One tool that suggests videos to users is the YouTube algorithm. It uses a user's likelihood of watching videos to choose which ones to display. It considers factors including the quality of the video, its relevance, and the viewer's prior actions.

It’s the gatekeeper to video views

Do you want more people to see your video? The secret is YouTube's recommendation algorithm. According to studies, it accounts for over 70% of all platform views.

It is interesting to note that the algorithm does not always follow user preferences. You may continue to see similar videos even after selecting "Dislike" or "Not Interested" on a particular one. For this reason, it is critical to comprehend how the system functions.

The algorithm is constantly evolving

YouTube's algorithm is always evolving. Just when you think you grasp everything, a new update changes the ranking and recommendations for videos in search results.

Although it could seem perplexing, there is a method behind it. Checking the algorithm's evolution over time helps to clarify things.

2005–2011: Clicks Dominate the Game 

When YouTube first started out, its algorithm prioritized clicks. A video's recommendation increased with the number of clicks it received. As a result, in order to draw people in, producers started using attention-grabbing names and deceptive thumbnails.

2012: The Rise of Watchtime

YouTube began focusing on watchtime and how much of a video people really viewed in order to enhance quality. This shift forced producers to either produce lengthier films or brief, eye-catching snippets. However, it did not completely address the issue of poor content quality.

2015: Customized Suggestions

YouTube unveiled a more intelligent algorithm that made video recommendations based on user comments, past views, and personal tastes. This prevented recommendations from just endorsing well-known material and instead made them more relevant to specific visitors.

2016: The Start of Content Moderation

YouTube started concentrating on eliminating offensive or deceptive material. In order to keep their films from showing up in recommendations, creators had to adhere to more stringent community norms.

YouTube's algorithm has changed over time to support high-quality video that maintains audience engagement. Today, let us examine how it operates.

How does the YouTube algorithm work in 2024?

The article's most significant lesson is that YouTube wants you to pay attention to your audience rather than simply the algorithm.

According to YouTube, "Our algorithm cares about viewers, not videos." Therefore, create films that will satisfy your visitors rather than ones that would appease the algorithm.

This is essential to comprehending YouTube's operation. The system makes content recommendations based on a viewer's likelihood of watching additional videos, not simply the most popular ones.

For this reason, even when two individuals search for an identical item, they may receive different results.

Content characteristics

First, forget the idea that YouTube watches videos and picks favorites. The algorithm doesn't do that. Instead, it looks for signals to determine if a video matches what a viewer might like.

Relevance signals

For example, if you search for a coconut cake tutorial, YouTube will find videos related to that search. The algorithm doesn't watch videos but uses metadata in titles, tags, and descriptions to decide what to show.

Performance signals

The algorithm also uses video metrics to assess content quality. These include:

• How long do people watch a video
• How many likes or dislikes does it get, and what is its average rating
• How often a video is viewed

Personal preference signals

Since YouTube aims to show each viewer videos they'll like, it uses their past behavior to make recommendations. It looks at which videos you've watched or liked and what topics or channels you often visit. It also suggests videos that are often watched together; if you watch coconut cake videos, you might see macaron tutorials, too.

Creator signals

YouTube also checks the trustworthiness of the channel. If a channel has a good reputation, it's more likely its content will be recommended.

Recommendation location

YouTube doesn't just recommend videos in one place. Recommendations happen in three places:

• Homepage: The first page you see on the app or website. The algorithm tries to suggest videos based on your past activity.
• Suggested videos: These show up next to the video you're watching. The algorithm uses the topic of the current video along with your history to suggest more.
• Search results: When you search for something, the algorithm shows results based on both your behavior and the video titles/descriptions.

External factors

Some factors affecting video rankings are out of your control. For example:

• Engagement drops in certain months (like December).
• Some topics quickly lose popularity.
• Your content may face stiff competition from big creators.