How to Get More Views on YouTube: 12 Best Tips That Actually Work

Nothing tests your patience quite like trying to grow a YouTube channel from zero. As a new creator, it's easy to feel like you're shouting into the void.

But going viral (or even just building steady traction) isn't pure luck. There's a method to it, a formula you can learn and repeat to build real momentum.

It also helps to understand how YouTube's algorithm has evolved: it now leans more heavily on viewer satisfaction signals (like watch-through behavior, surveys, and returns) rather than just clicks or watch time alone.

In practice, that means genuinely connecting with your audience matters more than ever. So let's get into 12 strategies that work, and along the way, we'll show how Areze AI Creative Studio fits into the process.

#1. Redesign Your Video Thumbnails

When you publish a new video, YouTube shows it to a small test audience first. If your click-through rate is strong, that's a positive signal, the algorithm rewards it with more recommendations.

But if people scroll past without clicking, your video gets buried. That's why eye-catching thumbnails that spark genuine curiosity are foundational.

A good starting point: look at what's working for popular creators in your niche.

Spend some time figuring out what fits your content best. You can even test different thumbnail versions using YouTube's Test & Compare feature to see which one your audience responds to most.

#2. Craft More Click-Worthy Video Titles

You've definitely seen titles you couldn't resist clicking on. Many of them lean on charged words like "Exposed," "Secret," "Worst," or "Hack."

Words like these work because they tap into curiosity, viewers want to know what's behind the big reveal, so they click to find out.

Another approach is the direct, almost confrontational title. Think "the exact strategy I used to scale my business," or something equally direct, a title that tells viewers exactly what they'll get and why it matters.

Study what tone fits your niche, then apply the same principle.

#3. Use YouTube Shorts to Boost Exposure

When it comes to reaching non-subscribers, Shorts has the edge, it runs on a dedicated feed that makes it much easier to rack up high view counts.

You can use this to drive more channel-wide views: create teaser clips or highlight moments from your long-form videos, then link them back using YouTube's Related Video feature.

If a Short takes off, you've effectively built a funnel that sends that traffic straight into your longer content. A good rule of thumb is to post Shorts 3–5 times a week to stay visible across feeds. And if you need to scale production, Areze AI Creative Studio's tools can help you generate Shorts more efficiently.

#4. Collaborate with Other Creators In Your Niche

YouTube's Collaboration feature lets creators get formally credited together on a single video, a great way to tap into a fast spike of new views.

In one upload, you gain impressions and exposure from your collaborator's subscribers, and afterward, those new viewers are naturally curious to check out the rest of your channel.

Done right, this can meaningfully accelerate growth for both channels involved. Just make sure your collaborator is in the same or an adjacent niche, and if possible, aim to work with creators who have a larger audience than you, since that's where the exposure ceiling is highest.

#5. Create More Evergreen Video Content

Most high-view videos on YouTube revolve around evergreen formats: how-tos, reviews, explainers, tutorials. That's because people are searching for solutions to real problems, not just entertainment in the moment.

This means these videos keep getting discovered weeks, months, even years after publishing, and they tend to perform well in both Google and YouTube search.

Tools like Google Trends can help you spot which evergreen topics in your niche people are actively curious about. Natalie Dawson's channel is a solid example, her how-to and business-advice videos consistently perform well because they answer questions her audience is already searching for.

#6. Create Binge-Worthy Playlists/Video Series

If you want more views per session, the "Autoplay" feature on YouTube playlists is one of your best tools. Group related videos together, and viewers get pulled straight into the next one without lifting a finger.

This maximizes session time, and the longer someone stays watching, the more YouTube's algorithm rewards the playlist with broader distribution.

The key is structuring your playlist around a clear theme or continuation, Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, etc.

Avoid throwing unrelated videos into one playlist; viewers will drop off fast. And if you need to produce more content for a series quickly, Areze AI Creative Studio's video generation tools can help speed up the process.

#7. Engage with Audiences In the First 24 Hours

When you publish a new video, YouTube tests it with a small audience first. Strong early performance within that first day or two can earn it a bigger push.

One easy way to boost that early performance: reply to every comment within the first 24 hours. It sounds small, but it works.

Replying often sparks a back-and-forth thread, which generates more comments and drives up engagement. It also signals to new viewers that you actually value their input, which makes them more likely to subscribe.

#8. Build a Brand/Community, Not Just a Channel

It's easy to get swept up chasing viral trends and lose sight of what actually drives consistent growth.

Instead of fixating on raw view counts, focus on building a real community. A loyal audience that trusts you will almost always translate into more views over time.

Community posts are a great way to stay connected between uploads, think sneak peeks, behind-the-scenes content, polls, or exclusive announcements. Areze AI Creative Studio can help you whip up quick, engaging teasers for this.

Do it consistently, and the algorithm starts paying more attention to your channel as a whole.

#9. Use Content Loops To Drive Views Back

Staying consistent is one challenge, but coming up with a brand-new topic every single week is another. This is often where good videos quietly fade out.

Content loops solve this: create a strong main video, then build a short cycle of supporting content around it, Shorts clips, community polls, follow-up videos, that all point traffic back to the original.

Instead of always chasing the next topic, sometimes the smarter move is doubling back on something that's already working and building more momentum around it.

#10. Check Your YouTube Analytics Weekly

Growing your views means knowing when to double down and when to pivot, and that starts with checking your analytics regularly.

Once you see how your videos are actually performing, you can spot patterns. Are people responding more to one type of content than another? If home workout videos are consistently outperforming gym workout videos, for example, that tells you exactly where to focus.

Use YouTube Studio to see what your subscribers are searching for, then create content that matches those interests.

#11. Cross-Promote Your Video on Socials

You don't have to rely entirely on the algorithm to get views, promoting your videos across social platforms can give you an extra push.

Many top podcast creators take their full YouTube episodes and cut them into short, attention-grabbing clips for Instagram, TikTok, and X. The key is making platform-native content, not just dropping a link, a strong clip with a clear call-to-action drives real traffic back to YouTube, especially from people who've never seen your channel before.

Conclusion

Gaining more views on YouTube isn't about luck, it's a mix of strategic planning, creative execution, and showing up consistently for your audience. Put these tips into practice, and you'll start seeing real movement in your visibility and your audience growth.

At the end of the day, a thriving YouTube channel comes down to one thing: genuinely connecting with your viewers and giving them something worth their time. So, for tip #12, if you'd like a partner to help streamline that process, Areze AI Creative Studio's tools can help you produce high-quality, engaging videos more efficiently.