7 ways to get more views
- Pick searched topics. Use YouTube's search suggestions (keyword research).
- Write clear titles. Key words first, under 100 characters.
- Make a thumbnail that adds to the title (thumbnails).
- Open strong: a tease of the best moment and a big, clear promise.
- Stay tight: cut tangents and rambling.
- Link your videos together with end screens and playlists, so one view leads to the next.
- Publish steadily. A rhythm you can keep beats bursts.
How do you improve videos you've already published?
Look at YouTube Studio for each video:
- Low click rate? Try a new thumbnail or title. Eligible channels can test with Test & Compare.
- People leave early? Your opening may not match the title. Learn from it for the next video.
Are more views always better?
No. Views from the wrong people don't help your business and can confuse YouTube about who your channel is for. A smaller group of the right viewers, who join your list, is worth far more. That's why your free offer belongs in every video (how to get email subscribers from YouTube).
Example
Worked example: fixing an underperforming video
A yoga teacher's video "Morning Yoga Routine" has been out for a month with few views. She works through it in order:
- Topic check: "morning yoga" is crowded. Her viewers are mostly people with desk jobs, so the angle is too broad.
- New title: "10-Minute Morning Yoga for Stiff Backs (No Experience Needed)."
- New thumbnail: her in a simple stretch, with three words: "STIFF BACK? 10 MIN." The thumbnail adds something the title doesn't say twice.
- Opening: she can't re-edit the video easily, so she notes the lesson for next time: show the relief moment first, then promise the routine.
- Connections: she adds the video to a "Desk Worker Yoga" playlist and links it from end screens on two related videos.
The fixes she can make after publishing (title, thumbnail, playlists, end screens) are fast. The ones she can't (topic angle and opening) go into her next video plan.
A pre-publish checklist for more views
- The topic answers something your ideal viewer searches or wonders about.
- The title puts the key words first and makes one clear promise.
- The thumbnail is readable on a phone, with three words or fewer.
- The first 15 seconds show a tease of the payoff and state the promise.
- Tangents are cut. If a section doesn't serve the title, it goes.
- End screen points to one related video, not four.
- The video is in at least one playlist.
- The description's first line leads with the benefit.
Watch out
Mistakes that quietly cost views
- Long intros and channel trailers before the content. Viewers who came for an answer leave.
- A different topic every week. It's hard for YouTube to know who to show your videos to.
- Thumbnails that repeat the title word for word. Use the thumbnail to add emotion or a visual result.
- Giving up on old videos. Updating the title and thumbnail of a solid older video is often quicker than making a new one.
- Buying views. Fake views don't produce satisfied viewers and break YouTube's rules.
How long does growth take?
There's no reliable timeline. Steady improvement usually shows up over months of consistent publishing, as you learn from each video's retention and comments.
Dave’s take
A principle I keep coming back to
"You are in charge of their state change." (Dave)
Energy and a clear promise in the first seconds do more for views than any trick.
AI shortcut
How can AI speed this up?
AI tools and plans checked October 18, 2026. They change often, so confirm on each tool's own page. No affiliate links.
- Topics. Ask Studio for ideas from your data.
- Openings. Ask ChatGPT or Grok for five tease-and-promise openings.
- Test. Test & Compare for titles and thumbnails if eligible.
Tools mentioned:
- Ask Studio in YouTube Studio: free, built into YouTube Studio on desktop for most creators.
- Test & Compare: free in YouTube Studio on desktop; tests up to three titles, thumbnails or both. Needs advanced features.
- ChatGPT: free plan, Go ($8 a month in the US) and Plus ($20 a month).
- Grok: free to start with limited use, works alongside X; paid plans start at Plus ($8 a month), with Premium at $30 a month.
AI is great for first drafts. Always edit the result so it sounds like you and is accurate for your business.
Key takeaways
- Better topics are the biggest lever: answer what your viewers search.
- A clear title and matching thumbnail earn the click.
- A strong opening and a tight video earn recommendations.
- Views only matter if the right people are watching.
