YouTube / Google is driven by stock price maintenance perhaps more than anything else, it seems. This assertion comes after a rash of complaints by YouTube Partners – people who have been approved to gain revenue from Google AdSense ads posted in or next to their videos – that their view traffic has lessened since around September of this year, 2013.
This blogger, me, is a YouTube Partner who follows the YouTube suggested pattern of daily video uploads. The YouTube Partner, er, Creator page even has this strategy written in black and white:
“Release videos frequently on a recurring schedule. React to trending topics with relevant content….Frequent uploads and other platform engagement keep your channel feed active and retain audience interest.”
It also says “Stay timely”:
Stay timely
Timing matters. News and politics, sports, commentary, and opinion content can thrive on topicality.
Don’t be too locked into your schedule: respond to rising search trends, viral videos or breaking news.
Add reactive and timely supplemental content to your regular programming; it
The first sentence: “Timing matters. News and politics, sports, commentary, and opinion content can thrive on topicality.”
And that’s all too true, but what happens when you do this, and your videos don’t show up in search? It ruins the “timely” nature of the upload, as well as robs you of the chance to gain view traffic, and thus revenues and recognition.
That’s what’s currently happening at YouTube.
As of this writing, my Calvin Johnson v. Cowboys video – this one:
has not shown up in search results for Calvin Johnson v. Cowboys. And that’s the second most highest search term for the Detroit Lions wide receiver to date, and because of his amazing 14 catches for 329 yards on Sunday.
But get this: no other YouTube Partner has shown up in search in that category either. So how can you stay on schedule if the search system’s, well, off schedule?
I’ve contacted YouTube about this, but not got a response as of this writing.
My suggestion to partners is to try experiments with descriptions and tags to see if you can break through this. But YouTube should favor creators and partners, other wise the suggested schedule the company presents is meaningless.
Stay tuned.