YouTube's Hype Feature: Boosting Visibility for Smaller Creators

YouTube has introduced a new feature called "Hype" designed to give a boost to creators, particularly those with fewer subscribers, in gaining visibility and expanding their reach to new audiences. This feature was unveiled at the Made On YouTube event held in the United States on September 18, 2024, presenting creators with a fresh avenue for promoting their videos and securing recognition.

How Hype Works

The Hype feature introduces a dedicated button situated below the "Like" button. Viewers can tap this button to award points to a creator's video. These points accumulate, contributing to a weekly ranking of the top 100 most popular videos, curated based on the Hype points received. Videos featured on this list are highlighted with a star icon, granting them greater visibility within the platform.

Benefits for Creators

Hype offers creators several key advantages. It serves as a tool to enhance visibility, potentially propelling creators up the ranks of the most popular videos. Additionally, it provides viewers with a new method for supporting their favorite creators. Videos with a high concentration of Hype points are showcased on a weekly list featuring the top 100 popular videos, further amplifying their exposure and potential for wider viewership.

Who Can Use Hype?

The Hype feature is accessible for new videos released within the past seven days by creators with under 500,000 subscribers. To prevent abuse, each user is limited to awarding three Hype points per week. This limitation ensures that the system remains balanced and avoids undue influence from a single individual.

Additional Features for Creators

Viewers can purchase extra Hype points, empowering them to bestow more points on a video even after exceeding their weekly quota. This feature can generate additional income for creators. Creators also have the ability to see who has bestowed Hype points on their videos, providing valuable insight into their supporters and engagement patterns.

Successful Trials in Multiple Countries

Prior to its wider release, YouTube piloted the Hype feature in Turkey, Taiwan, and Brazil. This successful pilot phase demonstrated its effectiveness in promoting over 5 million videos across more than 50,000 channels. These trials provided valuable data and feedback, paving the way for a wider rollout of the feature.

YouTube Shopping Launches in Indonesia

Alongside the Hype feature, YouTube is launching its YouTube Shopping affiliate program in Indonesia. This marks Indonesia as the first Southeast Asian country to gain access to this program, following its launch in the United States and South Korea. This expansion signifies YouTube's commitment to expanding its e-commerce offerings and fostering a more integrated shopping experience within the platform.

How YouTube Shopping Works

YouTube Shopping allows creators and brands to integrate recommended products they sell directly into their videos. Transactions are not processed within the YouTube app, but are seamlessly directed to the Shopee marketplace. Viewers interested in a product can click on its image to view details, pricing, variations, and complete a purchase directly through Shopee, providing a streamlined and convenient shopping experience.

Conclusion

YouTube consistently strives to enhance its platform with innovative features. Hype and YouTube Shopping exemplify YouTube's dedication to empowering creators and brands to reach larger audiences and bolster their business opportunities. These features, coupled with YouTube's expansive reach and engagement, position the platform as a powerful tool for content creators and businesses seeking to leverage the digital landscape.