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

If you’re not taking the time to clip YouTube videos, you’re missing one of the easiest ways to boost reach, re-engage your audience, and grow without recording anything new.

Clipping lets you quickly turn one long-form YouTube video into multiple short, shareable clips. 

 perform well because they’re easier to watch, share, and surface in YouTube’s algorithm.

In short, clipping a YouTube video is the fastest way to go from a long video to short video that performs better in YouTube’s recommendation system.

Clipping a YouTube video means taking the most engaging moments from a long video and creating short clips that are easier to watch, share, and discover.

Think of it as repurposing your best content into sharable, high-impact moments. One 30-minute tutorial or one hour podcast can become multiple YouTube Shorts, each attracting new viewers and reminding your existing audience why they subscribed.

To clip a YouTube video, you can use YouTube’s native 

 feature or a YouTube video clip cutter like 

. The biggest advantage of clipping is that you don’t need to start from scratch. It’s far easier than creating brand-new videos, and with a tool like vidIQ’s, even the editing is automated. Just upload your video and let AI instantly transform your YouTube long video to short video clips that are ready to share.

infographic showing the process of clipping a YouTube video: upload long video, AI scans highlights, short clips generated, and shared as YouTube Shorts.

Clipped videos aren’t just a time-saver, they’re a growth tool. Here’s where they shine:

: Put fresh content in their feed without starting from scratch.

: Shorts get pushed to a wider audience which is perfect for getting in front of people who haven’t found your long videos yet.

: Pull out the funniest line, the most jaw-dropping fact, or the moment the big reveal happens.

: Post those clips on Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn to hit audiences outside YouTube.

Not all long videos make great clips. When deciding which content to turn from a YouTube long video to short video, focus on formats that naturally break into high-impact moments that make sense on their own.

Step-by-step content works well for clipping because each tip, step, or demonstration can stand alone. A 20-minute “How to Grow Tomatoes” guide might yield individual clips for “Choosing the Right Soil,” “Watering Tips,” and “Preventing Pests.” Each one delivers quick value and can link back to the full tutorial.

These are rich sources for bite-sized content. Pull the most thought-provoking questions, surprising reactions, or memorable quotes. A single guest appearance can give you a week of Shorts that tease viewers into watching the full conversation.

Highlight the biggest moments such as a keynote speaker’s one-liner, the most exciting part of a performance, or behind-the-scenes footage. These clips give viewers a taste of the event’s energy and can drive them to explore your longer recap.

Showcase one feature, reaction, or problem solved at a time. Instead of watching a 15-minute review, a viewer might click on a 30-second clip showing “How This Camera Handles Low Light” and then decide to check out the full review.

Live sessions often contain valuable, unscripted moments that can be clipped into short, engaging videos. This might include Q&A segments, funny interactions, or key announcements that deserve a second life outside the full stream.

Educational talks are perfect for pulling out single insights, statistics, or action steps. These shorter clips work well for reminding viewers of the value in attending the full presentation or watching the replay.

If your long-form video is structured as a list or countdown, each item can stand on its own as a quick, satisfying short. For example, “Top 5 Editing Hacks” can become five separate Shorts that each highlight one hack.

If you already have a library of long videos, you are sitting on weeks or even months of short-form content waiting to be repurposed.

man holding a smartphone, symbolizing mobile-first video engagement.

Should You Clip YouTube Videos from Other Creators?

 clip other creators’ videos on YouTube using the platform’s built-in Clip feature, but that’s different from downloading their content or re-uploading it, which can violate copyright.

For growth, the safest (and smartest) play is to 

. That way you own the rights, control the narrative, and build your channel’s library.

From YouTube Long Video to Short Video in Seconds

Repurposing content can be a time-consuming process, but 

 removes nearly all of the manual work. It’s the fastest way to create Shorts from YouTube video content you’ve already published. Here’s how it works from start to finish:

Choose any video you’ve already published or recorded. This could be a tutorial, livestream, interview, or any format with strong moments worth highlighting.

Let AI scan it for the most engaging moments: 

The tool uses AI to analyze your content for sections with high engagement potential. It looks for natural hooks, memorable lines, and visually interesting segments that will translate well into short form.

In just a few minutes, you’ll have a batch of polished clips sized perfectly for YouTube Shorts, TikTok, Instagram Reels, or other vertical platforms.

Traditionally, turning a YouTube long video to short video format required watching the full recording, marking timestamps, manually cutting footage, and reformatting it for vertical platforms. This process could take hours for a single clip. Clipping a YouTube video with vidIQ’s 

No manual searching. No guesswork. Just high-impact, shareable content pulled straight from your existing videos so you can spend more time creating and less time editing.

