Back

Escape YouTube’s Low-Views Jail: 4 Easy Fixes That Work

avatar
23 Nov 20255 min read
Share with
  • Copy link

Can one small setting be the reason your videos get stuck with low views?

Ask a curious question that hooks the reader about low views

Have you ever wondered why some videos feel invisible? One tiny setting can send your video to the wrong people. Then no one watches. This article shows simple fixes. Use them before your next upload. You will get better chances of real viewers finding your videos.

Brief promise: 4 practical changes that get YouTube to show your videos to the right audience

Follow four easy changes. They come from what real channels do. Do them and YouTube is more likely to show your work to the right crowd. These tips focus on YouTube low views, YouTube category, autodub and language settings, VidIQ, and key stats like watch time retention and click through rate.

  • Change 1: Choose the right YouTube category in the video details. Pick the one that matches your video: Auto for cars, Comedy for jokes, Education for lessons, Gaming for game videos.
  • Change 2: Check your language settings. Turn off automatic dubbing for languages that give low watch time. That stops YouTube from showing your video to viewers who do not watch it.
  • Change 3: Find topics that work for small creators. Use tools like VidIQ to filter search results by small channels. This shows gaps where small channels get big views.
  • Change 4: Use YouTube analytics to ask one question: What does my audience really want? Use the Audience → Trends tool to check topic interest before you upload.

How to use this guide: quick fixes you can apply before your next upload

Do these steps before you hit upload. They are fast and clear. First, set the right category. Find the video details and pick the best match. Do not guess. If your video teaches, pick Education. If it is funny, pick Comedy.

Next, open Analytics. Go to Advanced Mode. Break the data by geography. Look for countries that watch for very little time. Then open the video details. Under Languages, remove any auto-dubbed languages that match those low-watch countries. This stops YouTube from showing your video to people who do not watch it.

Third, use VidIQ. Search a topic you like. Filter results by channels with low subscribers. This shows which small creators get lots of views. Make similar content, but put your own twist on it. This is how many small channels grow fast.

Fourth, check the Audience → Trends tool in YouTube Studio. Type your topic into the search bar. If it shows 'very high interest', it is worth trying. If it shows 'low interest', skip it. This saves time and avoids dead topics.

| Metric | Long-form target | Shorts target | | --- | --- | --- | | Click-through rate (first 24h) | Aim for >10% | N/A, but thumbnail still matters | | First 30 seconds retention | Around 70% or higher | Keep viewers for most of the short | | Stay to watch / Percent watched | N/A | Aim for >80% stay to watch | | Average view duration rule | If video >30s, aim for ~80% of length | If <30s, make almost all viewers watch full clip |

These numbers matter. If you hit them, YouTube will push your videos more. For long videos, aim for a good click through rate in the first day and high retention in the first 30 seconds. For shorts, focus on 'stay to watch' and strong average view percent.

A quick note on autodub. YouTube can auto-dub your audio into other languages. This can sound good. But it can also send your video to viewers who do not watch long. If those viewers drop off fast, it can hurt your channel. Removing unwanted auto-dubs helps fix that.

Want to find topics that lift small channels? Use VidIQ and set the subscriber filter. Look for clips where creators with low subs still get many views. Those are the gaps you can fill. That is the best way to get small channel growth.

Do these four changes before your next upload. They take little time. They change who sees your video. And they help real viewers find your work. Go try VidIQ to find topics that match your channel and start applying these fixes today.

Choose the right category so YouTube shows your videos to the right people

Do you ever wonder why some videos get lots of views and others do not? One big reason is the video category. Pick the wrong category and your video goes to the wrong people. Pick the right one and the right viewers find you.

Why category matters: how YouTube uses category to route content

YouTube looks at the category to learn what your video is about. Then it shows your video to people who like that topic. If your category is wrong, YouTube may send your content to people who will not watch. That lowers your chances to grow and can cause YouTube low views.

Step-by-step: where to set category in YouTube Studio (before or after upload)

You can set the category when you upload. You can also change it later in YouTube Studio under Details. Do this before you share the video. If you change it later, YouTube may need time to learn who likes it.

  • Open YouTube Studio and go to Content.
  • Click the video and choose Details.
  • Scroll down to Category and pick the best match.
  • Save changes.

Examples: which category to use for cars, comedy, education, gaming, music, how-to

Choose the category that fits the main topic. Use simple labels so YouTube can match viewers fast.

| Topic | Use this category | | --- | --- | | Car reviews, repairs | Auto | | Funny skits | Comedy | | Lessons, guides | Education | | Roblox, Fortnite | Gaming | | Songs, tracks | Music | | Style tips, fashion | Howto & Style |

Common mistake: over-selecting subcategories — when to choose 'how-to' and when not to

Only pick a subcategory like 'how-to' if the video truly teaches a step-by-step task. Do not add extra tags that do not match the main goal. Extra choices can confuse YouTube. That can lead to lower watch time and fewer clicks. Set one clear category and keep it honest.

