YouTube Analytics Glossary
Master YouTube analytics terminology with our comprehensive glossary. Understand key metrics, concepts, and terms that drive successful YouTube channels.
The total amount of time viewers spend watching your videos. This is one of the most important metrics for YouTube's algorithm as it indicates how engaging your content is.
Example:
If your video is 10 minutes long and 100 people watch it for an average of 6 minutes, your total watch time is 600 minutes (10 hours).
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The percentage of people who click on your video after seeing the thumbnail and title. CTR is calculated by dividing clicks by impressions.
Formula:
CTR = (Clicks ÷ Impressions) × 100Example:
If your video thumbnail is shown 1,000 times and 50 people click on it, your CTR is 5%.
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The average amount of time viewers spend watching your video. This metric helps you understand how engaging your content is throughout the video.
Example:
If your 10-minute video has an average view duration of 4 minutes, viewers on average watch 40% of your content.
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A graph showing the percentage of your video that viewers watch at each moment. It helps identify which parts of your video are most and least engaging.
Example:
If 100 people start watching your video and 60 are still watching at the 2-minute mark, your retention at 2 minutes is 60%.
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The number of times your video thumbnail was shown to viewers on YouTube. This includes appearances in search results, suggested videos, and browse features.
Example:
Your video thumbnail appears in search results 500 times and in suggested videos 300 times, giving you 800 total impressions.
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The revenue you earn per 1,000 video views. RPM accounts for all revenue sources including ads, channel memberships, and Super Chat.
Formula:
RPM = (Total Revenue ÷ Total Views) × 1,000Example:
If you earn $50 from 10,000 views, your RPM is $5.00.
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The amount advertisers pay per 1,000 ad impressions on your videos. This is different from RPM as it only accounts for ad revenue before YouTube's revenue share.
Example:
If advertisers pay $8 per 1,000 ad views and YouTube takes 45%, your effective CPM is $4.40.
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The percentage of viewers who subscribe to your channel after watching your videos. This metric indicates how well your content attracts new subscribers.
Formula:
Conversion Rate = (New Subscribers ÷ Views) × 100Example:
If 100 people subscribe after 10,000 views, your subscriber conversion rate is 1%.
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The total time a viewer spends on YouTube after watching one of your videos. YouTube's algorithm favors videos that lead to longer sessions.
Example:
A viewer watches your 5-minute video, then watches 3 more videos for 20 minutes total. Your video contributed to a 20-minute session.
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The different ways viewers discover your videos, including YouTube search, suggested videos, external websites, and direct traffic.
Example:
40% of your views come from YouTube search, 35% from suggested videos, 15% from external sources, and 10% from direct links.
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