YouTube has become an essential tool for millions of people who want to create their own content or use it as an interactive platform. However, despite this popularity, most creators don't see any benefit from uploading their videos online because they only receive a few likes or comments. This can be frustrating since some channels are able to gain hundreds of thousands of subscribers very quickly.
One way to avoid falling into such traps is by using analytics platforms like Google Analytics. If you upload your channel's videos there, you will immediately know what kind of traffic you're getting. Unfortunately, if you prefer using YouTube itself over third-party tools, then it could take time before you figure out why your videos aren't attracting much attention -- especially if you haven't been uploading regularly.
In addition, even though some users may watch your videos without subscribing, that doesn't mean they actually find them interesting enough to comment or share with others. In order to ensure your viewers really enjoy watching your content, you need to understand why they leave so soon after starting.
So, here are 10 reasons why your YouTube videos have zero views and ways to resolve these issues.
Before we discuss other possible causes of low view counts, let's analyze whether your video was uploaded correctly. The first thing you should check is whether you followed all the necessary steps while creating your new clip. Here are those important tips:
Use high-quality images. You don't need professional photographers but make sure that your photos are clear and bright. Also, remove background objects (like posters) that might distract your audience.
Write captivating titles. Make your title catchy and descriptive rather than vague. For example, "The Best Way To Cook An Egg" isn't likely to grab anyone's attention moreso than, say, "Cooking 101".
Upload at the best times. Don't forget about the importance of timing! Most internet surfers tend to spend the majority of their day browsing social media sites, news feeds, etc., which means their interest level tends to drop throughout the evening hours. So, consider setting up your clips accordingly.
Add relevant hashtags. Use keywords related to your topic/content and add appropriate hashtags to increase visibility. For instance, hashtagging #car would bring up results containing car models and car manufacturers. Hashtags help you reach audiences interested in similar topics.
Encourage sharing. Add callouts asking your viewers to post your creation on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. This tactic works well if you already receive substantial engagement from your followers.
Share links within your description box. Encouraging your fans to visit your main site is another great way to encourage further activity. Just remember to include the link in the text below the video.
Make edits after publishing. Once you finish editing your video, consider revising its metadata to improve SEO efforts later on. For example, choose the correct category and tags instead of just putting everything under one broad heading.
Consider adding annotations. Annotations allow you to provide additional information about each frame of your footage via drawing boxes around specific areas. They could contain facts, statistics, quotes, etc. But keep in mind that they won't show up on mobile devices unless you enable annotation tracking through YouTube Studio Tools.
Keep an eye on your notifications. There's no guarantee that someone else will stumble upon your creation at exactly the same moment you did. That said, you'll probably notice that most viewers come during certain parts of the day, usually between midnight and 9am EST. As such, try posting your next clip early in the morning or late at night.
Try turning off autoplay. Autoplay is convenient, but it also makes your viewer feel pressured to skip ahead to the end once they realize that they have barely 5 minutes left. Turning autoplay off gives them more freedom to watch your entire video uninterrupted.
On top of the above factors, there are several common mistakes that lead to poor viewing figures among your creations. Let's review them now:
Your thumbnail sucks. Many amateur creators put too much emphasis on aesthetics. A bad image can ruin a perfectly fine piece of work. Before uploading anything, ask yourself if you'd click on your own profile picture. If not, chances are nobody else will either.
You didn't optimize your thumbnails properly. Thumbnails serve two purposes: namely, making your video easier to spot in search engines and enticing potential customers to click on your page. Both goals require careful planning.
People don't subscribe to your channel. Subscribers represent real human beings whose opinions matter. Without them, your content won't garner any value. When choosing your username, opt for something short yet memorable. It's better to have a unique name than to repeat numbers or letters across multiple accounts.
There are plenty of ways to overcome these obstacles. One way to promote your videos successfully is to follow these simple rules:
Create original content. Your viewers expect quality from you and if you start churning out random stuff, they'll stop paying attention. On the contrary, if you offer insightful commentary or explain complex concepts, you'll surely attract more viewers.
Don't sacrifice substance for style. Although beautiful designs play a crucial role in helping your content stand apart from competitors, stick to basic elements to prevent becoming overwhelmed. Remember that simplicity is key.
Focus on your target audience. Identify the type of person who would genuinely appreciate your content. Then, craft future posts specifically designed for him or her.
