In this video and blog post, I want to share a few things I learned about YouTube’s algorithm this week. The information comes from some of the training I have been working through inside Sean Cannell’s Video Ranking Academy.
I purchased Video Ranking Academy several years ago, and one of the things I like about the course is that the training continues to be updated. YouTube does not stand still, so it is useful to have access to training that changes as the platform changes.
I have not made a Video Ranking Academy video for a few weeks, partly because I have been moving house and dealing with various other things. However, I am now getting back into the training and documenting some of the things I am learning along the way.
If you would like to know more about my overall experience with the course, you can read my Video Ranking Academy review here.
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There Is More To The YouTube Algorithm Than Just Views
One of the things that stood out to me during this week’s training was how YouTube looks at much more than simply how many people click on a video.
We naturally like to see our view numbers increasing. However, YouTube is also trying to understand whether viewers are actually enjoying what they are watching and whether the videos being recommended are satisfying them.
This changed the way I looked at traffic coming from outside YouTube. For example, someone might discover one of my videos through a Facebook post, click through to YouTube and watch my video. They may then continue watching several other videos on YouTube.
Although I obviously want people to watch more of my own videos, the bigger picture is that YouTube wants to give viewers content they find useful and enjoyable. The recommendation system uses a range of signals, including clicks, watch time and viewer satisfaction.
There is no single magic formula that guarantees a video will rank. However, it is useful to understand that YouTube is looking at the overall viewing experience rather than simply counting clicks.
1. Keeping Viewers Watching Matters
A viewer clicking on your video is only the beginning. What happens afterwards is extremely important.
If someone clicks on a video and immediately leaves, that can suggest that the video did not deliver what they expected. On the other hand, if they remain engaged and continue watching, that gives YouTube much more useful information about the video.
This is why I am increasingly thinking about the entire viewer experience. Getting somebody onto the video is important, but the content itself then needs to give them a reason to stay.
I have talked about preparing videos before recording in my article 7 Things To Do Before Recording Your Next YouTube Video. Planning the subject, title, opening and main points beforehand can make it much easier to produce a focused video.
2. A Great Thumbnail Is Not Enough
Another important subject is click-through rate, usually known as CTR. Your title and thumbnail have an important job because they need to persuade someone to click on your video.
However, a fantastic thumbnail is not much use if the viewer clicks and then discovers that the video is about something completely different.
Imagine I created a thumbnail that clearly suggested the video was about growing a YouTube channel. Someone clicks on it and discovers that I am actually talking about grooming a cat. They probably will not stay very long!
That may be an exaggerated example, but the principle is important. A thumbnail should create interest while still representing what the video is actually about.
There is a major difference between creating curiosity and creating clickbait. A good thumbnail and title make a promise. The video then needs to deliver on that promise.
I use artificial intelligence for some of my thumbnail creation, although I always try to make sure the finished design fits the subject of the video. I have previously written about this in How To Use Canva AI To Create YouTube Thumbnails.
3. Watch Time Can Tell You More Than Views
The third point is something I have known for some time, but it is always worth being reminded of it. Do not become obsessed with views alone.
Suppose one video receives 1,000 views, but most people leave very quickly. Another video may receive fewer views, but the viewers spend much longer watching it.
The second video may be giving you much more useful information about what your audience actually wants.
This is why it is worth going into YouTube Studio and looking beyond the headline view count. Look at watch time and audience retention. Find out where people are leaving the video and which sections appear to hold their attention.
If you discover that viewers regularly leave during a long introduction, perhaps the introduction needs shortening. If people stay for a particular section, perhaps that subject could become another video.
Your analytics can help you make better decisions rather than simply guessing.
Why Some Videos Take Off And Others Do Not
This is something I am still learning myself. Sometimes I publish a video and it receives very few views. Another video can suddenly receive hundreds or considerably more.
Occasionally the reason is obvious. The subject may be popular, the title may work particularly well, or the video may answer a question that people are actively searching for.
At other times it can be much harder to understand why one particular video performs so much better.
I sometimes refer to these as breakout videos. One video can suddenly reach a much larger audience and bring new people to the channel.
That is why I believe it is important to keep publishing and learning. I wrote about this in You Are Only One Video Away From Success On YouTube.
You never know which video will connect particularly well with your audience. However, every video gives you more information about what people click on, what they watch and what keeps them engaged.
What Is Video Ranking Academy?
Video Ranking Academy is a paid YouTube training programme created by Sean Cannell and Think Media. I purchased the course several years ago and still use it today.
One of the main reasons I continue to recommend it is that my original purchase gave me ongoing access to the training. The course has also been updated over the years rather than simply being left as it was when I originally joined.
There are various training sections and additional resources inside the members area. I have not personally completed every piece of training available, but there is certainly plenty there to work through.
I have also written specifically about how to get more from Video Ranking Academy. Simply owning a training course does not achieve very much. The value comes from actually going through the lessons and applying what you learn.
The Video Ranking Academy Community
Another part of Video Ranking Academy is the private Facebook community for members.
Members can ask questions, learn from other creators and take part in different types of training and community activities. These have included coaching calls, member meet-ups on Zoom, the VRA Show and various tips and additional training.
I think this type of community can be particularly useful because YouTube can sometimes feel like a fairly solitary activity. Having somewhere to ask questions and see what other creators are experiencing can help enormously.
Shorter Attention Spans Make Engagement Even More Important
I have also recently started producing more YouTube Shorts and short videos for Facebook. Short-form video has certainly changed the way many people consume content.
People often decide very quickly whether they are interested in a piece of content. That makes the opening of a video particularly important.
You do not necessarily need complicated editing or constant special effects. However, viewers should understand fairly quickly what the video is about and why it is worth continuing to watch.
This is something I am continually working on myself. I certainly do not claim to have YouTube completely worked out. Part of the reason I make these videos is to document what I am learning and hopefully help other people at the same time.
My Main Takeaway From This Week
The main thing I took from this week’s training is that YouTube growth is not simply about getting more clicks.
A good thumbnail can help generate the click, but the video then needs to deliver. Views are useful, but watch time and audience retention can tell you much more about whether viewers are genuinely engaged.
It is also worth remembering that YouTube’s recommendation system is not based on one single metric. Different signals work together to help YouTube understand which videos viewers are likely to appreciate.
For me, this is another reminder to concentrate on creating genuinely useful videos rather than trying to find some secret algorithm trick.
Would I Recommend Video Ranking Academy?
Yes, I would.
I purchased Video Ranking Academy several years ago, I am still using it today, and I continue to watch Sean Cannell and Think Media regularly on YouTube. I like the fact that the course provides structured training while continuing to evolve as YouTube changes.
If you would like to take a look at Video Ranking Academy for yourself, you can use my link below:
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Please note that this is an affiliate link. If you decide to purchase Video Ranking Academy through my link, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.
Final Thoughts
YouTube is continually changing, and I do not think any of us ever reach the point where there is nothing left to learn. That is one of the reasons I enjoy going back through courses such as Video Ranking Academy.
Sometimes a lesson confirms something I already knew. At other times it makes me look at YouTube in a slightly different way, which is what happened this week.
If you are building a YouTube channel, take a look at more than your views. Study your click-through rate, watch time and audience retention. Most importantly, keep thinking about the person watching your video.
If you have any questions about Video Ranking Academy or anything I have mentioned in this post, please feel free to leave a comment. I am always happy to help where I can.