You can access your YouTube video analytics through YouTube Studio, available both on desktop and mobile:

On Desktop:
- Sign in to YouTube and click your profile picture.
- Select YouTube Studio.
- In the left menu, click Analytics.
- Use the tabs (Overview, Reach, Engagement, Audience, Revenue) to explore different metrics.
- For individual video analytics, go to the Content tab, select a video, and click Analytics for detailed stats.

On Mobile:
- Tap your profile picture and select Your Channel.
- Tap Analytics from the middle menu.
- For a specific video, select the video and tap View analytics.

Available Metrics Include:
- Views
- Watch time
- Subscribers gained/lost
- Likes, comments, shares
- Audience demographics
- Traffic sources
- Click-through rate (CTR)
- Average view duration
- Real-time performance

YouTube analytics provide valuable insights that can guide your metadata optimization:

1. See how viewers find your videos (search, suggested, external). Use top search terms and traffic sources to refine your titles, descriptions, and tags with relevant keywords.

2. A low CTR may indicate your titles or thumbnails aren’t compelling enough. Use this data to craft more engaging titles and design better thumbnails.

3. Understand your viewers’ age, gender, and location to tailor your metadata and content for your target audience.

4. Analyze which videos perform best and identify common keywords, topics, or formats in their metadata. Apply similar strategies to new videos.

5. If viewers drop off early, consider updating your video’s title or description to better match the content and set proper expectations.

Metadata Tips:
Title: Use keywords from top-performing search terms and keep it descriptive and under 60 characters.
Description: Summarize the content, include keywords, and add context. Use the first 155 characters wisely.
Tags: Add relevant keywords and phrases that reflect your video’s topics.
Thumbnail: Design eye-catching images that match the video’s content and encourage clicks.
Timestamps: Break down your video for easier navigation and improved search visibility.

YouTube Studio’s built-in analytics provide essential data to help creators optimize their video content.
With metrics such as views, watch time, audience retention, click-through rate (CTR), and engagement, you can:

- Identify which videos perform best and why.
- Analyze audience demographics to tailor your messaging.
- Track traffic sources and top search terms to refine titles, descriptions, and tags.
- Monitor retention graphs to spot where viewers lose interest and adjust your content accordingly.
- Use feedback from likes, comments, and shares to guide future content decisions.

These insights are valuable for making data-driven decisions and iterating on your content strategy.

While YouTube’s analytics are helpful for understanding your own channel’s performance, they have significant limitations:

1. You can’t directly compare your channel’s performance to competitors or industry benchmarks.

2. Limited cross-platform insights: Analytics are siloed within YouTube and don’t provide a holistic view if you publish across multiple platforms.

3. There’s little visibility into broader trends, viral topics, or what’s working for others in your niche.

4. Customization and advanced reporting options are limited compared to professional analytics platforms.

To overcome these limitations and gain a competitive edge, many creators and brands invest in third-party analytics platforms such as Socialinsider. These tools offer:

1. Compare your channel’s metrics against competitors and industry averages.

2. Access customizable dashboards, automated reports, and deeper data visualizations.

3. Monitor performance across YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and more in one place.

4. Spot emerging topics, hashtags, and content formats that are gaining traction in your industry.

5. Receive actionable recommendations based on broader market data, not just your own channel.