Use Simple Tagging To Turn Analytics Into Questions Not Just Numbers

Analytics tools are built to show numbers. They are not built to understand your creative choices. Without your own labels, it is hard to see patterns. You know a video did well, but not whether it was the hook, the topic, the format or the upload slot that helped. Simple tagging fixes this. You add your own labels so analytics can answer practical questions.

TL;DR

Create a small set of human friendly tags for hooks, formats and topics. Attach them to each video in a sheet or tool, then look at performance grouped by tag instead of only by upload.

Decide what you want to compare

Tagging is only useful if it supports clear questions.

Do you want to compare hook styles, such as question hooks versus story hooks.
Do you want to compare formats, such as talking head, screen share, vlog or review.
Do you want to compare topic clusters, such as basics, buying, mindset or behind the scenes.

Pick a few high value axes to start with.

Design a small shared tag list

Random labels make data messy.

Create a short list of allowed tags for each axis, such as three to six hook types and four to eight formats.
Write a one line description and example for each tag.
Store this list in the same place as your content calendar or tracking sheet.

Everyone who helps plan should use the same tags.

Set up a simple tracking sheet

You do not need complex reporting to start.

Create a basic sheet with one row per video and columns for title, URL and publish date.
Add columns for each tag axis, such as hook type, format type and topic cluster.
Add a few key metrics you care about, such as click through rate, average view duration and total views after a set period.

This sheet is the bridge between your labels and platform data.

Tag new videos at planning time

Backfilling everything is hard. Start forward.

When you plan a new video, choose tags from your list and record them in the sheet.
Make tagging part of your normal planning checklist.
Adjust tags only if the video changes significantly before upload.

Attaching tags early keeps them accurate.

Backfill a small set of past videos

Some history helps you see patterns sooner.

Pick a manageable slice, such as your last twenty to thirty uploads.
Assign tags based on what is on screen and in the title and thumbnail.
Pull key metrics for those videos and add them to the sheet.

This gives you an initial sample to compare.

Ask questions by tag, not just by video

This is where tagging pays off.

Sort or filter the sheet by one tag at a time, such as a specific hook type.
Look at average performance for that tag, not just single hits.
Compare tags, for example how do story hooks perform versus blunt warning hooks.

You will often see patterns you could not see in the raw analytics view.

Use findings to guide small experiments

Tagging and experiments work well together.

If a hook type seems strong, plan a run of a few videos that use it on different topics.
If a format underperforms, test one or two changes before you drop it entirely.
Use tags to track tests, so you can quickly see how experiments behave as a group.

Over time your tag list becomes a map of what works for your audience.

Practical checklist for simple tagging

Decide which creative choices you want to compare, such as hooks, formats and topic clusters.

Build a small, shared list of tags for each axis with names and short descriptions.

Create a simple tracking sheet with one row per video, tag columns and key metrics.

Tag new videos during planning and add their metrics after they have some data.

Backfill tags and metrics for a small set of recent videos to seed comparisons.

Regularly sort and filter by tags to answer clear questions and guide experiments.

When you use simple tagging to turn analytics into questions not just numbers, data stops being a vague dashboard. It becomes a way to study your own creative choices and make better ones next month.