How does the YouTube Algorithm Work?

You’re creating quality content that intends to engage your target users. You’re putting everything you have into crafting the videos. However, the views aren’t even near what you expected. The videos don’t rank and they have limited reach and visibility. Frustrating, isn’t it? Slowly, you lose enthusiasm for creating YouTube content. We all have been there! It’s high time for you to consider the YouTube algorithm.

As a creator striving to grow your channel and attract more viewers, you’ve likely heard all the buzz about YouTube’s ranking factors. But why does everyone keep talking about it? Because understanding how YouTube SEO works can be a complete game-changer for your channel.

The further you go down the tunnel of the YouTube algorithm, the more confusing it gets. With misconceptions and rumours all around, you’ll find people making outlandish claims like something as trivial as the thumbnail colour can impact your views.

But, how can you differentiate rumours from facts? Don’t worry, we are here to strip back the nonsense and tell you about the facts regarding the YouTube algorithm.

We will further cover the tips to optimise your videos based on the algorithm and how to stay updated with the latest YouTube algorithm changes. So, without further delay, let’s get to it.

What is the YouTube Algorithm?

You have to make it clear that the YouTube algorithm has only one objective; it is to recommend videos that will keep the viewers glued to the screen and spend as much time as possible on the platform.

And, what about your goal as a creator? Curating flicks that get maximum clicks!

Simply put, the YouTube algorithm is a recommendation or suggestion system that decides which videos to suggest to whom. The job of the algorithm is to rank videos based on the likelihood of a viewer watching them. This is determined by various factors or signals such as quality, user behaviour, and relevance.

As a YouTuber, who doesn’t want views? YouTube algorithm is the gatekeeper of video views. According to a study, 70% of video views on YouTube are determined by the algorithm.

As strange as it sounds, YouTube’s code can override user controls. This means that even if someone dislikes a video, the algorithm can still suggest similar videos to that user. So, it’s important to understand the intricacies related to the working of the YouTube algorithm.

But, what makes the algorithm really complex is its evolving nature. Just when you start to think that you’ve started figuring out the algorithm, there’s an update. This update completely shuffles search results and recommendations.

Although this may seem chaotic, there’s a way to tame this beast. For that, you have to understand its evolution.

2005-2011: Cheap Clicks Era

In this era, YouTube algorithms are used to promote content with the maximum clicks. So, creators used to create misleading thumbnails and titles as clickbaits.

2012-2014: Watch Time Era

During this period, YouTube revamped its algorithm to avoid click-and-run scenarios. This time, it prioritised watch time and video completion percentage. The shift encouraged some creators to create long-form videos while others resorted to short snippets. However, quality was not properly prioritised.

2015: Personalisation Era

In 2015, YouTube published a document that described the ways it was going to suggest content to its viewers. Instead of using overall popularity as a metric, the YouTube algorithm started recommending content based on past behaviour and feedback.

2016: Content Moderation Era

In this update, content moderation was the main focus. It was done to tackle misinformation and harmful information. YouTubers now had to be well-versed with the community standards and guidelines. Otherwise, they were penalised into being relegated to a no-show list.

2020: Borderline Content Removal Era

During this period, YouTube started taking action against content that violated its “community guidelines.” The regulations strengthened against videos spreading harmful and false information. The algorithm also started using external assessment to analyze whether a video qualifies for “borderline content” using Google’s Public Guidelines.

2024: The YouTube SEO Era

During this period, the SEO on YouTube came into the picture. Viewer retention became a primary goal for the algorithm. For this, aspects like CTR (Click-Through Rate), keyword optimization, consistency of uploads, and external traffic are important. So, keyword research, optimization of video titles and descriptions, thumbnails, and branding became crucial at this point.

This evolution of the YouTube algorithm is a progressive way toward providing quality, relevant, and regulated content that keeps people on the platform longer. However, it’s time to learn how the YouTube algorithm does that in 2025.

How does YouTube Algorithm work in 2025?

It’s time to debunk another major myth about the YouTube algorithm. Do you think there’s only one algorithm that works behind the scenes? You’re wrong! There are 3 distinct algorithms with separate functions. That’s not it. Even, YouTube shorts have a separate algorithm.

1. The Algorithm that Gives You Great Videos: Homepage

When you open YouTube, you are greeted by a dashboard of ready-made content. Have you noticed that most of these videos are on the topic you’re interested in? This is because it is personalised only for you based on your past behaviour and interactions on the platform.

The YouTube algorithm here enhances your user experience by providing tailored videos in a jiffy. It ensures that you dive in straight to the content by serving handpicked content that the algorithm knows you’ll watch.

This is done by gathering important metrics and signals. The algorithm observes your behaviour and platform usage and suggests videos that it knows you’ll enjoy based on the analysis.

2. The Algorithm that Finds Your Future Favourites: Suggestions

During a YouTube session, more often than not, users watch much more content than intended. Did that ever happen to you? This is a common thing! It is nothing but a strategy of YouTube to tempt you to play the next content and retain you as long as possible. YouTube algorithm generally feeds you whatever you love.

To find the irresistible content, the algorithm groups content together on similar topics. This way, it provides content continuously without any interruption.

3. The Algorithm that Satisfies Your Needs: Search Results

Ever wondered how YouTube provides content that even a Google search can’t provide? YouTube has a search engine of its own and it’s the second biggest search engine globally, just behind Google.

There are several circumstances where YouTube searches perform better than Google. For instance, if you’re looking for a recipe online, a YouTube search spares you the headache of going through endless content on a webpage or a blog.