Get creative with marketing strategies. Try combining different types of advertising methods together to maximize exposure. For example, run targeted ads alongside organic clicks, or advertise your latest creation in forums where your niche hangs out.
Take advantage of influencers' recommendations. Influencer marketing involves finding influential people within your niche and offering products/services that appeal to them. Since influencers often endorse popular brands, they can easily direct interested parties towards yours.
Always think long term. Always bear in mind that your goal is to build a sustainable business rather than just gaining quick views. Focus on building relationships and nurturing loyal clients base. Eventually, profits will trickle down naturally.
When producing content, it's easy to fall victim to the illusion that higher viewership equals greater success. As mentioned earlier, however, it takes more than having a cool product or service to succeed on YouTube. What matters most is engaging your consumers, so always aim to give them something worthwhile. After all, it's the interaction that drives returns.
To learn more, read our article detailing how to grow your subscriber count beyond 100K.
Unfortunately, there are no hard-and-fast rules regarding YouTube metrics. Instead, you should focus on generating quality content that keeps your audience coming back.
Here are three useful guidelines:
Aim for 3–5 minutes. According to research conducted by Tubular Labs, the ideal length of most YouTube videos lies somewhere between 2.5 and 4.5 minutes. Of course, there are exceptions. Some categories thrive better with shorter productions whereas longer ones perform better with shorter updates.
Engage your viewers. Keep in mind that if you fail to hold their attention, they'll lose interest fast. Make sure that every second of your presentation contains information worth consuming. Avoid boring descriptions, unnecessary sidebars, and pointless banter.
Follow trending trends. Find out what kinds of videos are performing well on your particular subcategory and mimic them.
YouTube is a great way to reach an audience, but that doesn't always happen with every upload. If your YouTube videos don't generate any interest from viewers, it can be frustrating. And if your videos are getting lots of likes or comments, but still aren't pulling in new subscribers, what's going on here? It could be one of several issues. Here are some common reasons why your YouTube videos might not be attracting much attention...
Before we dive into solutions, let's take a moment to consider whether there was something wrong with your content first. It may seem strange to think about this as most people will assume they put up "good" content and therefore shouldn't need help. But remember, even though everyone uploads good quality stuff, that isn't necessarily true. Just because someone uploaded their own version of a song instead of listening to music royalty-free (as copyright laws permit) doesn't make it uninteresting. The same goes for creators who shoot themselves talking rather than using stock footage.
So before jumping straight into fixes, try redoing your work with fresh eyes. What kind of content is your video offering? Is it unique enough to stand out amongst others like it? Are you giving away freebies that other users won't find elsewhere? Have you considered adding more visual elements that engage audiences such as infographics, slideshows or images? Perhaps you didn't add captions as well as you thought? Could your voiceover sound less robotic? You'll never know until you step back and review your creation objectively again.
Another reason your content might not be drawing eyeballs is due to privacy concerns. For example, you may have been uploading original clips without permission while also failing to credit those sources appropriately. This makes sense considering many popular songs are composed by multiple artists. Or perhaps you filmed yourself speaking directly into a webcam which may have set off security alarms at certain sites. In these cases, simply removing sensitive information could prevent automated bots from accessing your account, thus preventing your videos from showing up in search results. Similarly, deleting old accounts prevents older videos from appearing on home pages or recommended playlists. To check the status of each individual channel, go to Settings & Privacy then Security.
Once you've identified possible causes for low view counts, you can begin fixing your issue. There are two main ways to increase traffic on your content: SEO and promotion. With both methods, you want to ensure your videos appear high in relevant searches so potential viewers can stumble across your profile. Google has its algorithm called Panda, which helps determine where you rank within search engines based on factors including page load time and keyword density. So make sure to include keywords naturally throughout your description, tags and title. Also make use of hashtags since these allow channels to discover and follow topics related to yours.
Additionally, consider buying targeted advertising through platforms such as Facebook and Twitter Ads. These ads give you control over exactly where and whom you would like to display your message, allowing you to focus specifically on followers. They can also help boost engagement by building curiosity among potential fans, leading them to click on links and watch your videos. Since paid promotions usually require approval from an ad manager, keep in mind that it takes longer for approved advertisements to show up compared to organic ones. As long as you pay per impression, however, you must remain consistent with your budget.
Finally, promote your videos via social media networks. Share your link on Reddit, Tumblr and Instagram -- all important hubs for connecting with fellow creatives and influencers. Don't forget to tag us!
