Why do some youtube videos get very few views?

13 replies
How is it that some videos can have 100x more views that other videos on the same topic - even if both videos have equally good thumbnail images, descriptions and channels.

I have seen videos on youtube that have been up a year, with normal looking and sounding people that have less than 1000 views, whereas an extremely similar video may have 50,000 (I don't mean viral, I just mean significantly more).

I know it's probably down to marketing, but realistically there are disparities in the number of views on certain videos that were even made by complete amateurs who's video channels aren't exceptional, again I don't mean viral videos - I just mean that "some" seem to get numerous times more hits for whatever reason.

Does youtube decide at random what videos to put in the sidebar and ultimately get more clicks etc.

Would just like to hear an opinion, thanks.
#videos #views #youtube
  • Profile picture of the author Stefan Shields
    The person with more views may have a massive audience elsewhere on the internet who have watched the video. This could be from any kind of advertising anywhere.

    Random people could have embedded the video on websites all over the place.
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  • Profile picture of the author Brandgineering
    Well, I do disagree with one of the comments.

    YouTube does have a method as to what pops up in the sidebar. Do you really think Google leaves anything to chance?

    Sure, I can give you some hints about organic traffic on YouTube without giving away the store.

    1) The description. Yup. I pay screenwriters to create very elegant descriptions that make authentic references to pop culture and many other things. Yes, I use a few keywords. But, I don't get my keywords from Google. --- This pains me to give away. Okay... Use the YouTube keyword research tool. Instead of going for keywords, I am looking for hot concepts. I will have a description that is itself entertaining and people want to read, just like a good blog. However, we make references to pop culture. YouTube is really about pop culture in many ways. NOT FAKE OR CONTRIVED. If I can slip in a reference, I will. In the description of one video I mentioned we were near a very famous movie location and how cool it was to shoot the interview there. Boosted my views tremendously.

    2) Everyone knows this. Clean up your transcript.

    3) I used a few of my own tools hunting for keywords relating to the subject matter. The person being interviewed is primed to provide some of those keywords naturally. I keep the keywords in my back pocket during the shoot. We usually do more documentary style, so NO talking heads if you can avoid it. Also, since I have been making reality TV for a long time, I tend to be able to get people to say more; just experience. So, if I can get other popular topics in the content, I will. If I am doing something about a scientific instrument, I get them to naturally mention something else popular at the time in a natural way. Mention how that instrument was critical in saving people from a recent earthquake or whatever floats your boat. Again, it has to be natural and a bit entertaining/infotaining.

    4) Oooo. Yeah. I have a number of high value YouTube channels. Placing a video on one of those channels seams to boost the rankings almost instantly, because I have produced diverse, high value content over time. I find that when my customer posts on their YT channel and I post a similar video that it CAN be about 5-10 times more views than they get.

    Okay, 4of about 14 different things I do when creating a video.

    Disclaimer: I don't use gimmicks. Gimmicks suck and if you overuse something Google will figure it out and you screw it up for the rest of us. There is no get rich quick or get huge traffic quickly without a penalty. I feel like writing this in bold because people will just gloss over it. STOP trying to fake out the system.

    Again, your best bet over the long haul is high value content. Immerse your customer in the world of the brand. I prefer a very natural documentary style similar to Modern Marvels. Once YT gets flooded with videos of people / talking heads spouting off about a subject. I believe quality content will eventually dominate over the tricksters paying people to click on their video or get them views.

    Question, to all you people using click services: Why is it that videos appear on YT are not listed by the number of views anymore? Answer: Number of views is one of many ways YT ranks videos.

    Hope this helps.
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    Carl Hartman, CEO Brandgineering | Leaders in Video Marketing and Strategy | Best-Selling Author of Brand.gineering (a workbook & guide to brand strategy in the digital age) | www.brandgineering.org

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  • Profile picture of the author xpesos
    Youtube does not puts videos on sidebars just like that
    There is certain level of engagement, whether users are watching full video or are just bumping
    BUt nevertheless many videos are sponsored to be shown on sidebars
    Also there are a lot of factors some people are advertising their videos on other social sites, i have seen many users advertising their videos on stumbleupon
    So this is wrong concept that YT recommends videos just like that
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  • Profile picture of the author Taviuss
    Ultimately I think it is a couple of things.

