[FAQ]

Hey everyone, I have a question about using YouTube Analytics for content planning.

I noticed the ‘Research’ tab in my YouTube Analytics dashboard, and it seems like a powerful tool, but I’m not entirely sure how to use it effectively.

What are some of the best practices in 2025 for using this feature to find good video ideas or understand what my audience is searching for? How do I interpret the data it gives me on search terms and content gaps?

Any tips on making the most of this tool would be great!

[Jeff Bullas]

That is a very smart question.

Quick Answer: The Research tab is one of the most powerful, yet underutilised, tools YouTube gives to creators for making data-driven content decisions. You should use it to see what your own audience is searching for and to identify “content gaps” in your niche. This provides a direct roadmap of what videos to make next.

The tool essentially allows you to stop guessing what people want to see and start creating content that directly answers questions they are already asking on the platform.

Here is how to use it effectively. First, you should regularly check the “Your viewers’ searches” section. This is the most valuable part of the tool, as it shows you the actual search terms that your existing audience is typing into YouTube. This is a literal list of video ideas that your most loyal viewers are telling you they want.

Second, you need to use the “Searches across YouTube” function to explore broader topics. You can type in a keyword related to your niche, and the tool will show you a list of related search terms and rank their search volume on YouTube as high, medium, or low.

Third, you must pay close attention to the “Content Gaps” identified by the tool. A content gap is a search term that viewers are looking for, but for which they are not finding enough high-quality or relevant video results. Creating a video that directly and comprehensively addresses a content gap is a massive opportunity to get discovered through search.

And fourth, you should use the exact phrasing from the Research tab to optimise your video titles and descriptions. The terms you find are the exact words real people are using. Incorporating that language into your metadata is a fundamental SEO best practice.

In summary, the Research tab is your direct line into the mind of your audience. Use it weekly to find out what your viewers are searching for, to discover underserved “content gap” topics, and to find the right keywords for your titles. It is a simple way to make your content strategy much more effective.

Cheers,

Jeff

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