Recently, I ran into a particularly baffling situation where one of my videos experienced severely limited reach, despite all my usual SEO efforts and paid promotion through YouTube. Today, I’m sharing my experience, the unexpected cause, and how I ultimately resolved the issue, all to help you avoid the same pitfall and conquer those “limited views on YouTube.”
The Mystery of the Missing Views
I regularly post videos on YouTube, focusing on testing, performance testing, and quality assurance. Over the years, I’ve built a community of over a quarter of a million subscribers, but it hasn’t been easy. Cracking the YouTube algorithm is a constant learning process.
Recently, I uploaded a video about AI. I used my standard SEO practices: compelling title, detailed description, relevant tags – the works! But something was off. The video barely gained any traction. I decided to promote it using YouTube’s “promote” feature, which leverages Google Ads. That’s when things got weird. The promotion status showed as “limited.” I had never seen that before.
The Google Support Rabbit Hole
Naturally, I reached out to YouTube support. They pointed me to Google Ads support, claiming the issue stemmed from there. The initial response was frustrating, highlighting the often-siloed nature of Google’s various departments. After jumping through hoops, I finally connected with someone on the Google Ads side.
The answer I received was completely unexpected: my video was being limited because my website allegedly contained a forbidden “pharmacy or medical term.” Confused? I was too!
The Unlikely Culprit: A Confusing Keyword
It turns out, Google Ads not only analyzes your video content but also scrutinizes any websites you link to in your description. The algorithm flagged a term on my site related to a long-time sponsor, Tricentis, makers of the testing software Testim.io. The problem? There is also a hormone replacement therapy testosterone cream, also marketed under the same (or nearly identical) name. The algorithm mistook my technology content for pharmaceutical advertising, triggering the “limited views on YouTube” penalty.
To be clear: the flagged content was not even related to the video I was promoting! My video, the one flagged, was all about AI. Google’s Ad algorithm reached out to my company site, found a keyword and limited my video due to assuming I was advertising pharmaceuticals.
Lessons Learned and How to Avoid the Trap
So, what can you take away from this experience to avoid suffering from “limited views on YouTube”?
- Be hyper-aware of your website content: Regularly audit your website for any terms that might be misconstrued as promoting pharmaceuticals, health products, or other restricted categories, even if they’re used in a completely different context.
- Double-check your Google Ads policies: Familiarize yourself with Google Ads’ advertising policies regarding health and medical content to understand potential triggers for limitations.
- Persist with support: Don’t give up easily when dealing with Google support. Document everything, be persistent, and escalate if necessary. Understanding how to optimize for SEO with Google and Youtube customer service alone, can boost your views and help avoid keyword filters that lead to limited views on YouTube.
- Diversify Your SEO: Don’t rely on a single keyword. A variety of keywords can help your video reach a wider audience and prevent a single misinterpretation from limiting your views on YouTube.
Conclusion: Conquering the Algorithm
Navigating the YouTube algorithm can feel like a constant battle. While you can’t control every factor, understanding how Google Ads and YouTube interact, paying close attention to your website content, and staying persistent with support can significantly improve your chances of overcoming unexpected hurdles and achieving the views your content deserves. Don’t let a confusing keyword limit your potential! By learning from my experience, you can unlock the secrets to avoiding “limited views on YouTube” and building a thriving audience.
Check out this other episode about a performance engineers story.
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