The best way to get more views on YouTube is to optimize your videos so they show up in search and recommendations
— and keep viewers engaged once they click. That means mastering clickable thumbnails, compelling titles, and content that delivers on its promise.


With 10+ billion views tracked through coaching and tools, vidIQ provides data-backed insights into what drives video discovery.


In this section, we will break down strategies, examples, and case studies so you can consistently grow your views.

More Views

How To Get More Views on YouTube

The fastest way to get more YouTube subscribers is to publish videos that keep viewers watching and make it easy for them to subscribe.
That means using strong titles and thumbnails, clear calls to action, and building content around topics people are already searching for.


At vidIQ, we analyze millions of channels to see what actually drives subscriber growth, from doubling down on high-retention videos
to packaging content in ways that hook new audiences. Explore our guides and case studies to learn proven tactics that will
help you grow your subscribers faster.

Get Subscribers

How to Get More YouTube Subscribers

To make money on YouTube, creators start by qualifying for the YouTube Partner Program and enabling ads, but that’s just the beginning. Real income comes from combining multiple streams: sponsorships, channel memberships, affiliate marketing, and selling your own products or services. 

At vidIQ, we’ve studied how creators unlock monetization
milestones and scale beyond ad revenue. Here you will learn practical strategies to diversify income and build
a sustainable business from your YouTube channel.

Make Money

How To Make Money on YouTube

YouTube Analytics reveal which videos are working and why, but not all metrics matter equally. Watch time, retention, CTR, and revenue are the numbers that drive real growth. 

At vidIQ, we break down these metrics with examples so you can spot trends, identify weak points, and make smarter decisions for your channel. Here you’ll learn how to use analytics as a growth engine, not just a dashboard.

Data Insights

YouTube Analytics Explained: Metrics That Matter

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 are one of the fastest ways to reach new viewers and grow your channel.


With millions of Shorts analyzed, vidIQ has tracked the formats and strategies that help creators break through. Here you’ll learn how to make Shorts that stand out, and how to use them to boost your long-form videos.

YouTube Shorts

YouTube Shorts: Tips and Strategies

The best YouTube tips save time and make your videos perform better. From thumbnail tweaks to hidden features in YouTube Studio, small changes can drive big results. 

At vidIQ, we’ve tested countless tactics across millions of videos to see what really works. Here you’ll find quick wins and practical shortcuts you can use right now to grow faster and work smarter.

Quick Tips

YouTube Tips for Creators

The fastest way to grow on YouTube is to create content around trending topics while viewers are searching for them. 

With vidIQ’s data, we track the keywords, niches, and formats that are taking off across millions of channels. Here you’ll find insights into what’s working now, including creator case studies and examples, so you can publish videos that ride the wave of demand and stay ahead of competitors.

Trending Now

YouTube Trends and Insights

Your In-Depth Guide to Building a Successful YouTube Channel

Writing great YouTube titles is one of the highest-leverage skills you can develop as a creator.

, your title is the entry point for new viewers and plays a key role in whether your content gets discovered, clicked, and watched. Titles influence click-through rate, impact YouTube’s recommendation system, and shape viewer expectations - all of which directly affect your watch time and channel growth.

But even amazing videos can go unwatched if the title doesn’t spark interest or clearly communicate value. High-performing titles aren’t optional, they’re essential.

70% of YouTube traffic coming from Browse and Suggested feeds

70% of YouTube views come from Browse and Suggested feeds

SEO-optimized videos tend to drive longer-term, evergreen traffic

Which means most video titles fall into one of two categories:

 that get clicks early, but fizzle out over time

 that help videos rank, but feel generic or dry

So it’s no surprise that we often get asked the questions, “

How do I write a title that works for both search and suggested feeds?

Here’s the truth: Your title has to do double duty.

And we’ve built a simple YouTube Title Framework to help you do exactly that.

Watch the vidIQ Title Flip framework video here:


But First: The Problem with Hybrid Titles

It’s obvious to try and balance curiosity and keywords in one title, what we call the hybrid approach, and it sometimes works. Like this title example:

“Sourdough Recipe from ANCIENT EGYPT!”

This title has intrigue and includes a keyword (“sourdough recipe”), making it a strong contender for both clicks and long-term search.

Again, this strategy can work and often performs well for bigger channels or well-known brands. But for smaller or growing creators facing stiff competition, we’ve seen better and more consistent results with a two-phase approach.