Now that you understand what happens when your videos don't receive views, you probably feel frustrated and confused. Many questions pop up regarding the meaning behind having zero views. One thing is clear, however -- having no views means something went wrong somewhere along the line. Below are some common occurrences and tips for solving them.
Your video wasn't optimized properly. Before uploading your clip, double-check to see if everything looks correct. Make sure to fill in all applicable fields, especially titles and descriptions, ensuring to limit character count whenever possible. Additionally, make sure to optimize your cover image too. Not only will optimizing your thumbnail improve your ranking, but it also gives viewers a sneak peek into what your video entails.
You weren't tagged correctly. When posting your video publicly, always tag friends and family members when appropriate. However, sometimes tagging mistakes occur when sharing privately on messaging apps or private group chats. Check carefully to avoid embarrassing situations later down the road. If you made a mistake, report the post ASAP and ask whoever posted it to remove you from their circle.
The problem lies deeper than just your public profiles. Sometimes, problems arise after sending a file to editors. Try contacting individuals beforehand so you know what to expect during production. Never send raw footage unless you absolutely trust someone else with access to your camera. A similar rule applies to audio recordings. Only share files with trusted collaborators who have agreed to edit under embargo. Otherwise, stick to digital copies.
No one liked it. Unfortunately, bad taste is another common cause for missing out on views. Keep in mind that not everyone shares tastes, nor should anyone judge your content unfairly. However, if you notice negative feedback, address complaints quickly so you can move forward together. While it seems unfair, being disliked often comes with the territory. Remember that criticism improves your craft.
There were technical difficulties. Most glitches that stop YouTube viewing occur because of server overload. Ensure that your computer meets minimum requirements and run Windows updates regularly. Avoid downloading heavy programs or streaming large amounts of data simultaneously. Finally, stay attentive to notifications and alerts. Certain features, such as automatic subtitles, auto-play and live chat, require manual adjustments.
You forgot to hit subscribe/share. Some users may fail to return once they realize your content is lacking. Therefore, make sure to encourage visitors to sign up for your newsletter, buy merch or share your video with others. Use analytics tools to track viewer behavior in order to better tailor future posts.
When it comes to getting traffic from video sharing sites like YouTube, there's a lot of confusion about what really matters -- and what doesn't. The truth is that some metrics are more important than others. While traffic may be nice, if nobody ever watches your videos then they don't matter much at all. So why does YouTube seem so full of people who upload great content but never see any real success online?
In this article we'll go over 10 common reasons that might cause your YouTube videos to fail to generate even one view, and how to solve these problems. Read on!
First off, let's talk about those channels with hundreds upon hundreds of uploaded videos, yet none of them have generated a single click or a single watch. This can happen for several different reasons. It could just be that their titles aren't optimized well enough, which leads us into our next point...
One thing that can help drive up your channel's popularity is to optimize each individual video title as best you can. If you want people to find your content through search engines (and ideally share it with friends), then make sure your keywords appear prominently in your titles. You also need to include relevant tags that describe exactly what viewers will expect to see once they hit play. For example, don't use "dog" as your tag unless you actually show a dog somewhere in the footage. A good way to check if your titles are optimized properly is by using tools such as SEO Power Suite.
However, while optimizing your titles is essential for driving organic search engine results, it isn't going to work miracles alone. In fact, sometimes adding new keyword-heavy descriptions won't increase your chances very much at all. The reason has everything to do with something called "video discovery." When someone searches Google for a topic related to your niche, they generally want quick access to information rather than long articles filled with lots of details. They usually scan quickly through thumbnail images before deciding whether they'd prefer to read an informative blog post or watch a short clip directly embedded above the fold.
This means that most people only spend around 30 seconds looking at the first few thumbnails they come across. That's why optimizing your main thumbnail image is often more effective than trying to cram in every possible word in your description.
And speaking of thumbnails, another big problem that causes poor viewership is having boring ones. Not everyone likes watching random clips without context, especially if they weren't specifically searching for your particular genre. One easy solution here would be to create multiple versions of your video editing suite, selecting different scenes to feature as separate thumbnails. Of course, if you took that approach then you wouldn't have the same video playing throughout. Instead, try creating smaller edits instead.
Also keep in mind that the quality of your overall production plays a role too. Poorly produced videos tend to suffer regardless of the number of words included in their captions. And finally, remember that most people today choose to skip past entire sections during playback due to limited attention spans. Allowing users to pause whenever they wish gives them control over where they start, and makes viewing easier than ever.
