How the YouTube Algorithm Works in 2024

If you're navigating the ever-changing landscape of YouTube and social media, I've got some insights that could give you an edge on YouTube in 2024.

By Better understanding the YouTube Algorithm as a Small YouTuber or even an established Creator. After diving deep into the data from multiple channels and analyzing that data from 2020 to 2023, including my channel and others across different sizes and niches, I've uncovered some key strategies for mastering the YouTube algorithm in 2024.

1. Watch Time Reigns Supreme

Forget just focusing on click-through rates (CTR) and retention alone. The real MVP here is interesting watch time, which is actually the product of combined CTR and retention. This means longer, engaging content that captivates your niche audience will often outperform shorter videos. But don't worry; shorter videos can still hit it big if they manage to capture a wide audience's attention with high CTR and views.

2. Focus on Bringing Viewers Back

Instead of losing sleep over how often to post, could you focus on getting viewers to return to your channel? It turns out that videos that keep viewers coming back lead to higher view durations and overall watch time. Aim to become a habit for your audience, and you'll see your video performance soar.

Higher Average View Durations and Higher Watch Time and Session Time correlate with RETURNING VIEWERS. If you can keep TRAFFIC high and increase RETURNING VIEWERS, then video performance and impressions tend to follow. While GROWTH needs to get NEW VIEWERS, initial performance can be heavily influenced reliably by RETURNING VIEWERS.

3. Diversify Your Traffic Sources

YouTube is a vast ocean with different currents. Live videos and podcasts can thrive on suggested traffic, while videos on demand (VODs) often find a home on the homepage and search results. Shorts, those quick, engaging clips, do best when they keep viewers hooked and sharing. Remember, each traffic source has its quirks, so plan your content to navigate these waters effectively.

LIVE video formats and their replays, as well as the Podcast Format, can benefit from Suggested Traffic, which is tied heavily to SESSION TIME and overall Watch Time.

VIDEOS (VODs) tend to benefit from Homepage and Search the Most, while they can benefit from suggested videos under specific conditions. While SEARCH TRAFFIC is less than 10% of all overall traffic on YouTube, that is BILLIONS of Searches Per Day. Prioritize Relevancy and Titles for this, and don't overthink Tags (use FREE versions of Tubebuddy and VIDIQ)

SHORTS performance benefits the most from a lack of Swipe Aways, gaining Loops and Rewinds, and SHARES highly influence SHORTS performance by starting NEW SESSIONS on YouTube.

Keep swipeaways from Shorts to under 20%; you want 80%+ to continue watching your shorts. According to high-level Shorts Creators, the optimal length for shorts is 40 seconds. (This will hurt you if your goal is to repurpose to monetize TikTok rather than purely grow from YouTube Shorts.)

SESSION TIME + WATCH TIME, DOMINATE:

To dominate YouTube, you must become a Destination Channel within your Niche or Target Market.

Being the reason they are on YouTube, the videos they Start their viewing session with, the Channel they Stay on... being the higher percentage for the day or the session of all the videos they watched makes you dominant.

These are more subtle signals of VIEWER ENJOYMENT that YouTube Talks about.

If Someone has a VIEWING SESSION for 1 Hour on YouTube and watched 5 Videos from different creatros, But they Watched your video for 30 Minutes... you took up 50% of the Session... that means you're more authoritative with that viewer than the 4 Other Videos/Channels Combined.

Wouldn't that send a positive signal to YouTube about the value of your content?

Keep in mind this can be observed in LIVE Streams and Podcast Channels that are doing extremely well on the platform currently.

4. Strive to Be the Main Event

Imagine being the reason someone logs onto YouTube.

If your channel becomes the go-to for viewers, starting and ending their YouTube session with your content, you win.

This isn't just about being liked; it's about becoming indispensable to your audience, making your channel a destination.

The most consistent way to grow on YouTube is to deliver value to a specific group of people consistently.

Specific doesn't mean narrow; it means using PSYCHOLOGY and understanding your appeal to particular people or to people in a more general way...

Make 100 videos a year for a target audience, and make them with the best packaging you can in topic, title, and thumbnail, and show up for timing (trends) at peak relevance.

This means two videos a week that are the best you can do with your time, energy, and resources.

Key Takeaways for Thriving on YouTube

• Prioritize viewer wants and psychology: Create content that speaks to what your audience is eager to watch, not just what you want to produce.
• Become a destination channel: Establish your channel as the authority in your niche by delivering unique, in-demand content.
• Understand the platform's diversity: Adapt your strategy to leverage different YouTube traffic sources and formats.
• Consistency over perceived quality: Deliver value consistently to build a loyal audience. It's about making the best of what you have and where you are.

Final Thoughts: Value and Volume Go Hand in Hand

Producing valuable content consistently is the key to YouTube success. It's not about grand gestures but about being a reliable presence in your audience's life. Whether you're a solo creator putting in 20-40 hours a week or part of a team investing even more, the goal remains the same: deliver value and build momentum.

On YouTube, understanding and adapting to the algorithm without losing the essence of your content is crucial.

By focusing on watch time, encouraging repeat viewers, diversifying your content strategy, and striving to be a central part of your viewers' YouTube experience, you're setting yourself up for success.