One of the great, eternal mysteries of the internet is the YouTube algorithm. 

 of the content consumed on YouTube comes directly from recommendations, so it’s easy to understand why creators and marketers are obsessed with figuring it out.

Although nobody (not even YouTube themselves) has a full understanding of how it works, certain factors do influence it more than others. But to understand the algorithm, we must start from the beginning.

How to Grow Your YouTube Channel in 2023: The Ultimate Guide

In the beginning, there was no algorithm. It was all about gaining credibility as a platform for YouTube. Since everything revolved around views, YouTube’s first algorithm strove to recommend videos that attracted the most clicks. The more people clicked on a video, the more it would appear for others to click on, too. Soon, malpractices around using tags became common, and YouTube stepped in.

YouTube changed its algorithm in favor of video watch time

 because they thought time viewed was the true test of quality. But, soon enough, creators found loopholes like view-botting their content or making long videos with no value. This led the algorithm to change again around 2015-16.

Through surveys, YouTube collected data from users to understand what kind of videos “satisfy” them the most, and with their 

sophisticated AI developed the recommendation system

. As a result, YouTube began to suggest videos that each individual viewer would be more likely to watch, rather than videos that other people were viewing. And the outcomes—well, they were really excellent! So much so, that YouTube hasn’t announced major changes to the algorithm since.

In 2024, the YouTube algorithm makes personalized suggestions to each viewer. These suggestions are weighted according to the performance and quality of the videos, as well as viewer interest and behavior.

For the algorithm to recommend videos to a user, there are two steps involved. First, it rates videos based on their performance analytics. Then, it matches videos to users based on past viewing habits and comparable material. Matching people with the content they want to watch is the objective.

You can see recommendations from the algorithm in 3 main areas of YouTube:

How is it that YouTube already knows what you want to watch from the moment you’re on the website? That’s because your homepage is curated just for you!

Showing high engagement (watch time, likes, comments, etc.)

That’s why, as a creator, it’s so important to get people watching your videos so your channel is always in their watch history. Then you can find ways to keep them watching longer and engaging more frequently.

Depending on someone’s viewing habits, they may also see videos related to their location, language, or other demographics.

These are the videos recommended alongside the video you’re already watching, on the right side of your screen. The YouTube algorithm takes into account a number of variables, including your topic of interest, liked channels, and your watch history, to provide a customized list of videos for the recommended area.

In a nutshell, the algorithm compiles a list of videos that you could find interesting and relevant by analyzing your behavior on the website.

So how do you persuade YouTube to suggest your videos to more viewers? Start by observing the “suggested” column next to your competitors’ content. If YouTube is recommending specific videos there, try filming your own version of that content so you can get recommended too!

How does YouTube decide which videos should go on a search page? Based on user behavior and keywords, the system narrows down the enormous video library to a limited number and then ranks them according to engagement metrics and relevancy. YouTube makes sure that users get the greatest search results by balancing relevancy and popularity.

Of course, YouTube keywords are important here. However, because the system takes into account personalized signals, each user's search results may vary significantly.

Videos with better engagement metrics and potential, such as views, shares, likes, and comments, are given priority in search results, but YouTube also makes sure that fresh content from new channels isn't unfairly eclipsed by popular YouTubers. The platform adds a certain amount of randomization and can show diverse results that are still relevant to the search query.

The main goal of YouTube’s algorithm is to keep viewers on the website for as long as possible, so be sure to optimize your content for this crucial area of the platform.

It’s safe to say the YouTube algorithm won’t be changing its core function in the future. But, in recent interviews, Todd Beaupre, Director of Growth and Discovery at YouTube, said while there are still problems to solve in YouTube’s search and discovery algorithms, it is not working against you. Our in-house expert Rob jumped right into it and gave some more insights into the nature of the algorithm. Watch his analysis below:

The way to look at the YouTube algorithm looking forward is in a way that focuses beyond one metric. Many aspects now influence the impact of your video, as opposed to earlier days. For example, traditionally we would associate the packaging of a video with the title and thumbnail but now, particularly for mobile users, the first 10 seconds of your video, which is called a visual hook, is equally important.

