Key points:
- YouTube's algorithm is complex, focusing on factors like user preferences, watch history, and engagement metrics. It has undergone significant changes over its 18-year history.
- Google's PageRank is the backbone of Google Search, determining website importance based on the number and quality of links. Google constantly updates its algorithm to refine search results.
- TikTok's algorithm, while not publicly disclosed, emphasizes user-friendly design, short-form videos, and factors like likes, comments, and playthroughs for content visibility on the For You page.
- Instagram's ranking algorithms vary across different sections, such as Feed, Stories, Explore, and Reels, each considering factors like user activity, interaction history, and post information.
- Creators' income streams often extend beyond direct advertising revenue, with brand partnerships being a significant source.
- Newsletters play a crucial role in building long-term relationships with a community, with insights like optimal send-out days and times for better engagement.I’m
Discussion (4)
I always believed this. Imagine the alternative, where you need to gain followers without the algorithm as a discovery method, it would be an incredibly difficult feat to get views. Yes the algorithm is made by people, and people don't get it perfect, and it is game-able, but it's far better off than most of the alternatives.
Yup, try building an audience from 0 on a platform like mastodon and see how much of a slog it is. While it’s great for getting exactly what you would expect from a “consumer” standpoint, it’s definitely a much more manual process from a growth standpoint. Trade offs.
It’s a balance. There are two personas at play, like you mentioned. The viewer/consumer and the creator/producer. Those incentives are not necessarily aligned. The viewer typically wants good content but the control, flexibility, and privacy to make those decisions when their experience doesn’t meet their needs. Somewhat adversely the creator yearns for great discoverability. So they want viewers to come across their posts, even if it’s slightly obtrusive.
Growing on the platform is one thing, but it’s important, as the author suggests to have some way of capturing your audience outside of the platform so you aren’t at the whim of the algorithm. Newsletters are a great way to do that.