ll need to reapply under the new name, which could delay the process.

Keep posting content regularly and continue engaging with your audience to show YouTube that your channel is still relevant.

Getting verified on YouTube is a major milestone that can set your channel apart and boost your credibility. By focusing on growing your audience, optimizing your content, and adhering to YouTube’s guidelines, you can work toward achieving that coveted checkmark. Remember, success on YouTube takes time, patience, and dedication, but with consistency and effort, verification is within reach.

While verification is a worthy goal, it’s more important to build a loyal audience and create a sustainable channel. Verification will come as a natural consequence of your growth and impact on the platform​. If you’re just starting, focus on creating great content and engaging with your viewers. So, what are you waiting for? Get creating and 

Getting verified on YouTube is a dream for most small creators. Get a well-rounded understanding needed to achieve this goal through this post!

How to Get Verified on YouTube

Struggling to come up with video ideas and titles? The good news is you’re not alone!

If you’ve ever found yourself staring at a blank screen, unsure of your next YouTube video, you’re at the right place. Whether you're just starting or you’ve been creating content for years, every YouTube creator faces the challenge of consistently coming up with fresh, engaging video ideas. Hence, we creators look to content that has already been successful on YouTube and use what’s relevant.

The biggest problem with drawing inspiration from click-worthy titles in any YouTube niche is the extensive research and hours of work required. That’s why we’re thrilled to announce a powerful new tool available in the vidIQ Chrome extension, designed to make your life a whole lot easier! Readers, say hello to 

In less than 120 seconds, Remix can take any successful video, from any niche and create video ideas for YouTube relevant to your channel and audience. Below, Rob will take you through how the tool works with real-life examples and demonstrate its true power:

Why Great Video Ideas and Titles Are Crucial for YouTube Success

Before diving into how Remix works, it’s important to understand why video ideas and titles are the foundation for YouTube success. The YouTube landscape is highly competitive, and with over 500 hours of content uploaded to the platform every minute, you need more than just great production quality. It starts with a solid video idea and an irresistible title.

A strong idea is the base of any great video. It has to be relevant to your niche, engage your audience, and be original enough to stand out. Not only does a great video idea improve your chances of getting clicks, but it also increases the likelihood that viewers will stick around for the full video and return for more content in the future.

Your video title is often the first thing a potential viewer will see, and it can make or break your chances of getting a click. A title needs to create curiosity and be keyword-optimized to perform well in YouTube’s search algorithm. A well-crafted title helps:

The better your title, the more likely people are to click on your video.

Optimized titles help your video appear in relevant searches, making it easier for new viewers to find your content.

A great title can build curiosity, urgency, or intrigue, making it hard for viewers to resist clicking.

But coming up with great ideas and titles can be time-consuming. That’s where Remix can help streamline the process.

How Remix Simplifies Your Content Creation

Remix takes the heavy lifting out of finding YouTube video ideas and crafting the perfect title. The tool is designed to help creators like you discover what’s already working in your niche and easily adapt those concepts to your style. Whether you’re looking to ride the wave of trending topics or repurpose a successful format, Remix provides a fast, simple way to do it.

Quickly find successful video titles and formats that have already worked for other creators.

Easily adapt these winning ideas to create videos that resonate with your niche, channel, and viewers.

Create engaging, high-quality content that attracts more viewers, watch-time, and subscribers.

You can also change the chosen channel topic to any other niche and Remix will refresh the same video ideas for the new niche within seconds! And it’s not just about saving time—it’s about making smarter decisions with your content creation. Instead of guessing what might work, Remix helps you lean on data-driven insights.

Now that you know why Remix is a game-changer, let’s break down exactly how to use it. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned YouTube creator, these steps will help you use Remix to streamline your video ideation and title creation.

