YouTube algorithm hack – Two minutes to get your videos recommended

If you’re a small YouTuber struggling with zero views, this youtube algorithm hack could be the game-changer you’ve been searching for. YouTube’s algorithm can seem mysterious, especially when your new channel’s videos get buried with hardly any traction. But here’s the honest truth: YouTube doesn’t automatically know what your content is about or who should see it when your channel is brand new. The good news? YouTube actually reveals how to fix this using metadata and some hidden settings most creators don’t even know exist.

In this article, we’ll walk you through three secret YouTube Studio settings that teach the algorithm exactly who you are, what your channel is about, and who should see your videos. Implementing these can help your channel get recommended to the right audience and start growing views, all in under two minutes.

Table of Contents

• Why new channels struggle with views
• Introducing the 3 secret settings that boost your channel
• How these settings work together
• What’s next after getting recommended?
• Final thoughts on this youtube algorithm hack

Get an unfair advantage on YouTube

Give your YouTube channel the upper hand and easily optimize for more views, more subs, and more of every metric that matters.

get started

Why new channels struggle with views

When you first launch a YouTube channel, the platform’s algorithm has no prior data to understand your content or your target audience. This means your videos often get buried because YouTube doesn’t know how to categorize or recommend them. According to YouTube’s own guidance, new channels need to rely heavily on metadata — including titles, descriptions, and other signals — to help the algorithm understand what your content is about.

Without this metadata, YouTube struggles to match your videos with viewers who would be interested, causing your content to get lost in the vast sea of uploads.

Introducing the 3 secret settings that boost your channel

Most creators focus on optimizing individual videos but miss three crucial settings that influence how YouTube perceives your entire channel. These settings act like a GPS for the YouTube algorithm, guiding it to recommend your videos to the right viewers. Here’s what you need to set up:

1. Channel keywords
2. Upload default descriptions
3. Default tags for every video

Let’s break down each one and show you how to use them effectively.

1. Channel keywords: define your channel’s identity

Channel keywords are invisible keywords that describe your entire channel, not just individual videos. These keywords help YouTube understand your channel’s focus and the audience that should be targeted.

To add channel keywords:

• Click your profile photo in the top right corner of YouTube.
• Go to YouTube Studio.
• Select Settings from the left-hand menu.
• Click on Channel, then look for the Keywords section.

Many creators leave this section empty, but you shouldn’t. Add broad keywords that represent your niche, such as fitness or finance. Then, include long-tail phrases that your target audience actually searches for, like how to lose weight fast or home workout routines. This combination helps YouTube pinpoint exactly what your channel offers.

Pro tip: With the TubeBuddy browser extension, you can even spy on other channels’ keywords. This lets you see what successful creators in your niche use and model your keywords after them.

2. Upload default description: automate your channel pitch

Next, head to the Upload defaults section in the same Settings menu. This feature allows you to create a default video description that will automatically populate every time you upload a new video.

Here’s what to include in your default description:

• A clear summary of your channel’s purpose.
• Who your content helps or is intended for.
• The topics you regularly cover.

Think of this as your elevator pitch for your channel — concise, informative, and audience-focused. When you upload a new video, you can add a custom description above this default text to tailor it to the specific video.

This hack not only saves you time but ensures every upload has detailed metadata that supports YouTube’s algorithm in recommending your videos to the right viewers.

3. Default tags: boost your channel’s discoverability

The third setting is just as important, especially for new channels: default tags. Tags are keywords that help YouTube understand the content of your videos, particularly when your channel has no history or data to rely on.

In the Upload defaults section, add two to five tags that describe your channel as a whole. Use a mix of broad terms and long-tail phrases relevant to your niche.

• These tags will automatically be applied to every video you upload.
• No more forgetting or manually adding tags each time.
• This consistent tagging helps YouTube better categorize your content early on.

How these settings work together

Think of these three settings as a GPS system for the YouTube algorithm. By providing comprehensive metadata at the channel and video upload level, you tell YouTube exactly where to “drive” your content. This means your videos are more likely to get recommended to viewers who actually want to watch them, increasing your views and engagement.

What’s next after getting recommended?

Getting your videos recommended is just the first step to YouTube growth. To get monetized through the YouTube Partner Program, watch time is critical. If you want to hit that milestone of 4,000 hours of watch time faster, focus on creating engaging content that keeps viewers watching.

For more tips on boosting your watch time and monetizing your channel, check out this guide on generating 4000 hours of YouTube watch time.

Final thoughts on this youtube algorithm hack

This youtube algorithm hack won’t make you go viral overnight or guarantee millions of views. But for new channels stuck at zero views, implementing these three hidden YouTube Studio settings can help the algorithm understand your content better, target the right audience, and start recommending your videos.

Most importantly, these tweaks take under two minutes to set up and can start showing results in just a few weeks. If you want to learn more about how to optimize your YouTube channel and beat the algorithm, explore the wealth of resources available on the official YouTube blog and tools like TubeBuddy.

Get an unfair advantage on YouTube

Give your YouTube channel the upper hand and easily optimize for more views, more subs, and more of every metric that matters.

get started