Fix your category now. It is an easy change that helps YouTube learn who should see your work. For more tools to find the right topics, try VidIQ to help small channels grow and improve click through rate and watch time retention.

Stop autodub from sending your videos to viewers who won't watch

Is YouTube showing your videos to people who skip them fast? That can hurt your growth. Many creators do not check their language settings. Auto dubbing can send your video to countries that do not watch long. This lowers your average watch time and slows growth.

What autodub does and why it can hurt your channel

Auto dubbing lets YouTube add translated audio. That can reach more countries. But if those viewers leave early, your watch time retention drops. Lower retention can make YouTube show your video less. This can lead to YouTube low views.

How to check geography and view-duration by country in Analytics → Advanced → Geography

Open Analytics and go to Advanced. Then pick Geography. Look at views and average view duration by country. Find countries where viewers watch much less than your channel average. Those places can hurt your metrics.

How to remove language/dubbed options from a video’s details to limit low-retention regions

Go to the video Details. Find Languages. Remove any dubbed languages that match low-retention countries. This stops YouTube from auto-sending the video there. It is a simple way to protect your stats.

When to leave autodub on and when to remove it

Keep autodub on if those countries watch as long as your average. Turn it off if they watch a lot less. Use data, not guesses.

| Action | When to choose | Effect | | --- | --- | --- | | Remove autodub | Country view time < channel average | Fewer low-retention views; better overall watch time | | Keep autodub | Country view time ≥ channel average | More reach without hurting retention |

Now go check your language settings and turn off autodub for low-retention regions. This small change can help your videos get shown to the right people.

Target topics that perform for creators like you (not just big channels)

Want to stop being stuck with YouTube low views? Ask this first: are you copying big channels or filling a gap they miss? Big creators get views from big followings. Small creators win when they find topics that match their size. This is how you get real small channel growth.

Why copying big creators can fail you — look for gaps small channels exploit

Big channels often get views because people already follow them. If you copy them, your video may not get the same push. Instead, look for topics that get attention even from creators with few subscribers. Those topics are gaps. Fill them and you get better reach.

Use VidIQ filters to show videos with high views from low-subscriber channels

Tools like VidIQ let you filter by subscriber counts. Pick low numbers. Then see which videos still get lots of views. That shows real demand. This method beats guessing. It helps you find what small audiences want.

How to pick topics and titles that small creators are winning with

  • Filter search results by low subscriber range in VidIQ or similar tools.
  • Sort by views and watch which formats repeat.
  • Copy the video idea and format, not the exact headline.
  • Write a simple, clear title that matches what that small audience clicks.

Fast CTA: try VidIQ (or similar tools) to discover content gaps

If you want faster growth, go try VidIQ or a similar tool now. Use filters to spot gaps. Then make videos that hit good click through rate and strong watch time retention. Also check your YouTube category and language settings so autodub or wrong regions don’t hurt you. Small changes can end YouTube low views.

Make sure your CTR and watch metrics meet YouTube’s expectations

Are your views stuck? If so, the numbers YouTube checks can stop your growth. Many creators fix titles and thumbnails but forget two big things: click through rate and watch time retention. These tell YouTube whether to show your video more.

Long-form targets: aim for >10% CTR in first 24 hours and strong retention in first 30 seconds

For videos over a minute, aim for a >10% click through rate in the first 24 hours. Also, keep viewers watching. If about 60–70% are still there at 30 seconds, your video will get more reach.

Shorts targets: stay-to-watch >80% and average view duration rules (calculator trick)

For shorts, the key is stay-to-watch. Aim for >80%. Use a simple trick: if your short is longer than 30s, target ~80% of its length as average view duration. If it is shorter, try to get viewers to watch almost the whole clip.

How to measure: where to find CTR, average view duration and watch retention in Studio

Open YouTube Studio. Go to Content, pick a video, then Analytics. Under Reach you find CTR. Under Engagement you find average view duration and retention graphs. Check the first 24 hours and the first 30 seconds.

| Metric | Long-form target | Shorts target | | --- | --- | --- | | Click Through Rate (first 24h) | > 10% | Not critical | | First 30s retention | ≈ 60–70%+ | N/A (use stay-to-watch) | | Stay-to-watch | Help retention early | > 80% | | Average view duration rule | If >30s → ~80% of length | If <30s → nearly full length |

Quick upload checklist: category, language, topic fit, CTR & retention goals — then publish (CTA: use VidIQ or a coach to speed results)

  • Pick the right YouTube category before upload.
  • Check language settings and turn off unwanted autodub locales.
  • Choose topics that help small channel growth, not only big creators’ hits.
  • Set CTR and retention targets for each video.
  • Use tools like VidIQ or a coach to find gaps and speed results.
Related articles