You know how YouTubers are always talking about how "the algorithm" didn't like this video, or loves that video. Or that "the algorithm" is a huge black block which nobody knows how it works.
Youtube's "the algorithm" will make or break both videos and channels.
But "the algorithm" isn't really a mystery. At a basic level, it just shows a bunch of video recommendations to viewers, and measures if they click it or not (watch time, comments, likes also factor into the algorithm, but none of that matters if they don't click first). The higher the click-through rate, the more the video is pushed in recommendations.
And the only things a viewer sees is the thumbnail, channel name, and video title. They have to decide which video they are going to watch based on just that.
So really, a large chunk of "the algorithm" is just how appealing your thumbnail is to potential views.
Youtube's "the algorithm" will make or break both videos and channels.
But "the algorithm" isn't really a mystery. At a basic level, it just shows a bunch of video recommendations to viewers, and measures if they click it or not (watch time, comments, likes also factor into the algorithm, but none of that matters if they don't click first). The higher the click-through rate, the more the video is pushed in recommendations.
And the only things a viewer sees is the thumbnail, channel name, and video title. They have to decide which video they are going to watch based on just that.
So really, a large chunk of "the algorithm" is just how appealing your thumbnail is to potential views.