11 things you should NEVER do after uploading a YouTube video

Summary

In this video, Matt Parr reveals 11 common mistakes YouTubers make that can drastically harm their channel's performance. He covers crucial factors like sharing your video too early, watching your own video right after uploading, buying fake engagement, deleting underperforming videos, and obsessing over analytics. He emphasizes the importance of patience, strategic video management, and understanding YouTube's algorithm to boost organic growth. By following these tips and avoiding these pitfalls, creators can maximize their reach, increase engagement, and improve long-term video success.

Takeaways

• 🚀 The first few hours and days after uploading a YouTube video are critical to its long-term performance — early actions can make or break your results.
• 🙅‍♂️ Don’t share your video link too early, especially with friends or family who may not watch the full video, as low audience retention can harm your ranking.
• 👀 Avoid watching your own video immediately after uploading, since partial views can send negative engagement signals to YouTube’s algorithm.
• 💸 Never buy views, likes, or subscribers — it violates YouTube’s terms of service and attracts uninterested audiences, damaging your channel’s organic growth.
• 🗑️ Don’t delete underperforming videos; YouTube’s algorithm can take weeks or months to promote them — every video is a long-term asset.
• 💬 Don’t manually moderate every comment; instead, use YouTube’s automated moderation tools to block negative words and spam links efficiently.
• ⏰ Upload timing matters far less than most people think — focus on consistency and quality rather than exact posting hours.
• 📺 Always wait for the HD version of your video to finish processing before publishing; upload as private or unlisted first to ensure full quality.
• 📢 Utilize your community tab and related social media or email lists to promote videos — but only if the audience aligns with your niche.
• 🖼️ Don’t constantly change your titles and thumbnails post-upload; smaller channels lack enough data for meaningful impact — focus on improving future videos.
• 📊 Stop obsessively checking analytics right after upload; wait 24–48 hours before reviewing performance, and focus only on CTR and average view duration.
• 💡 Treat the first 24 hours as crucial: engage with genuine comments, encourage discussion, and use end screens to direct viewers to more of your content.

Q & A

Why is sharing your video link too early a mistake?

Sharing your video link too early can result in low audience retention because your friends and family may watch only a small portion of the video. YouTube's algorithm uses early watch data to determine if the video should be promoted, and low retention signals poor engagement, reducing the chance of your video being recommended.

What is the recommended timing for sharing your video after uploading?

It's best to wait at least 24 to 48 hours before sharing your video. This allows the YouTube algorithm to assess and promote the video based on organic traction, ensuring it reaches the right audience before sharing it with friends or family.

Why should you avoid watching your own videos immediately after uploading them?

Watching your own video can be misleading as you're likely not going to watch the entire video. This may artificially inflate early metrics, and even though YouTube can differentiate between you and other viewers, it's safest to avoid watching your own video to ensure accurate engagement data.

Why is buying likes, views, or subscribers a harmful practice?

Buying likes, views, or subscribers violates YouTube's terms of service and can lead to your channel being banned. Even if the views are from real people, they aren't your target audience, which can negatively affect your video’s performance and make it harder to grow in the long term.

What happens if you delete a video too soon after uploading it?

Deleting a video too soon can harm your channel because YouTube's algorithm takes time to determine who your ideal audience is. A video that doesn't perform well initially might gain traction weeks or months later, and deleting it removes that potential for future growth.

How can you manage comments on your videos without wasting time?

Instead of manually moderating every comment, you can use YouTube's automated content moderation tools to block negative phrases and spammy links. This allows you to focus on genuine engagement without spending hours managing your comment section.

Is the timing of when you upload a video really that important?

For smaller channels, the time you upload a video doesn’t matter as much. The focus should be on consistently creating content. If you're targeting a U.S. audience, the best time to upload is around 5 to 7 p.m. EST, but it’s not a critical factor, especially in the early stages of your channel.

What is the correct way to upload a video to ensure quality?

Wait until the video has fully processed, including the HD version, before publishing it. You should also set your video to 'private' or 'unlisted' while it's processing, which gives you the opportunity to optimize it with tools like Tube Magic before it's made public.

How can you promote your video beyond YouTube?

You should use your community tab and other social media platforms or email lists to share your video. This helps you reach a relevant audience, but be sure to only share your video on platforms that are related to your niche to avoid irrelevant traffic.

Why shouldn't you constantly change your video's title or thumbnail after it's published?

Changing your title or thumbnail frequently won’t make a significant difference for smaller channels. You’re unlikely to have enough data to make meaningful changes. Instead, focus on getting your title and thumbnail right before uploading, and invest energy in creating better content for your next video.

What is the risk of obsessing over your analytics immediately after uploading a video?

Checking your analytics too often can harm your productivity and mental health. It’s important to give your video time to establish its performance pattern. Focus on metrics like click-through rate and average view duration, but avoid constantly refreshing your stats in the first 24 to 48 hours.

Why are the first 24 hours crucial for a video's success?

The first 24 hours are critical because YouTube’s algorithm is closely monitoring your video's performance to decide whether it should be promoted. During this time, it's better to engage with viewers through comments and focus on preparing your next video, rather than obsessing over the analytics.