Just like that, multiple variables affect your video. So, if something is off, it does not necessarily mean that YouTube is no longer interested in pushing your videos out. Sometimes metrics can be misleading because they are part of a much bigger picture, and it's important to recognize that as creators.

Remember, the algorithm’s job is to provide the perfect content to each viewer, without creator or content bias. So, stop making videos for the algorithm! Instead, aim to satisfy that one viewer, and you’ve got the algorithm playing for your team! 

Unlock the mystery of the YouTube Algorithm with our in-depth guide. Dive into its evolution and learn how the algorithm personalizes home page curation, suggests relevant videos, and more.

Understanding the YouTube Algorithm in 2024

How do you get more views on your YouTube videos? Well, you publish them at the right time for your audience and it just so happens that both YouTube and VidIQ have tools that can help you with that.

First, let’s start with the new YouTube feature that will let you know the best times to publish your video content. To access this tool:

Click on your YouTube profile image in the top right-hand corner of any desktop screen

From the Studio dashboard screen, click on the ‘Analytics’ link from the left-hand navigation bar

From the main analytics screen, click on the ‘Audience’ tab at the top

On this dashboard, you'll see a new module labeled ‘

’. Now, to be clear, this isn't specifically about your viewers watching just your content. It's when viewers who watch your content are on YouTube watching any video.

Think of it like this. There may be somebody at home, sat on a sofa, watching Friends because they're a huge fan of sitcoms. Chances are, they're probably going to also enjoy The Big Bang Theory, so programming logic suggests that The Big Bang Theory should come on straight after Friends.

If you know when your audience is on YouTube you can schedule your videos to be published at that time.

In this visual representation, the deeper the color shade, the higher volume of viewers there are. For example, many of our viewers are on YouTube at 8:00 a.m. Pacific Time Wednesday mornings while fewer viewers are online at 8:00 p.m. on a Friday evening.

Best Time to Publish to YouTube: Exclusive vidIQ Data

That’s YouTube's new ‘best time to post’ feature, but we’ve had very similar data in the 

To access it, click on ‘Videos’ in the left-hand navigation bar in YouTube Studio. Next, click on the ‘edit’ details page for any video (the little pencil symbol). Scroll down a little, and on the right-hand side of this new screen, you will see this ‘Best Time to Post’ tool from vidIQ.

This tool will show you when your audience is most active on YouTube, giving you three-hour windows for when you may want to publish your content. You can click through all the days of the week and see an overall weekly view too, like the one above.

vidIQ is able to provide this data by analyzing your subscriber activity. To see this in action, just click the VidIQ extension button in your browser to activate the drop-down menu, then click on ‘Subscriber Insights.’

The link will take you to a brand new dashboard. It will show you the other channels your subscribers are subscribing to, and which videos they really enjoy watching. Since we know subscribers tend to watch your content for longer, this can be a more reliable data source, albeit from a smaller sample size.

The logic is fairly straightforward. You set up your hotdog stand at lunchtime outside the office because people are hungry. You don't go there at 3:00 a.m. in the morning because there's gonna be no one there to buy your hotdogs. When you know there are more people online who enjoy your content, that's when you should publish it with a few little things to consider:

Firstly, YouTube state themselves that the publish time is not known to directly affect the long-term performance of videos and this can certainly be true of search-based content that needs time to establish itself before momentum really starts to kick in. I wouldn't be surprised if this very video follows a similar trajectory.

Secondly, depending on the content, sometimes YouTube and your audience are not going to wait for your best time to post. For example, if Apple announced their latest iPhone or Marvel released a trailer for their latest Avenger movie at 4:00 p.m. on a Monday, are you going to wait until 7:00 a.m. the following day to add your voice to the conversation? Chances are, the YouTube audience has already got its fill from an alternative source by then.

Also, consider exactly when you publish your video because you might want to miss the on-the-hour and half-hour peak times. At the top and bottom of every hour, loads of creators publish their videos and loads of notifications get sent out to subscribers. Do you want to compete with these or publish your content a few minutes before or after these peak spikes of traffic?

