Boost YouTube Watch Time

I run an entertainment-focused YouTube channel that delivers daily Bollywood news and light-hearted updates. My immediate goal is to hit the watch-time threshold required for monetisation, and I’d like a concise, practical roadmap to get there quickly.

Here’s what I need from you:
• A basic blueprint that shows how many videos I should release, how long each should be, and the ideal posting schedule to leverage the “Posting more frequently” strategy I’ve selected.
• Simple, actionable tips on video structuring, hook placement, and retention tactics specific to Bollywood commentary (e.g., segment teasers, mid-roll cliff-hangers, end-screen playlists).
• A checklist of low-effort optimisation steps—titles, tags, thumbnails, chapters—backed up by YouTube Analytics metrics I can track each week.
• Guidance on using standard tools such as YouTube Studio, TubeBuddy, or VidIQ to monitor audience retention and adjust quickly.

Keep the plan short and easy to follow—no jargon, no 50-page decks—just the essentials I can act on this month. If you have proven experience boosting watch time for entertainment channels, let me know and share one example when you respond.