Wait, why are YouTube videos getting so damn long?

This video should have been 3 hours and 51 minutes long.

[@LeaveCurious]

Great insight & commenty Jay... just a little disappointed this video didn't have 5 hours of dead space at the end.

[@thejayalto]

My mistake. I promise I’ll get better.

[@pauses]

I'm seriously so confused on why you aren't bigger. Your editing's great, camera looks great, thumbnails are amazing, I seriously think you're going to blow up this year 🙏

[@thejayalto]

Only time will tell…

[@theindiejurnee]

Even on my phone, it can be annoying to have the video change every 5 to 15 minutes. I seek out 3 hr videos of a creators I enjoy just talking, no music even or anything while i ride the train, go for a walk, or do my grocery shopping. One video to follow me along my entire day out.

[@thejayalto]

Remove the painful process of having to find videos by putting on a super long one. I like it.

[@sgnoogle]

Value. It's the missing part in short-form content. You can't really metabolize any short-form content; as humans, we need time and focus to improve our skills or to truly appreciate something entertaining. Otherwise, we'll just have some dopamine sparks.

[@thejayalto]

Movies aren’t 2 hours for the sake of it. It just takes time.

[@OatsJenkins]

I made my last couple videos just a few minutes longer than my usual 8-10 mins and the algorithm pushed them out wayyy more, it seems like KZbin has definitely taken note of this type of appeal

[@RafikiMusicc]

Lord Sulek mentioned let’s gooo🦅🦅

[@thejayalto]

Always got time for Sam Sulek.

[@ali.hennaoui]

Your editing style has insanely gotten sooooo goooood! - introducing the 3 hour video to capture the attention of everyone and more importantly curiosity! - hero of the video aka YOU faces a problem; trying to understand why this video is being watched - Hero starts to analyze and you start giving facts that raise curiosity of the audience aka US! - Hero realizes an awakening and finds conclusion (alongside the viewer) leaving us with a new piece of information to think about, and a reason for us to keep coming back and more importantly subscribe to your channel! As a content creator myself; would love to learn from you or wish if I can have a 1-1. Nonetheless, thank you for these amazing videos! ❤️🙏🏼

[@thejayalto]

The clues of a good story. Might start a Discord soon…

[@harryjaggardtravel]

Really insightful 🙌

[@thejayalto]

Glad you enjoyed

[@MatCaveGaming]

Spot on! That variety of content types is what keeps me on this platform over every other.

[@thejayalto]

Really is what makes it great.

[@hoffinator88]

This is your best video yet Jay. Love it!

[@thejayalto]

Thank you, the hoffinator!

[@LukeBarousse]

Personally, I enjoy making longer videos, they not only are less draining to make, but they maintain consistent growth for the long-term. The main issue as a solo creator is they take longer to edit and so I have less vids for my audience.

[@thejayalto]

I can’t imagine editing a 3 hour long video, even if it was a basic edit…

[@Ebony.B]

Fr.. and with my niche (writing vlogs and content) it just doesn’t make sense to make it that long. Plus 30 mins of footage is often condensed into 16 mins through editing. The really long videos I see in my niche are in depth explanations of books, book hauls or book unhauls.

[@MikeChrisMike]

I dont know if you have seen, the new Ryan Trahan Video thats 40 mins , it felt like it was long for being longs sake, one of the ways it was able to keep retention is by turning the parts into micro sections and having coffee as potentially the alternative sub plot, but there was a few moments that felt unnecessary in the edit but I feel like once people got over the 20 minute mark they care less, and he keeps reminding the view of the reward of watching to the end and the ending was beautifly done in my oppinion, so you kinda dont mind the long video, but it also had one of the slowest intros Ive seen in a while

[@Ebony.B]

As another small KZbinr, I agree wholeheartedly with your points. I personally like to make videos from 5-15 mins long.. a bit unconventional at this point 😂

[@thejayalto]

Me too. Really nice length.

[@GEN]

Great video man really enjoyed this

[@thejayalto]

Appreciate you, Gen.

[@connors-curiosities]

Loving it Jay! Keep these up!

[@thejayalto]

Yessir

[@TedNemeth]

…that sweet chedda

[@LukeTodesc]

Discoverd you on Twitter then checked you out here, you do some great analysis and I like the common sense thinking. I have also seen this trend and I think for some type of content like learning and tutorials it could work. Like having previously paid 2-3h courses into free content un-cut on youtube. Anyways, I've subscribed to your channel, great content. Why did you stop posting on Twitter? 🤔

[@deon5462]

Such a good video and so insightful, this deserves so many more views!

[@thejayalto]

I appreciate you

[@uncletj1]

Bro loving your content.. super wise. Got a question - to niche or not to niche? My channel started with gaming, but now I’m adding vlogs .. and it’s hurting my channel big time?

