Why should I subscripe to a YouTube channel?

[Scott R Nelson]

I regularly watch a number of YouTube channels and they're always trying to get you to subscribe. But I haven't subscribed to a single one yet and I don't see what's in it for me.

I asked Google why I should subscribe and got this list of "benefits":

1. You Stay Updated with New Content
2. You’re Served with More of the Content You Like
3. You Get Emails Sent Directly to Your Inbox
4. You Get Access to a Wider Community
5. You Maximize Your Learning

I don't want more email, I already see more of the content I like just by going to YouTube.com, because it already knows what kind of stuff I like to watch. None of the other reasons appeal to me.

So since I see NO benefit from subscribing, I'm curious what benefit the channels get from having more subscribers. Should I subscribe to help some of them out?

Enquiring minds want to know.

[Pelado]

I regularly watch a number of YouTube channels and they're always trying to get you to subscribe. But I haven't subscribed to a single one yet and I don't see what's in it for me.

I asked Google why I should subscribe and got this list of "benefits":

1. You Stay Updated with New Content
2. You’re Served with More of the Content You Like
3. You Get Emails Sent Directly to Your Inbox
4. You Get Access to a Wider Community
5. You Maximize Your Learning

I don't want more email, I already see more of the content I like just by going to YouTube.com, because it already knows what kind of stuff I like to watch. None of the other reasons appeal to me.

So since I see NO benefit from subscribing, I'm curious what benefit the channels get from having more subscribers. Should I subscribe to help some of them out?

Enquiring minds want to know.

The more people subscribe to their channel, the more people are likely to view their videos. The more people view their videos (and watch advertising), the more they get paid.

[Scott R Nelson]

The more people subscribe to their channel, the more people are likely to view their videos. The more people view their videos (and watch advertising), the more they get paid.

So just hitting "like" isn't enough?

[smokymountainrain]

i subscribe to a few cooking/bbq channels and mostly it just ensures i don't miss the new videos they put out. i don't get e-mails or anything annoying like that. there are no drawbacks, only benefits.

[Flystripper]

I subscribe to a few things (mostly the video versions of podcasts I like). Its nice to have some of the stuff I know I want to see available when I open the app and it helps support the creators of the content I enjoy. .

[Non Sequitur]

I regularly watch a number of YouTube channels and they're always trying to get you to subscribe. But I haven't subscribed to a single one yet and I don't see what's in it for me.

I asked Google why I should subscribe and got this list of "benefits":

1. You Stay Updated with New Content
2. You’re Served with More of the Content You Like
3. You Get Emails Sent Directly to Your Inbox
4. You Get Access to a Wider Community
5. You Maximize Your Learning

I don't want more email, I already see more of the content I like just by going to YouTube.com, because it already knows what kind of stuff I like to watch. None of the other reasons appeal to me.

So since I see NO benefit from subscribing, I'm curious what benefit the channels get from having more subscribers. Should I subscribe to help some of them out?

Enquiring minds want to know.

It's like tipping a waitress. You reward someone if they do a good job and are helpful.

[Donuthole]

It's like tipping a waitress. You reward someone if they do a good job and are helpful.

Nah, that's the "Like". Subscribe is like a standing reservation, letting them know that you'll be coming back for more.

[Pelado]

So just hitting "like" isn't enough?

I'm pretty sure they get paid based on how much advertising people watch on their channel. I don't know that there's any cash involved for the number of "likes" a video gets. But liking the video probably still helps them by improving their score in the algorithm so that it gets presented to more people as an option.

[Commando]

uh.. I'm a bit confused at this question. You subscribe to the channels you like so that when you go to youtube you can find the channel right away in your 'subscribed' folder or see the new videos come up on your feed as they are released. I would be annoyed to have to run a search for a channel I like every time I go to youtube. It's for your own convenience, really. The content creators also like people to subscribe because it increases their frequency of views in the algorithm which = more $ for them.

[Scott R Nelson]

uh.. I'm a bit confused at this question. You subscribe to the channels you like so that when you go to youtube you can find the channel right away in your 'subscribed' folder or see the new videos come up on your feed as they are released. I would be annoyed to have to run a search for a channel I like every time I go to youtube. It's for your own convenience, really. The content creators also like people to subscribe because it increases their frequency of views in the algorithm which = more $ for them.

