Intermediate · 30-60 minutes
Channel Audit Workflow
Run a quarterly channel audit that identifies dead content, top wins, and the next 90 days of focus.
Existing channels with 50+ uploadsChannel managersAgency operators
Workflow steps
- 1Export full analyticsPull last 365 days from YouTube Studio into a spreadsheet.Local data beats UI poking for audits.
- 2Score every videoRate each video on views per hour, retention, and CTR.A simple three-metric score outperforms gut feel.
- 3Identify top 10 winnersSurface the top 10 by score; these are your formats to replicate.Most channels have 3-5 winning formats and many losing ones.
- 4Find content to unlistMark videos in the bottom 20% with poor metrics for unlisting.Dead videos drag down channel algorithm signals.
- 5Refresh top videosUpdate thumbnails, titles, and descriptions on the top 10.Refreshes can lift views by 20-50% on evergreen videos.
- 6Set a 90 day planDocument the next 90 days of uploads matching your winning formats.Clear plans prevent the random upload death spiral.
Publish-ready checklist
- Full analytics exported
- Every video scored
- Top 10 winners surfaced
- Bottom 20% queued for unlist
- Top videos refreshed
- 90-day plan written
Suggested output
Commit to a single format and publish 3 clips before iterating.
Recommended tools
Stack to execute this guide
YouTube Studio
Google's free all-in-one dashboard for managing, analyzing, and growing your YouTube channel.
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