But, here’s the most important question: How do YouTube know which videos will answer your query correctly? YouTube goes through videos to find texts, including descriptions, tags, chapters, and titles that match your query. Even the subtitles give hints about the video context to the YouTube algorithm.

YouTube gathers this information while integrating insights about your previous interactions and then decides on the video list displayed on the search results.

4. The New YouTube Algorithm: YouTube Shorts Algorithm

According to YouTube CEO Neal Mohan, the YouTube Shorts surpassed a trillion views in 2024. This emphasises the importance of this format and its impact on content creators.

Let’s face the fact: YouTube Shorts are quite addictive. Anyone who has been using the platform and watching Shorts will tell you how easy it is to get sucked into hours of endless scrolling.

This YouTube algorithm works just as the other algorithms on the conventional YouTube features. It strives to achieve the same goal of providing an exceptional user experience. It targets users by providing relevant, engaging, and delightful content that keeps them hooked.

The YouTube Shorts algorithm will assess your watch history, content interaction, and channel follows. It will even consider the content that is being watched by similar users.

Tips to Optimise YouTube Content

You shouldn’t try to mess with YouTube algorithms as Google is powerful enough to sniff out blackhat tricks and cheat codes. YouTube penalises creators with a shadow ban or permanent ban of their accounts. So, it’s important to avoid malpractices when it comes to YouTube ranking.

That being said, there are other ethical ways to make the YouTube algorithm work for you. Here, we present you with the top 5 tips to leverage the algorithms at their best.

1. YouTube SEO Keywords and Subtitles

As YouTube is owned by Google, YouTube SEO works just like other SEO practices. Keywords play a critical role in any search engine, and the YouTube algorithm is no exception. People type keywords in their queries, and the algorithm looks for relevant content aligning with the keyword.

So, proper keyword research is necessary to rank higher on the search page results. You have to put the researched keyword in the title, description, subtitles, and filename.

Adding subtitles or CC (Closed Captions) is also important. It helps the algorithm understand the context and enables people to watch the video without the sounds on. This increases accessibility, a pivotal aspect of exceptional UX.

2. Appealing Thumbnails

Creating appealing and relatable thumbnails is an art in itself. It significantly boosts the clicks on your video, impressing the YouTube algorithm. A platform where 500+ video hours are uploaded every minute, standing out is not a walk in the park.

The best thing to cut through the noise is crafting engaging thumbnails for your videos. Let’s look at Mr. Beast’s thumbnails.

(Source: YouTube)

Just notice his style of thumbnails. He includes a relevant and vibrant image while keeping minimal text with his own face in it. This is the way to go if you want to stand out in the vast sea of YouTube.

3. Adding Cards to End Screens

To make people binge on your content while building your credibility with the YouTube algorithm, include cards and CTA in every video to keep them hooked.

A card is an image that’s clickable and leads the viewers to other videos in your channel or library.

(Source: YouTube)

This YouTube trick works like an internal link on a website, guiding viewers to more of your content. Posting a card like this in a relevant section can almost instantly encourage users to explore more on that topic.

4. Keep an Eye on your Competitors

A YouTube creator learns a lot about the algorithm by looking at what’s working for other creators in the domain. So, how to do that?

Simply, you have to put the SEO keywords into the search bar for a competitor analysis. You have to check their:

• Keyword usage
• Thumbnail ideas and designs
• Length of the videos
• Descriptions and titles
• Sub-niche or sub-topics

By assessing all these and doing comprehensive competitor research, you can curate your own strategy for your YouTube channel.

5. Adding Timestamps

Let’s not forget the goal of the YouTube algorithm. It’s all about providing an exceptional user experience for all visitors. So, wouldn’t it be nice to skip the parts you already know when you’re watching a tutorial? You can jump to the main segment of the video. This is where timestamps come into the picture!

(Source: YouTube)

These timestamps help users with navigation. They allow the viewers to skip or return to the video parts that are important to them. As UX is the primary motivator, assisting people in getting the most out of the content through timestamps should always be prioritised.

Staying Updated with YouTube Algorithm Update

We have already seen the evolution of the YouTube algorithm from 2005 to 2025, over 20 years. The algorithm evolves rapidly to enhance user experience and retain users on the platform.

So, keeping up with these updates and creating content adhering to these changes can help you stand out in this highly crowded platform. Remember, you can never master the algorithm completely because of these frequent changes. However, you can stay informed and craft engaging content based on the changes.

1. Algorithm Change Tracking Tool

There are various tools online that are designed specifically to assess SERP ranking fluctuations. These fluctuations indicate algorithm updates. One such tool is the SEMrush Sensor.

(Source: SEMrush)

Tools like these help monitor ranking volatility in different domains, keeping you updated with the latest Google changes. They give updated insights and their potential impact on your content.

2. Content Performance Assessment

Analysing the effectiveness of your video content is important for gauging the impact of YouTube algorithm updates. Some tools provide data on key metrics such as clicks and watch time.

This helps in the evaluation of individual content performance and offers actionable insights to boost YouTube SEO.

3. Creator Forums

Another effective way to stay informed about the latest YouTube algorithm updates is by engaging with fellow creators in forums and communities. Reddit’s marketing and SEO communities, Moz’s forums, GrowthHackers, and so on provide invaluable information through discussions among like-minded professionals.

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If there is one takeaway from this entire article, it would be the fact that the YouTube algorithm strives to achieve audience retention on the platform by suggesting videos that will make them glued to their screens.

Based on this fact, you can tailor content for your target segment and take the necessary steps to make use of the algorithm to the fullest. This way, you can broaden your reach, enhance clicks, and expand your subscriber base, ultimately leading to your YouTube channel growth.

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