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What Does "ft." Mean on YouTube? The Complete Guide

Have you noticed the abbreviation "ft." in YouTube video titles and wondered what it meant? As collaborations have exploded on YouTube, so has the use of "ft." credits.

In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll explore everything around "ft." on YouTube – from its meaning and history to proper usage and impact.

The Meaning and Origin of "ft." on YouTube

First things first – "ft." stands for "featuring". It is placed before the name of a collaborating artist or content creator to credit them.

For example:

"New Music Video ft. Taylor Swift"

"Trying TikTok Dance Moves ft. Charli D‘Amelio"

The term originated in the music industry, where "feat." or "ft." was used to identify featured vocalists or performers on albums, EPs, and singles.

This practice of crediting featured artists dates back to the 1950s/60s when albums and songs began having special guest collaborators.

By the 1970s-80s, it had become commonplace in liner notes and back album covers of LPs.

With the rise of streaming and YouTube, "ft." seamlessly moved online as music collaborations continued. Soon it expanded beyond just music into other genres of YouTube content as well.

How To Use "ft." on YouTube Videos

While originating in music, "ft." can be used to credit collaborators across any genre on YouTube.

Collaborations are hugely popular on YouTube. A recent study found that over 25% of the top 100 most-viewed YouTube videos of 2022 were collaborations.

From music videos and vlogs to challenges, pranks, podcasts, and more – "ft." credits are everywhere.

Here are some tips on using "ft." effectively in your YouTube video titles:

  • Place it before the name of collaborators who are prominently featured through the majority of the video. Casual cameos don‘t warrant a "ft." credit.

  • The video owner/channel name should come first, followed by "ft." and the collaborator‘s name.

  • For multiple collaborators, go with 1-3 "ft." credits max. Avoid cluttering your title.

  • For minor credits, use the description box or end screens instead.

  • Ensure your collaborators are okay with the "ft." credit.

  • Be consistent across videos with how you credit recurring collaborators.

When NOT To Use "ft."

Avoid using "ft." when:

  • The collaborator only appears briefly or casually. Use your discretion.

  • Credits are already provided elsewhere like the description.

  • There are too many collaborators to fit. Prioritize the most important ones.

  • Your collaborator prefers to remain unnamed. Respect their choice.

  • You could not agree whose name should go first.

As a rule of thumb, significant, major roles warrant a "ft." credit. For casual collabs, descriptions or endcards work better.

ft. vs feat. – What‘s the Difference?

You may come across both "ft." and "feat." on YouTube. So what sets them apart?

Put simply – they are identical in meaning. "feat." stands for featuring just like "ft.". The only difference is that "feat." is spelled out fully while "ft." is shortened.

"Ft." became more popular since it‘s more concise. Especially on congested platforms like YouTube where brevity helps, "ft." won out.

However, "feat." is still commonly used and may appeal more to older audiences. Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference.

Choose whichever abbreviation suits your titles and space constraints better. The most vital aspect is that you credit your collaborators consistently.

Why Do YouTubers Use "ft." Credits? [Data-Driven Reasons]

From a minuscule music shorthand, "ft." credits have ballooned hugely on YouTube. But what‘s behind their rising popularity?

Based on data and expert opinions, here are the top reasons YouTubers use "ft.":

1. Gives Proper Credit

Using "ft." shows you acknowledge and appreciate someone‘s participation. As YouTuber Lewis Hilsenteger says:

It‘s both the right thing to do and smart business to fully credit collaborators.

2. Attracts Cross-Audience

Collaborations let you tap into a whole new audience from your collaborator‘s fanbase. A properly credited "ft." makes it transparent.

3. Clearly Denotes Collaboration

The "ft." signals it‘s not your solo work. This context primes viewers to see it as a team effort.

As artist Max Schneider remarked:

I like "ft." since it immediately tells fans I worked with someone on this.

4. Improves Visibility

Videos with multiple creators tend to rank higher in YouTube Search and Recommendations. An examination of 10 million YouTube videos found collaborations got:

  • 63% more views on average
  • 112% higher engagement
  • 26% more search visibility

This is likely because YouTube‘s algorithm favors diversity and partnerships.

5. Provides Value to Viewers

Viewers know upfront who is in the video rather than getting surprised later. This sense of transparency provides value.

6. Promotional Opportunity

Being credited as "ft." gives collaborators increased exposure and reach. Especially for lesser known creators, it helps grow their audience.

7. Boosts Social Capital

Strategic collaborations let you form bonds and relationships with other creators. As Tyler Oliveira suggests:

Use collaborations to build your network. When done right, it can lead to lifelong friendships and partnerships.

In summary, "ft." credits act as social currency – allowing mutually beneficial promotion opportunities and partnerships to flourish on YouTube.

ft. Usage on YouTube is Exploding [Key Stats]

With the benefits being abundantly clear, "ft." usage has exploded on YouTube over the past 5 years.

Let‘s look at some key statistics that highlight the staggering growth of these credits:

  • A 2022 report by TubeBuddy found the frequency of "ft." credits has increased by over 900% since 2017.

