VideoHerd
How to Use YouTube's Algorithms to Your Advantage
Category: YouTube Content Strategy
As a business, creating a YouTube channel is a great way to reach a wider audience and connect with potential customers.
However, more than simply creating content is needed to be successful with this marketing strategy.
To increase your channel's reach, it's essential to understand and utilize YouTube's algorithms.
About YouTube's Algorithms
Contrary to popular belief, these algorithms are not shrouded in mystery; they are, in fact, more straightforward than people realize. Here's a brief overview:
YouTube's algorithms use several machine learning models to automatically sort through the massive video content uploaded daily.
These algorithms categorize and analyze each video to determine which videos should be recommended to viewers and which should be suppressed.
Ultimately, these algorithms aim to keep viewers on the platform for as long as possible by providing relevant, entertaining, and/or satisfying content.
As of 2023, there are four main algorithms that businesses should focus on when creating content for their YouTube channel:
The Homepage Algorithm
The Discovery Algorithm
The Search Algorithm
The Shorts Algorithm.
Each algorithm has a slightly different operating method. Still, the ultimate goal is the same - to keep viewers on the platform.
The Homepage Algorithm
The Homepage Algorithm is responsible for the customized collage of videos each viewer sees on their homepage.
This algorithm chooses which videos to show based on two factors: performance and personalization.
Creating engaging content that uses minimal clickbait is essential for your videos appearing on a viewer's homepage. Furthermore, suppose your viewer has subscribed to you or frequently checks videos along the same topics as the ones you produce. In that case, your videos also have a much better chance of appearing on their homepage.
Additionally, businesses should consider creating niche content that will appeal to specific target audiences.
The Discovery Algorithm
The Discovery Algorithm is responsible for the recommended videos on the side or below the video you're watching.
This algorithm takes into account a viewer's watch history, likes, dislikes, gender, age, search history on Google, and location to recommend videos that they will enjoy watching.
For businesses, it's a great strategy to create videos for this algorithm. Whether it's edutainment videos on industry trends, industry history, misconceptions about your line of business, metaphors explaining complex business topics, or even exciting interviews with leaders within the space, creating videos that come next in a viewers YouTube session can allow you to tap into a steady stream of traffic.
Also, if you're looking on some key guidelines for creating better B2B content for your channel, check out our article here:
The Search Algorithm
The Search Algorithm acts as a video-based search engine, returning videos most relevant to a viewer's query. These videos appear under the search results when using YouTube's search bar.
For businesses, creating how-to videos that provide solutions to common problems is an effective way to optimize for this algorithm and appear very high up in those search results.
These videos can help grow a channel quickly, increase brand reach, and generate leads when done right. However, that is sometimes easier on paper than in practice. This is why we specialize in helping businesses optimize their creative videos to garner leads. See how we can help you use YouTube's Search Algorithm to generate leads today.
The Shorts Algorithm
Lastly, the Shorts Algorithm is responsible for the short-form videos that appear in the Shorts feed and Shorts Shelf.
Shorts are brief, 60-second videos that can include music, filters, and text overlays. While Shorts are relatively new to YouTube, they are quickly gaining popularity and an addictive new video format.
They can be an excellent way for businesses to reach a wider audience, especially when creating content on highly niche topics.
Using YouTube's Algorithms to Generate Leads
Understanding YouTube's algorithms is essential if you're looking to generate leads with a YouTube Marketing Strategy
By creating optimized content for these algorithms, businesses can increase their visibility on the platform, engage with the right type of customers, and ultimately drive sales.
If you're just starting out or looking to take your YouTube channel to the next level, understanding these algorithms is a crucial first step.
