, and we can see why. For one, it’s a free, hands-off way of advertising your content to the right people. You know the algorithm will promote your best videos no matter what's happening on your channel.

But, seriously: What are YouTube recommendations based on? How do you get your YouTube videos seen by thousands of people on the platform?

A model that chooses videos for the YouTube homepage

A model that recommends what you should watch next

, explains why YouTube recommends some videos over others. Some people think the secret is high video resolution, subscribers, and other 

As it turns out, there are no “lucky” videos. When YouTube recommends something, that means the video performs well in six areas.

Has YouTube ever asked you to complete a survey after watching a video? Most likely, your audience saw a similar notification for your content. If they chose to participate, they answered one question for YouTube’s algorithm: “What did you think of this video?” Below that prompt was a section to rate the video and describe it with words like “enjoyable” or “life-changing.”

“We serve out millions of surveys per month to viewers,” says YouTube product manager Rachel Alves in a Creator Insider 

. “Now, they’re not served on every single video…. But we use this data to train prediction models to identify which videos are highly satisfying.”

Gielen adds another point: The more “niche” your community is, the more it engages with your content universe. So while some people ignore surveys, an engaged audience could respond with higher satisfaction.

Most aren’t aware, but a large number of likes will influence YouTube’s recommendation system. It starts to think, 

People are enjoying this video, and I should share it with more viewers. 

Or at least, that’s what I imagine a super-smart algorithm to sound like.

Average view duration (AVD) is how long most viewers watch a video, whether that’s two minutes or a whopping 25. The algorithm loves this metric, but it’s not easy to master. Few people have the attention span (or the time) to watch video content from start to finish.

How to Increase Audience Retention on Every YouTube Video

That’s why higher AVDs appeal to the algorithm. The 

 means thousands of people were willing to explore a video deeply.

“The vast majority of viewership on YouTube is passive – it’s not engaging, it’s not commenting, it’s not liking [videos],” Gielen says. “And so a great indication of someone being satisfied is that they watched the video [for a long time].”

Not all Watch Time is equal, though. Some people watch an entire video and leave feeling dissatisfied, so context matters. Even if a video has a high AVD, it doesn’t mean it will become a popular YouTube suggestion by that standard only.

You’ve heard the common outro for most videos: “Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe to my YouTube channel!” This call to action comes after a tutorial video, product review, explainer video, reaction video, or prank of some kind.

But something is missing from that script. Few people realize that 

 is one way to get your video recommended on YouTube.

Why? Video shares are a sign you've satisfied hundreds of viewers. That metric tells the algorithm that your video is enjoyable and worth suggesting to more people.

Click-through rate (CTR) is the percentage of viewers who click on a video after seeing its thumbnail. For example, if you have a 10% CTR, that means 10% of people who saw your video decided to click on it. The official formula for CTR is number of clicks / number of impressions x 100 = CTR.

Getting a Good Click-Through Rate on YouTube - 6 Powerful Tips

“When videos are recommended to viewers, what do they do with [them]?” Alves says in a Creator Insider 

. “Do they click to watch, do they click 

, do they ignore it and watch something else?”

The algorithm treats CTR like a performance metric. If a video has many 

, it might become a YouTube video suggestion.

Collaborative filtering sounds like some complicated feature of the algorithm, but it’s pretty simple. All it means is that hypothetically, some viewers have so much in common that they’ll enjoy the same videos. To prove this theory, YouTube recommends videos to like-minded viewers until the content starts to underperform.

Gielen explains the YouTube recommendation algorithm like this: “If person A likes something, and person B and person C are similar to person A based on their past actions, [YouTube serves] the video to person B and C.”

Think of collaborative filtering like a virus.

 Every time someone enjoys your content, YouTube recommends it to someone who might feel the same way. The more people you satisfy, the more YouTube recommends your video. 

The algorithm sends your content through this chain of “similar viewers” until the original prediction (that people will enjoy your video) is no longer valid. That's the power of machine learning.

What Matters Most to the YouTube Algorithm

 there’s no such thing as a YouTube algorithm hack.

 If your views skyrocket overnight, it’s not because you learned how to beat the YouTube algorithm.

Instead, you’re getting better at two things:

Understanding which videos your audience likes

Creating videos that satisfy your viewers

More than anything, a satisfied viewer is what creates a YouTube algorithm boost.