“There’s always a bit of tension between writing titles for search versus writing them to spark curiosity. Since most traffic comes from Browse and Suggested, curiosity-driven titles tend to perform better at first. But once that initial push slows down, updating your title (and thumbnail) to be more SEO-friendly can give the video a second life and help it show up in search for the long haul.”

 is built around that approach. Instead of trying to do everything in one title, you let each title do what it’s best at: 

curiosity for early clicks, SEO for lasting growth

Start with a curiosity-driven title that grabs attention in Browse and Suggested feeds. Your goal here is to earn the click and spark engagement right out of the gate.

Once the video’s initial performance levels off (typically after 48–72 hours), swap in a more keyword-focused title. This helps your content rank in Search and stay discoverable for months to come.

This simple flip is a small change that can deliver long-term results, especially for evergreen content.


Step-by-Step: How to Apply the Title Flip Framework

Here’s how to apply the Title Flip Framework to your next video:

Before publishing, draft a solid title option for each phase:

"Is This The World’s Fastest Sourdough Recipe?"

Writing these variations forces you to think from both the viewer’s perspective and the algorithm’s.

Need help brainstorming curiosity-driven or keyword-focused titles? Try our 

 to identify high-performing keywords that fit your niche.


Step 2: Lead with Curiosity and Monitor Performance

Use the curiosity-first title at launch to maximize clicks from the Browse and Suggested feeds.

graphic highlighting a 48 to 72 hour waiting period before reviewing performance

. Pay close attention to your impressions, CTR, and watch time.

If your traffic is still holding strong, great, leave it as is.

If your traffic is declining, or if your CTR is lower than expected, it’s time for Phase 2.


Update your title with the keyword-focused version to support long-term discoverability.

Wait another 48-72 hours and once again review your impressions, CTR, and watch time.

Ideally you will see an increase in all of your key metrics.

If impressions are low, your title might lack keyword strength. Try another keyword focused title.

If impressions are high but CTR is low, your title might lack clarity.

A well-timed flip can give your video a second wave of life, helping it move from a short burst of views to evergreen traffic.

Metaphor image of butter spreading on toast, labeled as title and thumbnail working together


Bonus Tip: Make Sure Your Title and Thumbnail Work Together

Your title and thumbnail should feel like a matched set, each one making the other stronger.

Think of them like butter on toast. Dry toast is boring. Butter on its own? A little weird. The magic only happens when they’re together.

, use the title to pose a question or spark curiosity 

Title: “This Mistake Ruined My Bread… Don’t Make It”

, your title needs to provide clarity or context 

Thumbnail: a surprised face + loaf of bread

Title: “The One Ingredient That Changed Everything”

Together, your title and thumbnail should build curiosity, communicate value, and set clear expectations.


Seeing what title changes other real-world creators use helps you understand what works and what doesn’t. With the free 

, you can track how other creators update their titles and thumbnails over time. Browse YouTube with vidIQ active, study the changes top creators make, and apply those insights to your own video titles to grow faster.

Your title is not just a headline, it’s your first and most important growth lever.

Drive more clicks from Suggested and Browse

Extend your video’s life with long-term search traffic

Build a repeatable, testable title strategy you can rely on


Let your next title do more than describe your video.

Let it spark curiosity, get the click, and grow your channel.

Looking for more tips on writing great titles?

11 Ways to Write Exciting YouTube Titles for Your Videos

3 Secrets for Writing Click-Worthy YouTube Titles

How to Write the Best Titles for YouTube Shorts

Line graph showing flat and then a sharp upward trend after a title flip adjustment

Your title is one of the most important tools for growing your channel. It directly impacts:

Whether people click—Titles influence your click-through rate (CTR)

Whether YouTube recommends your video—Strong titles help you show up in Browse and Suggested feeds

Whether people keep watching—Titles set expectations, and if your content doesn’t deliver, viewers bounce

Nail your title, and you’ll boost clicks, retention, and long-term discoverability.

Start with a clear goal. Use a mix of curiosity and SEO. The best YouTube titles do three things:

Include a relevant keyword so YouTube knows what your video is about.

Set clear expectations so viewers don’t bounce and kill your watch time.

Miss any one of these, and even great content might not get traction.

You can update your title anytime in YouTube Studio:

Hover over your video and click the pencil icon (Details)

Edit the title field, then click ‘Save’

We recommend waiting at least 48–72 hours after publishing before retitling, this gives YouTube time to test the original version. Use your updated title to better target SEO or boost curiosity based on how the video is performing.

Write YouTube titles that rank and get clicks with this proven curiosity + SEO framework from vidIQ.

vidIQ’s Title Flip Framework: Write Titles That Get Clicks & Rank

YouTube growth doesn't have to come at the cost of your mental health.

While the platform rewards consistency, there's a sustainable way to create content that doesn't leave you feeling drained and overwhelmed.