    Yes, there can be paid views and keyword issues.

    Some people may also include a link to it in other things like a blog or articles.

    Also, if they do have friends, or a following, the video can easily end up being shared to make it viral.

    I think the more people see it to start with, the more it will be prompted to later.
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    Tavius Southard
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  • Profile picture of the author Robert X
    I have dabbled in ranking youtube videos. I did use paid clicks, views, and whatever else the wso told me to do. And yes, I was able to rank very high after all the views, likes and whatever else. So,, what I'm getting at is that you can buy views,, I've bought 30,000 for one video,, so it may be that they got a lot of views by paying for them. I did.

    p.s. Don't hate me for buying views,, I was testing a WSO,, and don't hate me 'cause I'm beautiful

    Robert C.
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  • Profile picture of the author worldlymix
    I've bought views for videos I've made and it basically doesn't do anything special. Especially if the views come quick, youtube will now ban your video. All it really does is give the illusion your video is seen by others.

    Yesterday I tried a suggestion I saw in a video tutorial once and forget to try out. When I wrote my description I also mention my title in the description. When I made my tags I also mentioned my title keyword in the tags. I took 2 similar keywords that I wanted to be my main keywords and wrapped them in " ___" for each one. I also wrote the tag keywords in the description under my article. After publishing my video about 10 mins later I checked YT search for my keywords and sure enough my video was on page one. A hard keyword to rank, I believe since it has to do with a wordpress plugin.

    For one keyword I was 1st postion and the second keyword I was in 4 postion. Posting higher than videos thats been in them spots for months or years. Also ranking on first page for similar keywords to wordpress. I only have 53 subscribers and my channel is one about a month old. I'm not sure if I was lucky or how I made my titles, description and tags had a play in it. I'm not a lucky person but I would bet money on how I went about doing all of that helped..

    Hope I helped some of you out and best way to see if this works is just to experiment on your own.. I'm sure alot of people wouldn't tell you what I just did but I believe in helping others and only wish I can get the same in return from time to time.. Peace
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  • Profile picture of the author spwerewolf
    It is definitely the keyword that matters, which when Google Indexes, it brings traffic. Even if you have the right keyword, title and description it is very very important for your video to be of good quality and it must have content that is worth watching again and again or sharing.

    When you have the following things in your YT video, you will get views automatically. Sharing your content through social media and various other platforms is definitely very important.
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  • Profile picture of the author Agryd
    This might be because of less visibility. You can share those videos over other social networking platform so that your youtube views can increase.
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  • Profile picture of the author Luscious84
    maybe the videos with more views are promoted better, this could be any kind of promotion, maybe advertised, maybe they got more friends, maybe they bought fake views, maybe it's just luck that they are clicked more... It depends on different factors
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    • Profile picture of the author VictorSaigon
      According to my experience, videos that get very high number of views follow some of these points:

      1. They are uploaded in singers, artists or big influencer's channels that receive thousands of visits and appear as featured videos at the end of other promoted videos of those channel

      2. Because of well-executed campaigns along big Facebook groups, successful tweets and popular blogs and other kind of media. (Try to have a look to the average visits of any video uploaded to mashable )

      3. Follow a well structured Google ads - Facebook ads campaigns to drive traffic, that can be isolated or go together with some of the previous points...

      nevertheless, even if you have the best plan, high quality edition and nice music always help a lot!

      hope this helps!!
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  • Profile picture of the author Mollywhite
    there are some sides to make different views for different videos.
    Maybe the keywords are not hot.
    Maybe the video is not useful or interesting or something else.
    maybe the promotion is not enough or good.
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  • Profile picture of the author rickymartin1
    If you want to increase view of your you tube video than you can start ppc for your video. Your views will must increase.
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