How is data analytics driving content creation on YouTube?

What do you think is the most popular media consumption platform in the world?

You may think it is Netflix, HBO, or one of the other hundreds of mainstream media platforms. In reality, the most popular platform is YouTube, the video-sharing website owned by Google.

As it happens, YouTube is also the second-largest search engine with more than two billion active users, second only to the all-knowing Google.

Since its inception in 2005, YouTube has created an all-new ecosystem of independent content creators and consumers. The platform even has its own payment system that rewards the most popular creators.

YouTube is not the only media platform in the world that is doing what it is doing. In fact, internet giants like Facebook have tried their hand at creating an online video platform and aren’t seeing the same levels of success.

Not many people stop to think about what made YouTube this successful. Or what makes the content on YouTube so compelling to each user.

True, the strength of YouTube lies in its diversity of content and its personalities. That said, credit must also go to the rich suite of data analytics tools available for YouTube content creators.

These tools have helped YouTubers fine-tune their craft so much so that some now get more viewership than mainstream TV channels; a fascinating fact to dive deeper into.

In this post, let’s look at how data analytics has helped content creation on YouTube and how it could affect the future of media consumption.

YouTubers are using data analytics to increase their click-through rates

The click-through rate is one of the most critical performance metrics on YouTube channels. It’s why creators strive to make catchy thumbnails and titles—but we seldom think about what goes into creating these thumbnails and titles.

YouTube’s diverse pool of creators needs insights produced by analytics tools within the YT Studio app, YouTube’s inbuilt data analytics tool, to create attractive thumbnails and tiles. 

With YT Studio, creators learn what type of titles and thumbnails enhance clicks and views. As a rule of thumb, creators stick to video title styles with the highest click-through rates to increase viewership and revenue. 

YouTubers use data analytics to create engaging content

For most YouTube creators, Google AdSense revenue is the primary source of income. Still, to earn a significant stream of revenue from YouTube ads, creators must produce content that is not only clickbaity but also keeps the audience engaged for the entirety of the video.

Creating engaging videos, however, is easier said than done. 

For starters, creators have to find out what type of content enhances audience engagement. It’s only after that that they produce content in line with the latest trends and preferences. 

As it happens, producing insights about audience preferences is one of data analytics’ greatest strengths. Creators can learn about audience engagement levels and their media consumption preferences by looking into watch duration statistics—all of which are available on YT Studio. 

YouTube influencers can then use these insights and apply them to their creative decision-making process to make content that ensures viewers are hooked to their content till the very last second. 

Embrace the new age of content creation with data analytics!

The content creation landscape in the 21st Century is radically different from traditional creative outlets. With YouTube at the forefront of this new change, entertainers are using the wealth of data readily available to create engaging and exciting content.

If you are a budding creator on YouTube, embrace the data analytics tools at your disposal and make content that’s worthy of the coveted Diamond Play Button.