YouTube launches 'Analytics for video'

28 March 2008

YouTube has launched a free analytics service for video, similar to parent Google's Analytics.

The YouTube Insight tool, launched earlier this week, allows video contributors to view statistics about the material that they upload, including the geographical regions where it is most popular.

Unlike Google Analytics, the first iteration of Insight won't allow contributors to examine how web users discovered their videos, but YouTube says that it will add this and other features "fairly quickly".

"Using these metrics, you can increase your videos' view counts and improve your popularity on the site," the YouTube blog explains. "For instance, you might learn that your videos are most popular on Wednesdays... or that new videos that play off previous content become more popular more quickly."

"With this information, you can concentrate on creating compelling new content that appeals to your target audiences, and post these videos on days you know these viewers are on the site."

Prior to the launch, analytical information for YouTube views was available only through third-party services such as Vidmetrix and TubeMogul.

Category: Google, Video sharing