How does watch time impact video discoverability beyond suggested videos?

Beyond influencing suggested videos, watch time significantly impacts video discoverability by boosting a video's ranking in YouTube search results. YouTube's algorithm prioritizes videos that provide a positive viewing experience, and watch time is a key indicator of that experience. Videos with high watch times signal to the algorithm that viewers find the content engaging and valuable, making them more likely to be ranked higher in search results for relevant keywords. This improved search ranking increases the video's visibility to a broader audience, leading to more organic views and subscriber growth. High watch time essentially acts as a vote of confidence, telling YouTube that the video is worth promoting to a wider audience through search.