YouTube Adds Shorts Links, Limits Links Elsewhere via @sejournal, @MattGSouthern

YouTube now lets creators link Shorts to other videos on their channel after removing links in comments and descriptions.

• YouTube added links from Shorts to other videos.
• Links in Shorts comments and descriptions are now disabled.
• Metrics for link clicks are coming soon.

YouTube Lowers Barriers To Join Partner Program In More Countries via @sejournal, @MattGSouthern

YouTube announced that it’s rolling out new eligibility requirements for its YouTube Partner Program (YPP) to more creators across the globe.

The expansion will give channels earlier access to monetization features like Channel Memberships, Super Chats, Super Stickers, and merchandise sales.

YouTube said in a video posted on Tuesday:

“We’re excited to share that we’re expanding this new level of YPP to creators in 33 more countries beginning on August 29th and rolling out over the next month.”

What’s The “New Level” Of YouTube’s Partner Program?

In June, YouTube lowered the partner program eligibility thresholds for creators in the U.S., U.K., Canada, Taiwan, and South Korea.

Under the new criteria, channels only need 500 subscribers and 3,000 watch hours in the past year to join YPP. The previous requirement was 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours in the past 12 months.

YouTube is bringing the lower eligibility levels to dozens more countries in North America, Central America, South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia.

New Eligibility Requirements

To apply for the YouTube Partner Program, channels must have:

• 500 subscribers
• 3 uploads in the past 90 days
• No active community guideline strikes
• 3,000 watch hours in the past year or 3 million Shorts views

You can check your eligibility and apply through YouTube Studio.

Once approved for YPP, creators gain access to Channel Memberships, Super Chats, Super Stickers, and merchandise sales.

After crossing 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours or 10 million Shorts views in the past 12 months, creators also become eligible for ad revenue sharing.

For partners that are currently in YPP, there are no changes to program benefits for you.

It’s worth mentioning that channels could lose monetization if they stop posting new videos for six months or more.

In Summary

The lower threshold for joining the YPP is available to creators in 33 more countries.

After 500 subscribers, creators can apply for access to money-making features like channel memberships and Super Chats.

After 1,000 subscribers, creators can start earning ad revenue.

The rollout of the new YPP eligibility requirements will continue over the next month.

For a complete overview of the YouTube Partner Program, see the company’s help page.

Featured Image: Tattoboo/Shutterstock

YouTube Now Allows Creators to Remove Community Guideline Strikes via @sejournal, @MattGSouthern

YouTube has announced a new policy allowing creators to remove warnings for community guideline violations by taking educational training courses.

This update marks the first time YouTube has provided a standard process for getting warnings removed.

Here’s What’s Changing

YouTube issues strikes against videos and channels that violate policies like spam, scams, violent/graphic content, and copyright infringement.

After receiving a strike, a channel may lose its ability to publish fully monetized videos. After multiple strikes, YouTube may terminate the channel.

YouTube recognizes that receiving strikes can be disruptive, especially for creators who depend on advertising income.

Previously, creators were given one warning for the lifetime of their channel. Under the new system, they will receive individual warnings based on the specific policies they violate.

This approach provides more opportunities for creators to understand why their content may have crossed the line.

Creators can now take a training course after receiving a warning for a first violation. If they avoid violating the same policy again for 90 days, the warning will be removed from their channel.

More About The Training Courses

Each training course is designed to provide creators with clearer insights into what type of content violates YouTube’s policies.

For example, YouTube has guidelines against nudity and sexual content. However, the guidelines don’t apply to educational content.

If a creator uploads a video about sexual health, it could violate YouTube’s guidelines if it doesn’t provide enough educational context.

Under YouTube’s new policy, the creator can take a course about the guidelines they broke.

YouTube Community Guidelines Unchanged

While these educational courses are new, YouTube clarified that it’s not altering its Community Guidelines or three-strikes approach.

Any content that violates YouTube’s policies will continue to be removed, and creators who receive three strikes within 90 days will face termination.

YouTube’s policies regarding severe or repeated content violations remain unchanged, even for creators who have completed training courses.

Repeat offenders may be barred from taking future training courses.

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YouTube Explains How Shorts Algorithm Works via @sejournal, @MattGSouthern

YouTube recently provided creators with more details on how its Shorts algorithm works during an interview with Todd Sherman, the product lead for YouTube Shorts.

The discussion aimed to clear up common misconceptions creators have about the Shorts algorithm and how it differs from YouTube’s algorithm for long-form videos.

In this article, we delve into the 11-minute conversation, which touches on the importance of audience-focused content creation, the definition of a ‘view,’ and the strategic considerations behind video length and customization.

