YouTube Adds Engagement To Video Search Algorithm, Analytics

YouTube has started adjusting the ranking of videos in YouTube search to reward videos based on engagement as well as clicks. This is a continuation of YouTube's ongoing efforts to focus video discovery on the increasingly crowded site.

Starting yesterday, YouTube also added Time Watched reporting to YouTube Analytics, giving creators another tool to evaluate the performance of their videos and channel. 

The experimental results of this change have proven positive, according to YouTube – less clicking, more watching. "We expect the amount of time viewers spend watching videos from search and across the site to increase," the company wrote. " As with previous optimizations to our discovery features, this should benefit your channel if your videos drive more viewing time across YouTube."