Hey everybody, this is your delightful and anxious YouTube expert, Derral Eves.
Now today I’m actually going to cover a topic that doesn’t really get that much
coverage with a lot of the experts that actually discuss video.
So if you are very serious about getting more video views, getting more subscribers, and
really getting more engaging content on your YouTube channel, then you definately want
to watch the whole video.
So you want to stay tuned.
Now today we are actually going to cover a topic that’s really really important I know
a lot of you have a lot of great questions on this.
I asked my friend Gideon to join me, who’s also certified by YouTube and we actually
had a lot of training by YouTube on how to actually grow a channel or what they call
audience development, that’s what your certification is I would assume?
GIDEON: That’s right.
Yeah.
DERRAL: And with mine as well.
I’d like to cover a topic that really isn’t out there but it’s probably the most important
ranking factor to make sure that your video’s actually get found on YouTube like in related
video search and also in other key strategic areas which is Session Watch Time.
So what do you think about the Session Watch Time?
First off, what is Session Watch Time and then how can someone actually gain more Session
Watch Time?
GIDEON: My understanding of Session Watch Time at least is that it is the total time
that someone stays on YouTube as they are watching a video but also as they are watching
other videos on YouTube.
So it’s like a time they stay on YouTube watching videos.
So I guess that’s one of the key indicators that Youtube looks at is when, if they are
watching your video and then they go and watch other videos as a result of watching your
original video that increases that season time for that user.
DERRAL: Yeah, they really really track what you actually do right after that video so
if you are the one that generated that view to come in, the individual to come into YouTube
and they stay for 2 or 3 videos or if they stay for 2 or 3 hours that gives you more
ability to rank a lot higher to have what they call authority on YouTube and that authority
really cross pollinates with Google and you are able to see that as well because once
you release a video it might rank really high on Google because you actually have that authority
because YouTube knows and Google knows that you are actually going to get your Session
Watch Time because they already have that metrics of saying hey, if the person comes
in they are more likely to watch more videos if they come through your channel.
GIDEON: Yeah, I mean it makes so much sense if you look from YouTube’s point of view
as opposed to your own point of view.
From YouTube’s point of view, they really want people to be there and stay there for
as long as possible.
So if you as a user are able to increase that session time of your viewers, they are going
to love you for it and they are going to reward you for it.
So my understanding is that they’re rewarding you by ranking your video better because if
they are ranking your video better they are going to get people to stay on YouTube longer.
DERRAL: And if they stay on YouTube longer they are going to click on more ads, that’s
basically, they’re going to make more money.
That’s how it goes.
That’s the way it goes around but here’s the thing is: #1 How do you increase Session
Watch Time?
Maybe a tip or two and then I’ll give a tip or two.
So what do you think?
GIDEON: An easy one for session time while we are talking about that is to instead of
just linking to one video or 2 videos at the end of your video with an annotation, try
linking to a whole playlist.
So instead of people just watching just one video afterwards, they actually go to a whole
playlist and then keep on watching.
DERRAL: That’s a very, very powerful technique and it’s one that they teach us to use but
here’s another one that adds on top of that, instead of sharing the one URL for that video,
share the playlist where that video is at and so when somebody clicks on it, it’s
in a playlist and they are already in that playlist and they could click on the annotation
in the outro and actually go into another playlist.
And so they are basically seeing you the whole time and all the video content.
One other idea too is to be very strategic of how you actually put a playlist together.
You want to make sure that content can flow one right after another and it can really
go there cause they’re engaged oh I’m interested in this video so this is the most
likely thing that they are actually interested in.
GIDEON: And of course all of this is kind of dependent a little bit on increasing that
watch time of your videos so watch time and session time are two different things and
so you want to make sure that your video is engaging and the people actually watch your
video to get to the end where you call them to action to watch more videos.
So there are two different things that go together, two different strategies applied
into one video.
DERRAL: Yeah and it goes together like this because ultimately when it comes back down
to it, if there watch time, they drop off after 10 seconds and they leave YouTube, that’s
going to affect you because the session times next to nill, they know this video’s bad
and you are going to see your rankings kind of fall, quite drastically.
GIDEON: Yeah, and we were just talking about YouTube live, before and that’s one of the
great ways to increase that session time and watch time and you know those videos from
the tests I’ve been running they rank very quickly and very well.
But that’s a topic of another video I think.
DERRAL: Okay, now before you go, you can actually check out Gideon’s channel, he has some
really great stuff on his channel.
You can find the link in the description below and also, I’d love to hear your comments
and thoughts and maybe some of your tips to increase the viewer session time and also
watch time and maybe you thought of something that I didn’t think of or maybe something
that Gideon think of because ultimately we are all here to learn and grow together, to
all be successful so make sure you click right here to subscribe and check out a video over
here, well, no I mean over here.
Yeah, that’s right!
I can remember now because I have my wedding ring right here and that should say hey that’s
where everything’s at.
Cause my wife tells me what to do.