1. Go to YouTube and Find a Title That Works

Start by heading over to YouTube and looking for a video title in your niche that has performed exceptionally well. But how do you know which videos are outperforming others? That’s where the 

vidIQ extension features VPH and Outlier score on YouTube

With vidIQ’s Chrome extension, you can check key performance metrics such as the 

. These metrics help you identify videos that are currently getting a lot of traction and outperforming their peers. Look for videos with a high Outlier Score or a high VPH. This indicates that the title and format of the video are resonating with viewers.

Once you’ve found a video that’s performing well, it’s time to Remix it! Click on the Remix button, and the tool will allow you to customize the video title to fit your niche, audience, and style. This is your opportunity to take a proven concept and make it your own.

For example, if the trending title is “How to Lose Weight Fast,” you could Remix it to better suit your audience with a title like “How to Lose Weight Fast for Busy Professionals” or “How to Lose Weight Quickly Without Hitting the Gym.”

Once you’ve created a title you’re happy with, it’s time to move to the next step: content optimization. Right next to the awesome video ideas that Remix has produced for you, there’s a small button labeled “

Remix integrates seamlessly with vidIQ Generate, another powerful vidIQ tool that helps you:

 to make the video creation process smoother.

By using both Remix and Generate, you can quickly go from an idea to a fully optimized video ready to perform on YouTube.

After you’ve fine-tuned your video title, description, tags, and more, you’re ready to shoot and upload your video. With Remix and Generate handling most of the ideation and optimization work, you can focus on recording high-quality content and growing your audience. This is how our tools can ease you in your creative process reliably.

vidIQ Remix on different pages of YouTube

Once you've signed up for the vidIQ extension, you'll be able to see the Remix features on different parts of YouTube on hovering your cursor. You'll find it on the homepage of any channel, on the search results for any content, on channel pages, and even next to the subscribe button!

Crafting Titles That Drive Clicks: Best Practices

A title is a promise that you’re making to the viewer- and it needs to be fulfilled. Even though Remix helps you find and adapt successful video titles, it’s important to understand what makes a title truly effective. Here are a few best practices to keep in mind:

Your title should speak directly to your audience. Avoid jargon that might confuse new viewers, and instead use simple, clear language that resonates with your target audience. For example, if you’re in the fitness niche, instead of “HIIT Workouts Explained,” you might use “Simple HIIT Workouts to Burn Fat Fast.”

SEO matters. Your title should include keywords that people are actively searching for. vidIQ’s Keyword Research Tool can help you identify high-volume, low-competition keywords to include in your title.

Shorter titles tend to perform better because they display fully on all devices. Aim for around 60-70 characters. If your title is too long, it might get cut off, especially on mobile devices.

People love lists because they offer a sense of structure and predictability. Titles like “5 Ways to Grow Your YouTube Channel” or “Top 10 Travel Destinations in Europe” tend to attract clicks more easily.

Why Remix is Perfect for Both Beginners and Pros

Regardless of where you are in your YouTube journey, Remix can help streamline your content creation process. For beginners, it takes the guesswork out of what types of videos to make. Smaller creators already have a lot on their plate with filming, editing, and designing assets for videos. So any time saved is time earned!

For more experienced creators, it provides a faster way to adapt successful content ideas without spending hours on research. Looking at well-performing videos through the Remix tool will give them more perspective on the type of content that might work better for their channel.

Remix is about working smarter, not harder. Instead of starting from scratch every time, you’re building on concepts that are already proven to work, and then tailoring them to your unique audience.

Supercharge Your YouTube Channel with Remix

YouTube content creation doesn’t have to be a guessing game. With Remix, you get instant access to video ideas for YouTube that have already proven themselves in other niches, and with the help of Generate, you can quickly create optimized titles, descriptions, and tags that boost your video’s performance.

If you’re ready to take the guesswork out of video creation and focus on what matters most—creating great content—

 for web browsers and give Remix a try today.

Take any video on YouTube and use it to create content for your channel! Learn more about vidIQ Remix here.