Want more tips on how to get recommended on YouTube? Here’s a longer post to help you understand the YouTube algorithm.

Smiling man with Tube Talk logo, video podcast branding on black background

Are you confused by the YouTube algorithm? Keep reading to discover six positive metrics that lead to more video suggestions on YouTube.

What the YouTube Algorithm Likes to See on Creators' Videos

YouTube end screens are interactive outros that appear in the last 5-20 seconds of a video. From the viewer’s perspective, they’re a fancy goodbye signaling the end of your content, complete with animations and beautiful backgrounds.

Except YouTube end screens are much more than that.

Looks aside, end screens are a tool for getting more views. And you can use them in every single video to recommend content and grow your channel.

13 Ways to Grow Your YouTube Channel Right Now!

Imagine this. When your video ends, viewers are whisked away to 

 video because they clicked a call-to-action on your end screen. Now hundreds of people have watched 

 videos on your channel instead of one. That’s how powerful these outros are for increasing views.

You can use end screens to direct viewers to:

Another YouTube channel you want to promote

An external website (but only if you’re in the 

So how do you create the right end screen for YouTube? What are the best practices to make sure your outro is engaging and click-worthy?

1. First, Make Sure Your YouTube Video is Long Enough

Your video needs to be at least 25 seconds to have an end screen. That’s easy to do if you’re like most creators. Naturally, people record for a long time and post videos spanning several minutes. Unless you’re 

3 Ways to Find the Best YouTube Video Length

Above all, don’t forget to leave space at the end of your video for an outro.

2. Use the Correct Dimensions for Your YouTube End Screen

The end screen dimensions for an HD video are 

 That’s how big the entire frame should be. If you’re shooting in 4K, bump that up to 3840px by 1260px.

Also, make sure any custom graphics in your end screen are sharp. YouTube says your images – pictures used for the subscribe button and website links – should be at least 

Check out the example below. Photography creator 

 uses a crisp self-portrait for the "subscribe" feature.

You can make a video outro in 30 minutes using a graphic design website. Some even have YouTube end screen templates,

Here are five remarkable end screen makers:

Canva is one of the better options on this list. It has plenty of design templates to choose from, like this one:

To create the best end screen using Canva:

 You can move the elements around, choose new colors, and add animations to your end screen.

 Use images that represent your channel or brand.

 Leave enough negative space so you can fit two to three videos or playlists on your end screen.

Need a quick tutorial? Here’s a video from Think Media on how to make end screens using Canva:

4. Add the End Screen to Your Video Project

Once you’ve created an end screen, you can:

the end screen into your video project (Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, Davinci Resolve, etc.)

your end screen clip to the last few seconds of your video.

 to add clickable elements, such as videos and playlists.

Finished editing your video? Now it’s time to upload the footage and 

Upload the YouTube video as you normally would. There are five steps to complete: video details, monetization, video elements, checks, and visibility.

Next, you’ll see some templates with default positioning for interactive elements. Choose one that complements your end screen OR click 

at the top of the screen to place items (videos, playlists, etc.) wherever you like. You can add up to four elements.

Click the elements to drag them into place. Use the video timeline to determine how long each element appears on the screen.

Keep two things in mind as you experiment with end screens:

YouTube cards and video watermarks won't show up on an end screen.

Ends screens are unavailable if you have a made for kids channel.

3 End Screen Strategies That Boost YouTube Views

Creating an awesome end card for your videos is the first step to getting more views. The next step is knowing 

interactive elements to place on the screen and 

 to make viewers watch until the end. Here are some tips to help you succeed.

 to get the most out of your end screen. Viewers are overwhelmed when they see a subscribe button, three videos, and a product link at the end of your video. Simplify the options so they'll be encourage to click. 

 The less screen time you demand from viewers, the better chance you have of them making it to the end screen to click on something else.

That prompts the viewer to leave, and you don't want that. You want them to stick around, check out the end screen, and choose another video to watch.

For more details about these tips, check out the video below.

Want to create the best end screen possible? Here are some examples that effectively use all the advice in this post. Take a look, and draw some inspiration for your own channel.

Knowing how to make a YouTube outro is a valuable skill. Next up, learn how to add YouTube cards to your videos and promote extra content on your channel.

