The best way to get more views on YouTube is to optimize your videos so they show up in search and recommendations
— and keep viewers engaged once they click. That means mastering clickable thumbnails, compelling titles, and content that delivers on its promise.


With 10+ billion views tracked through coaching and tools, vidIQ provides data-backed insights into what drives video discovery.


In this section, we will break down strategies, examples, and case studies so you can consistently grow your views.

More Views

How To Get More Views on YouTube

The fastest way to get more YouTube subscribers is to publish videos that keep viewers watching and make it easy for them to subscribe.
That means using strong titles and thumbnails, clear calls to action, and building content around topics people are already searching for.


At vidIQ, we analyze millions of channels to see what actually drives subscriber growth, from doubling down on high-retention videos
to packaging content in ways that hook new audiences. Explore our guides and case studies to learn proven tactics that will
help you grow your subscribers faster.

Get Subscribers

How to Get More YouTube Subscribers

To make money on YouTube, creators start by qualifying for the YouTube Partner Program and enabling ads, but that’s just the beginning. Real income comes from combining multiple streams: sponsorships, channel memberships, affiliate marketing, and selling your own products or services. 

At vidIQ, we’ve studied how creators unlock monetization
milestones and scale beyond ad revenue. Here you will learn practical strategies to diversify income and build
a sustainable business from your YouTube channel.

Make Money

How To Make Money on YouTube

YouTube Analytics reveal which videos are working and why, but not all metrics matter equally. Watch time, retention, CTR, and revenue are the numbers that drive real growth. 

At vidIQ, we break down these metrics with examples so you can spot trends, identify weak points, and make smarter decisions for your channel. Here you’ll learn how to use analytics as a growth engine, not just a dashboard.

Data Insights

YouTube Analytics Explained: Metrics That Matter

Watch Time is arguably THE most important metric on YouTube right now, and creators won’t be able to monetize their content without 4000 hours of it. But what is it and how can creators increase the amount of Watch Time their videos attract? We keep you updated on the best practices around Watch Time, and how you can increase how much your video content generates.

Watch Time

YouTube Watch Time

YouTube Shorts are one of the fastest ways to reach new viewers and grow your channel.


With millions of Shorts analyzed, vidIQ has tracked the formats and strategies that help creators break through. Here you’ll learn how to make Shorts that stand out, and how to use them to boost your long-form videos.

YouTube Shorts

YouTube Shorts: Tips and Strategies

The best YouTube tips save time and make your videos perform better. From thumbnail tweaks to hidden features in YouTube Studio, small changes can drive big results. 

At vidIQ, we’ve tested countless tactics across millions of videos to see what really works. Here you’ll find quick wins and practical shortcuts you can use right now to grow faster and work smarter.

Quick Tips

YouTube Tips for Creators

The fastest way to grow on YouTube is to create content around trending topics while viewers are searching for them. 

With vidIQ’s data, we track the keywords, niches, and formats that are taking off across millions of channels. Here you’ll find insights into what’s working now, including creator case studies and examples, so you can publish videos that ride the wave of demand and stay ahead of competitors.

Trending Now

YouTube Trends and Insights

Your In-Depth Guide to Building a Successful YouTube Channel

 has one primary goal: to get their videos recommended to more people. They want YouTube to (finally) notice their content, identify the subject matter, and suggest it to thousands of like-minded viewers.

Your best plan of action, especially as a small creator, is to understand how YouTube recommends videos. You'll want to figure out why the algorithm promotes some content and, well...basically ignores others.

In truth, it's not that the algorithm doesn't favor you or is biased against your channel. 

YouTube doesn't hate small creators. It just doesn't know whom to recommend you to yet. 

In this blog, we'll learn how to fix that.

YouTube Recommendations Are Based on Viewer Behavior

Here's the first mindshift you need to make:

Every single video you upload is treated as a new test. 

