In addition to being an avid movie and gaming enthusiast, Uttaran Samaddar is an experienced writer who has lent his creativity and unique perspective to various publications. He loves hearing and telling stories.
YouTube's 'Suggested Videos' Algorithm: How to Crack It
Any creator who is familiar with the YouTube algorithm has one primary goal: to get their videos recommended to more people. They want YouTube to (finally) notice their content, identify the subject matter, and suggest it to thousands of like-minded viewers.
Sound familiar?
Your best plan of action, especially as a small creator, is to understand how YouTube recommends videos. You'll want to figure out why the algorithm promotes some content and, well...basically ignores others.
In truth, it's not that the algorithm doesn't favor you or is biased against your channel. YouTube doesn't hate small creators. It just doesn't know whom to recommend you to yet. In this blog, we'll learn how to fix that.
YouTube Recommendations Are Based on Viewer Behavior
Here's the first mindshift you need to make:
Every single video you upload is treated as a new test. YouTube doesn't care if you have 5 subscribers or 5 million. What it cares about is whether people are clicking on your video, sticking around to watch it, and coming back for more.
So even if your last 10 videos flopped, the next one still gets a shot. That's actually good news for small creators. But to pass the test, you've got to send YouTube the right signals about your content and your audience.

When someone watches your video and has a positive experience, YouTube starts looking for other people with similar viewing patterns and interests. The more positive signals you generate, the wider your reach becomes. This is why you'll sometimes see a small channel with 100 subscribers get a video that hits 50,000 views seemingly overnight.
YouTube’s 3-Tiered Recommendation System
Think of YouTube’s recommendation process like leveling up in a game. Every video is tested in a sequence of audiences:
- Core Audience
Your subscribers and repeat viewers. This is your home base. If they enjoy the video, it moves to the next stage.
- Secondary Audience
People in your niche who watch similar videos—maybe they follow your competitors or recently searched for the topic.
- Broad Audience
Complete strangers. If your video performs well in the first two groups, it “graduates” here and has a shot at virality.
The beauty of this system is that it rewards creators who truly serve their audience, not just those who game the algorithm. When you consistently deliver value to your core viewers, YouTube becomes more confident in recommending you to similar people.
Failing to Define Niche
Small creators often treat their channel like a digital diary. One day it's gaming, the next it's cooking, then it's a vlog with your dog. Creative freedom is great, but to the algorithm, it's pretty confusing.
Spoiler: If you make content for everyone, YouTube won't know who to recommend you to.
Think about it from YouTube's perspective. The platform serves billions of hours of content every day. Its job is to keep people watching by showing them exactly what they want to see. When your channel jumps between wildly different topics, YouTube can't build a clear picture of who your ideal viewer is.
This doesn't mean you can never evolve or try new things, but especially in your first 50-100 videos, consistency is your best friend.
Fix: Get Clear on Your Channel Identity
- Focus on one topic (at least for your first 50 videos)
- Know exactly who your audience is (age, interests, problems they face)
- Keep your thumbnails and titles visually consistent
- Develop a recognizable content format or style
You're not just building videos. You're building a brand that YouTube can confidently recommend to the right people.
Increase Your Watch Time
The biggest point of affirmation for the algorithm to determine whether your videos can be recommended or not is watch time. And the best way to do that is to improve the session time of your audience.

If someone watches your video and then watches another video (yours or someone else's), YouTube rewards you. If your video ends their session (they close the app or tab), that's a negative signal to YouTube recommendations. That's called session time.
Read more: 5 Ways to Increase YouTube Watch Time on Any Video
Session time is arguably more important than individual video performance because it shows YouTube that your content fits into the broader viewing experience people want.
When viewers stay on the platform after watching your video, you're contributing to YouTube's core business model. Here's how you can improve your session time:
- Use end screens with related videos
- Build playlists that autoplay
- Reference your other videos inside your current one
- Use verbal handoffs: "Next, watch this…"
- Create content series that naturally lead into each other
Use the "Hook – Hold – Handoff" Framework
This framework is used by some of the fastest-growing creators on YouTube. It's how you keep people watching—and signal to YouTube that your content is binge-worthy.
Hook
Grab attention in the first 5–10 seconds.
Example: "I cooked gourmet food for the most dangerous animals on Earth..."
The hook isn't just about being loud or shocking. It's about immediately communicating the value and intrigue of your video. Your hook should make viewers think: "I need to see how this plays out."
Hold
Escalate the value or tension.
Progressive revelations, bigger stakes, deeper insights—whatever your video promises, you need to deliver it in a way that builds momentum rather than plateaus.
This is where pacing becomes crucial. Plan your content like a story with rising action. Each segment should feel more valuable or interesting than the last.
Handoff
Don't just end. Tease what's next.
Example: "If you liked this one, just wait till you see what I did next…"
The result? Binge behavior. And binge behavior is the algorithm's rocket fuel.
Simplify Titles and Thumbnails
A lot of small creators kill their videos with bad titles that are vague, boring, and generic.
Good titles have:
- Specificity: Who is it for? What's the result?
- Outcome: What will I gain from watching?
- Urgency: Why should I click now?
Your title is competing with hundreds of other videos for attention. Generic titles get ignored because they don't create any emotional investment. Specific titles with clear benefits cut through the noise.
Consider the psychology of your viewer when they're scrolling. They're asking themselves: "Is this worth my time?" Your title needs to answer that question with a clear "yes" and a compelling reason why.

