Hey friends,
YouTube is becoming more saturated each day. As more people become creators and more content is posted, you might wonder if it's still possible to start and grow a YouTube channel in 2024, or if it's already too late.
In the past, YouTube might not have been as crowded, but that doesn't mean it was easier. It was simply different.
Today, many things have changed on YouTube. In this post, I'll guide you through 5 important changes that YouTube has implemented over the past 10 years and explain what these changes mean for aspiring creators like you in 2024.
Let's dive in!
A Better YouTube Algorithm
The YouTube algorithm has evolved significantly from 2014 to 2024, transitioning from a focus on view counts to a more sophisticated, user-centric approach:
2014: The algorithm primarily focused on view counts and early engagement. It relied on basic metadata for content categorization and was less sophisticated in matching content to individual user preferences.
2024: The modern algorithm emphasizes watch time, user engagement, and satisfaction. It utilizes advanced AI and machine learning for personalized recommendations and values content quality and creator consistency. There's also a stronger effort to combat misinformation.
Today's algorithm rewards higher-quality content, regardless of channel size. As a result, everyone has the opportunity to grow on the platform.
Advanced Analytics & Detailed Data, New YouTube Studio
2014: Basic viewer analytics were available.
2024: YouTube introduced a new Studio where it shares detailed analytics and data with creators. As you can see in the pictures, you’ll receive important data such as:
how much interest your audience shows to your videos
how long they watch
traffic sources
device types
how many subscribers each video gets
video & channel performance over time
and many others.
You can understand your audience better with this data, adjust and improve your content effectively, which gives you the opportunity to become successful on YouTube.
Don’t worry about the analytics that much for now. I’ll provide you more information in my upcoming posts.
The Rise of YouTube Shorts:
2014: Only regular videos could be posted
2024: Now you can post shorts, regular videos, live-streams, polls, and even text on YouTube.
TikTok became a rival competitor of YouTube with its short-form content. Short-form content is easy to consume, and easy to produce!
So, YouTube introduced “YouTube Shorts” which is a vertical-type short-form videos with a duration of up to 60 seconds.
And guess what: It is easier to go viral with short-form content. You can also connect your Shorts to long-form videos.
YouTube Shorts has emerged as a game-changer, offering a new way to gain views and reach a wider audience. Not only are Shorts easy to make, but they also have a higher potential to go viral, providing an excellent opportunity for new creators to get noticed quickly.
Enhanced Information & Tools for Creators:
2014: Less information, less channels about YouTube with limited guidance for creators.
2024: Now, not only are high-quality recording and software tools easily accessible (I don’t even mention AI), but YouTube also provides a wealth of resources and tutorials.
This means you get more information and guidance to create engaging and professional content right from the start.
Varied Monetization Ways:
2014: Earnings were mostly through ads and some brand collaborations.
2024: The monetization landscape on YouTube has diversified! Think beyond ads to merchandise, members only content, affiliate marketing, fan donations, and more.
Today, you don’t need millions of views to make a living on YouTube. You'll find various monetization options not only on the platform but also opportunities to attract customers to your products and services, increasing your revenue.
So, these are some of the changes that have occurred, making me believe it is still possible to start and grow a YouTube channel successfully in 2024.
What do you think? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section.
In my next post, we're going to talk about the things you need to know before starting a YouTube channel.
Stay tuned, and thanks for reading!
👉 Dive into my next post: “Essential Insights: 10 Must-Know Things Before Starting a YouTube Channel”.