How to Increase Your YouTube Watch Time

The watch time on YouTube is one of the most important metrics you should focus on if you want your videos to rank well. This is because it allows YouTube to surface your video content in search results and Suggested Video sidebars.

YouTube is constantly uploading new video content to the platform every minute. In fact, it is estimated that YouTube gets 300 hours of video uploaded each minute! That’s a lot of videos to watch, and it’s important to keep your YouTube channel fresh so that people will continue to come back.

It’s also important to understand that YouTube’s watch time is not the same as audience retention, which is a metric that measures the average amount of time an individual viewer spends watching your videos.

However, these two metrics are closely related. If your videos have high retention rates, you’re more likely to see their watch times increase.

Build playlists for relevant videos to group them in a logical series.

This will allow viewers to easily navigate your channel and watch your videos in sequence. Moreover, creating a “series” will help YouTube recommend videos that follow the same theme. For example, if you have a travel documentary about your last vacation, it would make sense to split it into three movies and add them in the same order as the series.

Create video thumbnail images that are captivating and tell what your video contains. These thumbnails are often the first thing that a viewer will see in their feed or search results, so they need to be eye-catching and compelling.

Don’t include any clickbait or promotional imagery in your video’s thumbnails. These can distract from your message and lead to viewers abandoning your videos.

Mix up your camera angles, visual styles and music to keep your videos exciting for viewers. It will also make them more comprehensible for those who are viewing on mobile devices.

The first 15 seconds of your video are crucial for capturing viewers’ attention. You should always try to hook them as soon as possible so that they stay with your video until the end.

Avoid making videos that are too long, as that can reduce your watch time. It is best to make short, engaging videos that are specifically designed for your target audience.

If you are going to be creating multiple videos, it’s also important to ensure that each is branded with your company’s name and logo. This will help to build brand awareness and improve your overall video optimization.

Another important strategy is to create themed playlists that bring together all of your related videos in a series. You can even optimize your playlists by trimming intros and outros to help increase your watch time.

The playlist page can also be a great place to promote other video content that your viewers might enjoy. This is especially important if you have a popular series or playlist that you’re trying to boost your watch time for. youtube watch time