img-semblog
For example, when searching for the keywords “how to apply thermal paste” or “most annoying sound in the world,” we can see that smaller channels are taking the number one spot. Below, we see db telegram that Tech Illiterate, with 6,430 subscribers, surpasses Linus Tech Tips, which has 13.7 million subscribers.
If we wanted to try to explain why, we could start with the fact that Tech Illiterate has a lower share of "dislikes" and a more elaborate video description. But are these factors really that important and do they have an impact on the rankings? Read on to find out.
Tip : When trying to rank for certain keywords, don't get hung up on your competition. Don't worry about getting millions of subscribers, although that helps. Focus on creating high-quality, engaging content. The good stats and followers will come.
Views
The average number of views for a YouTube video in the second position is 74% lower than the average number of views for a video in the first position.
However, the cause-effect relationship can be reversed. The first video in the list is simply more likely to be viewed. This could be a question of "which came first, the chicken or the egg?"
But there is one factor related to viewing that definitely has an impact on rankings. YouTube estimates the viewing time of each video for each keyword, suggesting those that are most likely to be viewed to the end.
If you search for "baking tips," you'll find a big difference in views between the top-ranked video by Scrumdiddlyumptious with 3.9 million views and the second-ranked video by Claire Saffitz x Dessert Person with just 446k views. The first video is 9 times shorter, so it's likely to have a better chance of being watched to the end.
Tip: Don't wait for YouTube's ranking algorithm to kick in. Actively promote your video and share it across multiple channels as it's fresh out of the oven to ensure it gets a bigger boost and reaches a wider audience.
How do engagement metrics impact YouTube rankings?
YouTube has publicly stated that it encourages creators to interact with their audiences to maximize engagement and help their videos rank.
While we might take YouTube’s word for it, we decided to see how much engagement impacts video rankings and how.
I like
The average number of likes for the second position on YouTube search results is 72% lower than the average number of likes for the first position.
This data is reflected in the previous example, where the Scrumdiddlyumptious video got double the likes of Claire Saffitz x Dessert Person (24K vs. 12K).
The difference between the first position and all the others is really remarkable. But this insight could have a connotation similar to that of the chicken-egg question.
Videos that rank higher get more views and therefore more likes and dislikes. The number of likes correlates with the number of views with a correlation coefficient of 99%.