While views don't necessarily translate to revenue on YouTube itself, they still carry quite a bit of weight among other creators. Since views are typically displayed alongside comments and subscribers, they give creators a sense of accomplishment and motivation to continue producing high-quality material. Plus, since every comment left on a given video counts towards its total views, positive feedback helps build confidence and attract followers.
Unfortunately, bad comments can destroy both of these benefits. Negative reactions, either from haters or trolls, can ruin your day faster than a poorly received review on Amazon. But while negative responses certainly shouldn't deter anyone from posting videos, bad reviews can be avoided entirely by simply following these tips for avoiding YouTube censorship.
As far as motivating yourself to produce better material goes, the opposite holds true as well. People rarely take action until someone else points out flaws in their own performance, making it harder to grow lazy after seeing someone else succeed. Even worse, jealousy can lead to spiteful attacks against successful creators, causing damage to relationships and careers alike.
So aside from boosting morale, views can potentially affect future earnings in two ways. First, they provide encouragement and confidence to continue improving, which increases the chance that similar videos will gain traction down the road. Second, the higher the number of views your latest creation gets, the more likely it is that you'll receive requests for collaborations. Collaborations bring added income, but only if handled correctly. Don't fall victim to ego-driven demands to rebrand existing projects under someone else's name, because doing so destroys opportunities later on. Simply ask collaborators to pitch ideas together and collaborate productively. Also avoid asking for permission to repost clips elsewhere, as this violates copyright laws and leaves creators open to plagiarism accusations.
Finally, it bears mentioning that a lack of views doesn't always signal a lack of merit. Sometimes a creator's audience just happens to consist exclusively of fellow artists, resulting in a situation where neither party finds value in what the other produces. On the flip side however, if you manage to cultivate a large and diverse group of fans then you'll eventually reach broader audiences beyond your niche.
Now that we know why certain videos never get watched, let's move onto solutions. There are dozens of steps you can follow that will improve your odds of generating clicks and subscriptions, ranging from basic optimization techniques to advanced strategies involving machine learning algorithms. However, here are three general guidelines that will help you understand how to maximize your potential audience size.
Stick to popular topics. Let's say you created a music video featuring Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga as guest stars. Unless you plan to compete head-to-head with established superstars, you probably won't draw huge numbers of eyeballs. At least not initially anyway. Your best bet is to focus on building a loyal fan base within niche subcultures that already love both of those performers, preferably ones that cater heavily toward teens. Sure, you could release the song with less recognizable faces, but you risk alienating people who came to enjoy the original version. Similarly, if you're interested in starting a comedy series starring Bill Hader, you should consider targeting a specific crowd of comedy nerds instead of mainstream watchers.
Keep track of trends. Social media marketing guru Gary Vaynerchuk says that he spends half his time analyzing data from Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, Reddit, LinkedIn, Google+, and StumbleUpon [Broken URL Removed]. He claims that tracking social networks' trending hashtags allows him to predict upcoming market events based on millions of bits of public sentiment. His method obviously works for him, but it's worth noting that this kind of insight is becoming increasingly accessible thanks to third parties like Trendsmap and Hashtagifyme. If you haven't tried keeping tabs on digital chatter lately, now's a pretty good time to jump in.
Don't sell products. A recent study found that consumers are more drawn to recommendations than advertisements when browsing online stores. In other words, it's better to recommend interesting places to eat or drink rather than pushing expensive stuff that they probably couldn't afford otherwise. In addition, a University of Pennsylvania professor discovered that customers were more responsive to offers made via email compared to ads posted on websites.
What does all this tell us? Well, it seems that the days of banner blindness are numbered. As marketers become more sophisticated, advertising will slowly transition away from annoying popup windows and obnoxious popups altogether. No longer will companies rely solely on traditional methods to promote their wares. Rather, they'll seek to exploit behavioral psychology and human nature itself to achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness.
Of course, plenty of factors besides viewer interest determine the fate of a piece of content. After all, a viral video needs to strike the perfect balance between being funny, unique, entertaining, and relatable. Some creators excel at finding this elusive sweet spot, while others end up wasting countless hours refining their productions into nothingness. Fortunately, there are numerous free resources available to aspiring producers hoping to learn the ropes. Two of my personal favorites are Creative Live TV and Video School Handbook.
Just follow our battle-tested guidelines and rake in the profits.