YouTube doesn't care if you have 5 subscribers or 5 million. What it cares about is whether people are clicking on your video, sticking around to watch it, and coming back for more.

So even if your last 10 videos flopped, the next one still gets a shot. That's actually good news for small creators. But to pass the test, you've got to send YouTube the right signals about your content and your audience.

Graph showing typical video performance on YouTube

When someone watches your video and has a positive experience, YouTube starts looking for other people with similar viewing patterns and interests. The more positive signals you generate, the wider your reach becomes. This is why you'll sometimes see a small channel with 100 subscribers get a video that hits 50,000 views seemingly overnight.

YouTube’s 3-Tiered Recommendation System

Think of YouTube’s recommendation process like leveling up in a game. Every video is tested in a sequence of audiences:

Your subscribers and repeat viewers. This is your home base. If they enjoy the video, it moves to the next stage.

People in your niche who watch similar videos—maybe they follow your competitors or recently searched for the topic.

Complete strangers. If your video performs well in the first two groups, it “graduates” here and has a shot at virality.

The beauty of this system is that it rewards creators who truly serve their audience, not just those who game the algorithm. When you consistently deliver value to your core viewers, YouTube becomes more confident in recommending you to similar people.

Small creators often treat their channel like a digital diary. One day it's gaming, the next it's cooking, then it's a vlog with your dog. Creative freedom is great, but to the algorithm, it's pretty confusing.

Spoiler: If you make content for everyone, YouTube won't know who to recommend you to.

Think about it from YouTube's perspective. The platform serves billions of hours of content every day. Its job is to keep people watching by showing them exactly what they want to see. When your channel jumps between wildly different topics, YouTube can't build a 

clear picture of who your ideal viewer is.

This doesn't mean you can never evolve or try new things, but especially in your first 50-100 videos, consistency is your best friend.

Keep your thumbnails and titles visually consistent

Develop a recognizable content format or style

You're not just building videos. You're building a brand that YouTube can confidently recommend to the right people.

The biggest point of affirmation for the algorithm to determine whether your videos can be recommended or not is watch time. And the best way to do that is to improve the 

If someone watches your video and then watches another video (yours or someone else's), YouTube rewards you. If your video ends their session (they close the app or tab), that's a negative signal to YouTube recommendations. That's called 

5 Ways to Increase YouTube Watch Time on Any Video

Session time is arguably more important than individual video performance because it shows YouTube that your content fits into the broader viewing experience people want. 

When viewers stay on the platform after watching your video, you're contributing to YouTube's core business model. Here's how you can improve your session time:

Reference your other videos inside your current one

Use verbal handoffs: "Next, watch this…"

Create content series that naturally lead into each other

Use the "Hook – Hold – Handoff" Framework

This framework is used by some of the fastest-growing creators on YouTube. It's how you keep people watching—and signal to YouTube that your content is binge-worthy.

Grab attention in the first 5–10 seconds.

 "I cooked gourmet food for the most dangerous animals on Earth..."

The hook isn't just about being loud or shocking. It's about immediately communicating the value and intrigue of your video. Your hook should make viewers think: "I need to see how this plays out."

Progressive revelations, bigger stakes, deeper insights—whatever your video promises, you need to deliver it in a way that builds momentum rather than plateaus.

This is where pacing becomes crucial. Plan your content like a story with rising action. Each segment should feel more valuable or interesting than the last.

 "If you liked this one, just wait till you see what I did next…"

The result? Binge behavior. And binge behavior is the algorithm's rocket fuel.

A lot of small creators kill their videos with bad titles that are vague, boring, and generic. 

Your title is competing with hundreds of other videos for attention. Generic titles get ignored because they don't create any emotional investment. Specific titles with clear benefits cut through the noise.

Consider the psychology of your viewer when they're scrolling. They're asking themselves: "Is this worth my time?" Your title needs to answer that question with a clear "yes" and a compelling reason why.

