Both views and watch time are crucial metrics on YouTube, but watch time is generally considered more important.
Here's why:
- Watch time reflects engagement: It tells YouTube that viewers are finding your content valuable and are spending time with it. This is a strong signal of quality and helps your videos rank higher in search results.
- Higher watch time boosts your channel's overall performance: It contributes to your channel's overall watch time, which is a key factor in determining your channel's growth and visibility.
- Watch time influences monetization: YouTube's monetization program relies heavily on watch time. The longer viewers watch your content, the more revenue you can potentially earn.
Here's a simple analogy:
- Views are like people walking by your storefront. They see your window display, but they might not actually enter.
- Watch time is like people entering your store and browsing. They're engaged with your products and spending time inside.
While views are important for initial discoverability, watch time is the true indicator of success on YouTube. It shows that your content is keeping viewers interested and engaged, which ultimately leads to more views, subscribers, and revenue.