Log in to vidIQ and clip your YouTube videos into shareable Shorts instantly.

illustration of a long horizontal YouTube video being sliced into multiple smaller vertical YouTube Shorts stacked like a feed.

Clip YouTube videos into short, shareable clips to grow your channel faster with less effort.

Clip YouTube Videos: From Long Video to Short Video

Have you ever watched a YouTube video and wanted to share a specific moment without making someone scrub through the entire thing? Maybe you found an epic joke, a crucial tutorial step, or an embarrassing livestream fail—whatever it is, YouTube timestamps let you jump straight to that moment.

A well-placed timestamp doesn't just save time—it creates a better viewing experience for everyone involved. In this guide, we'll show you how to create YouTube timestamp links using different methods, including video descriptions, URLs, and comments. By the end, you'll be able to direct people to an exact second in a video like a pro!

A video timestamp is like a digital bookmark that pinpoints an exact time in a video. Clicking on it skips straight to that moment, making it easier for viewers to find what they're looking for.

 Skip the fluff and jump to the good part.


 Viewers are more likely to stay when they find what they need fast.


YouTube uses timestamps to create video chapters, which can improve rankings in search results.


 No need to tell your friend, "Go to 3 minutes and 45 seconds." Just send a clickable link!

Before we dive into the "how-to," let’s break down the three main types of timestamps on YouTube:

Clickable timestamps added to a video’s description.

Time markers placed in the comment section, turning them into clickable links.

Modifying a YouTube link to start at a specific time.

Each of these has its own uses, methods of implementation, and limitations. Since the entire point is to make a simpler viewing journey for the audience, all of these ways have their own place. Let us talk about them in detail below.

How to Add Timestamps in a YouTube Video Description

Adding timestamps to your video’s description helps organize content into chapters, making it easier for viewers to find what they need.

Watch your video and note down important timestamps where key sections start. Example:

YouTube recognizes timestamps only if they follow a specific format, which is

the MM:SS format, where minutes are denoted by 'M' and seconds by 'S.' In case the video exceeds an hour of runtime, then the correct format would become HH:MM:SS, where 'H' stands for the hours.

You must also put the timestamp first, followed by a short description, that best explains the content of the chapter.

Each timestamp must be on a new, separate line.

Step 3: Add Timestamps to the Description

Open YouTube Studio and select your video.

selecting video from vidIQ YouTube studio

Click Edit and scroll to the Description box.

Adding video chapters in YouTube video description box

On completing these steps, your video will be divided into chapters that can make viewing more precise for the audience and they can skip to the parts they find the most interesting. Here’s how chapters appear under your video description.

To enable YouTube chapters (which show up in the video’s progress bar of the video), make sure:

Each segment is at least 10 seconds long.

YouTube Video Descriptions: How to Write Them Better In 2025

How to Link to a Specific Time on YouTube (Timestamp Links)

Need to share a YouTube link that starts at a specific time? There are three ways to do this:

Method 1: Use YouTube’s Built-in Share Feature

Like most other features, YouTube has an inbuilt method to share timestamped videos from the website/app itself. Here's what you need to do:

Open the YouTube video and pause it at the desired time.

Check the box that says “Start at” – YouTube will auto-fill the time.

(Here, ?t=120 tells YouTube to start the video at 120 seconds or 2 minutes in).

Method 2: Manually Add a Timestamp to a URL

You can also create a timestamp link manually by adding 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abcdefghijk&t=120

Start at 1 hour, 30 minutes (or 5400 seconds):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abcdefghijk&t=5400

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abcdefghijk&t=2m30s

How to Add Timestamps in YouTube Comments

Comments are where the heart of the viewers lies. They show you the impact of a video and its creator almost instantly, without even referring to the analytics.

Want to highlight a moment in the comments? Just type the timecode and post it!

This is best used for engaging with viewers, referencing funny moments, or marking applicable sections in a long video.

6 Golden Rules for Responding to YouTube Comments

1. Embedding a YouTube Video with a Timestamp

To embed a YouTube video on your website or other platforms with a specific timestamp link, you can do the following:

Check the “Start at” box and enter the time.

This will start the embedded video at 2 minutes and 12 seconds.

If you want to guide viewers through a series of timestamps in different videos, you can create a timestamp playlist!

Generate timestamp links for different moments.

Paste them in order in a post, email, or blog.

Viewers can click through them like a curated playlist!

Playlists made with timestamped videos are the best way to answer really specific queries. For tutorials and educational videos, these playlists can become really valuable resources.