In case of thumbnails, make sure to focus on clarity. If your thumbnails look like a chaotic Canva explosion... It's time to clean up. 

Expression that matches the video's emotion

You get 2 seconds on the homepage. Make them count. Your thumbnail needs to generate curiosity and be readable at the size of a postage stamp. If you can't tell what your thumbnail is about when it's tiny, neither can your potential viewers.

How To Create Scroll-Stopping YouTube Thumbnails Faster with AI

Here's a fatal mistake a lot of creators make: You have an awesome title and a killer thumbnail… but your video intro is a snooze fest.

"Hey guys, welcome back to the channel! So glad you're here…"

…you've already lost half your audience. Instead, do this:

Reinforce the promise of the video immediately

If the title is "How YouTube Deleted My Channel," say it right away in the video: "Three days ago, YouTube deleted my channel, and here's exactly what happened…"

The first 15 seconds of your video are crucial for YouTube recommendations. This is where the algorithm decides whether your content is engaging enough to show to more people. A slow start signals that viewers might click away, which hurts your recommendation potential.

This one's sneaky. YouTube transcribes your entire video. Every word.

So, if your video is about YouTube recommendations but you never actually say "YouTube recommendations," the algorithm may not be confident in what your video is about.

Say your main keyword early and naturally

 ("YouTube algorithm," "getting recommended," etc.)

YouTube's automatic captions and transcription feed directly into their understanding of your content. This semantic understanding helps the algorithm match your video with relevant searches and recommend it alongside similar content.

Don't stuff keywords awkwardly, but make sure you're naturally using the language your audience uses when searching for your type of content.

YouTube favors videos that are relevant right now. This is called 

. Your chances of getting recommended skyrocket if you time your video with:

A phone showing the youtube logo next to the youtube homepage on a desktop computer

How does the YouTube algorithm work — specifically, the recommendation engine that promotes videos to billions of viewers? Keep reading to find out and grow your channel!

YouTube's 'Suggested Videos' Algorithm: How to Crack It

, creators have been asking for this. And we’re happy to see it’s finally here!

Now you can test both titles and thumbnails and get a full view of what packaging really performs. This isn’t just a feature — it’s a shift. YouTube is doubling down on giving creators data-backed tools to grow smarter, not louder.

In the video above, Rob will take you through the update with all that you need to know, so don't miss it!

25 YouTube Updates that Will Affect Your Channel in 2025

From Thumbnails to Titles: Completing the Testing Toolkit

The thumbnail testing tool has been a game-changer for YouTubers. For the first time, you could test how different visual hooks performed in real time, no more relying on gut instinct or post-upload tweaks. But thumbnails are only one part of the equation. Titles don’t just support the thumbnail — they sell the click. Now, YouTube is finally letting creators test titles the same way. Title A/B testing is here.

. But the title carries the message — the value prop, the hook, the reason to click. Without testing titles, creators were flying half-blind, but not anymore!

Note: This feature is currently desktop-only and not available for YouTube Shorts.

YouTube now lets you test up to 3 different titles per video. That’s in addition to (or instead of) thumbnail testing.

Test 3 different titles with the same thumbnail

Test 3 different thumbnails with the same title

Test combinations of both — up to 3 title/thumbnail pairs

Pick up to 3 versions of your title. You can also select up to 3 thumbnails. Mix and match if you want.

YouTube will randomly serve each variation to viewers. Over time, it tracks performance.

Head to the Reach tab in Analytics. There, you’ll see how each title performed.

 as the winning metric — it uses Watch Time Share. That means the title that leads to more sustained viewing wins, not necessarily the one that gets the fastest clicks.

Tests typically run from 1 to 14 days, depending on how quickly statistical significance is reached. Once there's a clear winner, YouTube automatically applies it to your video.