Youtube end screen template with subscribe prompt, recommended video box, and usernames.

Want to create a YouTube end screen that promotes the rest of your videos? Keep reading to discover the best end screen makers and how to craft interactive outros.

YouTube End Screens: How to Make Cool Video Outros

Are you struggling to grow your YouTube channel? There could be dozens of reasons you aren’t getting more views and subscribers. For one, you might need 

 – the kind that make viewers stop what they’re doing and instantly click a video. It could also be a technical problem. Maybe you have a microphone that captures weak audio; after all, videos are 50% visual and 50% auditory.

5 Mistakes That Stop Your YouTube Channel From Growing

Today, we’re going to focus on just four improvements you can make. Most creators, especially new ones, overlook these powerful tips. But in this episode of 

, our co-hosts Dan Carson and Rob Wilson share the essentials for YouTube growth.

Your subscribers aren’t the only people who watch your videos. When a new viewer finds your channel, consider their intentions for being there. Are they coming to learn about you and your channel? Or do they want to learn more about a specific topic?

Usually, it’s the latter. That’s why you need a brief yet irresistible introduction that reinforces the video’s topic. It should reel the viewer in and stop them from clicking away.

That’s a real challenge for most people. 

Here are two intro mistakes we always see creators make:

Having an intro longer than five to 10 seconds

Using a generic script like, “Hi, my name is [your name], and welcome back to [channel name]...”

Opening videos with a splash screen showing your channel’s logo or something similar

Instead of doing the things above, get straight to the point.

“If your video is something along the lines of, ‘how do I get 1,000 subscribers in a week,’ then you’d better reinforce that result in the first 10 to 15 seconds before there is an introduction of your channel,” Wilson says.

Of course, there are exceptions to the rule.

 Some vloggers open with the generic intro of, “Hey guys, welcome back to my channel,” and their channels are growing regardless. 

Experiment and find what works for you. You might get better results by introducing yourself in the middle of the video or having no intro at all (yes, that’s a thing).

2. Make Your YouTube Videos the Right Length

If your channel isn’t growing, take a look at the length of your videos. Are they too short, leaving viewers confused about what they just saw? Or are they so long that dozens of people abandon your content?

 If you can explain something in less time, do it. You’ll make tightly focused videos that people find useful, which is the key to gaining more views.

 people will reference a video and under what circumstances. A viewer that needs to unclog their toilet isn’t seeking a 30-minute tutorial. They need an immediate answer to their question, preferably in five minutes or less.

“The example I like bring up is when I was doing a game night,” Carson says. “I had gotten this new board game, and the instructions were meaty, as they are with board games. It’s so much easier to watch somebody play around with it, and then you understand it. So I searched for the board game [on YouTube], and I think I might have put ‘tutorial’ or ‘how to play.’ Two of the top results popped up, and the first result was double the length of the second one – a difference between 20 minutes and 10 minutes. Which one do you think I clicked on?”

Despite what anyone says on YouTube, editing your videos is a must. Even if you’re just doing cuts to meld different scenes together, that plays a significant role in the appeal of your videos. No one wants to watch 10 minutes of lulls and dead air while other creators post beautiful, seamless stories.

Here are some editing tips to help you out:

 as soon as you finish filming. The errors are still fresh in your mind, so you can easily remember where they are.

 so you can remove “um’s,” “uh’s,” and dead air.

. That’s the only way to edit faster and make the experience more enjoyable.

, have a group of pre-edited selfies ready to go. It makes thumbnail creation more manageable.

 so people don’t lose interest. Introduce pattern interrupters like music, new clips, text, images, etc.

and come back to it tomorrow. Let your mind rest so you can return with a fresh perspective.

4. Avoid Using Copywritten Materials, Especially Music

Our last tip is the most important. If you want to keep growing your YouTube channel, you have to play by YouTube’s rules. That means uploading content that belongs to you or content you have permission to use. Anything else leads to copyright claims and strikes against your channel. The penalties range from 

 to having your videos taken down to YouTube terminating your channel.

What's the Difference Between a Copyright Claim and a Copyright Strike?