Creator burnout isn't just feeling tired after editing; it's a deeper issue. It's an overwhelming exhaustion caused by constantly producing, performing, and competing in a crowded space.

The pressure to upload consistently, coupled with anxiety from fluctuating view counts, creates a perfect storm for content creator burnout.

The key to learning how to avoid burnout lies in strategic planning rather than pure grinding.

That’s the foundation of being consistent on YouTube without burning out.

The secret lies in implementing smart productivity hacks that support being consistent on YouTube. Here are a few of our favorites.

How to Stay Productive on YouTube without Getting Burned Out

The key is to work smarter, not harder. Strategic planning helps you focus your energy where it matters.

1. Create a Content Schedule You Can Stick To

Planning ahead is one of the most powerful productivity hacks you can implement. When you're not scrambling for ideas daily, you free up mental energy for creative work.

Think of your content schedule as your creative safety net. Instead of waiting for inspiration to strike, you're building systems that support consistent output. These productivity ideas become even more effective when you use an 

 to help you maintain a steady pipeline of relevant, trending topics that resonate with your audience.

Decision fatigue is one of the biggest creativity killers for content creators. Every time you start from scratch, you're using mental energy that could be channeled into your content.

Smart creators use templates as productivity life hacks to streamline workflow.

 that maintain brand consistency while saving design time.

 that guide storytelling without stifling creativity.

Creating templates helps you maintain quality while dramatically reducing time spent on repetitive tasks.

Automation is one of the best productivity tools for creators.

When you schedule uploads in advance, you create breathing room and reduce last-minute stress. This allows you to maintain consistency during busy periods.

Another benefit of scheduling uploads is launching in full HD from the start. When you publish a video right away, YouTube initially serves the SD version while it processes the HD, which can take an hour or more. Scheduling gives YouTube time to finish that processing in advance, so viewers can watch your video in HD the moment it goes live.

Beyond scheduling uploads, consider automating your research process and script writing. 

 helps to create solid script outlines and also does a great job of deep research, freeing you up to focus more on creative tasks.

Instead of manually hunting for trending topics, our 

These productivity hacks create structure so you can stay consistent without daily stress.

 means establishing clear boundaries between work and rest. When your passion becomes your profession, it's easy to constantly check analytics, respond to comments, or brainstorm content ideas. But this always-on mentality leads directly to exhaustion.

Set specific times for checking channel performance, and stick to them. Designate phone-free hours where you're not scrolling through other creators' content or obsessing over your latest video's performance. Rest isn't laziness, it's essential for creativity.

Protecting your downtime is how to prevent burnout while maintaining the enthusiasm that drew you to creating in the first place.

Tips for YouTube Creators Struggling to Stay Motivated

Motivation ebbs and flows when creating public content. The key is building systems that support you during low-motivation periods while celebrating progress along the way.

Among the most important tips for content creators: 

. Every video you publish, every subscriber you gain, and every positive comment represents forward movement. Instead of comparing your current state to where you want to be eventually, acknowledge how far you've already come.

Tracking small wins can be incredibly powerful for maintaining momentum. Maybe your latest video got more engagement than usual, or you finally nailed that transition you'd been practicing. These moments matter and help combat the comparison trap that contributes to creative burnout.

 to recognize milestones. These moments build momentum. And they remind you why you started creating in the first place.

When to Take a Break Without Losing Your Audience

Recognizing burnout signs early is crucial for long-term success. If you find yourself dreading video creation, struggling with ideas that used to come easily, or feeling overwhelmed by the thought of opening your editing software, it might be time for a strategic break.

Fear of losing momentum often keeps creators pushing through exhaustion, but this usually backfires. Your audience can sense when you're going through the motions rather than creating from genuine enthusiasm.

When you do take a break, communicate honestly with your audience. They'll appreciate transparency over disappearing without explanation. Consider creating a simple video explaining your temporary absence, or post a community update letting viewers know when you'll return.

Coming back from a break doesn't mean starting from zero. Focus on reconnecting with why you started creating, then ease back into your content schedule gradually. Finding the right 

 can help you rebuild momentum without overwhelming yourself again.

The key to how to avoid burnout is recognizing that breaks aren't failures - they're investments in your success. Remember that content creator burnout is preventable with the right approach.

You Don’t Have to Choose Between YouTube Growth and Mental Health

Creators who prioritize balance often produce better content because they're creating from genuine enthusiasm rather than obligation.

The goal isn't to work less, it's to work smarter. When you combine sustainable practices with the right tools and strategies, you create a foundation for growth that doesn't require constant sacrifice.

Want help staying consistent without burning out? 

 make it easier to plan, optimize, and grow, all while protecting your creative energy.

