Have you ever wondered why certain videos show up on your YouTube homepage? Or why your own videos sometimes get lots of views—and other times, barely any?
It all comes down to YouTube’s recommendation system. In this post, we’ll break it down in simple terms. Whether you’re a content creator or just a curious viewer, this will help you understand how YouTube decides which videos to show and why.
What Is the YouTube Recommendation System?
YouTube’s recommendation system is like a personal assistant that tries to find videos you’ll enjoy the most. Instead of showing the same videos to everyone, YouTube shows different videos to different people, based on what they like.
Think of it like this:
If your friend loves cooking videos and you love tech reviews, YouTube will show each of you completely different homepages.
So, YouTube is not pushing videos randomly—it’s pulling in videos just for you, based on your behavior.
How Does YouTube Decide What to Show You?
It Learns From Your Habits
YouTube looks at a lot of clues to figure out what you might want to watch next. These include:
- Your watch history (what you’ve seen before)
- What others with similar interests are watching
- Time of day and the device you’re using
- Your feedback (likes, dislikes, “not interested” clicks)
Example:
Let’s say you usually watch workout videos in the morning on your phone and comedy at night on your TV. YouTube will notice this and recommend more workout videos in the morning and funny ones in the evening.
It’s Not Just About Views or Likes
Many creators think, “If I get more likes or clicks, my video will do better.” But YouTube doesn’t rely on just one number. It looks at the whole picture.
For example:
- Watch time is important for long content like podcasts.
- Likes might matter more for short music clips.
So, instead of chasing one magic number, focus on making your audience happy.
Why Viewer Satisfaction Is Key
YouTube doesn’t just want people to click videos. It wants them to feel good about what they watched. That’s called satisfaction.
How does YouTube measure this?
- Surveys (sometimes you’ll get a popup asking how you liked a video)
- Likes and dislikes
- Returning viewers (if people keep coming back, it’s a good sign)
Example:
Two people watch the same video. One watches the full thing and clicks “like.” The other leaves after 30 seconds. YouTube will notice that the first person probably had a better experience.
How Creators Should Look at Their Metrics
Don’t Compare Yourself Too Much
Every video is different. The topic, time posted, and even the audience all affect performance. So instead of comparing numbers across channels, focus on:
- How your new videos are doing compared to your older ones
- What your viewers seem to enjoy most
- What your goals are (more views, more comments, more subscribers, etc.)
⚖️ Example:
Which would you prefer?
- A video with 20% click rate but only 10,000 views, or
- A video with 5% click rate but 100,000 views?
Most people would choose the second because it reached way more people.
Making Videos in Different Languages?
If you post videos in more than one language, do this:
- Add translated titles and descriptions
- Try to dub at least 80% of your watch time in that language
- Help viewers discover more than one video in their language
This makes it easier for YouTube to recommend your content to the right audience.
Why Do Views Sometimes Drop?
It’s totally normal for views to go up and down. Here’s why:
- Binge-watching fades: People might watch a lot of your videos for a while, then take a break.
- Trends change: A popular topic today may not be hot next month.
- More competition: If many people start making videos on the same topic, each video might get fewer views.
Tip: Don’t panic! Look at your channel’s performance over a longer time—like 6 months to a year—to see the real trend.
How AI Is Making Recommendations Smarter
YouTube now uses advanced AI tools (like the same kind used in ChatGPT) to better understand videos and viewers.
These tools can:
- Understand video topics in detail (not just “travel,” but “solo travel in Japan on a budget”)
- Learn what type of content people love
- Recommend videos more accurately—like a skilled guide, not just a robot
Final Thoughts: Think People, Not Just the Algorithm
YouTube’s recommendation system is smart and always changing. But its main goal is simple: help people find videos they’ll enjoy.
So, if you’re a creator:
- Focus on providing value
- Understand your audience’s needs
- Don’t stress about every single number
The better you understand your viewers, the better YouTube will recommend your content.
Let’s Chat!
Have you noticed what kind of videos YouTube recommends to you most often? Do you see any patterns?
Share your experience in the comments! 👇
And if you want to learn more about how to grow on YouTube, check out our other posts or subscribe for updates.