Graphic representation of YouTube title A/B testing

The real value of this tool isn’t the advice — it’s the freedom to experiment. Here’s a smarter framework for testing:

Title A: SEO-optimized, packed with relevant keywords

Title B: The control — your usual style that’s worked before

Title C: Curiosity-driven, emotional, even risky

This setup lets you balance between what people search for vs. what people feel compelled to click. And that’s where real growth happens.

Like any new feature, this rollout isn’t perfect and has some constraints:

❌ No CTR data — Watch Time Share is the only metric

❌ Mobile support is MIA — desktop only (for now)

Still, the tool is clean, intuitive, and powerful in its simplicity.

To use the new title testing tool, you need to have:

Verified account status (phone number, ID, etc.)

There’s no flashy announcement yet, but based on YouTube’s past behavior, this is likely a staggered rollout. Expect wider access by the end of 2025.

This update finally gives creators full control over their first impression. No more hunches, no more “maybe it’s the title” guesswork. Now you can test, iterate, and know what works — just like marketers A/B test subject lines or product pages.

Combining other tools with YouTube’s A/B testing can create a tight feedback loop, right from idea to iteration to outcome. If you want help crafting strong title variants, powered with 

customization for SEO impact, emotional pull, and clickability, 

Want to A/B test your titles to see which one performs better? YouTube has you covered with its newest tool update.

YouTube Launches New Title A/B Testing Tool — Here’s What You Need to Know

This post was originally written Mar 10, 2020 and has been updated with newer information.

You’ve heard the saying, “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” but let’s be real, we all do. And when it comes to YouTube, your thumbnail

 the cover. If you want to stand out, you need the ability to upload custom thumbnails for YouTube videos that truly represent your content and spark curiosity.

How To Enable Custom Thumbnails on YouTube

There are no views, subscribers, or watch time requirements to unlock custom thumbnails. All you need to do is verify your YouTube account. 

Here’s the step-by-step on how to verify your account:

 and click your profile icon in the top-right corner.

 (or search “YouTube feature eligibility” directly).

 option in the list of available features.

Choose whether to receive a verification code via text or voice call.

Enter your phone number, submit, and input the six-digit code when it arrives.

Once verified, you’ll instantly unlock access to upload custom thumbnails.

Keep in mind, You can only verify two YouTube accounts per phone number each year.

Why Custom Thumbnails on YouTube are Critical to Success

Let’s look at an example. Imagine uploading a helpful video, but the thumbnail YouTube auto-generates is just an awkward frame of you blinking. Not exactly click-worthy.

Now imagine replacing that with a bold, custom image that teases the topic, uses clear text, and visually tells the viewer what they’ll learn. That’s the 

Now That You’re Verified, Start Creating Thumbnails That Get Clicks

Once you enable custom thumbnails, start experimenting with design, color, and text to create thumbnails that stop the scroll and reflect your brand.

Need help designing your first one? Try vidIQ’s free 

 to build bold, clickable visuals in minutes.

As you increase your thumbnail making skills, you should see the amount of clicks (this is called 

) increase! A key signal that more viewers are choosing to watch your videos.

If you want to take your YouTube channel to the next level then make sure to download vidIQ. It will help you research YouTube, analyze videos, audit your own channel, and take actionable steps 

Custom YouTube thumbnail example with a padlock icon and bold text on blue background.

Enabling custom thumbnails is one of the easiest but most important things you can do for your YouTube channel. Here's how to enable that feature fast.

How to Enable Custom Thumbnails On YouTube

This post was originally written Mar 10, 2020 and has been updated with newer information

Eye-catching custom thumbnails are essential for growing your YouTube channel,  but what about the thumbnails on videos you've 

If you’re like most creators, your early thumbnails probably weren’t your best work. We’ve been there. At vidIQ, our thumbnails have evolved a lot in the past year. Now, we’re more consistent with color schemes, bold imagery, and minimal text.

And it’s working. Our YouTube click-through rate (CTR) data shows people are much more likely to click on our videos now compared to years ago.