We’ve talked about the many ways to create and utilize YouTube timestamps, but there are a few things to keep in mind about this feature.

Accuracy matters when creating timestamps. Find the exact moment you want to highlight rather than approximating.

Make your timestamp descriptions clear and concise. A good description gives viewers a reason to click

Arrange your timestamps in a way that tells a story or creates a logical progression through the content.

 If necessary, update your timestamps to reflect the new timing if you edit your video after publishing.

Don't overdo it with timestamps—highlight only the most important or valuable moments. Having too many timestamps can be overwhelming and counterproductive.

YouTube timestamps are extremely useful for both content creators and viewers. They can ease the viewing experience by making videos more navigable and shareable. So, it doesn’t matter which stand of the field you’re from, understanding how to effectively use timestamps can significantly improve your YouTube experience.

Find out how to create a YouTube timestamp link to specific video moments using share options, URL edits, and timestamps in descriptions.

How to Make a YouTube Timestamp Link (Step-by-Step Guide)

​Have you ever uploaded a video only to find out that there was a glitched frame that ruined the viewing experience for some people or missed an important frame while watching a video and wanted to inspect that particular part? Well, you can do it in multiple ways!

Navigating through a video on YouTube frame by frame can be invaluable for content creators, educators, and viewers aiming to capture precise moments or analyze specific details. Here, we shall delve into the significance of YouTube frame-by-frame viewing and how to go about it.

30 YouTube Keyboard Shortcuts to Save Yourself Some Time

Before we get further into it, we must understand what a frame is with context to video content. We know that a sequence of images that, when played rapidly in succession, creates the illusion of motion. A “frame” in this context means a single unit from that sequence, or in other words, a single still image from the series of images.

Like many other features, YouTube offers built-in functionalities and supports external tools to assist users in viewing content frame by frame. Several hotkeys enhance the viewing experience, and some are also useful for creators during their workflow. Let's talk about them below.

YouTube's native player incorporates keyboard shortcuts for precise navigation: 

This method is effective on desktop browsers but may not function on mobile devices or certain smart TVs.

GIF explaining frame by frame YouTube viewing

In the GIF above you can see YouTube frame-by-frame viewing in action. First, we are going forward in the frames and then backwards using the "." (period) and ","(comma) key respectively as stated above.

YouTube’s video player can also be used to change the playback speed of the video you’re watching. By clicking on the settings icon at the bottom of the player, you can access different playback speed options.

Playback speed on YouTube video player settings tab

 to select the slowest possible speed on the player.

While not purely a frame-by-frame inspection, playing the video at the lowest speed will help you find most of the discrepancies and nitty-gritties of your queries.

Outside the player itself, you can use other options to watch videos frame by frame on YouTube. These could be browser extensions or third-party websites and apps. Here’s how they work:

For enhanced control, several browser extensions facilitate frame-by-frame navigation, amongst other customization options.

Use the provided controls to adjust playback speed or navigate frames.

Certain this-party websites allow users to input a YouTube URL and control playback on a frame-by-frame basis.

Use the provided controls to navigate through frames.

For offline viewing, VLC Media Player supports frame-by-frame playback:

Press the 'E' key to advance one frame at a time.

Note: VLC allows forward frame navigation but does not support backward frame navigation.

Each frame of a video captures a distinct moment in time, and examining these frames individually offers several benefits,

 For professionals like video editors or animators, scrutinizing each frame ensures precision in edits and animations. They can ensure there are no unwanted artifacts or errors in specific frames.​

Educators can dissect complex processes or events frame by frame, facilitating better student understanding.​

 Creators can extract high-quality stills for thumbnails or promotional materials.​ Time-lapse style videos can use frame by frame concepts effectively for both creators and viewers.

Viewers can catch Easter eggs and hidden details or analyze fast-paced scenes in movies or sports.​ Reviewers or critics have a great use here, enhancing their critiques or reviews.

Whether for professional purposes or personal enjoyment, the ability to scrutinize each frame offers a unique perspective. By applying the methods above, you will be able to watch a video on YouTube frame-by-frame. So, get a closer look and 

Curved blank filmstrip strip with empty frames on white background, media and video concept.

YouTube frame by frame viewing experience helps you scrutinize content better and extract detailed information easily. Read how it is done here!

What is YouTube Frame by Frame Viewing

For many years, YouTube has been guilty of not fully explaining how and why demonetization due to restricted ads actually happened. Well, creators, your cries have been answered!