Also, treat your videos a little like stocks. You don't want to invest when their value is at its peak because there's only one direction that can go. You want to get involved when the velocity is starting to ramp up. So if your potential audience's peak time on YouTube is noon then maybe you want to publish your video at 9, 10, or 11:00 a.m.

Finally, when you upload your video to YouTube, remember that it takes time to prepare it and process it. You've got titles, descriptions, tags, thumbnails, end cards, info cards, all of that stuff to consider, and if it's a 4K video, you want it to look the best it can do when people first watch it. So give yourself one or two hours before you actually unleash it on your audience.

 then make sure to download vidIQ. Over 1 million creators use vidIQ to help with keyword and competitor research, channel audits, and so much more. 

If you’re serious about growing your YouTube views and subscribers, sign up for exclusive access to the 

. Learn how to launch a successful YouTube Channel in just 30 days.

graphic showing YouTube logo with a clock and calendar

Finding out the best time to publish a video to YouTube is a neat trick. We show you two ways to uncover these insights.

How to Find Out the Best Time to Publish a Video on YouTube

It’s no secret that great titles make great videos. In the universe of content on YouTube, captivating titles make your videos stand out from the crowd and draw viewers in, compelling them to click. While most of us might believe that thumbnails weigh much more than titles in lifting the performance of a video, it might not always be the case.

This is exactly what our residential YouTube expert Rob Wilson discussed with another YouTube expert, Jake Thomas, who has helped many creators improve their title games and bring in positive results. With the help of their discussion, we have managed to compile 10 types of YouTube titles that have proven to be very effective over the years and have a positive impact on your click-through rate. Let’s dive right into it!

11 Ways to Write Exciting YouTube Titles for Your Videos

This kind of title plays on contrast and curiosity, making the viewer feel like they are privy to some kind of information that others might not be. The information that the viewer can potentially find through the video seems too lucrative to miss out on.

Example: "The BEST R6 Attacker NOBODY Plays"

“First, there is contrast between best R6 attacker and nobody plays. It’s kinda counter intuitive, why is nobody playing it if it is the best? Also, it’s a cliffhanger. Who is this R6 attacker? So, you’ve gotta click and find out,” Jake says.

Don’t you love it when you come across a video from a creator showing how you can achieve a given goal within a certain period? Timeframes offer a tangible lens through which viewers can gauge the content, making the challenge or experiment feel attainable and relatable.


Example: "We Ran Every Day For 30 Days, Here's What Happened"

To make a claim or establish an opinion, you need to back it up with credible sources. And nothing beats a good source than an authoritative voice whom you could call an “insider.”


Example: "Ex-Employee Warns Us About Taco Bell's Meat"


What helps this title perform is the fact that people have a general suspicion toward the topic in question already, so it is always important to remember the amount of interest viewers might have while considering these types of titles.

As bad as it might sound to some of you, negativity does bring with it a healthy dose of attention. It is nothing new in the content world and creators have been using it since the very beginning. Focusing on drama and negativity, such as devastating losses, capitalizes on viewers’ love and interest for epic narratives.

Example: "Top 10 Most Devastating Wild Card Losses of All-Time"

“People on YouTube love drama! And then you have got the fact that it is really epic and extreme. It’s extremes because it is the most devastating losses,” says Jake.

Nobody wants to make the same mistakes people made before them. And what’s better than someone telling you what to avoid and how? The fear of regret can be one of the most powerful motivators for many people and curating content around that can bring you much success!


Example: "I wished I knew these BEFORE I upgraded to Windows 11!"

One of the best ways to inspire people is by showing them instead of instructing them. Sharing your accomplishments and documenting the journey can help you make impactful content that can actually change people’s lives for the better.


Videos like these can motivate viewers to aspire for the same and change their lives for the better. This is where the value of your content pays off!

The good, old, reliable strategy that seems to work most of the time–simply answer the questions your viewers want answered. Sometimes it’s all about the phrasing. If you can put a creative spin on an inquiry that is already popular, people might flock to it.


Example: "What Happens If You Jump Rope for 30 Minutes Every Day?"


It’s all about finding a new perspective to the same old queries. By posing a question, the title creates a narrative cliffhanger that viewers feel compelled to resolve by watching.

