Have you noticed a sudden drop in your YouTube views after doing well for a long time? Such a tragic decline in views can be frustrating after putting all your effort and resources into producing valuable content. But why do YouTube views suddenly drop?
here are various explanations as to why YouTube views suddenly dropped. These include algorithm changes that affect all channels, fluctuations in popularity, competition, quality decline, changes in uploading schedule, and YouTube view quality audit.
This post explains why YouTube views may drop suddenly and shows what to do in this situation.
Why YouTube Views Suddenly Dropped?
You have been creating content religiously, garnering a good number of views weekly or monthly, and gaining subscribers at a reasonable rate. Then, out of the blue, you notice a sudden decline in views for particular videos or the whole channel at large.
What could be the cause of the sudden drop in views? There are several explanations and causes. Some causes are out of your control, while others are addressable. Below are the various explanations for why YouTube views suddenly dropped:
Algorithm Changes
The YouTube algorithm directly affects the visibility of your videos because it only recommends content that resonates with it.
This algorithm considers various factors when selecting the videos to recommend to viewers, including metadata, video quality, authority, and relevance.
For this reason, creators create content with these factors in mind. When the platform updates the algorithm abruptly, you may experience a sudden drop in views because the older content doesn’t match the new algorithm, and it’s not recommended to viewers.
Fluctuations in Popularity
If your niche is in the trending news, pranks, celebrity gossip, sports, and other seasonal content, you might experience extreme highs and lows due to fluctuation in popularity.
For instance, if your channel gives updates on the NFL, you will get many views when you put out relevant content during the season.
At the same time, you may experience a sudden drop in views when the football season is over because the content is no longer trending. If this is the case, relax and wait for the high season for your niche.
Competition
YouTube is a sea of content, and the current number of creators is approximately 113.94 million. With the many opportunities comes stiff competition from other creators in your niche. Channel authority is one of the factors that affect your content visibility.
If a competitor creates better content and dethrones you on YouTube’s ranking, you will likely see a sudden drop in video views. Luckily, this is a cause that you can address. Improve your content to reclaim authority in your niche to fix the sudden drop in views.
Quality Decline
Content creation seems like an easy undertaking for many, but in reality, it takes a lot of effort to maintain momentum. Your new channel may get a lot of love from users, garnering subscriptions and views over a short period.
However, you may notice a sudden drop in views and engagement if you cannot maintain the quality of the content you provided in your earlier videos.
To fix this issue and regain your channel, create a content strategy that ensures you provide high-quality and relevant content continually.
Changes in the Uploading Schedule
Another reason why you may experience a sudden drop in YouTube views is changing your uploading schedule. A YouTube uploading schedule helps you plan your content, focus on producing quality content and keep your subscribers on their toes.
If you abruptly change your uploading schedule, your views may drop. For instance, changing your uploading schedule to early morning will decrease your video views if your subscribers are usually online at night.
YouTube View Quality Edit
YouTube has a strict policy that prohibits practices that artificially increase the number of views, followers, likes, and comments.
For this reason, the service may conduct a view quality audit to determine if your video views are legitimate. During the test period, your channel may experience a sudden decrease in views.
What To Do When YouTube Views Suddenly Drop?
My YouTube views have suddenly dropped; what do I do? First, study your YouTube analytics. A good analysis of your videos and the overall channel will reveal the following.
- The videos that are doing well and those getting few views.
- Patterns or changes that may point to the cause of view decline.
- Impressions and click-through rates.
- Viewer engagement.
Once you have a good picture of why your channel performs in a certain way, you can address the underlying cause. Below are the steps you can take to regain your viewership.
- Optimize your video metadata for more visibility, including descriptions, tags, titles, and thumbnails.
- Experiment with different content to determine the kind that attracts more viewers.
- Engage with your audience to get their opinions and ideas on improving the content.
- Promote your content on other social platforms, through email marketing, and on your website for better visibility.
- Be consistent and stick to an uploading schedule that works for your target audience.
Wrapping Up
YouTube views may suddenly drop due to various factors. These include abrupt algorithm change, competition, quality decline, uploading schedule change, popularity fluctuation, and YouTube view quality audits. Some causes are out of your control, but others are solvable.