 25 YouTube Updates that Will Affect Your Channel in 2025

Restricted ads notification on YouTube studio

YouTube has recently launched a monetization feature that will not only help you avoid that dreaded yellow icon for your videos but also give insights on tour past videos and mistakes that caused your content to get demonetized. And who better than our expert Rob Wilson to explain all of that to you! Click on the link below.

Only for those using the desktop upload process.

Creators must honestly self-certify their videos during the upload process.

Creators can appeal if a video receives a yellow icon indicating restricted ads. A human expert will review the video based on the following factors. Let us can learn how you appeal for the removal of these yellow icons--here is what is required:

The review will detail which guidelines were breached.

Specifics on how the breach affects ad placement.

Identifies the exact moment the issue occurred in the video.

 Includes details if the issue was with the thumbnail or title.

Given that this process is fairly new and still pending results, there are some limitations that we have to accept. The intention is for creators to learn and avoid future mistakes and not abuse the process. So, creators need to request a review to get this detailed report--there isn't an automatic alternative yet.

While you can still look at past mistakes, you cannot retroactively change them by just editing out the contentious part. However, YouTube may consider re-reviewing content in the future.

But all in all, it's a huge step taken in favor of creators moving forward!

, YouTube has taken a more hands-on approach with ad placements on your videos. Instead of allowing you to select the ads you want to show, such as pre-rolls, post-rolls, skippable, or non-skippable, YouTube makes those decisions for you. Not only that, but YouTube also decides 

This means you don't have to manually insert video ads anymore; YouTube will place them along the best possible timestamps, effectively doing the hard work for you. But why is this happening? 

 while ensuring that creators make the most money possible. It’s a win-win because creators will spend less time placing ads and (potentially) earn more ad revenue overall. But more on that later!

In their most recent revision of the ads monetization system, YouTube is updating its mid-roll ad system, making significant changes that impact both creators and viewers. By May 12, 2025, YouTube will start placing 

 at natural breakpoints while reducing interruptions during key moments in videos. 

Creators can still manually place ads, but YouTube will automatically add more mid-roll ads where deemed necessary. YouTube's AI will also give you feedback on your ads if they are placed manually.

In the video above, Rob covers all of this and more. Note that any video uploaded before February 24th, 2025, with only manual ad placement can now have automatic mid-roll ads. This heavy inclusion comes with the backing of a 

 on the platform for channels using both automatic and manual ads. Viewers, on the other hand, may need to brace for an influx of mid-roll ads, potentially leading to increased 

, there are updates in that arena as well. Creators can choose to let YouTube determine the optimal times for mid-roll ads during streams or set regular intervals, such as every 6, 8, or 10 minutes. However, if you're using third-party streaming tools be aware that they might not support these new ad features (yet).

While these changes may not impact you as a creator right now, it's good to understand them as you navigate YouTube, along with the new ad settings, and the monetization goals you’ve set for your channel.

And, speaking of monetization, are you looking for ways to boost your YouTube AdSense revenue? This guide will show you how!

Smartphone showing YouTube app surrounded by hundred-dollar bills, symbolizing earnings

Calling all monetized creators! Learn all the recent ads updates coming directly from the YouTube office.

YouTube Monetization Update: Key Changes for Video Ads

 YouTube video for your channel? When you factor in all of the necessary tasks — finding a good idea, scripting, filming, editing, coming up with titles, designing a thumbnail — how do the hours stack up? Do you spend 10, 20, or more?

Whatever your number is, you can slash it in half with YouTube automation. This time-saving hack allows you to outsource parts of the creative process so everything doesn’t fall on your shoulders. 

No time to create a thumbnail? No problem. Don’t want to spend hours writing a YouTube script? Consider it handled!

Looking for ways to automate your YouTube channel? These AI-powered tools will write titles, thumbnails, descriptions, and video scripts in seconds.

Your In-Depth Guide to Building a Successful YouTube Channel

Clip YouTube Videos: From Long Video to Short Video

How to Make a YouTube Timestamp Link (Step-by-Step Guide)

What is YouTube Frame by Frame Viewing

YouTube Monetization Update: Key Changes for Video Ads

YouTube Automation: Get AI-Powered Titles, Thumbnails, Descriptions, and Vide...

The Rise of YouTube on TV

YouTube Communities: Connect with Creators

Understanding YouTube Average View Duration

How To Make a Viewer Avatar for YouTube

Why New Creators are Being Pushed by YouTube in 2025

The Free Subscribers Formula: Why Malpractices Harm Your Channel

Outdoor Boys: Turning Passion into a Global Phenomenon

YouTube Shorts Monetization: How to Profit from Short Videos