[@thejayalto]

Same audience, same channel. Different audience, different channel. If you think it is the same audience, you’ve just got to keep experimenting to figure out what it is they what from your vlogs.

[@kaicastle.]

I play YT in the background while I work, so long videos really work in my favor..

[@thejayalto]

Definitely a big type of viewing

[@ArcticExploring]

There are some creators I follow that can easily make 1+ hours long videos, but they are all like a story since they are out travelling or making them almost like documentaries (bald & bankrupt, Harald Baldr etc.). Channels with same content as me, I can't watch for more than 15-20 minutes max. But when I'm working (like now) I play videos like you on my second screen and use them mostly for the talking.

[@thejayalto]

2nd screen / passive content is certainly a big thing.

[@nothatminimal]

Yes babyyyyyy new video! As always the edit is freaking sick 😎

[@thejayalto]

Appreciate you

[@lissaToday5787]

It’s the reason why I unsubscribed to a lot of channels. I can’t watch a video more than 10 minutes at least not on a daily basis.

[@thejayalto]

I have started watching KZbin on TV and that’s the only place this changes.

[@MakeSomething]

This is actually one of your longer videos. 😁

[@thejayalto]

It did cross my mind to try and make this a 30 minute movie…

[@joshuastclairmusic]

I love that man carrying thing is making guest appearances in creator economy topics 😂 the guy is the most meta-commentator

[@thejayalto]

My go to internet journalist (lol)

[@mixsnoof]

I wish videos were back to 10 minutes

[@thejayalto]

The good old days

[@closeben]

Mr Beast’s videos have become dramatically more interesting to me in around the last year, as he focuses on more long form reality TV style videos. His recent 40 min one is among he best videos on the platform, which shows how over funded network reality TV is. KZbinrs can literally do it way better and still in less time than a normal series. Plus there’s amazing doumentarians like Lemmino making some of the most polished and well researched documentaries in existance. I think we are still in an early phase of seeing KZbin (and hopefully some competitive platforms) rise well above traditional TV in terms of popularity (inclusive of network streaming sites).

[@thejayalto]

Completely agree. ‘New media’ about to take over.

[@smilemorewithsammy]

James Jani = better than streaming 🔥🔥🔥

[@thejayalto]

Agreed.

[@WalkingandTalkingAussieGirl]

I can't even watch a movie that long so no chance I would watch it hehe

[@thejayalto]

Yeah it’s a big ask. I’ve got things to do.

[@beatbuildersstudio]

I like that perceptive.

[@thejayalto]

Thank you.

[@TheADHDGamer420]

1:58 this a very small detail but I love how each logo is represented by their Spiderman Tobey Maguire is the first and KZbin was also the first coming out in 2005 Instagram came 5 years later so Andrew Garfield makes sense And Tom Holland and TikTok are the youngest

[@thejayalto]

I’m going to say I did it on purpose to look incredibly smart…

[@MasterEth]

It's such a good video. Hbomberguy has been making incredible videos for the past 4 years, he is definitely a person who is justified to make hour+ long videos with actual substance.

[@thejayalto]

I have skimmed through and agree. Some very good points.

[@Yoyoadventure]

Super interesting I have noticed that as well

[@thejayalto]

Most certainly happening.

[@FelixCousins]

Banger video

[@thejayalto]

Thank you sir

[@Frestidi]

I absolutely hate the ridiculous length majority of KZbin videos are trending towards. I don’t magically have more time to watch. I’m now forced to follow less channels. I think it has nothing to do with some perceived production value increase. And, has everything to do with competition. It’s keeping less eyeballs on other channels in a major way.

[@thejayalto]

Interesting perspective.

[@unknown_legend]

If you sit down to watch a few videos the short nature can be annoying with ads etc. if I know I’m having a binge I’ll stack my watch later and just press play but whilst I’m on the app the stack the deck I’ll also consume YT shorts.

[@thejayalto]

Watch later stacking dramatically improved my KZbin experience

[@tomguder]

thats good. I never expected that my longer videos are better received than the 3 minutes long. So longer is better ? ;)

[@thejayalto]

Anything that’s great can work. The magic of KZbin.

[@samdrawsss]

How did you get into that Job?

[@thejayalto]

Which one?

[@samdrawsss]

@@thejayalto thumbnail designer

[@DADDIOH]

My content creation partner and I have been uploading longer form videos too 😂

[@FelixCousins]

Whos your partner

[@DADDIOH]

@@FelixCousins Keiran Black

[@thejayalto]

It’s a thing (if it works).

[@FelixCousins]

@@DADDIOH vibes

[@anthonycarraijr]

why aren't you famous like mr beast

[@thejayalto]

I might need to up production a bit…