YouTube algorithm has changed over the year to reward viewer satisfaction over total clicks and views.

So what does it mean for marketing?

This article contains an overview of how the YouTube algorithm works and what it is designing to do.

There are some facts about the YouTube algorithm thought out the following sections, which have all been confirmed by the company itself.

A summary of all facts is listed and at the end.

Let's start which clearing up some miscommunication.

YouTube algorithm misconceptions 

A major misunderstanding market has about YouTube is that all content is ranked by one algorithm.

YouTube has multiple algorithms for ranking contact in the different areas where videos are surfaced. This includes the home page suggested video and search results.

This article is famous for how the YouTube recommendation system works, consisting of the homepage and suggested video algorithms.

YouTube se the recommendation system is where most traffic to your video comes from, not the search bar.

YouTube recommendation system is designed to find videos for viewers rather than viewers for video.

It is designed to push out or promote a video to viewers. The recommendation system works the opposite way.

When you visit YouTube, the recommendation system pulls in the video. It ranks the best candidates according to what that user aims to help each viewer find a video they want to watch and maximize long-term viewers' satisfaction, so they keep coming back.

top YouTube ranking

factor: viewer satisfaction

How YouTube ranks content for use has changed over time.

Here is a brief history: 

2011: top ranking factor where click and views 

2012: top ranking factor was watch time.

2015: today:  top ranking factor in viewer satisfaction

To maximize performance on the YouTube homepage, take an objective look at your video and pretend you're a new Weaver who is unfamiliar with your channel.

If all the context you had was a video s title and thumbnail, would you be compelled to click?   Uploading consistently can help sustain audience interest and help viewers build a routine around watching the channel; this is key to generating viewer satisfaction signals. 

How YouTube rank video in the suggested section:- 

the suggested video, which appears on the right-hand side of the screen  while viewing a contact, offered users a selection of videos they're likely to watch next 

The suggested video section doesn't work only shows a video relevant to the one being watched. YouTube's algorithm also takes into account the user's prior activity.

YouTube aims to ensure videos pulled into the suggested section are both personalized and related to what the user is currently watching,

YouTube suggested video algorithms use ranking signals.

Such as : 

Which videos are often watched together,

- which videos are related by topic,

-which videos have a user previously watched 

- by understanding what videos are often  watched together, YouTube can identify video users are likely to watch but have been exposed to yet,

- knowing how much of a channel for topic a user has watched in the post can help YouTube identify  suggwhat to suggest more or less of, 

Recommendations for marketers:-

Developing a series of videos can help get more of your videos featured in the suggested section,

Having identifiable branding, with a consistent title and thumbnail style, will make it easier for users to spot your videos, among all other suggestions,

Endings each video with a call to action to watch another video can keep viewers engaged and generate important user satisfaction signals,

Utilizing playlists and end screens can also help get more of your videos featured in the suggested section.