Aspiring to be a YouTube influencer can be challenging, especially when it comes to understanding and measuring engagement. You’re putting in the effort, creating content, but how do you know if it’s truly resonating with your audience?
Knowing your YouTube engagement rate can help you understand exactly this!
While engagement rates include counting views and subscribers, it’s honestly a lot more than just that. The main goal is to measure the depth of your audience’s interaction with your content. Are they liking, commenting, sharing?
This article will guide you through calculating your YouTube engagement rate, a vital tool in assessing the impact of your content and refining your approach to connect more effectively with your viewers.
What Are Engagement Rates On YouTube?
Engagement rates on YouTube are a measure of how actively viewers interact with your content. This includes likes, comments, shares, and sometimes even dislikes, providing a holistic view of audience response.Â
And these rates matter significantly in the YouTube ecosystem because high engagement signals to YouTube’s algorithm that your content is engaging and relevant, increasing the likelihood of it appearing in recommended videos and search results.
For anyone aspiring to be an influencer, robust engagement rates not only bolster visibility but also attract potential sponsors who value active audience participation.Â
Thus, understanding and improving these rates (and learning if yours is good or not) is fundamental to growing your presence on the platform.
How To Calculate Your YouTube Engagement Rate?📊
To calculate your YouTube engagement rate, combine the total number of likes, comments, and shares for a specific video and divide this sum by the video’s total views. Then, multiply the result by 100 to get a percentage.Â
The simplified formula is:Â
Engagement Rate = (Likes + Comments + Shares) / Total Views x 100
This formula helps in understanding how well your audience interacts with your content.Â
A higher rate indicates more active viewer participation, suggesting that your audience loves your content, thereby enhancing your channel’s appeal to both viewers and potential sponsors.
Examples of Engagement Rates
1. For a 6% Engagement Rate:
Total Interactions (Likes + Comments + Shares): 60
Total Views: 1000
Calculation: 60/1000 * 100 = 6% Engagement Rate
2. For a 2.5% Engagement Rate:
Total Interactions: 25
Total Views: 1000
Calculation: 25/1000 * 100 = 2.5% Engagement Rate
3. For a 1% Engagement Rate:
Total Interactions: 10
Total Views: 1000
Calculation: 10/1000 * 100 = 1% Engagement Rate
What Is A Good YouTube Engagement Rate?
A good YouTube engagement rate is typically defined as being in the 60th percentile or higher across various metrics. This includes the like to dislike rate, view to subscriber rate, comment to view ratio, and like to view ratio.Â
| Metric | Description | Good Result | Average Result | Bad Result |
| Like to Dislike Rate | Higher ratio indicates more likes. | >97.4% | 94.3%-97.4% | <94.3% |
| View to Subscriber Rate | Higher ratio shows more views than subscribers, indicating wide appeal. | >33.1% | 6.1%-33.1% | <6.1% |
| Comment to View Rate | Higher percentage means more engagement through comments. | >0.04% | 0.01%-0.04% | <0.01% |
| Like to View Rate | Higher percentage shows more likes relative to views. | >3.72% | 1.49%-3.72% | <1.49% |
Here’s👇why this table and the metrics it contains are important:
- Like to Dislike Rate: This metric indicates viewer sentiment. A high like-to-dislike ratio suggests that content is well-received, which can positively influence the YouTube algorithm, potentially leading to more widespread content distribution.
- View to Subscriber Rate: This measures how many views a channel gets compared to its number of subscribers, which can indicate the reach and appeal of content beyond the existing subscriber base. A higher rate suggests that videos are attracting viewers who aren’t subscribed, which can be a sign of potential growth.
- Comment to View Rate: Comments are a strong engagement indicator as they reflect a higher level of viewer investment than mere views or likes; it takes more effort to comment. A high comment rate can signal that content is generating conversation and community engagement.
