Understand new, casual and regular viewers

You can use new, casual and regular viewer metrics to plan content strategy for your channel. For example, you can build loyalty by creating consistent content or you can experiment with new topics to attract new viewers.

Audience by watch behaviour

Your monthly audience shows the total unique viewers who watched your content in the last 28 days. Learn more about your monthly audience.

Your monthly audience is split into three segments based on watch behaviour: new, casual and regular viewers.

• New viewers watched your content for the first time.
  • Note: Viewers who watch from a private browser, deleted their watch history or haven't watched your channel in over a year are considered new viewers.
• Casual viewers have watched your channel occasionally for a while. They have watched your channel at least once per month for one to five months in the past year.
• Regular viewers have been watching your channel consistently for a long time. They have watched a video on your channel at least once per month for more than six months in the past year. They are your most loyal audience members.

Note: Audience segments do not affect reach or monetisation.

Grow your core audience

You can use the new, casual and regular viewers segments to plan content strategy for your channel. For example, you can use the Popular with different audiences card to plan content that may appeal to specific segments of your audience.

Both casual and regular viewers are returning to your channel, but regular viewers are your most loyal audience members. To help grow regular viewers, try to:

• Upload consistent content about similar topics, or in a familiar format.

• Use community-building features like posts, comments and live premieres/chats.
• Use consistent branding across your channel.

Learn tips for getting more new, casual and regular viewers.

Why is my monthly audience less than my subscriber count?

Subscriber count is not the most accurate way to estimate the size of your active audience. Viewers are usually subscribed to many channels and may not return for every new upload for every channel that they're subscribed to. It's also common for viewers to be subscribed to channels that they no longer watch at all.

Your monthly audience is a more accurate way to estimate the size of your active audience. This metric shows the number of viewers who actually watch your videos, not just subscribe to your channel. Learn more about your monthly audience.

Why is my regular viewer count low?

You may notice that your regular viewer count is a lower percentage than expected, as low as <1%. This is common, especially for newer channels, trending videos and channels that mostly post Shorts.

Regular viewers are viewers who have returned to watch your content for at least six months in the past year, which is a high standard. They're your core community members and usually a smaller percentage of a channel's monthly audience compared to casual and new viewers.

Your audience's watch behaviour, including regular viewer count, does not affect reach or monetisation.

What does it mean if my channel is getting more casual and regular viewers?

This indicates that your channel is growing a loyal audience who is likely to return to watch more. It's common to see this trend among:

• Channels that upload consistent content about similar topics, or in a familiar format.
• Channels with consistent hosts such as familiar faces and personalities that viewers grow to love.
• Channels who create popular series that keep viewers coming back to watch more.

These trends will vary depending on your channel and audience.

Why don't I see any 'total' data for viewers when I select different dates?

Your viewer data is available for the last 7, 28 and 90 days. Also, new data is updated every 1–2 days.

Does YouTube's recommendation system optimise for returning viewers?

Our recommendation system aims to offer viewers more videos and channels that they're likely to enjoy. If viewers are returning to your channel regularly to watch more, they're more likely to be recommended more of your videos in the future.

Get tips for understanding new and returning viewers.