Whenever you’re in doubt, you can always fall back on being relatable to your audience. At the end of the day, people want to be heard and seen. If you can consistently and reliably address the pain points of your audience, you have yourself a solid content strategy. 
Titles that suggest everyday accessibility and relatability increase the likelihood of viewers clicking, and believing the content is directly applicable to them.


Example: "Five Dog Training Exercises You Should Do Every Day At Home"

As the culture of YouTube becomes more vast, certain words tend to attract more attention than others. Using terms like “best”, “worst”, or, “viral” taps into the desires and language of the YouTube community, instantly attracting attention. But, with that comes heavy competition for these keywords, which can make life a lot more difficult.


Example: "Testing Viral Minecraft Hacks That 100% Work"

 can help you massively with this problem. The tool analyzes monthly search volume, competitiveness, related terms, and additional questions people ask.
Read More: 

How to Find YouTube Keywords that Grow Your Channel

What if you could propose an idea that sounds preposterous and actually delivered on it? Well, if nothing else, you’d sure have tons of happy viewers! Offering to deliver on a promise adds an element of sensationalism and intrigue, promising viewers insight into highly coveted knowledge.

Example: "1000 Days of Coding in 10 Minutes ( Self-Taught Developer Journey )"

Irrespective of the niche these examples are used from, the cool thing about understanding this concept is realizing that it can be applied all across YouTube. That’s the skill that would help you utilize those 100 characters to the fullest. The best titles are short and sweet and if used correctly can change the YouTube content creation game for you.

The other important factor that drives clicks to your videos, as mentioned earlier, is thumbnails. 

Learn how to make thumbnails that work for you right here!

Certain types of titles seem to have greater success than others on YouTube. Find out what they are!

10 Types of YouTube Titles That Go Insanely Viral

On YouTube, there is nothing better than getting feedback from your viewers, especially when the insights make your content better. Sometimes, the best way to get this information is by 

 on the YouTube Community Tab. It's a fantastic way to spark new conversations, address real pain points, and introduce ideas that grow your channel.

 is about making your life better as a content creator. Through our polls, we try to understand your problems holistically and share tips and tools to fuel your success.

 all kinds of questions in 2023. You gave us thousands of responses, sharing what you felt about YouTube, the monetization game, and your individual growth journeys. 

YouTube Insights from the vidIQ Community

 make up most of our community. Many of them are grinding their way toward 

 so they can get monetized. Our insights are from creators who watch the vidIQ channel or interact with our community posts.

Want a brief snapshot? Here are seven YouTube statistics that show what small creators (in the vidIQ community) were thinking, feeling, and doing this year:

59% think YouTube's monetization rules and processes are fair.

85% love longer videos (rather than Shorts).

72% would choose 1,000 subscribers over 10,000 views.

92% want "forever growth" instead of "fast growth" on YouTube.

72% are interested in video editing courses (rather than thumbnail design courses).

69% believed their YouTube journey was going better in 2023 compared with 2022.

First of all, a massive shoutout to the vidIQ community for engaging with us and participating in the polls. Your support keeps us motivated! Having said that, these were the most popular, opinionated polls on our community tab in 2023.

1. Are YouTube's monetization requirements fair?

In this poll, we asked our community their thoughts on 

. Although it was a close contest, the majority of respondents think the rules and processes are fair. This makes sense given that YouTube is making life easier for small channels, from 

We like to check up on our loyal viewers from time to time. In this poll, we wanted to know 

how our community was doing on YouTube in 2023

, good or bad. Much to our pleasure, 70% of the participants said their year was going “better than [they] thought.” We’re glad to be of service!

Now, we know our community is primarily new creators trying to make it on the platform. But, as a fun experiment, we posted a poll asking 

. Expectedly, the majority of people said “1.” However, a respectable 19% chose “2”, which was pleasantly surprising! After all, we interviewed a creator this year who runs more than 20 

4. I love…(YouTube Shorts or YouTube Longs)

YouTube Shorts are a powerful tool for channel discovery, but it looks like our community loves 

 more. A staggering 85% would rather make or watch longer content.