In case of thumbnails, make sure to focus on clarity. If your thumbnails look like a chaotic Canva explosion... It's time to clean up.
Good thumbnails have:
- One focal point (usually your face or the main subject)
- Bold, easy-to-read text (if any)
- Expression that matches the video's emotion
- Clean backgrounds (avoid clutter)
- High contrast colors that pop on mobile
You get 2 seconds on the homepage. Make them count. Your thumbnail needs to generate curiosity and be readable at the size of a postage stamp. If you can't tell what your thumbnail is about when it's tiny, neither can your potential viewers.
Read More: How To Create Scroll-Stopping YouTube Thumbnails Faster with AI
Deliver on the Promise
Here's a fatal mistake a lot of creators make: You have an awesome title and a killer thumbnail… but your video intro is a snooze fest.
If you open with:
"Hey guys, welcome back to the channel! So glad you're here…"
…you've already lost half your audience. Instead, do this:
- Reinforce the promise of the video immediately
- Deliver value in the first 10 seconds
- Hook with tension or transformation
Pro Tip: Use the title phrase inside your hook.
If the title is "How YouTube Deleted My Channel," say it right away in the video: "Three days ago, YouTube deleted my channel, and here's exactly what happened…"
The first 15 seconds of your video are crucial for YouTube recommendations. This is where the algorithm decides whether your content is engaging enough to show to more people. A slow start signals that viewers might click away, which hurts your recommendation potential.
Speak Your Keywords (Literally)
This one's sneaky. YouTube transcribes your entire video. Every word.
So, if your video is about YouTube recommendations but you never actually say "YouTube recommendations," the algorithm may not be confident in what your video is about.
- Say your main keyword early and naturally
- Repeat it a few times in context
- Use related phrases ("YouTube algorithm," "getting recommended," etc.)
Think of your script like SEO — but for ears.
YouTube's automatic captions and transcription feed directly into their understanding of your content. This semantic understanding helps the algorithm match your video with relevant searches and recommend it alongside similar content.
Don't stuff keywords awkwardly, but make sure you're naturally using the language your audience uses when searching for your type of content.
Timing and Context Boost Recommendations
YouTube favors videos that are relevant right now. This is called recency bias. Your chances of getting recommended skyrocket if you time your video with:
- A trending show or movie release
- A viral challenge or meme
- A game update or launch
- A seasonal shift or holiday
- Breaking news in your niche
You don't need to chase every trend. Just keep one eye on what your audience is already curious about. The key is finding the intersection between trending topics and your expertise or channel focus.
Contextual relevance is powerful because it taps into existing viewer interest and search volume. When you can connect your unique perspective to something people are already talking about, you're much more likely to surface in YouTube recommendations.
Aim for Viewer Satisfaction
A satisfied viewer is a happy viewer, and the algorithm knows this. So, to get your video recommended on YouTube, you need lots of engagement from your audience. After all, YouTube is looking at likes, dislikes, share rates, and survey responses when deciding which videos to suggest.
It never hurts to ask viewers to "like" and "share" your videos with a sincere call-to-action. But beyond that, how do you make satisfying content that people naturally engage with?

You want people to view your content as life-changing, sensational, inspiring, and other feel-good descriptors. That way, they will feel moved to give you a like or share your video.
You can start by mastering the art of YouTube storytelling. Making viewers laugh or cry is an underrated way to create a suggested video on YouTube!
Armed with this knowledge, you can answer the biggest question of all.
"Why is YouTube not suggesting my videos?"
But in case you still have some doubts, let Rob clear them up for you!