If you only look at views in YouTube Analytics, you see how many people showed up, not how strongly they cared. Two clips can hit 10,000 views, but the one with active, specific YouTube comments usually builds deeper fans and better word of mouth. When you focus on reading youtube analytics comments, you turn your comment section into a simple research tool for content, promotion, and community.
Some creators also test light, controlled tactics to start the first wave of discussion on a strong video. For example, they might use buy custom YouTube comments on a clip that already has solid retention, just to spark a real-looking thread around the main topic and give new viewers something to reply to instead of scrolling away. Any strategy like this must stay inside YouTube’s rules and avoid fake or bot traffic, so always work with real users and keep things relevant.
Why comments are a core signal, not a side detail
YouTube treats comments as a key engagement metric. The official YouTube Analytics metrics reference lists “comments” as a core engagement metric, along with likes and shares, which shows that the platform tracks them at the same level as other major actions.  According to YouTube’s own help page on engagement, the Engagement tab in YouTube Analytics gives a snapshot of how viewers interact with your content, not just how many views a video got. 
Social media tools see it the same way. Sprout Social’s guide to social media metrics notes that “engagements” include likes, shares, comments, saves, and clicks, and that higher engagement usually means content resonates with the right audience.  So if you care about YouTube engagement, you cannot ignore comments.
In practice, comments give you three things views never will:
• language your audience uses for your topic
• direct questions and objections to your message
• proof that people are ready to talk to you and to each other
That is why reading youtube analytics comments changes how you judge success.
This related post takes your understanding further—don’t skip it.
A simple workflow for reading comments inside YouTube Analytics
Step 1 – Start with the Engagement tab
Open YouTube Analytics in Studio and go to the Engagement tab. Look at:
• top videos by watch time
• average view duration
• where viewers drop off in the retention graph
Pick 3–5 videos that have strong watch time and decent retention. These clips already hold attention. They are perfect for a deeper look at YouTube comments because viewers stayed long enough to form an opinion.
H3: Step 2 – Compare comments to views and watch time
For each chosen video, open the comments and check:
• number of comments compared to total views
• how many unique users appear in the thread
• how often viewers reply to each other, not only to you
If a video shows solid retention but almost no YouTube comments, the topic might be helpful but not framed in a way that invites talk. If another video has fewer views but active back-and-forth between people, that clip probably hits a real pain point or emotion and is a better candidate for extra promotion.
Step 3 – Read comment type, not only comment count
Raw comment count is basic. The type of comment tells you much more:
• one-word reactions or emojis show light interest
• clear questions, time stamps, and feature requests show strong attention
• personal stories, results, or mini case studies show deep trust
Use this when planning content. A music tutorial that triggers many time-stamped questions might need a slower follow-up video. A story about life on tour that gets long replies from other artists signals strong YouTube engagement and good material for a series.
When it makes sense to work with PromosoundGroup
Once you can read YouTube Analytics metrics with comments in mind, you can decide where help from outside partners makes sense. If a video already has:
• healthy retention and watch time
• a clear pattern in YouTube comments (repeated pain points, “please make part 2”)
• a topic that fits your long-term brand
…it is a strong candidate for extra traffic. This is where PromosoundGroup can support you. PromosoundGroup focuses on smarter promotion for platforms like YouTube, Spotify, TikTok, and Instagram, with campaigns that aim at real audience growth and better targeting instead of random views.
Some creators pair this with gentle tactics around conversation. They may test services such as buy custom YouTube comments to seed relevant remarks that match the video topic and tone, then let real viewers continue the thread as new traffic arrives. Any such approach should stay compliant with YouTube’s policies against fake engagement, so avoid bots, spammy text, or sudden suspicious spikes, and always read YouTube’s fake engagement policy yourself before you decide what to do. 
Fast rules you can apply every month
Here are quick rules you can use once a month when reading youtube analytics comments:
• Promote videos where comments show clear demand (people ask for follow-ups, tag friends, or repeat the same problem).
• Fix or reframe videos where comments show confusion, then compare those notes with retention drops in YouTube Analytics.
• Turn the best YouTube comments into new content ideas, video titles, pinned comments, and short clips for other platforms.
With this habit, your channel stops relying on guesswork. Your own comment section becomes a simple feedback loop, and with support from partners like PromosoundGroup your strongest videos reach the people who care most, not just a big but silent crowd.
Don’t pause now—explore more posts perfect for your next breakthrough idea.
