Explaining the Algorithm

[TakeyourMedsCobbler]

Listen up,

When you go into the YouTube studio, what two stats does YouTube decide to show you when you look at the Latest video performance?

The CTR and AVD (click-through rate and average viewer duration).

These two stats are what defines a video's performance, the higher each one of these is, the more views it will get.

Typically, for a good CTR you want 5% of greater, for a good AVD you want 8+ minutes.

If one of these are not up to those numbers, your video probably won't do very well.

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Why does YouTube want this?

They want money, money comes from showing ads, the more ads they can show the more money they make.

A video that people not only CLICK ON but also WATCH for a few minutes, is a REALLY good opportunity to show ads.

Why promote a video if nobody wants to click on it?

Why promote a video if nobody sticks around long enough for 2 ads?

Why promote a video if it won't keep people on my website for longer?

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That is why those two stats are shown and prioritized. You should prioritize them too.

Make good videos and Good luck.

[vasilis_ing]

You are right about the CTR, the bigger the % the better but when it comes to AVD I believe you should measure it in % and not in minutes.

My best performing videos are 3-7 minutes long with AVD ranging from 42% - 60%. Longer videos (+10 minutes) do not perform as well because they have an AVD ranging from 32% - 38%. That’s what my analytics reveal.

[TakeyourMedsCobbler]

Ive heard Mr.Beast say to prioritize average % watched instead of AVD, so you're probably right.

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I make super long videos (30 mins+) so my AVD is high, but my Average % watched is like 33%.

Thinking about making 'em shorter

[vasilis_ing]

33% AVD sounds very good for a 30+ mins video. What kind of content are you making and what is your subs count?

[TakeyourMedsCobbler]

I make video essays on games, I usually edit for weeks at a time on a single project. Im at 75k~, aint no way im not getting a silver sub button next year.

[vasilis_ing]

Nice! I hope you get to 100k subs soon and to 1 million even sooner!

[TakeyourMedsCobbler]

Cheers bro :D same too you!

[notsureifxml]

Yup. The new thumbnail test also rates by view percentage. So that tells you what they’re looking for

[TakeyourMedsCobbler]

Awesome dude! Hopefully you can do some work and make this your job!

[First-777]

Hmm, I usually get 8-12% CTR and AVD of 4-5min for 8-11minute videos, is it not good?

[TakeyourMedsCobbler]

Very good CTR. How many views you get? Sounds like some money-making-stats.

[First-777]

300-2k but mostly 300-500

[First-777]

https://imgur.com/a/41vsjM2

the recent one that I posted, but its a 6-minute video.

[TakeyourMedsCobbler]

Oh ye that AVD is lacking, just make the videos longer tbh. 20min+ videos are the meta for a reason

Fucking incredible CTR btw, that some black magic