Definition
Suggested videos appear in the sidebar next to the currently playing video on desktop, or below on mobile. This is the largest traffic source for most established channels, driven by the algorithm.
Where Suggested Videos Appear
- Desktop sidebar: Right side of watch page
- Mobile: Below current video
- Up Next: First position in autoplay queue
- TV apps: Sidebar and end suggestions
How Videos Get Suggested
YouTube suggests videos based on:
- Topic similarity: Related to current video being watched
- Viewer patterns: What others who watched this also watched
- User history: Viewer's personal watch patterns
- Performance: CTR and retention from suggested placement
- Session impact: Videos that extend viewing sessions
Strategies to Get Suggested
- Create series: Related videos YouTube can chain together
- Use playlists: Group related content
- Consistent niche: Build topical authority
- High-CTR thumbnails: Stand out in sidebar
- Match popular videos: Create content similar to trending topics
- Optimize titles: Include searchable terms
Suggested vs Search Traffic
- Suggested: Higher volume, algorithm-dependent, viewers in browse mode
- Search: Intent-driven, more consistent, SEO-dependent
Top channels typically get 50-70% of views from suggested.