5. Which thumbnail would you click on (and why in the comments)?

 they would click on. Through these polls, we learned what our viewers like aesthetically. So far, bold, yet simple thumbnails are winning the race!

6. Which would you rather have? (views or subscribers)

 1,000 YouTube subscribers or 10,000 video views. A whopping 72% opted for 1,000 subscribers, which makes sense considering it is one of the requirements for 

7. Which one do you want to be: 'fast-growing' or 'forever growing'?

This is another image poll asking creators 

: faster in the short term or steadily in the long run. 92% of participants chose “forever growing” instead of “fast-growing”, and we couldn’t agree more with the results! This proves that many creators aren't looking to go viral here and there; they want to grow large channels with longevity.

8. Do you think YouTube is better or worse than this time last year (why?)

 in 2023. Looking at the comments, many creators feel this way because their channels are growing, they're excited to learn content creation, and they love how YouTube is improving the platform.

9. Would you rather take a YouTube course on...

With this poll, we got an answer to a very important question that pops up now and then. We asked our viewers whether they would take a course on 

. The majority, with 72% votes, chose “video editing.” This proves that making presentable videos is important to small creators.

10. What type of device do you primarily watch YouTube on?

 to watch YouTube on, and a staggering 78% chose “Phone.” Maybe that's why YouTube Shorts are so explosive this year...

Looking for a New Year's resolution to pursue in 2024? Start polling your audience on the YouTube Community Tab! With thousands of poll responses, this is an easy way to 

Everything you need is in the YouTube Studio, and there are plenty of features to customize your content.

How to Use the YouTube Community Tab and Engage with Viewers

 icon at the top of your YouTube homepage. Select Create Post from the drop-down menu.

Community post create tab on YouTube page 

Once again, we would like to thank every community member for participating in our polls and helping us grow with you! The new year is fast approaching, and 

here’s how to prepare for YouTube growth in 2024.

Through many polls, we learned more about small creators in 2023. Here's how they view monetization, YouTube Shorts, and what it means to grow with longevity.

Poll Data: 10 YouTube Stats About the Small Creator Journey

With just a few weeks left in the year, we’re looking at 2024 with a sense of wonder and wide-eyed excitement. We’re

 which YouTube trends will shape the heart of content creation. We’re 

 for creators to develop new passions. And most of all, we’re eager to break down every YouTube trend so you can 

Ready to explore the future of YouTube? Pay attention to these nine trends, as they might affect your views, watch time, subscribers, and revenue.

A robot with the youtube logo on its forehead

Artificial intelligence is having a breakout year, with tools like ChatGPT, DALL-E, and Midjourney helping creatives make content faster. Because of that, we’re seeing the rise of 

. Creators are outsourcing their content creation using AI software (or hired humans) to design thumbnails, script videos, edit footage, and create voiceovers quickly. Some creators make a lot of money doing this — six-figures, even.

Unfortunately, many people use AI in damaging ways, like impersonating celebrities and spreading misinformation.

Requiring creators to say when they’ve used AI in their content.

Penalizing non-disclosure by potentially removing content.

Allowing creators to request the removal of AI-generated content that impersonates them or infringes on their privacy.

More and more, creators are ditching highly-produced videos in favor of authentic, unfiltered content. Take a look around YouTube: The thumbnails are getting simpler, and fancy edits are quietly disappearing. Even the storylines themselves have a relaxed, meandering pace, because now, it’s about creating intimacy with viewers.

 is at the forefront of this trend, but he's not alone. 

, originally a horse channel, has pivoted to posting uncut videos that share life lessons. Creators are shifting toward sincere videos, and that's bound continue in 2024.

A thumbnail with the words this is thumbnail A

While some creators have simplified their thumbnails to appear more genuine, that doesn’t mean the YouTube click wars are over. In fact, they’re just beginning.

This month and well into 2024, YouTube is rolling out a 

 that’s designed to help you get more watch time. Creators can upload multiple versions of a thumbnail, let YouTube show them to different viewers, and analyze the results of the experiment. Whichever thumbnail receives the highest share of watch time is the one to use going forward.

