What if you follow all the “right steps” when posting your YouTube video, but you’re still not getting any views?
Interesting video title? Check ✅
Click-worthy thumbnail? Check ✅
You post your video and then wait…
Crickets.
You might be wondering “What am I doing wrong?!” You may even fear you're being shadow-banned by the algorithm.
I know it can be frustrating putting in all that time and hard work into making a single video only for it to get lost in the millions of other videos that are uploaded to YouTube.
That's why I'm reminding you about YouTube's golden rule.
You might be tempted to think that the golden rule is to please the YouTube algorithm.
Lots of creators think pleasing the algorithm is a mysterious code to crack. Don’t think of it like it’s an abstract concept that only a few creators have the secret formula for. If there’s any secret, it would be this: replace the word “ALGORITHM” with “AUDIENCE.”
Your content planning strategy should always include how you're going to meet your audience's needs:
Are you going to provide knowledge?
A new insight?
Escape from reality?
Relief from boredom?
A good laugh?
Answers about their health concerns?
Entertainment?
Remember, needs are different and one video can meet several needs all at once.
When you make your videos, try to serve your audience first, NOT the algorithm. That’s it. That’s YouTube’s golden rule.
Hear me out.
YouTube’s main objective has always been to keep people on the platform for as long as possible. If your videos keep viewers glued to YouTube, you can safely bet it’s going to keep suggesting your videos to others with similar interests.
Hear this; If a librarian knows that a particular book always meets peoples' needs and leaves them satisfied, they’re going to keep recommending the book to others.
There are a couple ways that YouTube measures how satisfied a viewer is with your content. They use metrics like your video's click-through rate and average view duration to determine if your content is meeting your audience's needs.
It’s easy to get caught up in the chase to please the YouTube algorithm, but the real key to success lies in serving your audience. If you’ve been frustrated by low views despite following all the "right steps," remember that your content's value isn’t determined by an algorithm but by the people watching. Focus on meeting your audience’s needs, whether it’s through education, entertainment, or engagement, and the views will follow. YouTube’s algorithm isn’t a mysterious force to conquer—it’s simply a reflection of how well you connect with your viewers. When you shift your focus from pleasing the algorithm to delighting your audience, you’ll find that success on YouTube isn’t just possible—it’s inevitable.