- Like to View Rate: This shows the proportion of viewers who liked the video out of those who viewed it. High rates indicate that viewers are engaging in a positive way with the content, which is favorable for the channel’s interaction metrics.
Does The Size Of My YouTube Channel Matter For Engagement?
Interestingly, smaller YouTube channels often outperform larger ones in terms of engagement. Channels with fewer than 5,000 followers, for example, usually see a higher percentage of their subscribers watching their videos, along with a greater number of comments per view.
This is because smaller YouTube channels often have a more dedicated and niche audience, leading to higher engagement rates. Their viewers are typically more invested in the content and creator, resulting in more active participation through likes, comments, and shares.
It’s also important to note that engagement benchmarks can vary significantly depending on the channel’s category.Â
Gaming channels, for instance, tend to have high engagement rates, particularly in terms of comments per view and likes per view. On the other hand, music influencers may see lower performance in these same metrics.
How Do Subscribers Affect My YouTube Engagement Rates?
In general, it’s good to see a 1-6% engagement rate on YouTube. Here is a table from Modash to help demonstrate different engagement rate benchmarks.Â
| YouTube Engagement Rate | 1k-5k Subs | 5k-10k
Subs |
10k-50k
Subs |
50k-100k
Subs |
100k-500k
Subs |
500k-1 million
Subs |
Over 1 million
Subs |
| High | > 6.42% | > 2.62% | > 1.66% | > 1.08% | > 0.86% | > 0.71% | > 0.59% |
| Above average | 2.02 – 6.42% | 0.82 – 2.62% | 0.51 – 1.66% | 0.33 – 1.08% | 0.27 – 0.86% | 0.24 – 0.71% | 0.18 – 0.59% |
| Average | 1.47 – 2.02% | 0.59 – 0.82% | 0.36 – 0.51% | 0.23 – 0.33% | 0.19 – 0.27% | 0.16 – 0.24% | 0.13 – 0.18% |
| Below Average | 0.41 – 1.47% | 0.16 – 0.59% | 0.09 – 0.36% | 0.05 – 0.23% | 0.04 – 0.19% | 0.03 – 0.16% | 0.02 – 0.13% |
| Low | < 0.41% | < 0.16% | < 0.09% | < 0.05% | < 0.04% | < 0.03% | < 0.02% |
The YouTube Engagement Rate Benchmarks table (as shown above) offers a nuanced perspective on how engagement rates can vary with the size of your subscriber base. Here’s what the table reveals:
- Smaller Channels (1k-5k Subscribers): They often enjoy higher engagement rates, as indicated by the benchmarks. This is because smaller channels typically create a more personal connection with their audience. The community aspect is stronger, prompting a higher percentage of viewers to engage.
- Mid-sized to Larger Channels (50k-1 million Subscribers): As channels grow, the engagement rate tends to decline. The benchmarks reflect this trend, showing that larger channels have lower percentages for what’s considered “High” engagement. The personal touch may lessen as the audience grows, but it’s worth noting that even a smaller percentage of a large subscriber base can represent significant engagement in absolute terms.
- Mega Channels (Over 1 million Subscribers): For these YouTube giants, the benchmark for “High” engagement dips even lower. While it may seem that mega channels are less engaged, it’s important to remember that even a small engagement rate percentage can translate to a large number of actual interactions due to the sheer volume of viewers.
Why YouTube Benchmarks Matter?
Understanding these benchmarks is vital for several reasons:
- Content Strategy: They help you set realistic goals and tailor your content strategy to improve engagement relative to your channel’s size.
- Community Building: They show the importance of nurturing your subscribers since they’re more likely to engage and can drive up your channel’s overall engagement rate.
- Algorithm Favorability: A healthy engagement rate influence YouTube’s algorithm to favor your content, leading to increased visibility and potentially attracting more subscribers.
- Monetization Opportunities: Advertisers value channels with good engagement rates because they indicate a more active and involved audience, leading to better monetization opportunities for you.
