Low reach/impression "high" CTR, why won't my video reach more users?

[sly schooner]

I uploaded a video on Friday which only has a couple of views(12). When checking the statistics for the video I get the result of: 43 impressions, CTR 20,9%.

Is there anything I can do to make my video reach more users?

I will provide screenshot in Norwegian, I'm not able to change language while at work, sorry im advance.

[eager flint]

What is the viewer retention like ?

[jagged trail]

Well, let’s take a look.

You have two few views to actually be able to look at your analytics yet. Any number that you have is going to be representative of like a few viewers not like an actual pool or comparison to how it’s actually like when you have a ton of viewers.

I keep using this as an example, but it’s a really good example:

If you have 3 impressions and 1 click, you have low impressions and a high CTR.

These numbers aren’t very good to gauge until you’re much bigger

Instead of worrying about CTRs and impressions (which are kinda important but that in a moment), try to focus on the quality and entertainment value of your videos. The impressions and clicks should improve over time with that

Now. If your videos are terrible topics that no one wants to watch (a watching paint dry compilation for example) or they’re not clickable (bad thumbnails, no curiosity) then I would watch your CTR to see if there’s any changes between similar videos on your channel as you grow. But to be frank, your stats likely improve with time and improvement into your content

So I wouldn’t worry about it

Just focus on improving

[sly schooner]

38,5%, bear in mind that there are only 15 views now🙂

[gleaming turtle]

Length of the video?

[sly schooner]

Thanks for your reply! 🙂 I will take your tip and try to improve on every upload.
But do you know of any way to make more impressions?
I would like to improve but I get so little feedback, especially when only 50 YouTube users know that my video exist, I doubt they even care to give constructive feedback🙃
But I will stay consistent and keep post videos, I just wonder if there is anything I can do to be more exposed👍

[sly schooner]

5min 4sec

[jagged trail]

Sure thing! One moment

Look, this is gonna sound really strange, but I mean it in my experience and in the experience of some of my friends who are far more successful than me, impressions are only important because it means more of a chance of people viewing your videos. If you want to increase your impressions, I hate to say it, but you really can’t not directly at least.

I don’t know exactly how impressions are decided per video, but I do know that if your videos are good and you’re consistently uploading, you will get more impressions overtime

Impression count is determined by

1. Thumbnail and Title Quality
2. Click-Through Rate (CTR)
3. Watch Time and Audience Retention
4. Engagement (likes, comments, shares)
5. Video Relevance
6. User Viewing History and Preferences
7. Overall Channel Performance

Supposedly.

You cant really control your impressions other than chasing trends (not advisable exposure overall video quality and you start getting a bit too clickbaity. You can chase some trends but imo it’s not worth it unless your content is that of trend chasing), making the best thumbnails/title combos you can.

You can’t make people enjoy your content, you can only make enjoyable content

[sly schooner]

This is some new info for me, thank you so much!!🙂
Our video and channel certainly do not score high on several of the things u mention, which gives me a good indicator for the reason we reach so few people👍

[jagged trail]

Anytime! I hope that helps!!

[eager flint]

I’m guessing you had some friends watch all of the video but then had some actual viewers click on it and not watch it for very long

[sly schooner]

I understand what you say, but I don't understand how that matter. Since it's 38,5% does that mean that YouTube value my friends less than other YouTube users? 38,5% is still 38,5%. Unless youtube use the median and not the average, in that case my friends might be removed from the equation. Anyone have any info about this?🙂

[gleaming turtle]

One other theory that people talk about what leads to impressions is session watch time, so if your friends basically open youtube for your video, watched the full video, and then leave immediately, that probably doesn't help all that much either, especially for a 5 minute video

[sly schooner]

Very interesting, thanks:)

[eager flint]

Ya I’ve heard about this

[eager flint]

I’m thinking if that is the case then YouTube will keep pushing the vids to your friends and current subs, and since it’s not doing too well with others it won’t push as hard

But also with small channels those stats aren’t super useful early on in the videos life cycle

[sly schooner]

Very interesting, and seems right in my case from what I hear from friends. Nice info dude:)