YouTube’s algorithm is like a very good fortune teller. It predicts which videos viewers want to watch and delivers them to YouTube viewers.

When the YouTube algorithm works well, it connects people to content and channels they’ll love through each viewer’s Home Feed, Suggested Videos, the “Up Next” panel, and YouTube recommendations.

Learn to work with the algorithm (your “crystal ball”), and it can be your biggest YouTube asset outside of your own content, helping you increase watch time, engagement, channel growth, and your fans!

But how exactly does YouTube recommend videos? YouTube’s recommendation system is specifically designed to keep viewers watching and on YouTube for longer by suggesting relevant content that entertains, educates, intrigues, and inspires viewers.

YouTube’s recommended video content is based on each person’s interests, watch history, and the videos they interact with.

If your videos are optimized for your content, the YouTube algorithm is more likely to recommend them to a wider, relevant audience, potentially increasing your channel’s visibility and subscriber count.

If your content appears in Suggested Videos, for instance, you can see drastic increases in views and watch time. These are all great reasons to start optimizing your videos!

Why YouTube Recommendations Matter

Getting YouTube’s algorithm to recommend your videos is one of the most effective ways to grow your channel.

Some ways to help YouTube recommend your videos include creating engaging, professional content and optimizing thumbnails, titles, and descriptions to attract more viewers.

Here’s a little more about why the YouTube recommendation system is so powerful:

• Can Lead to More Views and Watch Time: YouTube algorithms prioritize videos that hold viewer attention, which can lead to higher watch time and more recommendations for your videos.  
• May Result in Higher Subscriber Growth: If YouTube recommends your videos to the right “fit” of audience, they’re more likely to stick around and subscribe to your channel.
• Can Improve Audience Retention: Keeping viewers engaged on your YouTube channel means they’re more likely to watch more of your videos, which is another factor that can increase your chances of being suggested.
• Might Offer More Revenue Potential: More watch time also means more ad impressions, higher ad returns, and better monetization opportunities for you, including more customers seeking out your branded merch on ecommerce platforms like Fourthwall!
• Could Further Optimize Your Channel: The YouTube algorithm rewards videos that keep viewers watching, so high-performing content keeps getting recommended and keeps growing!

6 Strategies to Get Your Videos Recommended on YouTube 

1. Create Captivating Videos

Content is always king, so it's in your interest to make your YouTube videos the best they can be!

Part of what the YouTube algorithm does to recommend videos is measure how long viewers watch a video before clicking away; so if people watch all or even most of your video, it signals high engagement, leading to more recommendations.

Well-produced, high-retention videos should be your main goal!

• Hook your audience within the first 5-10 seconds: Use an intriguing question, eye-catching visuals, or the mention of an upcoming reveal later in your video.
• Keep viewers watching: Structure your content to help maintain watch time throughout the video.
• Eliminate filler content: Keep your pacing smooth and concise; edit out slow, rambling, or irrelevant parts that might cause people to leave.
• Use effective storytelling techniques: Keep viewers engaged with narrative-driven content. Compelling stories can be utilized in just about every type of video!

2. Optimize Everything!

Part of getting your videos recommended on YouTube is optimizing everything you can to better suit YouTube’s algorithm.

You may not be able to control YouTube discoverability, but fine-tuning as much as you can certainly gives you a better chance!

Use Attention-Grabbing Thumbnails

Your video thumbnail (the still image showing what your video is about) is the first thing people see when they’re browsing YouTube for videos to watch.

Use sharp photos, bright colors, emotional expressions or images, and text that makes them want to find out more. 

Programs like Adobe (PhotoShop and Premiere) and Canva can help you make striking thumbnail images and other edits, and you can A/B test different thumbnails to see which ones get you the most clicks.

Boost Your Video Titles

Include YouTube keywords and SEO-friendly search terms in your video titles to further boost your video's ranking.

You can research trending keywords using apps like VidIQ, Google Trends, and TubeBuddy.

Write Detailed Descriptions

When describing your video, be concise yet creative, and include relevant keywords, hashtags, and CTAs to enhance search visibility.

Build anticipation for your content—but make sure to leave a few reveals for the video itself!

Use Relevant and Frequent Tags

Tags and keywords should be used throughout your YouTube videos.

Include them in your title and description, and ensure they accurately reflect your video content.

You can even speak your tags and keywords in the dialogue of your video, as the algorithm can find them from YouTube’s subtitles.

3. Increase Your Watch Time via Playlists

The YouTube recommendation system rewards channels that keep viewers watching, and playlists are a great way to retain your audience.

