Reading your analytics.
Your analytics tell you exactly what your audience wants, if you know how to read them. Today you'll learn which numbers matter for creators and how to turn them into better videos.
The metrics that matter
| Metric | Tells you | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Views / reach | How far it spread | Compare with your average |
| Average watch time / retention | Whether people stayed | Improve hooks and pacing |
| Skip rate (reels) | % who swiped away in the first seconds | Fix the hook |
| Saves | It was useful enough to keep | Make more educational content like it |
| Shares | People felt others should see it | Find the emotion or usefulness that made them share |
| Comments | Engagement and questions | Turn questions into new videos |
| Follows from post | It convinced people to follow you | Study what made it convincing |
| Click-through rate (YouTube) | Did the thumbnail/title make people click? | Improve thumbnails and titles |
Reading a retention graph (YouTube)
- A steep drop in the first 30 seconds: weak intro or a promise that didn't match the title.
- Dips in the middle: a boring or confusing part. Cut similar parts in future.
- Bumps up: people rewatched something interesting. Do more of that.
Compare with yourself, not others
Look at your own average. A video with 3× your normal views and saves is a signal; compare it with your weakest video and find the difference.
The weekly review routine (20 minutes)
- List the week's posts with views, watch time, saves and shares.
- Mark the best and worst.
- Write one lesson from each.
- Plan next week's content with those lessons.
A reel has high views but very few saves and shares. What does it suggest?
Saves and shares show value. Views alone show reach.
Some videos will fail; that's normal for every creator. Treat analytics as information, not as a judgement of your worth.
On YouTube, many people leave in the first 30 seconds. What should you fix?
Early drop-off means the opening isn't delivering on the promise.
Your task (20 min)
Do your first weekly review using the routine. Write one lesson from your best post and one from your weakest. Plan next week's 3 posts based on those lessons.
Lesson 11 complete!
You know the key creator metrics, how to read retention graphs, and a weekly review routine. Next: brand deals and earning.
Next: Brand deals and earning →