Additionally, Sherman addresses questions related to hashtags, posting frequency, and the lifespan of a Short.

The Algorithm & Audience

According to Sherman, the long-form and Shorts algorithms’ core goal is to connect viewers with videos they find valuable.

Sherman emphasized that the saying “don’t think algorithm, think audience” holds for Shorts, much like it does for long-form content. He said, “The audience is the algorithm.”

There are differences in how the algorithm works for short-form content due to its unique format.

“We want [viewers] to feel satisfied with [the videos],” Sherman said. “But there’s a lot of things that we do in short form that sort of are different and focused on the fundamentals of short form.”

Unlike long-form videos where people actively select a video to watch, Shorts viewers often discover content by swiping through a feed.

This distinction necessitates a different measurement approach, Sherman states:

“At the core, we’re trying to get videos to people they value, both in long form and short form.”

Defining A View

Sherman clarified that it doesn’t when asked whether every video flipped through in the Shorts feeds counts as a view.

Unlike other platforms that count the first frame as a view, YouTube aims for a view to indicate an intentional act of watching.

Sherman explains:

“What we try and do with a view is have it encode for your intent of watching that thing so that creators feel like that view has some meaningful threshold that the person decided to watch.”

Exact thresholds aren’t shared publicly to avoid potential “gaming” of the system.

A new metric in YouTube Analytics shows the percentage of times a Short is viewed versus swiped away to help creators analyze performance.

Ideal Short Video Length

Sherman suggested that creators prioritize storytelling over targeting a specific duration when asked about the ideal length for a Short.

He also addressed the question of thumbnail customization, explaining that most of the traffic for Shorts comes from the feed rather than the Shorts shelf.

As a result, the team has decided to allow creators to select a frame from their video as the thumbnail instead of offering custom thumbnails.

Hashtags, Posting Frequency, & Lifespan

Sherman said Hashtags aren’t required but can be meaningful depending on the creator’s needs and context.

He addressed the question of posting frequency, asserting that there’s no magical threshold of posts that will guarantee success. Instead of posting numerous low-quality videos, he encouraged creators to invest their time in producing better content.

Sherman explained that Shorts may initially gain a few hundred or thousand views and then drop off due to the algorithm’s attempt to find an audience for the content. He suggested that these early views can be seen as exploratory as YouTube tries to help creators find their audience.

In Summary

Key takeaways from the discussion center on understanding your audience, creating quality content, and leveraging the unique features of Shorts.

Keep these points in mind:

• Audience is Key: The Shorts algorithm aims to connect viewers with valuable content. Focus on understanding and serving your audience, not trying to game the algorithm.
• Views are Intentional: Not every video scroll counts as a view—the intent of watching the video matters.
• Storytelling over Duration: There isn’t an ideal length for a Short. Concentrate on crafting compelling narratives that keep viewers engaged.
• Quality over Quantity: No magical number of posts guarantees success.

Featured Image: Jan Krava/Shutterstock

YouTube Algorithm: Insights From Creator Liaison Renee Ritchie via @sejournal, @MattGSouthern

The rise of social media in the past decade has led to rapid changes in how creators make and tell stories on YouTube.

With users able to click away at any moment, YouTubers have had to transform their approach to editing and audience retention.

In a recent discussion on The Editing Podcast, Rene Ritchie, YouTube’s Creator liaison, offers insightful commentary about YouTube’s algorithm and how creators adapt their strategies.

Don’t Blame The Algorithm, YouTube Says

Ritchie dispelled a common misconception among video creators that the algorithm alone decides the success or failure of a video. He explained that the creator and the audience are just as crucial.

The algorithm isn’t an autonomous entity with an agenda. Instead, the algorithm is a system that responds to the audience.

So, the creator and the viewers play vital roles in driving a video’s performance, even in an algorithmic media landscape. The algorithm reflects engagement more than it shapes it.

Ritchie says:

“When a video is successful, the creator often takes all the credit. However, when a video doesn’t perform well, the algorithm is frequently blamed.”

Video Editing In The Social Media Age

The conversation touched on social media’s impact on video editing over the past 15 years.

Ritchie suggested that with the surge of online content, editors have had to adapt to keep viewer attention.

This adaptation has led to a shift in traditional storytelling techniques. He explains:

“Editors have realized that you can’t do the slow burn. You can’t introduce the unlikable anti-hero character and give a half-hour to an hour to change because people will click away.”

Hook Viewers Right Away

Gone are the days of slow narrative builds on YouTube.

Instead, successful YouTubers have had to adapt to hook viewers immediately.

