AI Summary
This video addresses the common question of the best time to upload YouTube videos. The creator explains that while upload timing does not significantly affect a video's long-term performance, it can influence immediate engagement and visibility in the subscription feed. The video provides practical advice on using YouTube Analytics to determine optimal upload times and suggests a consistent schedule for audience retention.
Chapters
YouTube's own documentation states that publish time is not known to directly affect a video's performance and views a week, a month, or a year from now.
Uploading when the maximum number of viewers are active gives you instant views, but uploading at off-peak times (like 3 AM) just delays views until viewers wake up, without hurting CTR or AVD.
The graph in YouTube Studio is meant for scheduling premieres, not for determining upload timing. YouTube suggests using it to schedule premieres when the most viewers are active.
In the subscription feed, videos are arranged by upload time, with the most recent at the top. Uploading at a time when many other creators are not uploading can help your video stay at the top of your subscribers' feeds.
The most straightforward way is to use the 'when your viewers are active' chart in YouTube Studio and upload at the start of the peak activity window.
If your audience is kids, upload in the morning; if they are working professionals, upload in the evening. Use logic based on your audience's habits.
The creator personally uploads at 4 PM or 8 PM as a fixed schedule, which helps viewers know when to expect new content.
Upload timing is not a magic bullet for YouTube success, but it can help with immediate engagement and subscription feed visibility. The best approach is to use YouTube Analytics to find when your audience is active, and then stick to a consistent schedule that works for you and your viewers.
Mentioned in this Video
Tutorial Checklist
Study Flashcards (5)
Does upload timing affect a video's long-term performance?
easy
Click to reveal answer
Does upload timing affect a video's long-term performance?
No, YouTube states that publish time is not known to directly affect a video's performance and views a week, a month, or a year from now.
00:18
What is the primary use of the 'when your viewers are active' graph in YouTube Studio?
medium
Click to reveal answer
What is the primary use of the 'when your viewers are active' graph in YouTube Studio?
It is meant for scheduling premieres, not for determining upload timing.
01:49
How does upload timing affect the subscription feed?
medium
Click to reveal answer
How does upload timing affect the subscription feed?
Videos are arranged by upload time, with the most recent at the top. Uploading when fewer creators are active can keep your video at the top of subscribers' feeds.
02:30
What is the recommended way to choose an upload time?
easy
Click to reveal answer
What is the recommended way to choose an upload time?
Use the 'when your viewers are active' chart in YouTube Studio and upload at the start of the peak activity window.
03:10
What is a logical upload time for a channel targeting kids?
easy
Click to reveal answer
What is a logical upload time for a channel targeting kids?
Morning, because kids are likely to be active then.
03:36
💡 Key Takeaways
Upload timing is not a long-term factor
This is a key insight that debunks a common myth, saving creators from overthinking timing.
00:18The analytics graph is for premieres
Clarifies a common misunderstanding about YouTube Studio's analytics, helping creators use the tool correctly.
01:49Subscription feed is affected by timing
Explains a practical reason why timing can still matter, especially for channels competing with news outlets.
02:30Consistency builds audience trust
Highlights the importance of a fixed schedule, which is a simple but effective strategy for audience retention.
03:48Full Transcript
[00:00] This is a very simple question, and its answer is quite straightforward... but still, I always come across this question in my comments section, emails, and Instagram messages. So today, in this quick video, let's find out what the best time to upload videos on
[00:18] Does upload timing even matter, or why do I always post my videos at 4 and 8 o'clock? So whenever there's confusion about something related to YouTube, first go and see what If you go to YouTube Studio> Analytics> Audience Tab, you'll find this Chart that tells us
[00:37] when our viewers are most active, and based on that, we can decide the upload timing. The brighter the lines, the more viewers are active at that time. Now, if you look below, it clearly says that the publish time is not known to directly
[00:51] If a video's performance and views a week, a month, or a year from now were affected So first, firmly conclude that the upload timing has no bearing on how a video will
[01:07] perform in the long run... If you upload a video when the maximum number of viewers are active, you'll get instant
[01:20] But let's say you upload the same video at 3 in the morning, what will happen? When you upload, everyone will be asleep... so at that time, views won't come because there's no one to send impressions to... and this also means that your Click-Through Rate
[01:35] (CTR) and Average View Duration (AVD) won't be affected because, of course, there's no Then when morning comes, and your viewers wake up and open YouTube, views will start That's why you shouldn't worry so much about timing.
[01:49] So now the question is, why did YouTube give us this graph in the first place? If you click on "Learn More," you can see that YouTube says you should schedule premieres You can see when the maximum viewers will be active, and you
[02:15] So far, we've seen that upload timing doesn't significantly affect a video's performance... but does that mean upload timing is completely useless, and we can upload videos anytime? For example, take the Subscription Feed.
[02:30] This is a traffic source where videos are arranged based on upload timing. The video of the creator who uploaded most recently is at the top.
[02:42] So, let's say a viewer watches videos from their subscription feed, ideally, you'd want your video to be at the top of their list... If you upload a video at 3 in the morning, many other creators may have uploaded videos
[02:57] This becomes crucial when competing with news channels. That's why uploading on time could still be beneficial for you... And this is just one reason; there are other small reasons for uploading videos at the
[03:10] So now, I think we're back to the same question: What is the best time to upload videos on So, first, use this chart; it's the most straightforward way. Upload your video at the start of the time when viewers are most active, and you'll get
[03:24] Apart from that, you can also think for yourself when your viewers are most active, and you For example, if your maximum audience consists of kids, it's better to upload in the morning
[03:36] So, logically, you can decide your upload timing like this, if this graph isn't available Personally, I always upload my videos at 4 in the evening or 8 at night...
[03:48] I just randomly decided that I'll upload every video at 4 or 8, and it became my fixed upload My viewers also know that the video will be exactly at 4 or 8.
[04:00] And if you've built a good audience on your channel, I recommend picking a time when you'll Alright, so you've come this far, so I think you really enjoyed this video.
[04:16] You have 2 options on the screen, so click on one of them quickly, and I'll see you there, bye!!