This empowers every creator, big and small, to present their best thumbnails. It doesn't matter if creators opt for a simple design; thumbnail testing, by definition, makes YouTube more competitive.

A quiz question asking which gas is the lightest

2023 was the year of video quizzes, puzzles, and made-up challenges that YouTubers thrust upon their viewers. Imagine swiping through the YouTube Shorts player and landing on a video that asks you all sorts of questions. What is the tallest mountain in the world? Which nose belongs to a specific celebrity?

It’s surprising, suspenseful, and dare we say...delightful?

Trivia-based videos are growing in popularity, as they entertain viewers and inform them simultaneously. Thousands of small creators have hit 

A woman getting lots of hearts during a livestream

Earlier this year, YouTube announced that creators could monetize their channels with just 

 and 3,000 hours of watch time. That’s a sharp decrease from the 1,000-sub, 4,000-hour requirement we’ve seen in the past.

Notably, you can’t monetize content through video ads if you only have with 500 subscribers. YouTube is restricting these creators to fan-funding revenue only, such as 

Meanwhile, super fans are the ones who donate money, not casual YouTube viewers. That will push creators to 

if they want to make real money through fan funding.

It seems like YouTube wants small creators to have loyal fans before they become big creators. That raises the quality of videos and viewers (i.e.,watch time) on YouTube.

6. High Earning Potential from YouTube Livestreaming

male YouTube livestreamer having fun and engaging with the chat

Creators are making gobs of money by simply going live, so the power of hosting YouTube livestreams is trending in the right direction.

Here’s a small taste of what you can earn:

Gaming creator Canadian Guy Eh pays his rent (

Even outside of YouTube, music artists like Tee Grizzley pull in 

 streaming on Twitch and then posting the completed streams on YouTube. As revenue grows, we expect this trend to continue in 2024.

7. Ad Blockers Derailing Views, Monetization

a cartoon-style web page with the words skip ad

 tank your YouTube views and watch time? Even worse, will they jeopardize your dream of getting monetized?

A year ago, these questions would seem silly. But now that YouTube is blocking video playback for viewers who use ad blockers, the consequences are getting 

 was 35.7% in 2022, with China, Indonesia, and Vietnam leading the charge. Think about it from YouTube's perspective: That's a lot of lost revenue, especially if those behaviors are prevalent on video-sharing sites.

. After all, YouTube has to allow playback on your videos before you can rack up views, watch time, and money. However, common sense tells us that some creators will unknowingly suffer, especially if their audience wants ad-free viewing.

three males filming a dancing youtube short

Did you know that most creators using vidIQ gained 100,000 subscribers by posting short, vertical videos? If you want proof, check our most recent list of 

YouTube channels that hit 100,000 subscribers

 in 30 days. For most channels, their standout video wasn't lengthy or horizontal; it was a YouTube Short.

This isn’t surprising to most creators, but we’re adding it to the list because Shorts continue to grow small channels. If you aren’t a short-form creator (yet), consider experimenting in 2024.

9. The Rise of VR Gaming (Virtual Reality)

 will be more than $22 billion by 2025. So, it makes sense that this style of entertainment is flooding YouTube, especially in the gaming space.

For example, check out the screenshot below. According to vidIQ’s keyword explorer, viewers want to see VR content from games like 

. They’re also searching for VR gamers and commentators (

) as well as VR technology (Soundcore VR P10 earbuds).

All of these keywords have high searches on YouTube and low competition from other creators. That means the VR space is relatively fresh and ready to be tamed by some lucky creators.

Now that you know which trends to watch out for, here's how to update your channel and get more views!

YouTube logo with a jagged line graph shooting through it

What will video creation look and feel like in 2024? Dive into YouTube trends surrounding AI, VR gaming, and the rise of authentic, unpolished videos.

The Future of Video Creation: 9 YouTube Trends to Watch in 2024

With 2024 approaching fast, YouTube's growth remains as steady as ever. Currently, it is the most preferred online video platform 

with over 2 billion monthly active users.

These niches have consistently attracted viewers and content creators across YouTube. Ready to know what they are? Read on!

YouTube Insights

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