We're going to first look at audience retention, which affects watch time and that is the second most important metric to look at when you're growing a YouTube channel. Now, as we see right here on one of my videos, audience retention—you see a 60% drop-off in the first 30 seconds. We see a 14% drop-off in the first three seconds. Why don't people like me? What does this mean? What do I do? Why does everybody in my life leave me? All this really tells us is that big media and big government and tech companies are winning in lowering our attention span to about the span of a foot. But if we look a little closer, we'll notice something interesting. So, as you'll see 11 seconds in, I have above average audience retention, yet when we move to about 15 seconds in, I have average or below average audience retention and it dips a lot. Does this mean I'm just good at making first impressions like Natalie Portman in Black Swan, or can we learn a bit more from this? Let's dive in a little bit deeper.
Next, let's look at CTR, which is shorthand for click-through rate, which is the number one most important metric in YouTube for creators. Period. The click-through rate measures how often when people see your video title and your thumbnail on YouTube, which they're going to see either one of two ways: they're going to see it in the suggested video bar on the sides or below your video you're watching, or they're going to see your video thumbnail and title in the search results. Now, some important numbers I suggest you write down if you are doing anything with content on YouTube is what are target click-through rates you should be aiming for. So, the first one, which is acceptable, is hitting between three to five percent click-through rate. That is acceptable. When I started YouTube, I wasn't looking at these numbers at all. Generally, I would see click-through rates around 1, which is really awful, and YouTube will never actually really bump up your content if you don't have a good click-through rate. Whereas if you're receiving a 5 plus click-through rate, you are in the money. That's a really good click-through rate. It means you're getting a lot of appeal, and if you can bundle a high click-through rate with a high watch time, you're gonna do very well on YouTube. They'll suggest your videos, and people will want to watch them.
Q: What is audience retention on YouTube?
A: Audience retention is a metric that affects watch time and is the second most important metric to look at when growing a YouTube channel. It measures how long viewers stay engaged with a video.
Q: How does audience retention impact a YouTube channel?
A: Audience retention gives insight into how engaging a video is and helps creators understand when viewers drop off. By analyzing audience retention, creators can optimize their content to keep viewers engaged for longer periods.
Q: What is click-through rate (CTR) on YouTube?
A: Click-through rate (CTR) is the percentage of viewers who click on a video after seeing the thumbnail and title. It is the most important metric for creators as it indicates how compelling the video is to potential viewers.
Q: Why is click-through rate (CTR) important for YouTube creators?
A: Click-through rate is crucial for YouTube creators as it determines how often their videos are recommended and suggested to viewers. A high CTR indicates that the video is appealing and relevant to the audience.
