If you're struggling to gain views or subscribers on YouTube, it may be due to certain settings that you haven't adjusted. There are several crucial steps you can take to enhance your channel's performance and avoid wasting time on videos that receive minimal engagement. This article outlines essential settings and strategies that can significantly impact your channel's growth.
One of the first settings to check is the 'publish to subscriptions feed' and 'notify subscribers' option in YouTube Studio. It's important to keep this feature enabled, as disabling it can hinder your visibility. YouTube automatically checks this option for you because it benefits your channel by notifying subscribers of new content. The only exception to this rule is if you upload more than three videos in a single day, as excessive notifications can annoy your audience.
When uploading videos, you may encounter the 'altered content' question. Regardless of whether AI is involved in your content creation, always select 'no.' Choosing 'yes' can severely limit your video's performance, as altered content tends to underperform on the platform.
Another critical setting is determining if your video is made for kids. Always select 'no' to avoid restricting your content to a younger audience. Additionally, ensure that your channel settings reflect this choice by navigating to the advanced settings and confirming that your channel is not designated for kids. This step is vital for maximizing your reach.
In the upload defaults section, consider turning off the option to show how many viewers liked your video. For smaller creators, having a low like count can deter potential viewers. By hiding this information, you can prevent viewers from dismissing your content based on its current engagement metrics.
When setting your video visibility, you may come across the 'set as instant premiere' option. However, this feature is not necessary for gaining views. It does not provide any significant advantages and can be safely unchecked. Focus on creating quality content instead.
YouTube offers a thumbnail A/B testing feature, but it may not be as beneficial as many believe. This feature often promotes videos to a smaller audience based on watch time rather than overall views. As a result, it can lead to fewer views overall. It's advisable to wait until this feature improves before utilizing it.
Tags play a crucial role in your video's discoverability. To maximize their effectiveness, utilize a consistent set of high-search-volume tags relevant to your niche. Tools like Vid IQ can help you identify these tags and track their performance, allowing you to optimize your content for better visibility.
In the channel customization tab, consider adding a subscribe watermark to your videos. This small addition can encourage viewers to subscribe when they hover over it. Displaying this watermark throughout the video can significantly increase your subscriber count.
A simple yet powerful trick to potentially double your YouTube revenue involves adjusting your ad settings. By unblocking sensitive categories such as alcohol and gambling, you can access higher-paying advertisers. This adjustment can lead to a substantial increase in your RPM, as demonstrated by the earnings from similar videos before and after making this change.
Q: How can I optimize my subscription notifications on YouTube?
A: Ensure that the 'publish to subscriptions feed' and 'notify subscribers' options are enabled in YouTube Studio. This helps notify subscribers of new content and increases visibility.
Q: What should I select for the 'altered content' question when uploading videos?
A: Always select 'no' for the 'altered content' question, regardless of whether AI is involved in your content creation, to avoid limiting your video's performance.
Q: How do I set my audience appropriately for my videos?
A: Always select 'no' for the question of whether your video is made for kids. Additionally, confirm in the advanced settings that your channel is not designated for kids to maximize your reach.
Q: Should I show like counts on my videos as a smaller channel?
A: Consider turning off the option to show how many viewers liked your video to prevent potential viewers from dismissing your content based on low engagement metrics.
Q: Is the 'set as instant premiere' option beneficial for gaining views?
A: No, this feature is not necessary for gaining views and can be safely unchecked. Focus on creating quality content instead.
Q: Should I use the thumbnail A/B testing feature?
A: It's advisable to avoid using the thumbnail A/B testing feature for now, as it may promote videos to a smaller audience and lead to fewer overall views.
Q: How can I utilize effective tags for my videos?
A: Use a consistent set of high-search-volume tags relevant to your niche. Tools like Vid IQ can help identify these tags and track their performance for better visibility.
Q: What is the benefit of adding a subscribe watermark to my videos?
A: Adding a subscribe watermark can encourage viewers to subscribe when they hover over it, significantly increasing your subscriber count.
Q: How can I unlock higher revenue potential on YouTube?
A: Adjust your ad settings to unblock sensitive categories like alcohol and gambling, which can lead to access to higher-paying advertisers and a substantial increase in your RPM.