How to Find Winning YouTube Video Ideas in Minutes with vidIQ Remix

How do your YouTube videos perform in the first 24 hours of publishing? Is there a surge of positive momentum or do most of your views trickle in days later?

For some creators, views earned in this one-day period can push their content to new heights. They’ll get lots of views from YouTube notifications, and in turn, the algorithm suggests their content to more viewers.

Apart from going viral, that’s the kind of mojo you want to have on YouTube. You should strive to make your videos appear in valuable areas of the app, such as browse features, YouTube search, and suggested videos.

To make it happen, start comparing your videos’ performance over the first 24 hours. It’s as simple as:

Waiting until each video has been published for 24 hours

Analyzing the results in the YouTube Studio

Step four has gotten much easier this year. Instead of opening two browser windows, you can view a side-by-side comparison for each video using YouTube’s latest tool for 24-hour views.

How to See Video Views on YouTube in the First 24 Hours

To compare video views in the YouTube Studio, follow these steps:

On the YouTube homepage, click your profile icon and select 

Find a video that’s been published for 24 hours, then hover your mouse over it. Click the analytics icon on the pop-up menu that appears.

Next, you’ll see the analytics page for the video you selected. Go to the top right corner of the screen and click the time period adjuster.

Need a visual tutorial? Watch the video below to make sure you’re doing everything correctly:

How to Analyze 24-Hour View Data on YouTube

As an example, let’s say we want to analyze the 24-hour views for our recent video, “

How to Start a YouTube Gaming Channel In 2021.

” After completing the steps above, the below results are what we see in the YouTube Studio.

Scrolling down a bit farther, we also see a list of traffic sources for video views in the first 24 hours.

With this data, we can ask ourselves a few questions about the video’s performance, and hopefully, create better content.

Question 1: Compared with other content, did the video overperform or underperform?

We can check this by looking at the traffic sources data. Via the screenshot above, it looks like our video overperformed in YouTube search views and underperformed in YouTube recommendation views. We know this because we hovered our mouse over each traffic source, which triggered a pop-up showing our typical video performance.

Here's what the vidIQ channel usually averages for these two sources:

That means our 2.8K views from YouTube recommendations is a tad low for this video. 

On the flip side, getting 957 search views is excellent. That means we did a good job 

Question 2: Did changing the video’s thumbnail or title in the first 24 hours affect its views?

To answer this question, we need to check the number of impressions the video earned, as well as its click-through rate. So instead of viewing the Overview tab, click 

near the top of the page. You should instantly see a graph showing video impressions, like the one below.

to view another graph showing the video's click-through rate in the first 24 hours.

When you update your video’s thumbnail or title in the first 24 hours, try to remember which hour you made the change. For example, you may decide to update a video’s title and thumbnail 12 hours after publishing.

With that in mind, you can check these two graphs to see if there are significant spikes or dips after the 12th hour. That alone should prove which title/thumbnail produces a better click-through rate or number of impressions.

Get Views Data Faster With vidIQ’s Real-Time Stats Bar

Right now, we're showing you the long method for checking YouTube views. It's thorough but not always practical, which is why you should have a backup plan when you're busy filming, uploading, or promoting your videos. 

, you can quickly check your YouTube views with the real-time stats bar. This handy tool sits at the top of all YouTube pages and displays crucial information, such as:

Views on your channel within the last 60 minutes, 48 hours, or seven days.

Detailed graphs showing your channel’s viewership

Your progress toward accumulating 4,000 hours of Watch Time (for channel monetization)

All of this is free, by the way. If you want to know how many views your channel is getting at all times, simply 

How to Compare the 24-Hour Views of Two YouTube Videos

OK, here’s the question most creators want us to answer: How does one determine which videos are performing well in the first 24 hours?

