How To Get 4000 Hours of Watch Time on YouTube in 2019 // How to get more watch time in 2019. Watch time and audience retention helps YouTube to decide if a video is performing well or not. An engaged viewer that is entertained by the video they are watching with stay around for longer, interact with the content and subscribe. This is why YouTube made it one of the most important metrics for any small youtuber to focus on.
In 2018 YouTube even added conditions to the YouTube Partnership Program that put watch time hours at the heart of monetization requirements. You now need 1000 subscribers and 4000 hours of watch time to apply for YouTube partnership.
How To Get 4000 Hours of Watch Time in 2019
1 – Make more videos to get more Watch Time in 2019 – The more videos you have on YouTube the more videos your audience can watch. It is much easier to stack 4000 hours of watch time if you have 100+ videos for a new subscriber to binge watch, rather than just 5-10 videos on the channel.
2 – Longer videos help you get more watch time on YouTube – You do not need to stretch a 2-3 video into a 30minute snore, but if you can extend a video, add more value within what you are offering, then your audience will watch for longer and help get you the watch time you need.
3 – Increase Watch Time on YouTube with Playlist Series – 4000 Hours of Watch Time can seem like a mountain to climb but if you make series content that links to each other and lends itself to binge watching, then you have set the trap you need to trigger this watch time hack in 2019. Series playlists auto suggest the next video in the playlists, can auto play the content and passively builds channel watch time. Pick a topic, break it down into 5-6 videos and really deep dive into the content. Why make a rushed video that is 20-30 mins long, when you can make 5-6 very detailed 10 min tutorials or documentary on a topic that explains it better and demands more engagement.
4 – Live Streams for fast Watch Time on YouTube – If you need watch time fast and your audience is engaged, why not live stream? Live-streaming is a great way to make quick less edited content that invites participation. Pop online with your favourite game or a live Q&A and watch your subscribers pop in for a chat. If you stream for an hours and have 30 people watch you, that’s 30+ hours toward your 4000 hours of watch time goal you need to apply for that YouTube Partnership Program in 2019.
Increase YouTube Watch Time to help you rank your youtube videos better in search. How to increase youtube video watch time is a topic many small youtubers need help with.
YouTube video retention and video watch time is a very important metric in the YouTube Algorithm that determines youtube search results. Bet more watch time and you get more views on youtube, get more views on youtube and you get more subscribers on youtube.
Increase YouTube Watch Time with Card Annotations
YouTube Cards help nudge viewers into watching other videos, playlists and related content. Why not guide them to where you want them to go, retain their attention and increase session watch time.
Increase YouTube Watch Time with Thumbnail Branding
Make it easier for people to identify your content in search results and related suggested videos. This will help people find you and builds up a recognisable brand for loyal viewers to support.
Increase YouTube Watch Time with Playlists
Playlists is a great way to increase session time and youtube video watch time. Adding a video to a playlist teaches YouTube that those videos are related and should be suggested together in future.
Increase YouTube Watch Time by suggesting other related YouTubers
If a fellow YouTuber does similar content or can add value to your video by being related why not link them. Yes they may stop watching you videos but you are extending session watch time and YouTube will reward you for that.
Increase YouTube Watch Time by being Social!
YouTube is not just a video platform, is is a SOCIAL NETWORK. You can increase your youtube watch time by engaging people in your video comment sections, answer questions and get to know your viewers…. breed friendship and loyalty!
Top 5 Tools To Get You Started on YouTube
Very quickly before you go here are 5 amazing tools I have used every day to grow my YouTube channel from 0 to 30K subscribers in the last 12 months that I could not live without.
1. VidIQ helps boost my views and get found in search
I almost exclusively switched to VidIQ from a rival in 2020.
When I first started I threw things together in Window Movie Maker, cringed at how it looked but thought “that’s the best I can do so it’ll have to do”.
Big mistake!
I soon realized the move time you put into your editing and the more engaging your thumbnails are the more views you will get and the more people will trust you enough to subscribe.
That is why I took the plunge and invested in my editing and design process with Adobe Creative Suite. They offer a WIDE range of tools to help make amazing videos, simple to use tools for overlays, graphics, one click tools to fix your audio and the very powerful Photoshop graphics program to make eye-catching thumbnails.
Best of all you can get a free trial for 30 days on their website, a discount if you are a student and if you are a regular human being it starts from as little as £9 per month if you want to commit to a plan.
3. Rev.com helps people read my videos
You can’t always listen to a video.
Maybe you’re on a bus, a train or sat in a living room with a 5 year old singing baby shark on loop… for HOURS. Or, you are trying to make as little noise as possible while your new born is FINALLY sleeping.
This is where Rev can help you or your audience consume your content on the go, in silence or in a language not native to the video.
A GREAT way to find an audience and keep them hooked no matter where they are watching your content.
4. PlaceIT can help you STAND OUT on YouTube
I SUCK at making anything flashy or arty.
I have every intention in the world to make something that looks cool but im about as artistic as a dropped ice-cream cone on the web windy day.
That is why I could not live on YouTube without someone like PlaceIT. They offer custom YouTube Banners, Avatars, YouTube Video Intros and YouTube End Screen Templates that are easy to edit with simple click, upload wizard to help you make amazing professional graphics in minutes.
5. StoryBlocks helps me add amazing video b-roll cutaways
I mainly make tutorials and talking head videos.
And in this modern world this can be a little boring if you don’t see something funky every once in a while.
I try with overlays, jump cuts and being funny but my secret weapon is b-roll overlay content.
I can talk about skydiving, food, money, kids, cats – ANYTHING I WANT – with a quick search on the StoryBlocks website I can find a great looking clip to overlay on my videos, keeping them entertained and watching for longer.