• should you go back and update old thumbnails with your new skills? 

• Can changing thumbnails after a video is posted actually boost views? 

Vevo's Massive YouTube Thumbnail Update: Millions of Extra Views

Even VEVO, one of the largest music channels on YouTube, 

admitted to their own failing when it came to custom thumbnails

. They decided to embark on a hugely ambitious project to update the thumbnails on thousands of their videos, including this one for 

. The thumbnail went from looking like on the one on the left to the one on the right:

The before-and-after was dramatic. And the results? Even better.

thumbnail swap led to a 4,000% increase in views for the video over just two weeks. Vevo saw an immediate spike in traffic, followed by stronger, long-term momentum.

But they didn’t stop there. Vevo applied the same thumbnail update strategy across 4,000+ videos, tracking the results carefully.

On average, views increased by over 5% in the 20 days following the changes, a huge increase at their scale.

Should You Update Your YouTube Custom Thumbnails?

So, this is a no brainer, isn't it? I need to go through all of the terrible thumbnails I was making years ago, update them all, and I'm guaranteed views. 

Well, not exactly. It's important to remember that most videos Vevo release come with some traction of view velocity. Meaning they continue getting views months and years after posting. Swapping the thumbnails gave those videos new life, but it worked because the videos were still discoverable.

For smaller channels who have less views overall, and less evergreen content, it's pointless to change the thumbnails on video that are not driving traffic and expect that to suddenly change. 

Videos bringing in consistent views over the last 48 hours

Evergreen videos still showing up in search or suggested feeds

Older videos with outdated or poorly designed thumbnails

These are the perfect candidates for a thumbnail refresh.


See Thumbnail History with vidIQ’s Free Extension

Before you dive into changing your own thumbnails, it’s smart to see what works for other creators, including your competitors.


, you can view the thumbnail history for most YouTube videos. This shows you the different thumbnails (and titles) a creator has tested over time which is perfect for researching how successful channels optimize their content over time.

vidIQ's Thumbnail History in Chrome Extension

See which thumbnails creators replaced and what they kept

Understand how top channels experiment to improve their click-through rate

Get inspiration for your own custom thumbnails

How to Change YouTube Thumbnail After Posting

If you find videos worth updating, the process is simple:

Upload your new, eye-catching custom thumbnail

 After updating, monitor your CTR and views in the 

 tab of YouTube Analytics to see the impact.

Your old videos are an untapped opportunity if they still bring in traffic. In that case, it’s worth it to change YouTube thumbnails after posting. The payoff can be huge!

Want help designing better thumbnails? Tools like vidIQ’s 

 can make the process faster, especially if you’re updating a lot of videos.

Remember, updating thumbnails works best when paired with 

 and great content. When done right, it’s one of the fastest ways to breathe new life into your YouTube library.

Here's how updating thumbnails helped Vevo generate millions of extra views, and how to change YouTube thumbnails after posting to get better results.

Your In-Depth Guide to Building a Successful YouTube Channel

YouTube's 'Suggested Videos' Algorithm: How to Crack It

YouTube Launches New Title A/B Testing Tool — Here’s What You Need to Know

How to Enable Custom Thumbnails On YouTube

How Updating Old Thumbnails Generated Millions of Extra Views for Vevo

10 Thumbnail Tips: Why Some Thumbnails Get Clicks (and Others Don't)

25 Reasons Why Viewers Are Not Watching Your Videos (And How to Fix Them)

The YouTuber’s Guide to Consistency Without Creative Burnout

Getting a Good Click-Through Rate on YouTube: 6 Proven Tips

3 Secrets to Improve YouTube Audience Retention

How to Make Custom Thumbnails - The Essential Guide!

Has YouTube Become Saturated?

Why YouTube Custom Thumbnails Should NEVER Be an Afterthought: 5 Expert Tips

How to Download a YouTube Thumbnail (Fast, Easy & Free)