This project focuses on gathering and analyzing data from YouTube to identify factors that contribute to a video's success on the platform. The goal is to understand what makes a video trend on YouTube by collecting data on trending videos and analyzing various metrics.
To collect data from YouTube, you need to set up an API. Follow these steps to obtain your API key and start collecting data:
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Go to Google Cloud Console.
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Create a New Project:
- Click on the project drop-down at the top.
- Select “New Project”.
- Enter a project name and click “Create”.
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Enable YouTube Data API v3:
- In the Google Cloud Console, navigate to “APIs & Services” > “Library”.
- Search for “YouTube Data API v3” and click on it.
- Click “Enable”.
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Generate API Key:
- Go to “APIs & Services” > “Credentials”.
- Click “+ CREATE CREDENTIALS” and select “API key”.
- Copy the generated API key.
With your API key, you can start collecting data on trending YouTube videos.
- The scatter plot reveals a slight negative correlation between video length and view count, suggesting that shorter videos generally attract more views. Videos in the 5-10 minute range show the highest average view counts, likes, and comments.
- The distribution indicates that most videos are published between 14:00 and 20:00 hours (2 PM – 8 PM), suggesting this might be an optimal time for video uploads. There is a very weak negative relationship between the hour of publication and view count, implying that the time of day has minimal impact on engagement metrics
Based on the data collected and analyzed, here are the conclusions about what makes a video trend on YouTube:
- Encourage viewers to like and comment on videos to improve engagement metrics.
- Create shorter or mid-length videos (under 10 minutes) for better engagement, especially in categories like Music and Entertainment.
- Schedule your video uploads during peak times (2 PM – 8 PM) to maximize initial views and boost engagement.