In this conversation, Augie Johnston and Grant Ball discuss the changes happening on YouTube and what actually matters in 2024. They cover topics such as the diminishing importance of subscribers, the role of click-through rate and watch time, the relevance of tags, the impact of shorts on channel growth, and the rise of ultra-long-form content like video podcasts. They emphasize the need for creators to focus on viewer satisfaction and the importance of building an engaged audience through consistent content creation.

Takeaways

• Subscribers are no longer as important as they used to be in terms of the YouTube algorithm. Click-through rate and watch time are more crucial metrics for video performance.
• Tags have become less important in recent years, with YouTube relying more on computer vision and AI to understand video content.
• Shorts can be beneficial for channel growth, but their impact on long-form content viewership is uncertain. It's important to consider the alignment between short and long-form content.
• Ultra-long-form content, such as video podcasts, can be successful in accumulating watch time, but it's a high-risk, high-reward strategy. Building a loyal audience through consistent content creation is key.
• YouTube is placing more emphasis on viewer satisfaction, using surveys to gauge how satisfied viewers are with the content they watch.
• Creators should focus on delivering value and meeting viewer expectations in their videos, avoiding clickbait and ensuring that the content matches the title and thumbnail.
• While subscribers can be a fun metric and provide social proof, the number of monthly views is a more accurate measure of a channel's success and impact.
• Creators should consider starting a video podcast as it can attract a dedicated audience and contribute to channel growth.

YouTube has introduced a new feature called A-B thumbnail testing, which allows creators to upload up to three thumbnails and test which one performs better. This feature helps creators determine the visual direction that works best for their brand. YouTube is also rolling out the For You shelf, which recommends videos from a channel that the algorithm thinks the viewer would be interested in. This feature enhances discoverability and improves user experience. Additionally, three tools for creators were discussed: ViewStats.com, a competitor to Social Blade for tracking channel views; Claude.ai, a tool for generating titles and descriptions; and Chat GPT, a tool for brainstorming ideas.

Takeaways

• YouTube has introduced A-B thumbnail testing, allowing creators to test multiple thumbnails and determine which one performs better.
• The For You shelf on YouTube recommends videos from a channel that the algorithm thinks the viewer would be interested in, enhancing discoverability and improving user experience.
• Three useful tools for creators are ViewStats.com, Claude.ai, and Chat GPT.
• ViewStats.com is a competitor to Social Blade for tracking channel views.
• Claude.ai is a tool for generating titles and descriptions.
• Chat GPT is a tool for brainstorming ideas.

YouTube is undergoing changes that benefit small channels and promote authenticity. The platform is now recommending videos from channels with low subscriber numbers, allowing them to gain traction and views. YouTube is trying to level the playing field and give new creators a chance to succeed. The evolution of YouTube has seen different eras, from the experimental era to the viral era, skit era, personality era, connection era, and now the sensational era. YouTube is also being viewed more on TV, surpassing Netflix in hours watched. The algorithm may need to adapt to the TV viewing experience. YouTube is unlikely to compete with Netflix by creating paid exclusive shows, as the platform's strength lies in its free, user-generated content. Shorts may become less prominent as YouTube focuses more on long-form content. Creators should be cautious about shorts, as they can disrupt the subscriber-to-view ratio. Overall, YouTube continues to support and benefit creators.

Takeaways

• YouTube is promoting small channels and giving them a chance to gain traction and views.
• The evolution of YouTube has seen different eras, from the experimental era to the sensational era.
• YouTube is being viewed more on TV, surpassing Netflix in hours watched.
• The algorithm may need to adapt to the TV viewing experience.
• YouTube is unlikely to compete with Netflix by creating paid exclusive shows.
• Creators should be cautious about shorts, as they can disrupt the subscriber-to-view ratio.