To get people to watch multiple videos in a playlist, that means you have to organize your playlists a little bit differently.
You have to give them really good titles. Like title these playlists the same way that you would title a video. Make it enticing. Pitching value, tease a story.
Write the description for your playlists, as well, something many people overlook. And just like you would write the description for a YouTube video itself, same principles apply for writing descriptions for playlists. That is, keep your keywords in mind that apply to that playlist, but write them out in normal conversational English, pitching value, teasing what’s in the playlist itself, so that people feel like, ooh I want to watch this entire playlist.
Pick a strong thumbnail for that playlist. Now you do that by picking one of the videos that’s in that playlist to be the representative thumbnail for that full playlist. So again, just like you would do with a video, pick a good thumbnail for that playlist that complements the title very well.
Place your strongest video first in the playlist. And the reason for this is that most people when they start a playlist, they start with that number one video. So to keep them watching through the whole playlist, that first one needs to be the best video that sets the context, that hooks people, and keeps them watching the rest. Whenever you feature this playlist as an interactive card or as an end screen element on your videos, or someplace like that, that first video will be the one that plays for them first.
Keep your playlists short. And it makes sense, if you think about it, from the perspective of how do we get people to into playlist mode are watching more videos. If they see there’s 200 videos in that playlist, they’re probably like I ain’t got time for this. And they probably won’t even start. But there’s like a manageable number of playlists, like if the videos are long– maybe there’s five, six, seven, eight videos in there– or if the videos are shorter, maybe you have somewhere like up to 10 videos in a playlist. That’s way more manageable and people are more likely to start and watch through all the videos in that playlist if they are more manageable like that.
Using YouTube playlists strategically can significantly improve watch time on your channel. Here are some effective ways to utilize playlists:
Organize Content: Create playlists based on themes, topics, or series. For instance, if your channel focuses on cooking, you could have playlists like “Healthy Recipes,” “Quick Meals,” or “Dessert Delights.” This categorization makes it easier for viewers to find content they are interested in.
Curate Engaging Playlists: Arrange videos within playlists in a logical order. Start with an attention-grabbing video and follow it up with related, compelling content. Ensure a smooth flow to keep viewers engaged throughout the playlist.
Create Series Playlists: If your channel has series or episodic content, compile them into a series playlist. Series playlists automatically play the next episode in the series, encouraging viewers to keep watching.
Use End Screens and Cards: In your videos, encourage viewers to check out your playlists through end screens and cards. Link directly to relevant playlists related to the video content. This guides viewers to watch more of your videos.
Promote Playlists in Video Descriptions: Mention related playlists in your video descriptions. Viewers who are interested can easily navigate to the playlists and continue watching content that interests them.
Optimize Playlist Titles and Descriptions: Use descriptive and engaging titles and descriptions for your playlists. Include relevant keywords to improve searchability. A well-optimized playlist can attract more organic traffic to your videos.
Create Custom Thumbnails: Design custom thumbnails for your playlists, making them visually appealing and consistent with your channel’s branding. Eye-catching thumbnails can entice viewers to click and explore the playlist.
Update Playlists Regularly: Keep playlists updated with your latest videos. Remove outdated or irrelevant videos and add new ones to ensure the playlist remains fresh and interesting for viewers.
Encourage Viewers to Share Playlists: Ask viewers to share your playlists on social media or with friends who might be interested. Word-of-mouth can bring new viewers to your channel, increasing watch time.
Monitor Analytics: Regularly check YouTube Analytics to understand which playlists are performing well. Analyze watch time data to identify trends and tailor your content strategy accordingly.
By implementing these strategies, you can effectively use YouTube playlists to improve watch time on your channel, enhance user experience, and encourage viewers to explore more of your content.