---
title: 'How the YouTube Algorithm Works and a Secret Weapon for Small Channels'
source: 'https://youtube.com/watch?v=Omj2oQx_i1o'
video_id: 'Omj2oQx_i1o'
date: 2026-07-12
duration_sec: 385
---

# How the YouTube Algorithm Works and a Secret Weapon for Small Channels

> Source: [How the YouTube Algorithm Works and a Secret Weapon for Small Channels](https://youtube.com/watch?v=Omj2oQx_i1o)

## Summary

The video explains how the YouTube algorithm works from a viewer's perspective, emphasizing that its primary goal is to serve user interests rather than push creator content. It provides a practical method to research audience behavior by creating a dedicated viewer account and using the VidIQ filters tool to discover successful content from small channels.

### Key Points

- **Algorithm Misconception** [00:00] — Small channels often blame the algorithm, but the algorithm's main job is to serve the user, not push creator content.
- **One-Minute Explainer** [00:15] — Open incognito browser on YouTube; without watch history, YouTube shows a blank feed. It needs user data to make recommendations.
- **Viewer-Driven Recommendations** [00:44] — Watch 5-10 videos on a specific topic (e.g., iPhone 17) to train the algorithm; homepage then shows similar content.
- **Algorithm's Primary Goal** [01:21] — Todd from YouTube confirms the algorithm focuses on serving returning viewers, not pushing new videos.
- **20 Years of Data** [02:03] — YouTube uses billions of user interactions to personalize recommendations, often recommending niche channels over big ones like MrBeast.
- **Fix: Focus on Audience** [02:34] — Instead of fighting the algorithm, creators should understand their audience's viewing habits using incognito sessions.
- **Permanent Viewer Account** [02:46] — Create a new YouTube account (not channel) linked to your Gmail, watch at least 10 videos on your niche, and check after 24 hours for a pure feed.
- **Research Insights** [03:30] — The viewer account reveals what channels, topics, and packaging work in your niche, offering more data than YouTube Studio's limited suggestions.
- **Recap of Method** [04:01] — Steps: create new account, watch 10+ niche videos, wait 24 hours, then analyze the homepage feed.
- **Secret Weapon: VidIQ Filters** [04:29] — Install VidIQ browser extension to filter search results by subscriber count (e.g., under 25k) and find outlier videos from small channels.
- **Example: Dog Training Niche** [04:56] — A 5k-subscriber channel's video on cutting dog nails is a hit; suggests exploring similar topics with hooks like 'secret technique'.
- **Hyperfocused Recommendations** [05:23] — On the watch page, VidIQ filters help find more video ideas and packaging strategies from small channels.
- **VidIQ Free Version & Bonus** [05:48] — Free filters tool available; full version includes script writing and thumbnail generator. Exclusive bonus in description.
- **Final Advice** [06:06] — Act as a viewer to get the best research tool; use VidIQ filters to unlock full potential.

### Conclusion

By creating a dedicated viewer account and using VidIQ's filters, creators can effectively research their audience and discover successful content strategies from small channels.

## Transcript

your small channel, you might actually be right. Now, that's not to say that it's the algorithm's fault. So, in this video, I'm going to show you how it works, how to fix a problem, and a secret weapon that will supercharge your
channel. And it all starts with a one minute explainer. That's right. I'm going to show you how the algorithm works in 60 seconds, and you can follow along with me. Open up an incognito desktop browser and go to youtube.com.
accept the cookies and you'll see this very simple message. Try searching to get started. Start watching videos to help us, that's YouTube, build a feed of viewer here is I ain't taking any responsibility for the recommendations I
give you until you watch something. I need data. So, let's say as a viewer, we are a tech enthusiast and right now we're interested in the iPhone 17 in particular. All right, then let's watch this video. I thought this would be the
most obvious year ever to go for the >> and now that I'm watching this video, watch that and then I'll watch this and this and
that. To give this a fair shot, you probably want to watch between five and 10 videos on the same topic and then go back to the homepage. And what do we find here? A lot more videos on the exact or very similar topics. That in a
nutshell is how the YouTube algorithm works. I as a viewer decide what recommendations I am going to see. >> The main job of the algorithm is to serve the user when they show up. A lot of creators think about things from the
creator perspective. Oh well, I make a video and then YouTube pushes it out to a bunch of people. For the most part, recommendations and search don't get >> That's Todd, by the way. He's been working for YouTube on the algorithm for
Of course, new videos should be something YouTube is interested in. But what it gets far more excited about are new and returning viewers visiting the
platform. Its primary goal is to serve their needs. And it does it through 20 years of data gathered from billions of users watching, I don't know, a bazillion videos. It's why some of you never get recommended Mr. beast videos
even though he has 450 million subscribers, but will recommend you videos on that very niche topic from that tiny channel you love to watch. So now you know how the algorithm works. How do you fix it? You don't forget
about the algorithm. Focus on the audience. You can use this simple incognito viewing session whenever you want to get an understanding of what your audience is watching. But that is just the beginning because we can turn
this mini hack into a permanent resource. All you need to do is create a brand new YouTube account that can be connected to the same Gmail account as your main YouTube channel. Now, this account won't be your new channel, but
it will be your perfect viewer. Just like we did before with the incognito viewer of our main channel and watch them, lots of them, and only videos on
that topic. What this will do is create a pure unpoluted watch history. It tells YouTube, I'm a viewer only interested in this topic, so give me more videos about it. And then usually 24 hours later when you go back to the homepage of that
YouTube account, it will be dominated by that topic. It tells you as a creator what channels people are watching, what topics they're interested in, and what packaging works for this niche. Now, in the YouTube studio, there is a feature
that shows you similar channels to you and similar videos, but it's a very limited number of channels and videos, and it's often not available to small infinite set of results that you can update in real time. So, let's just
quickly recap what we've done there. Create a brand new YouTube account. Watch at least 10 videos on the topic that your YouTube channel is about and only videos on that topic. leave that account for 24 hours and then check back
in. This is the most reliable, consistent, and transparent way of demonstrating what videos your target audience is pulling towards them from the YouTube algorithm. But wait, there's more. I never said that was the secret
weapon. This is with a Vid IQ browser extension installed, you'll see this results you see on screen. So, in this example, let's say we are a small
channel based on dog training, and we want to see what's working for channels under 25,000 subscribers. That's exactly what the filters tool is designed to do. And look at this. A channel with 5,000 subscribers with a monster video about
cutting dog nails. Maybe that's a topic I should explore further. cut them perfectly every time? My name is AJ and in this video I'm going to show you all the techniques, tips, and tricks as well as my secret technique to
cut any dog's nails like a professional. >> Yeah, classic tutorial intro there with a nice little hook to keep people watching for that secret technique. Kind of what I did in this video that you're still watching. And since we are now on
the watch page, we have a new set of video recommendations which are now hyperfocused on a particular topic, which is where we can take advantage of the filters tool again to find even more video ideas, video packaging, and
outliers that work for small channels. There is a free version of the filters tool if you want to check it out. But if you want to unlock the full potential of the tool along with everything else here at VidIQ, from a script writing tool to
a thumbnail generator, then I have an exclusive bonus just for you for getting this far into the video. Check out the description for more details. Look, we ways, but if you can show yourself by simply acting as a viewer, you will have
the best research tool you could ever ask for, meaning you should get a load more of these in the future. And as for that filters tool, well, you just got a sneak peek at how powerful it is. This is how you unlock its full potential.