YouTube allows you to easily retrieve historical data from your own channel with YouTube Studio. However, a significant challenge arises when seeking historical data from other accounts’ channels and videos because YouTube doesn’t grant access to such information.
This guide introduces you to four practical methods to gather past insights from other channels, each with its unique approach and considerations.
4 Functioning Methods to Retrieve Past Data from YouTube
1. Using a Third-Party Tool
Numerous third-party tools, such as VidIQ, SocialBlade or TubularLabs, specialize in tracking and providing YouTube analytics. These tools maintain their own databases of YouTube data, offering historical insights that YouTube’s native tools don’t.
It can however be costly and takes time to set up. Using such tools is the ideal method if you need miscellaneous data on a regular basis.
For more information, you can find our list of the best YouTube Analytics tools.
Pros: User-friendly, quickly provides a wide range of data, including competitor analysis
Cons: Reliability and completeness of data can vary. Subscription fees can be high
2. Using the Wayback Machine and YouTube
The Wayback Machine archives web pages, allowing you to view past versions of YouTube’s website and its content, you can then manually retrieve the data you aim for.
Pros: Free and can provide snapshots of YouTube pages from the past
Cons: Time-consuming, data availability is hit-or-miss, and you may not get comprehensive analytics
3. Storing Data Everyday from YouTube’s official API
YouTube’s API provides a robust way to access current data on videos, channels, and user interactions. However, it falls short of offering historical data.
By using YouTube’s API, you can start collecting and storing data from today onwards. This method involves setting up a system to regularly pull current data from YouTube and archive it.
While time-consuming, this system provides free and tailored insights.
Pros: Accurate and tailored to your specific data needs
Cons: Cannot retrieve data from before the start of the data collection, requires technical setup and takes time to develop
4. Getting Help from Experts
Accessing comprehensive historical data from YouTube can be a daunting task, especially when it falls outside the realm of your own know-how.
Favoree built a database of YouTube content with a lot of information about every channel and video. It can quickly deliver a wide range of YouTube historical data from subscriber growth to comparative analysis.
You can also use a platform like Fiverr, which hosts experts who specialize in data analysis, including YouTube analytics. These professionals can assist in retrieving and analyzing historical YouTube data.
Pros: Expertise in data mining and analysis, saves time, tailored insights
Cons: Costs can vary, and the quality of work depends on the freelancer’s expertise
Conclusion: The quest for historical data on YouTube, while challenging, is not insurmountable.
By understanding the limitations of YouTube’s native tools and exploring alternative methods and third-party services, you can unlock a wealth of insights.
Moreover, familiarizing yourself with data privacy guidelines will ensure that your data collection practices remain compliant and ethical.
FAQ Section:
- Is it possible to get historical data from YouTube?
Yes, while YouTube’s official API doesn’t provide such data, it is possible through various methods, including third-party tools, archiving websites like the Wayback Machine, storing data via YouTube’s API, and seeking help from data analysis experts. - How do I find a YouTube video from a specific year?
You can use the Wayback Machine to view archived versions of YouTube pages, or search YouTube with specific time filters. However, finding specific data from a particular month or year can be challenging. - How to get data from other channels?
Gathering data from other channels can be done using third-party analytics tools, which track and store data on various YouTube channels. Additionally, hiring experts from platforms like Favoree or Fiverr can provide tailored analyses of other channels. - What is the use of YouTube historical data?
Past data can reveal much about content strategy and audience preferences. For instance, a content creator might analyze past trends to identify topics that resonated with their audience. Marketers can use historical data to understand the impact of various campaigns. These real-world applications underscore the value of historical data in strategic decision-making.