You’ve seen the screenshots. A small-time YouTuber posts on r/NewTubers or r/PartneredYoutube, showing off a video with 50,000 views but only 10 comments. Then, another person chimes in with a video that barely cracked 1,000 views yet has a comment section vibrating with 200 people. It makes no sense. Or does it? If you spend enough time digging through YouTube engagement rate Reddit discussions, you realize that the "average" engagement rate is a total myth.
The numbers are weird. Seriously.
Most people think engagement is just a vanity metric. It’s not. It’s the pulse of the algorithm. But Reddit users—the ones actually grinding in the trenches—will tell you that a high engagement rate doesn't always lead to more views, while a low one can sometimes be a sign you’re actually winning the "broad appeal" game. It’s a paradox that drives creators crazy.
Why Everyone on Reddit is Obsessed with Engagement Rates
Most creators live in fear of the "dead channel" vibe. You know the one. Millions of subscribers, but only 400 views per video. That happens when your engagement rate—the ratio of likes, comments, and shares to your total views—drops into the basement.
On Reddit, the consensus usually lands on a 0.5% to 4% engagement rate as "normal." But honestly? That range is useless. A gaming channel with a hyper-active fanbase of 14-year-olds will see 10% engagement easily. Meanwhile, a high-quality documentary channel might see 1% because the audience is older, more passive, and watching on a TV where typing a comment is a nightmare.
The YouTube engagement rate Reddit community often highlights that "likes" are the easiest currency to get, but comments are the gold standard. Shares? Those are the platinum. If someone takes your link and puts it on Twitter or Discord, Google’s eyes light up.
The "Watch Time vs. Engagement" Civil War
There is a massive, ongoing debate across subreddits like r/VideoEditing and r/YoutubeCreator about which matters more: Retention or Engagement.
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Some veterans swear that if your Average View Duration (AVD) is high, YouTube will push the video regardless of how many people hit the like button. Others point to "spikes" in their analytics. They notice that when a video gets a flurry of comments in the first two hours, the "Impressions" graph starts to look like a hockey stick.
Here is the reality: Engagement is a signal of satisfaction. If people are arguing in your comments, they are staying on the page. If they are staying on the page, YouTube is showing them more ads. It’s cold, hard business.
The Subreddit Reality Check: What’s Actually "Good"?
I spent a few days cataloging data points from real creators sharing their backend stats. If you're looking for a benchmark, you're going to be disappointed because it varies by niche.
In the gaming world, engagement is usually high. Why? Because gamers love to tell the creator they missed a secret or that their "loadout" is trash. Negative engagement is still engagement. In the educational or DIY space, engagement is often lower. People get the answer they need (how to fix a sink, how to solve a math problem) and they leave. They don't stay to chat.
- 1% - 2%: This is the "safe" zone. You aren't viral, but you aren't dying.
- 5%+: You’ve got a community. These people actually like you.
- Under 0.5%: Something is wrong. Either your thumbnail is clickbait (so people leave immediately) or your content is just... boring.
Honestly, the most interesting thing I found in YouTube engagement rate Reddit threads is the "Search vs. Browse" distinction. If your traffic comes from Search, your engagement will be lower. If it comes from Browse (the home page), it will be higher. Why? Because people searching for a specific solution are on a mission. People browsing are looking for a connection.
The Hidden Power of the Community Tab
Reddit users often overlook the Community Tab, but the smart ones use it to "prime" their engagement. By posting a poll or an image 24 hours before a video drops, you wake up your subscribers. When the video finally goes live, they are already in the habit of interacting with your channel. It’s basically a cheat code for the engagement rate.
Tactics That Actually Work (According to People Not Selling Courses)
Stop asking people to "like and subscribe" in the first ten seconds. Everyone hates it. It’s background noise now.
Instead, the advice that actually gets traction on Reddit is the "Specific Ask." Don't ask for a comment; ask a question that is easy to answer. "Do you prefer X or Y?" is better than "Let me know your thoughts down below!"
Small creators often make the mistake of being too professional. They try to look like Netflix. But YouTube isn't Netflix. It’s a social club. The creators who share their mistakes, their "scuffed" moments, and their genuine opinions are the ones who see their engagement rates skyrocket. People want to talk to a person, not a brand.
The "Pinned Comment" Strategy
This is a classic. You post the video, then you immediately post the first comment. You ask a polarizing question or share a funny detail you missed in editing. Then you pin it. This gives people a "template" for how to respond. It’s like being the first person on the dance floor at a wedding. Once one person is out there, everyone else feels safe to join.
Why You Shouldn't Obsess Over the Numbers
Here is a hot take from the deeper corners of r/PartneredYoutube: High engagement can sometimes be a trap.
If you have a 15% engagement rate, it usually means your audience is tiny and hyper-focused. As soon as you go "broad" and hit the Home page of millions of strangers, your engagement rate will plummet. This is normal. It's called "audience dilution."
If you see your engagement rate dropping as your views go up, don't panic. It means you're reaching people who don't know you yet. They are "sampling" you. Your goal isn't to make them like the video today; it's to make them watch the next one.
The Bottom Line on Reddit's Advice
Most YouTube engagement rate Reddit threads are filled with people overthinking the math. They want a formula. They want to know that $X$ likes + $Y$ comments = Viral success.
It doesn't work that way. The algorithm is a machine learning system designed to follow the audience. If the audience is happy, the algorithm is happy. Engagement is just one way the machine measures that happiness.
Actionable Steps to Fix a Dying Engagement Rate
If your stats look like a flatline, you need to stop doing what you're doing. It's not working. Here is how to shake things up based on what's actually moving the needle right now.
- Audit your first 30 seconds. If your retention drops 50% in the first minute, nobody is seeing your call to action. You can't have engagement without views. Fix the hook first.
- Reply to every single comment for the first 2 hours. This is non-negotiable for small creators. When a viewer sees the "Heart" from the creator, they get a notification. That brings them back to the video. Double the views, double the chance for more engagement.
- Use "Negative Constraints." Instead of asking for a comment, tell people not to comment unless they’ve had a specific experience. "Don't even comment if you haven't tried the 2024 version of this software." It triggers a "wait, I HAVE tried that" response.
- Cross-pollinate with Reddit. Don't just spam your link. Go to a subreddit related to your niche, find a question, and answer it. Then, mentioned you made a video that goes deeper. The traffic you get from Reddit is "high-intent." They are much more likely to comment than a random person from the YouTube home page.
- Stop being perfect. Leave a small, harmless mistake in your video. A typo in a graphic or a weird face. People live to point out mistakes. It sounds stupid, but a "You spelled 'engagement' wrong at 4:12" comment counts exactly the same as a "Great video!" comment in the eyes of the algorithm.
Monitor your "New vs. Returning" viewers in your analytics. If your returning viewers aren't engaging, your community is fading. If your new viewers aren't engaging, your "ask" is too weak or your content isn't hitting the mark for a general audience. Adjust accordingly.