Optimum Video Length

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Previously I have recorded a few YouTube tutorial videos for my primary niche and they tutorials are fairly detailed and run at around 15-20 minutes however recently I have been digging through the analytics and noticed that the average view length is much shorter.

Has anyone found the sweetspot for the length of a video? Based on my data I am guessing that it is around 5-6 minutes but would be interested to find out what others think.

Cheers
#main internet marketing discussion forum #length #optimum #video
  • I like to keep tutorials between 3 and 5 minutes, but many of mine go over time allotment too. If you keep the content coming and the tutorial on pace and on topic, the length of the video has less relevance.

    When you think you are done editing, go back and "Cut the Fat" again. You'll be surprised how much you can take out of a video while improving it.

    ScreenFlow Tutorial: 5 ways to cut the fat in your Youtube videos. - YouTube
    Also, your drop off rate will ALWAYS be disappointingly short in analytics.
    • [ 2 ] Thanks
  • You have to test.

    On the other hand, it depends on where people watch your
    video..

    - Youtube

    - Your website

    Maybe on Youtube they prefer shorter videos but on your site
    they prefer longer ones so test and don't forget that the
    place where they watch the video is an important factor.


    Keep pushing to the front and make it happen!
    PV Reymond
  • There's no optimal length.
    In Boxing, or MMA, 5 minutes are an eternity!
    Doing things you like, 5 minutes is nothing, try saying "I'll read a book for 5 minutes" or "I'll have a beer for 5 minutes", time flies by.

    I'm guessing you have to understand why people leave after 5 minutes, perhaps optimize the content, not the length.
  • Wistia has some great analytics regarding this topic. Enjoy...

    Does Length Matter? It Does For Video: 2K12 Edition
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
  • long enough to get the point across and lead the viewer to the desired action
  • Provide maximum value in the shortest time possible.

    For me Youtube videos under 6 minutes works best.

    Cheers,

    Gary
  • I don't believe there's such a thing as an "optimum video length".

    The length of a video can differ depending on your target audience,
    and the content within the video.

    I like to watch videos on YouTube, such as TV documentaries that I may have missed.

    An interesting 1 hour documentary will keep my attention.

    An uninteresting low budget looking marketing video recorded using some cheap webcam and mic, or worse, those annoying whiteboard sparkol videos, get about a few seconds of my time.

    See my point?
  • 5 minutes is too customarily too long. I would say 1-3 minutes.
    • [1] reply
    • Visitors will watch video if it is less than 5 min.
  • Just some examples:

    I have a video online that is: 12:58 Long. It has 126,123 Views
    (One hundred and twenty six thousand+)

    Then I have a video that is: 8:51 Long. (shorter than the above) It only has 11,113 Views

    Then I have a video that is: 0:58 Long It has 32,556 Views

    I have just under a thousands videos online ranging from 1 second to 1 hour +,
    with viewing stats all over the place.

    So do those stats tell me that the longer or shorter my videos, the more or less it's watched?

    Nope! It tells me that anyone that preaches time frames to others need to stop!
    • [1] reply
    • Using views as a measure of what's ideal is simply incorrect.

      Views is nothing more than a vanity metric.

      What's important is engagement times. This is viewable within the analytics of your account within Youtube.

      Longer videos are more likely to display significant "drop offs", than shorter ones.
      • [1] reply
  • I think I read somewhere that anything over 7 minutes won't be watched until the end unless it's really good.
    A good idea might be to break that tutorial up in smaller videos.
  • 5 minutes or less is ideal.

    Engagement drops off big time if you go over this.

    If you have 20 minute videos, split them up into 4 x 5 minute videos.

    You will get better engagement times, and much more "spread" of your content - which means more eyeballs and potential traffic.

    Make sure you watermark your videos and drive traffic back to your own properties.
  • Very Good I really like the topic.

    Yes we often say that video promotion is the best method to drive traffic to your blog but we never mention that how long it's length should be?

    Based on my personal experience and a through research I can say that the length of video should be less than or equals to 3 min. This length is considered as the optimum length in making a video.
  • YouTube tutorial videos 5 to 6 minutes
    but yes if its showing something that people love to learn and you are adding some fun on it its ok if you have longer
    but its good to make it 1st part 2nd part 3rd part

    and at the 1st 30 sec its good to show people what they will learn from tutorial

    for promotional videos 1 minute to 2.30 minutes max
  • It depends. If you can catch attention and keep people curious enough they can watch even 25 minutes video.
    Go to your Youtube Video Manager - Analytics - Audience retention and you can easily find Average View Duration. So you'll get idea about your video immediately.
  • Some solid advice in here guys - thanks. I guess the secret is to test, test, test! I have noticed that the retention seems to dip after the 5/6 minute mark especially when discussing complex topics eg functional threshold power in cycling.

    Another method I am going to test is to add a roundup or summary at the end of each video to just reinforce what was covered.

    Next step is to workout where is best to start the soft pitch in the video.
    • [1] reply
    • I have not started making videos yet and plan to in the near future. When I endeavor in something I try to get all the information I can.

      I think here is the big trick. The money is in the list. Get their attention. Get them interested. Get them to desire. Get them to take actiong.

      This all could and should be done within a few minutes. The action should be signing up to your ar.

      Longer vids should be in your account for them to know you are an authority on the subject.

      My 2 cents.
  • I have a stack of tutorial videos on YouTube since YouTube began and they bring in good Adsense month after month without fail. All my videos are of varying length......some as short as 2 or 5 minutes, others can go for 15 minutes. I don't think there is any particular recommended length - give value and convey what you have to in the time that suits best.
  • From a personal point of view, I think you can only REALLY judge a video on it's content. If you have an awesome video that is 20 minutes long then I am going to happily watch it until the very end. To say a poorer video at 5 minutes in length is more liekely to keep someone watching til the end is nonsense.
    • [1] reply
    • Sound advice here. Really depends on the video. I produce videos promoting clients sites and services, these are around 1-2min, that's all they need to be, they're like a snappy radio ad, no need to be anymore than 1-2 min.

      For an instructable video, then, of course, you'll need a bit more time.

      That said, I really don't like when these type of videos are filled with a lot of filler rambling... short intro and get to the point.

      People have a very short attention span these days, also no lengthy intro's too, I've seen videos that take almost 30 seconds to get going.
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    Optimum Video Length

    Previously I have recorded a few YouTube tutorial videos for my primary niche and they tutorials are fairly detailed and run at around 15-20 minutes however recently I have been digging through the analytics and noticed that the average view length is much shorter. Has anyone found the sweetspot for the length of a video? Based on my data I am guessing that it is around 5-6 minutes but would be interested to find out what others think.