Since the start of russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the UNITED24 YouTube channel has provided an unfiltered, raw perspective on the war, with frontline footage, soldier stories, and real-time updates delivered to its 1.56 million subscribers.
But with content involving war, weapons, and politics, the channel was always walking a fine line with YouTube’s algorithms. The risks? Limited reach, suppressed visibility, and yellow coins that signal trouble, holding the channel back from spreading the word about important topics.
From the start, AIR has been working alongside UNITED24 to safeguard the channel from YouTube’s content moderation hurdles and help them reach more people around the world. Here’s what has been done and the results we got together.
Keeping UNITED24 Visible and Protected
A channel like UNITED24 is always under the microscope. YouTube’s automated systems can flag videos for sensitive content, leading to reduced reach, visibility drops, or even takedowns. To keep the channel stable and performing, we focused on three key areas: content certification, policy compliance, and monetization stability.
Fighting for Reach & Monetization
Demonetization wasn’t just about lost income. It directly impacted how the content was distributed and discovered. Every yellow coin meant suppressed visibility.
We reviewed each flagged video systematically, filed disputes where possible, and backed every case with arguments based on YouTube’s own policies. This consistent approach helped restore reach and protect the channel’s long-term growth.
Preventing Takedowns Before They Happen
YouTube’s review system is unpredictable, and videos can lose certification real quick. To keep the channel compliant and monetized, we closely managed the certification process.
Every video was reviewed against YouTube’s advertiser-friendly guidelines before publishing, and necessary adjustments were made to reduce the risk of takedowns and demonetization.
Adapting to Policy Changes
YouTube’s rules shift frequently, and what’s acceptable today might not be tomorrow. To stay ahead, we built a structured compliance process – tracking policy updates, adjusting content strategies, and refining metadata to meet changing standards. This helped avoid strikes, minimize content restrictions, and keep the channel running without interruptions.
Expanding Reach Through Localization
In just 30 days – from mid-December to January 18 – the UNITED24 channel posted the same number of videos as the previous month: 9. But something changed.
UNITED24 covered even higher trending topics with top-tier content, making an immediate impact. Views skyrocketed from 48 million to 112 million – a 131% increase. Revenue followed suit, jumping by 52%.
There was more than growth in views. The audience became more diverse, coming from all around the globe.
So, what did we do? Metadata localization.
By translating the channel’s metadata into 10 languages, we made UNITED24’s content discoverable to entirely new audiences. This was about optimizing searchability and recommendations in non-English markets. And the numbers proved it worked:
- Japan: +261.7% (from 1.5M to 5.6M views)
- France: +230.2% (from 1.5M to 4.9M views)
- Germany: +169.4% (from 4.2M to 11.2M views)
- Poland: +162.7% (from 1.8M to 4.7M views)
- USA: +117.4% (from 6.3M to 13.8M views)
A strategic shift in discoverability made the difference.
Leaving Competitors in the Dust
While UNITED24 surged forward, others in the niche were left behind. Despite the challenges of working in a high-risk content category, the channel’s growth outpaced competitors in the niche.
Protecting and growing a high-risk YouTube channel requires both defensive and offensive strategies. With AIR’s assistance, UNITED24 ensured its content was discoverable, understandable, and monetized worldwide.
Got questions about YouTube growth or content safety? Contact us – we’re here to help!
