Retention can make a big difference in how fast YouTube channels grow. It’s not easy, though. Here are 10 more points to improve retention that work for both large and smaller YouTube channels. Rule 1: One of the most common mistakes creators make is using zooms without intention. Don't make your viewers confused with zooms that don't mean anything. It's better to have simpler editing than confusing editing. Rule 2: Follow the rule of three. You should only give three examples if the third one is unexpected or changes the flow. If not, you should only give two examples. Giving three cases that are very similar will seem like overkill and will lead to small losses in retention. Rule 3: Highlight positive character traits of the creator early to make them more likable, which is great for retention. Generosity and compassion are especially strong traits. Rule 4: Don't use too many inside jokes or references to other videos. If you do, new viewers might not feel like the video is for them and leave. Getting new viewers is important for maintaining an audience and growing a channel. Rule 5: Sudden increases in music volume can disrupt the viewer experience. Don’t do this to make viewers active by forcing them to adjust their volume; we need passive viewers who just sit, watch, and do nothing but enjoy the content. Rule 6: Make sure the content respects eye movement. Avoid making viewers' eyes jump around too much, as it can be exhausting and make them less likely to watch for longer. Rule 7: Voiceovers with animated explanations are great for retention, especially for complex ideas that are difficult to visualize. Rule 8: If you're making story-driven content, keep the first act of your story short. Spread character development throughout the video instead of spending too much time at the beginning on backstory. YouTube videos are consumed differently than traditional media and therefore have different delivery demands. Rule 9: In general, white text on a black background is bad for retention, so stay away from it. Yes, there are more complicated solutions, but the safest bet is to avoid it. During these types of title screens, we often see retention drops. Rule 10: It doesn't happen often, but some creators talk too slowly. Speaking slowly can slow down your content pace, which can increase boredom. A simple trick is to play your content at 1.25x speed. Then, if you can still easily follow the video, consider speeding up your talking speed. With so many rules and tactics, I hope you've been able to figure out which ones to apply to your own channels. Some may seem simple, while others will be harder. But at the end of the day, you're dealing with viewers who just want to find value in your content and not feel like you're wasting their time. That's why we create these guidelines: so you don't have to worry as much about what may harm your audience retention.