Why YouTube Isn’t Recommending Your Videos—And How to Fix It

Let’s be honest. When your YouTube videos are sitting there collecting dust, and YouTube keeps pushing cat compilations instead, yeah, that stings. But here’s the good news: You’re probably just missing a few simple steps. Steps that could actually get the algorithm to stop giving you the cold shoulder and start rolling out the red carpet.

Let’s fix that, shall we?

First Things First: You Need to Tell YouTube Who You Are

Most people create a channel and dive straight into uploading. But here’s the problem, YouTube has no idea who you are, what your videos are about, or who to show them to. You’re basically walking into a massive party and not introducing yourself. That’s not mysterious. That’s just awkward.

Start with your channel tags.
Yes, those tiny bits of text you didn’t even know existed. Go to YouTube Studio > Settings > Channel, and fill them out like your visibility depends on it—because it does. You’ve got 500 characters. Use them. Describe your niche, your vibe, your thing. If you’re stuck, a tag generator like RapidTags can help fill in the blanks.

Next Up: That Neglected Channel Description

That little bio section under your channel name?, That’s pure SEO gold. Use it to tell both YouTube and potential subscribers what your channel is about. Be specific. Be keyword-smart. But keep it human. You’re not writing a term paper, you’re trying to connect. Make a positive but short introduction.

Head over to YouTube Studio > Customization > Description and update it. Mention your niche, add a little personal flair, and sprinkle in those relevant keywords like seasoning, but not a whole salt shaker.

Now Let’s Talk Upload Defaults

Tired of retyping the same stuff every time you upload a video? Set up your upload defaults. YouTube Studio > Settings > Upload Defaults. Add a short, keyword-rich description that includes what your channel is about. Leave the title blank (because every video is unique), and include a few hashtags that match your niche.

Bonus tip? Always leave a little room for video-specific tags and keep the rest standardized. Save time. Boost visibility.

Don’t Forget These Two Little Toggles

When uploading, make sure embedding is turned on. Why? Because if someone wants to share your video on their blog or website and embedding is off, you just lost free views and reach. It’s like locking your front door and throwing the key into a river.

Also, enable “Places Mentioned.” If you ever talk about a city, landmark, or region, this helps your video show up in local search results. Especially powerful if you’re doing travel, food, or vlog-style content.

Want Superpowers? Use TubeBuddy

If you’re still flying blind, TubeBuddy’s Niche Insights Tool is like putting on algorithm night-vision goggles. You can compare your videos to top performers in your niche, steal winning content ideas, and avoid flops before they happen.

You’ll know exactly what’s working, and what’s a waste of time. For $6 a month., that’s about the cost of a coffee and a half. Chump change, but you’re no chump.

Final Thought?

If your videos aren’t getting recommended, it’s not because YouTube hates you. It’s because you haven’t finished setting the table. Once you lay the groundwork, tags, descriptions, defaults, and the right tools—the algorithm finally knows where to send the guests.

Set it up right, and get YouTube working for you around the clock.

Have a great day.

Keith