This inversion of traditional story structure helps creators retain viewers in a crowded digital landscape.

Ritchie states:

“The first act can’t just be an introduction. The first act has to be a reward. The thumbnail makes a promise, and the video has to deliver on it.”

Adaptability Is Key To Longevity

Ritchie emphasized the need for continuous reinvention to achieve longevity on YouTube:

“Creators must continuously bring fresh formats, angles, and content to their audience.”

Adaptability can lead to sustained success on the platform.

Leaning into a niche is essential, but repackaging copy and testing different thumbnails and titles can help broaden a video’s appeal at the right time.

Ritchie continues:

“… I change the thumbnail, change the title, and now I’m targeting the broader audience.”

Embrace Cliffhangers

Ritchie pointed out that cliffhangers are an underused tactic on YouTube. Similar to how they’re used in television and movies, implementing cliffhangers at the end of YouTube videos can make viewers eager to watch the next video to see what happens.

This builds excitement and investment in the audience. Ritchie proposed that YouTubers should utilize cliffhangers more often to get viewers hooked and look forward to the next installments.

The Emergence Of Premium Content

Ritchie wrapped up the conversation by discussing the increasing popularity of “premium content” on YouTube.

This refers to high-quality, entertaining videos that viewers like to watch on big screens like TVs instead of on their phones or laptops.

The move toward premium YouTube content shows that viewers today want a more immersive, cinematic viewing experience with videos that have high production values.

Key Takeaways For Marketers & Content Creators

The shifts by top YouTube creators offer several insights for anyone creating online content>

Hook Viewers Immediately

First impressions matter whether it’s on YouTube or your branded social channels. Dynamically showcase your offering in the opening moments.

Satisfy audience needs.

Don’t rely on vanity metrics like followers or subscribers. Analyze your core audience and consistently deliver content tailored to their interests.

Test Broader Appeals

While nurturing your niche, evaluate opportunities to organically repackage videos to reach a broader demographic. Thumbnail tweaks can work magic.

Surprise & Delight

Consider overdelivering on perceived video promises to exceed viewer expectations. Think like MrBeast in fulfilling – and going beyond – clickbait headlines.

Create Cliffhangers

Hook viewers from video to video by strategically teasing upcoming episodes, revelations, how-tos, etc. Apply fundamentals of serialized storytelling.

Production Value

As YouTube viewers increasingly demand quality, produce standout content and experiences worthy of audiences’ time and attention.

In Summary

By taking cues from YouTube’s most adaptable creators, marketers can future-proof their video approach for the social media era.

The platforms may change, but engaging storytelling endures.

Featured Image: PixieMe/Shutterstock

YouTube Implements New Linking Policy To Curb Spam via @sejournal, @MattGSouthern

YouTube has announced new policies to fight spam and fraud on its platform.

Beginning on August 31, 2023, links in YouTube Shorts comments and descriptions will slowly become unclickable.

YouTube says this change aims to cut down on spam and scams.

The company will launch a new way for creators to share key links on their channel pages. Creators can start setting up these new profile links on August 10, and viewers will see them beginning August 23.

Additionally, YouTube is removing banner links entirely, starting August 10, 2023.

A New Approach to Channel Links

YouTube is rolling out a new feature for creators to showcase important links on their channel pages, moving away from the traditional banner links.

This will allow creators to directly display links they want to highlight on their channel pages, providing a more intuitive and seamless way for viewers to access key content.

Rather than having links tucked away in banners, creators can feature links prominently on their channel pages.

Fostering Content Discovery through Content Links

YouTube will start introducing content links for Shorts videos in late September.

With these links, creators can connect their Shorts videos to other Shorts. This can promote cross-promotion between creators and help viewers find more related content.

The apparent goal is to strengthen the YouTube Shorts ecosystem by making it more interconnected and cohesive.

Enhanced Editing & Linking Capabilities

YouTube’s September update will give creators more options to connect Shorts with other content and leverage them in new ways.

Creators will be able to edit Shorts directly in Studio Desktop. Additionally, they’ll be able to add links to related videos in their Shorts, no matter the length or privacy setting of those videos.

Further, creators will have a one-click button on their Shorts to easily link them to long videos, connect multi-part Shorts, promote live streams, advertise video sales, and experiment with different uses.

In Summary

YouTube’s linking changes aim to curb abusive linking while allowing creators to share legitimate content.

Starting August 31, links in Shorts will become unclickable. Starting August 10, banner links will be removed and creators can add new profile links.

In the meantime, viewers should be vigilant about clicking unknown links in YouTube Shorts.

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