Most creators run into issues when they use copywritten music; they think using 30 seconds of a popular song won’t get them in trouble. But YouTube has a Content ID system that scours the platform for “matching” media. If you use someone’s content in your video, you, YouTube, and the copyright holder will know about it.

. YouTube negotiated a deal with music labels that allows creators to use songs in brief, vertical videos – no copyright claims or strikes allowed.

 will keep you out of trouble. You’ll learn helpful tips, like 

how to get royalty-free music from the YouTube audio library

Here are six ridiculous myths that hold creators back from their goals.

Man with beard thinking beside colorful Tube Talk logo on dark background for video podcast

Growing a YouTube channel comes with challenges, but it’s nothing you can’t overcome with the right tips. Here are four that most creators overlook on their journey to more views and subscribers.

Growing a YouTube Channel: 4 Things Creators Overlook


Do you need better thumbnails for your YouTube videos? How about an email list that generates a second or third stream of income?

If you’re passionate about growing on YouTube, these challenges loom in the back of your mind. Fortunately, the solution is clear. It’s time to enlist the help of technology, which means finding the best digital tools for YouTube creators.

, we chat with Aurelius Tjin about which tools a creator needs to succeed on YouTube. From monetizing social media to managing video projects, he shares an app that can handle the task.

 with more than 56,000 subscribers, where he trains creators to be solid digital marketers. Here are six YouTube tools he recommends to level up your channel.

1. Canva: YouTube Channel Art, Thumbnail Maker, and Video Editor

Most people know Canva as a user-friendly tool for designing graphics. It does more than that, though. Canva has 

, which boasts thousands of video templates, as well as millions of stock videos, music tracks, and animations. And when you’re not editing a video, Cava has templates for every graphic you’d need on YouTube. That includes channel banners, video thumbnails, and profile icons.

Tjin creates nearly half of his thumbnails using Canva. He says the background remover is his favorite feature on the site.

“You just press one button and then it just removes the background [from an image],” Tjin says. “For thumbnails [showing myself], I remove the background, and then I place a different kind of background. It’s actually a Canva Pro option but worth every dollar, in my opinion.”

 Free, Pro, and Enterprise plans at $0, $9.99 per month, and $30 per month, respectively.

Do you have tons of videos to shoot but no way of organizing those projects? Give 

 a try. This all-in-one solution will help you plan and track your projects with robust documents, notes, and calendars. You can visualize an entire project from start to finish, which makes Notion a worthy tool for YouTube creators.

“The way I like to use it is by using a kanban system developed by Toyota,” Tjin says. “In terms of YouTube videos, you’ve got your ideas in one section. The next step would be to outline it or script it or maybe do some keyword research. Then you move it from scripting to recording. I like how you can set all this up in Notion.”

Tjin says Trello and Asana are also good project management apps. But Notion edges them out when it comes to creative flexibility. You can embed a table within 

 Personal, Pro, and Team plans at $0, $4 per month, and $8 per month, respectively. Contact Notion for a quote on Enterprise plans.

3. Things: Create To-Do Lists for YouTube Tasks

, a task manager for iOS users, is all about getting stuff done. It takes your digital lists and sorts them into daily tasks that are beautiful, yet easy to read.

feature. This is where you dump random to-do items to be organized later. The 

 feature lets you declare when you’ll start a task, as opposed to setting a firm deadline. Next, Things will organize the tasks and send notifications when something is approaching.

That’s it! Now you can own the day. As productivity tools go, Things is the simplest one for YouTube creators.

 $9.99 for iPhone and iWatch, $19.99 for iPad, and $49.99 for Mac.

4. ConvertKit: Monetize Your YouTube Audience Via Email Marketing

Do you have an email list for your YouTube channel? If not, set one up with 

. It’s an awesome email marketing tool for beginners, and the first 1,000 subscribers to your newsletter won’t cost you anything on the free plan. Across the various plans, you can send email broadcasts, sell digital products, create funnels, check your analytics, and more.

Making Money on YouTube - 7 Tips to Start a Successful Business

Tjin says ConvertKit has clean, uncluttered designs. It’s also a good choice when you need a solution beyond email marketing.

“They’ve got landing pages you can set up with a few clicks of your mouse,” Tjin says. “So you don’t need to worry about all the CSS and HTML and integrating it with WordPress or whatever platform you’re using.