Stay consistent on YouTube and avoid burnout with smart strategies, templates, and automation tools that support creative balance.

The YouTuber’s Guide to Consistency Without Creative Burnout

This post was originally written June 15, 2021 and has been updated with newer information.

Getting a good click-through rate (CTR) on YouTube is a big deal. That helps you solve a major problem, which is getting YouTube to recommend your videos to viewers. 

If you’ve been on YouTube for a while, you know the algorithm won’t suggest any old video. It serves 

 with proven success. Creators who supply such content are likely to get more views and grow their channels.

Click-through rate is still one of the most important signals on YouTube. It tells the algorithm: 

. The higher your CTR, the more likely YouTube is to recommend your video to new audiences.

But here’s the nuance: CTR alone won’t get you growth. YouTube weighs CTR alongside 

watch time, retention, and satisfaction metrics

. In other words, getting the click is step one, keeping the viewer matters even more.

CTR is defined as “how often viewers watch video after seeing its thumbnail.”

Here’s the click-through rate formula: 

Number of clicks / Number of impressions x 100 = CTR

So if 1,000 people saw the thumbnail but only 30 people clicked on the video, you’d have a click-through rate of 3%.

How to See Your Click-Through Rate In the YouTube Studio

Before you try to increase your CTR, figure out what your current percentage is.

Next, you’ll see a graph showing impressions, impressions click-through rate, views, and unique viewers. Select 

Adjust the period selector (seven days, one month, three months, one year, or the lifetime of your channel).

Here’s what the CTR graph looks like. It shows your rate over time, and you can hover over the play buttons to see which videos produced certain rates:

The graph above is from the vidIQ channel. As you can see, our CTR is 5.1% for the last 28 days. 

Scrolling down further reveals a chart showing how many impressions we received in that period.

At one point, YouTube stated that “half of all channels and videos on YouTube have an impressions CTR that can range between 2% and 10%.” 

Is your CTR within this range? If so, don't set wild expectations for yourself. YouTube's general range for CTR is just extra information; if you're at 2%, don't fall in love with the idea of reaching 10% anytime soon. Slow and steady improvements will take you where you need to be.

Also, be careful about how you interpret YouTube's general CTR range. If you’re a small creator getting 100 impressions per video, it only takes a consistent 20 viewers for a 20% click-through rate. Compare that to a large channel with 150,000 impressions and 10,000 views. That’s a 6.6% click-through rate.

No matter what the numbers say, put your CTR into perspective:

 because YouTube is showing your content to 

 viewers? That could mean you have more impressions but fewer clicks as you reach a new audience. New viewers will need more convincing before they click.

Ready to get more video clicks? Here are six ways to boost your CTR on YouTube:

 (so YouTube can give you a realistic CTR).

 based on your current or all-time CTR. This is your starting point from which you'll slowly increase over time.

 YouTube is counting thumbnail views as impressions, but getting an actual “click” is important for your CTR. Make the thumbnail simple but interesting, with text that quickly explains the video’s value. Test with 

 Your video’s title is right next to the thumbnail, which gives you another chance to elicit a click. Do some keyword research to add relevant or trending phrases to your title. 

makes suggestions for you based on what is relevant and trending.

 Make sure it’s relevant and reinforces the title for search pages; descriptions are highly visible in this area.

 In some areas of YouTube, viewers can see the length of a video overlaid on its thumbnail. Imagine a viewer coming to YouTube for a quick answer to one question. Will they click your video if it's an hour long?

What Every YouTube Creator Needs to Know About Custom Thumbnails and Click Through Rate

A “good” CTR depends on your niche, audience size, and video type. The real growth lever in 2025 is 

, YouTube will do the heavy lifting of recommending your videos

A good click-through rate is ideal, but it’s not the only signal YouTube uses to grade your videos. Here’s a handy guide on 

Wondering what is a good click through rate YouTube creators should aim for? Here’s how impressions click-through rate works, what counts as a “good” number in 2025, and six proven ways to boost your CTR in YouTube.

Your In-Depth Guide to Building a Successful YouTube Channel

vidIQ’s Title Flip Framework: Write Titles That Get Clicks & Rank

The YouTuber’s Guide to Consistency Without Creative Burnout

Getting a Good Click-Through Rate on YouTube: 6 Proven Tips

3 Secrets to Improve YouTube Audience Retention

How to Make Custom Thumbnails - The Essential Guide!

Has YouTube Become Saturated?

Why YouTube Custom Thumbnails Should NEVER Be an Afterthought: 5 Expert Tips

How to Download a YouTube Thumbnail (Fast, Easy & Free)

How to Make YouTube Vlogs

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