I go to YouTube and they just show up, at the top. Of the half dozen channels that I follow regularly, they'll almost always be on the top two rows when I go to YouTube. I almost never search for stuff. And the few things that I do search for are already on the YouTube list of top ten things that I've searched for, so I don't actually have to type much of anything.

I guess I need to do a bit more research on how much money you can make based on the number of subscribers that you have.

I also find it interesting that a good channel generally has fewer views than they have subscribers. For example, my favorite channel is "Matt's Off Road Recovery" which has 1.26M subscribers currently, but a video from a week ago shows 795,812 views. One of the real good ones from two weeks ago has just over 1,000,000 views. That leaves 260,000 subscribers that didn't watch it. A channel like Mark Rober has 22.4M subscribers, but even a good one from five months ago has only 20M views. So 2.4M subscribers that didn't watch it.

I guess a lot of people are listening when they say to hit the subscribe button, but don't follow through to actually watch all of the videos that they've subscribed to.

[Pelado]

I go to YouTube and they just show up, at the top. Of the half dozen channels that I follow regularly, they'll almost always be on the top two rows when I go to YouTube. I almost never search for stuff. And the few things that I do search for are already on the YouTube list of top ten things that I've searched for, so I don't actually have to type much of anything.

I guess I need to do a bit more research on how much money you can make based on the number of subscribers that you have.

I also find it interesting that a good channel generally has fewer views than they have subscribers. For example, my favorite channel is "Matt's Off Road Recovery" which has 1.26M subscribers currently, but a video from a week ago shows 795,812 views. One of the real good ones from two weeks ago has just over 1,000,000 views. That leaves 260,000 subscribers that didn't watch it. A channel like Mark Rober has 22.4M subscribers, but even a good one from five months ago has only 20M views. So 2.4M subscribers that didn't watch it.

I guess a lot of people are listening when they say to hit the subscribe button, but don't follow through to actually watch all of the videos that they've subscribed to.

I'm subscribed to several different channels, but I rarely watch any of them. I'm don't usually spend a lot of time hanging out on YouTube. I use the subscribe feature as a way to get back to channels I find interesting.

[Commando]

I go to YouTube and they just show up, at the top. Of the half dozen channels that I follow regularly, they'll almost always be on the top two rows when I go to YouTube. I almost never search for stuff. And the few things that I do search for are already on the YouTube list of top ten things that I've searched for, so I don't actually have to type much of anything.

I guess I need to do a bit more research on how much money you can make based on the number of subscribers that you have.

I also find it interesting that a good channel generally has fewer views than they have subscribers. For example, my favorite channel is "Matt's Off Road Recovery" which has 1.26M subscribers currently, but a video from a week ago shows 795,812 views. One of the real good ones from two weeks ago has just over 1,000,000 views. That leaves 260,000 subscribers that didn't watch it. A channel like Mark Rober has 22.4M subscribers, but even a good one from five months ago has only 20M views. So 2.4M subscribers that didn't watch it.

I guess a lot of people are listening when they say to hit the subscribe button, but don't follow through to actually watch all of the videos that they've subscribed to.

Yeah I constantly miss videos from channels I subscribe to-- it's just easier to go to my channels and get into it rather than depend on the algorithm to show me what I want.

[YOhio]

I subscribed to YouTubeTV so I could get the NFL package. Good lord that UI is a mess for live TV. I'm pretty sure I'm missing something because it can't be *that* bad.

EDIT: It's not. 10 seconds of research revealed I was using the wrong app.

[Jeff Lebowski]

I subscribed to YouTubeTV so I could get the NFL package. Good lord that UI is a mess for live TV. I'm pretty sure I'm missing something because it can't be *that* bad.

EDIT: It's not. 10 seconds of research revealed I was using the wrong app.

I love YTTV overall. A few minor gripes:

1. That stupid loud noise it makes when you launch the app on Roku. And how long it takes to load the app

2. FF and Rewind options sometimes don't work like they should (you can only do 15-second jumps). This could be a Roku issue.

3. 4-screen PIP should be customizable for sporting events.

I noticed that the YTTV app works much better on the Google Chromecast device, but the remote sucks.

[USUC]

3. 4-screen PIP should be customizable for sporting events.

I'd even be excited if it was customizable within sporting events. Opening weekend I was trying to watch games that were on Fox and FS1 but none of the options allowed for it.