 Free, Creator, and Creator Pro plans starting at $0, $29 per month, and $59 per month, respectively.

5. Koji: Monetize Your YouTube Audience on Social Media

Here’s an overlooked YouTube tool creators 

 is a “link in bio” that supercharges your revenue. Koji’s tools will help you make money, engage with subscribers, and grow your community – all from just one bio link.

“I like that it integrates with the ability to sell digital products or services – or cameo shoutouts, if you want to do that,” Tjin says. “[There’s a] 'buy me a coffee' tip jar you can add to it, as opposed to using LinkTree, which purely acts as a page where you’ve got a list of links.”

 It’s free, but there are various transaction fees. Review them carefully!

6. vidIQ: Grow on the Go With YouTube Data and Channel Insights

Last on the list is our very own YouTube tool. When you 

, it integrates with YouTube to turn your channel into a number-driven universe. There are metrics showing video views per hour. A collection of graphs shows you the best time to publish videos. The SEO video score, which measures search optimization, will rate your video according to its title, description, and other metadata. And that’s less than 10% of what vidIQ offers.

Tjin uses vidIQ all the time. More than anything, he says the keyword research tool is a game-changer.

“You get actual numbers for how many people are searching for a term,” Tjin says. “That’s what stood out to me compared to a couple of the other keyword research tools.”

 Basic, Pro, Boost, and Boost+ plans starting at $0, $7.50 per month, $39 per month, and $415 per month, respectively. 

The best tools for YouTube creators make everything easier. If you want to simplify the journey even more, here are 

Smiling man with laptop standing next to Tube Talk logo on dark and white background.

Need some amazing YouTube tools in your life? Use these apps to make thumbnails, manage video projects, and get stuff done.

6 Digital Tools Every YouTube Creator Needs

Every creator goes through a period of frustration on YouTube – a phase where their channel just isn’t growing. Popular videos start to underperform. Viewers aren’t subscribing. It’s confusing to the creator because they’re working hard to create vlogs, tutorials, and live streams. But for some reason, viewers aren’t interested.

Getting over this hump takes serious self-reflection. You have to separate yourself from your content and ask, 

, a social media strategist and YouTube creator, has a hunch about why some creators fail. Before he crossed 79,000 subscribers, there was a time when his YouTube channel wasn’t growing.

“I think that moment was when I was making vlogs that took a ton of time,” Leavitt says. “I liked them, obviously, because they're my videos. But nobody else did.”

Most creators don’t succeed because of one, pesky oversight. Before you can obsess over thumbnails or video equipment, you need to create a value proposition.

Here's a glossary of everything you need to know:

Value Propositions: Why Every Creator Needs One

A value proposition is a promise you make to viewers. It’s a two-part descriptor that helps people understand the value they’ll receive by viewing your content.

What viewers gain by watching your videos

If your channel isn’t growing, it’s because you haven’t done the things above. You haven’t created content that delivers a clear benefit, whether that’s education, entertainment, or something in between. 

That’s the simple trick to getting more views.

 Until you address viewers’ needs, they’ll move on to a channel that satisfies those cravings.

It’s easy to create a value proposition when you have a clear goal. But what if you're unsure of the value you bring? How does one offer something useful while figuring out their content?

Don't worry. In three powerful steps, you can 

If you target every viewer, you’ll appeal to no one. Leavitt says successful creators know exactly who their videos are for.

Are your videos getting little to no views? Here’s a simple trick to boost the value of your YouTube channel.

How To Get More Views on YouTube

What the YouTube Algorithm Likes to See on Creators' Videos

YouTube End Screens: How to Make Cool Video Outros

Growing a YouTube Channel: 4 Things Creators Overlook

6 Digital Tools Every YouTube Creator Needs

YouTube Success: 3 Steps to Create Valuable, Highly-Watched Videos

5 Mistakes That Stop Your YouTube Channel From Growing

Quantity Over Quality: The One Thing New YouTubers Should Focus On

YouTube Algorithm Guide: How Your Videos Are Recommended to Viewers

YouTube Community Tab: The Underrated Growth Tool You NEED to Use

YouTube Cheat Code Unlocked: How to Track Returning Viewers on Your Channel

How to Get More Views on YouTube in 24 Hours

Why It's Not Too Late to Start a YouTube Channel in 2021