Creating playlists of your own videos encourages users to binge-watch multiple videos in a row, which is a green flag to YouTube’s algorithm.

• Group similar videos into playlists to keep viewers engaged.
• Use autoplay so your playlist transitions seamlessly between your videos.
• Always add end screens and cards to each of your videos to encourage users to watch more of your channel’s content.

4. Prompt Your Audience to Engage

High engagement is a favorite component of the YouTube algorithm.

Likes, comments, shares, and watch time all influence recommendations, so keeping your audience on your channel and interacting with your content for as long as possible is your optimal goal.

• Actively ask viewers to like, share, and comment on your video, thanking them for supporting your channel and content!
• Respond to comments to express appreciation, answer questions, encourage conversations, and build your YouTube community.
• Use YouTube features like YouTube Shorts, live chat, channel Memberships, Super Chat, and Super Stickers to keep your audience further engaged.

5. Upload Consistently at Optimal Times

The YouTube algorithm tends to favor channels that post regularly, as consistent posting indicates that the content creator is uploading fresh content and engaging with their audience.

• Try to stick to a regular, reliable schedule, for example, twice a week on Tuesdays and Fridays.
• Use YouTube Analytics to see when you get the most views, and use this data to determine the best times to upload videos to your channel.
• Schedule videos to post in advance so you’re posting during peak engagement times, even when you’re out doing other things.
• Mention your upcoming videos in your current videos; if a viewer on YouTube enjoys a particular creator, they’re likely to repeatedly check back for new videos, so let them know what they can look forward to!

Common Mistakes That Prevent Video Recommendations

• Poor Content: YouTube reportedly actively demotes low-quality videos, so be sure to put your best, most professional content forward!
• Low Audience Retention: If your watch time is low and people drop off early, the algorithm will often stop pushing that video.
• Weak Thumbnails and Titles: If your videos are getting ignored and not even checked out by viewers because there’s nothing compelling in your title or thumbnail image, that can result in fewer recommendations.
• Ignoring SEO: Not using relevant, current keywords can definitely hurt your YouTube search visibility.
• Inconsistent Posting: Irregular uploads confuse YouTube’s algorithm and reduce your visibility; it’s better to post once a week, every single week, than it is to post 5 videos in one day and then ignore YouTube for a month.

Want Even More Growth? We Recommend Fourthwall!

Fourthwall is the ultimate solution to help you maximize your brand! Pair up your YouTube channel with Fourthwall, and you’ll gain so many opportunities for brand building and extra revenue.

Start creating custom print-on-demand merchandise right on your Fourthwall website and store, then connect your YouTube channel to Fourthwall to promote and sell your merch via YouTube Shopping.

Reward your most loyal YouTube viewers by offering them exclusive promo codes plus the opportunity to buy Fourthwall memberships, which can unlock all kinds of bonuses as you create them!

And customize your Fourthwall website exactly to your specifications to give your YouTube fans another place to hang out.

With seamless YouTube integration, the ability to connect your other socials, high-quality print-on-demand services, and great customer service, Fourthwall and YouTube are the perfect match.

Check out everything you can do on Fourthwall today!

FAQ: Understanding YouTube's Algorithm

How does YouTube decide which videos to recommend?

YouTube’s recommendation system uses a combination of watch history, engagement, and video performance to predict what viewers want to watch next. 

The algorithm prioritizes YouTube videos with high watch time, strong audience retention, and positive interactions like likes, comments, and subscriptions. 

The more your content matches a viewer’s interests, the more likely it is to appear in Suggested Videos or on their homepage.

What’s the difference between YouTube search results and recommended videos?

YouTube search results depend on keywords and SEO, while recommendations are personalized based on watch history and behavior. 

Recommended videos are designed to keep users watching longer by showing related or trending content, even if the viewer didn’t search for it directly. 

Both are crucial for growing your YouTube channel, but recommendations drive a majority of overall views.

How can I increase my chances of getting recommended on YouTube?

To get YouTube to recommend your videos, focus on quality content that keeps viewers watching. 

Optimize your titles, thumbnails, and descriptions with relevant keywords, and ensure consistent uploads. 

Encourage comments and engagement, create YouTube playlists to increase watch time, and analyze your performance in YouTube Analytics to see what types of videos perform best.

Do dislikes affect YouTube recommendations?

Not as much as people think. Dislikes are still counted as engagement, and YouTube uses them to understand viewer satisfaction. 

However, excessive dislikes paired with low watch time or early click-offs can negatively affect how often your video appears in recommendations. 

Prioritize engaging, high-quality content that keeps viewers watching rather than worrying too much about dislikes.