Fortunately, the answer is just a few clicks away. Here's how to grab that data in the YouTube Studio:

 filter selected, return to the Overview tab of your video’s analytics page. Below the graph showing channel views, Watch Time, subscribers, and revenue, click 

In the top right corner of the page, click 

This will allow you to select a second video from your channel and compare its first 24 hours to the initial video you were analyzing. To test this, we compared two videos with similar YouTube performance, as shown below.

 in the uppermost tab, you can see the traffic breakdown for each video.

As you can see, “How to Start a Gaming Channel in 2021” got more search traffic in the first 24 hours. 

That video may become evergreen content on YouTube, appearing in search results for years to come.

How to Get Your First 100 Subscribers on YouTube

” performed better in every other metric, such as browse features, suggested videos, and YouTube notifications. 

That’s indicative of a powerful title and thumbnail.

 Altogether, we can glean useful information from both videos and combine strategies to create better content.

What would really be helpful though, is the ability to compare one video with dozens more. That way we could track the effectiveness of a series of videos covering one topic. 

If YouTube makes this tiny change, the First 24 Hours tool would be almost perfect.

In the meantime, vidIQ has a channel audit tool that displays exactly what’s working on your channel. It’s free to start using, so 

 for channel insights that’ll earn you more YouTube success.

Twenty-four hours after publishing, this YouTube tool reveals which videos are optimized for success.

How to Get More Views on YouTube in 24 Hours

If you haven’t started a YouTube channel yet, now's the time. The platform has more than 2B monthly users, which means you have plenty of opportunities to find and grow your ideal audience. 

That doesn't mean it's an easy job, though. With YouTube being a free platform, millions of people have launched channels with dreams of starting a profitable business. Many creators have reached success, but you'll need a solid YouTube strategy to do the same.

You can start by prioritizing these seven powerful tasks on YouTube: 

Sharing your value proposition with viewers

Creating new content to stand out on YouTube

Seizing content opportunities, such as traffic from popular trends

Mastering each skill is easier said than done, but it's possible. If you need some motivation, watch the video below to see how seven creators used the game plan above to grow their channels.

Need more proof? Here’s an in-depth analysis of how these creators quickly grew their channels in 2020.

Becoming a YouTube Authority: How ‘100 Percent Zelda’ Dominated One Topic

. This channel teaches key survival tactics in the popular video game - how to farm superfoods, tips for finding the best weapons, how to set battle traps, everything.

100 Percent Zelda has been on YouTube for nine months. But in a short amount of time, the channel has amassed more than 30K subscribers and 4M views. That’s no easy feat, especially when you consider the competitive nature of gaming.

So what’s the secret to this channel’s success? It’s simple: 

Focus on one thing and never deviate from that.

 and taught players how to survive its biggest challenges. Instead of posting a bunch of random videos, 100 Percent Zelda made a commitment to cater to its audience.

You can accomplish the same thing on YouTube. Simply decide on a niche, then 

. Post content many viewers find useful, and never, ever, abandon your audience.

Want to know more? We filmed a case study on this channel months ago, and you can soak up all the wisdom below:

Stimulus Talk: How ‘ClearValue Tax’ Got More YouTube Views In 2020

 gave viewers the information they desperately needed: how to quickly get their stimulus checks. That prized information helped the channel grow from 200 subscribers to more than 1M.

Brian Kim, the certified public accountant who appears on camera, doesn’t add any fluff to his videos. Within 10 seconds, he says exactly what he’s going to cover and dives right in. The production value is fine, but it’s not overly polished with excessive editing.

Additionally, the video thumbnails on this channel are simple freeze-frames from the footage itself, as shown below:

But guess what? None of that matters as much when you’re helping thousands of people get the free money they’re entitled to. You can overlook some of YouTube’s best practices because viewers need the information that badly.

Nonetheless, ClearValue Tax did what counts most on YouTube. The creator posted frequently, which is half the battle. The channel also used relevant keyphrases, such as ‘second stimulus check update’ and ‘get your stimulus check’.

It's never too late to start a YouTube channel. If you need proof, just ask these seven creators who've gained thousands of subscribers in just a few months.

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