YouTube content creators, especially those focused on YouTube Shorts, can significantly benefit from understanding the platform’s algorithm. This article distills findings from an extensive study by YouTube expert Paddy Galley, analyzing 5,500 YouTube Shorts across 34 niches. The study reveals critical insights into how the YouTube Shorts algorithm works, focusing on initial content exposure, engagement measurement, and key success metrics.

Study Overview

Paddy Galley and his team conducted an extensive study on YouTube Shorts, analyzing 5,500 videos across 34 different categories. This analysis provides insights into the platform’s algorithm and crucial metrics for success.

YouTube Shorts Algorithm Basics

YouTube introduces new users to a variety of popular shorts to gauge their preferences. The platform tracks user interactions such as watching, liking, and commenting to build a personalized profile. This process helps YouTube refine the content it serves, focusing on the most engaging shorts within the user’s preferred niche to maximize engagement.

Key Metrics for Success

Average View Duration (AVD)

Average View Duration (AVD) is a critical metric for success on YouTube Shorts. Higher AVD correlates with increased views. Shorts lasting between 50-60 seconds perform significantly better, averaging 4.1 million views. Emphasize the preference for longer shorts close to 60 seconds over shorter ones.

Viewed Versus Swiped Away (VVSA)

The Viewed Versus Swiped Away (VVSA) metric measures the percentage of users who watch a short versus those who swipe away. A higher VVSA, ranging between 70-90%, indicates higher quality and engagement. Shorts with a VVSA below 40% rarely exceed 10,000 views. This metric is crucial for understanding the quality and engagement level of the content.

Impact on Subscribers and Revenue

Long-form videos generally yield more subscribers per 10,000 views (22 vs. 17) compared to shorts. However, shorts have seen an increase in monetization rates, from $0.27 to $0.061 per 1,000 views, although they still earn less per 1,000 views compared to long-form videos.

Practical Insights

• Content Length: Focus on producing longer shorts (50-60 seconds) to enhance engagement and AVD.
• Initial Seconds: The first few seconds are crucial for capturing attention and preventing swipes.
• Quality Metrics: Regularly monitor VVSA and AVD to gauge and improve shorts’ performance.

Understanding the YouTube Shorts algorithm provides valuable insights into content creation. Creating engaging, longer shorts can maximize watch time and VVSA. Balancing the time investment between shorts and long-form videos based on specific goals for subscribers and revenue is advisable.

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