YouTube Videos With "ft." Credits

Year % of Videos with "ft."
2017 8.2%
2019 22.7%
2021 41.1%
2022 59.3%

  • MusicVideosTopic.com estimates that over 65% of the top music videos of 2022 on YouTube used "ft." credits, compared to less than 30% in 2015.

  • From 2020 to 2022, channels using collaborations grew 146% faster than solo-creator channels, as per Seedfeed.

  • A 2022 ThinkWithGoogle study found Gen Z YouTube viewers actively seek out collab videos, with 77% claiming it‘s "twice as fun with two creators".

This enormous growth of "ft." credits reflects YouTube‘s evolution into a collaborative ecosystem. With the algorithm favoring diverse partnerships, expect collaborations and "ft." credits to keep thriving!

How To Credit Collaborators the Right Way [Expert Tips]

Now that we‘ve covered the essentials of "ft", let‘s look at some best practices for crediting collaborators.

Ask First

Always get your collaborator‘s consent before adding an "ft." credit. They may not want the attention, so discuss it beforehand.

Respect their choice if they decline – you can credit them in other ways.

Agree on Order

Decide together whose name should go first based on factors like:

  • Whose channel is it being posted on?
  • Who conceptualized the idea for the video?
  • Which name is "catchier" for the title?

There‘s no universal rule – so have an open conversation and align.

Title Only for Main Collaborators

As a rule of thumb for titles:

  • 1-2 "ft." credits for main featured collaborators

  • Avoid 3+ credits as it looks cluttered

  • Keep minor credits for description/endcards

Link to Their Channels

In the description, add links directing viewers to all your collaborators‘ YouTube channels.

Give a Shoutout

In your video, verbally give your collaborators a warm shoutout. Audible credits add a nice touch.

Promote Their Socials

Link to your collaborators‘ other social media like Instagram, Twitter, etc. in the description. Help direct fans their way.

Make Them Feel Valued

Show your collaborators you appreciate their time and effort. Share behind-the-scenes clips on social media giving them equal billing.

Be Consistent

Use "ft." credits uniformly across all videos with each recurring collaborator. This helps solidify your creative partnership for the audience.

Mistakes to Avoid When Crediting Collaborators

On the flip side, steer clear of these common "ft." missteps:

Forgetting Credits Entirely

Never forget to credit your collaborators at all. This poor oversight can permanently damage relationships.

Crediting Non-Collaborators

Don‘t randomly add "ft." credits for people or brands who weren‘t actually involved. Misrepresenting collaborations will frustrate your audience.

Using It Without Permission

Always get your partner‘s explicit approval before adding a featuring credit. Consent is mandatory.

Misplacing the Channel Order

If it‘s your video, your name should appear first. Putting the collaborator first on your own channel looks strange.

Too Many "ft." Credits

Follow the 1-3 collaborator credit limit for titles. More than that and it‘s time to shift some names to the description.

Inconsistent / One-Off Crediting

Credit regularly collaborating partners consistently using "ft" across all your videos together. Irregular, one-off credits weaken the perceived relationship.

By avoiding these missteps and following the best practices outlined earlier, you‘ll do collaborations right – resulting in happy partners, satisfied audiences, and mutually beneficial promotion.

Real-World Examples of Effective "ft." Credits

To see proper "ft." crediting in action, let‘s examine some top YouTube videos using it effectively:

Music Videos

"Memories" – Maroon 5 ft. Girls Like Us

This credit immediately tells us it‘s a collaboration between Maroon 5 and Girls Like Us. Being upfront helps fans of either artist find it.

"Senorita" – Shawn Mendes, Camila Cabello ft. Alejandro Sanz"

Even songs with multiple collaborators can be effectively credited via "ft." by ordering them by prominence.

Vlogs

"Iceland Trip 2022 ft. CaseyNeistat"

Casey Neistat is prominently featured throughout this travel vlog, warranting the clean "ft." credit.

"Reading Each Other‘s Texts for 24 Hours ft. Zane Hijazi"

Zane is the key collaborator in this challenge video, hence he gets the title credit.

Interviews / Podcasts

"H3 Podcast ft. Jordan Peterson"

This lets viewers know upfront that Peterson is H3‘s interview guest this episode.

"Hot Ones ft. Billie Eilish"

Seeing Billie‘s name allows fans to instantly find her Hot Ones interview.

Challenges / Pranks

"Lie Detector Test on My Wife ft. Markiplier"

Markiplier is revealed as the co-conspirator in this prank video title.

"Yoga Challenge ft. Lilly Singh"

This title makes it obvious that popular YouTuber Lilly Singh is participating in this yoga video.

As you can see, proper "ft." crediting provides valuable context, visibility, and transparency to collaborations.

The Future of Collaborations and "ft." on YouTube

If current trends continue, collaborations and "ft." credits will likely keep rising exponentially on YouTube.

Analysts predict:

  • Over 75% of top YouTube videos will be collaborations by 2025

  • The frequency of videos using "ft." will nearly double in the next 3 years

  • Gen Z audiences will continue actively seeking out collab videos

As younger generations inherently gravitate towards partnerships and diversity, the collaborative nature of YouTube will be further amplified. Already, popular collectives like DopeHouse and Clubhouse Next have emerged to nurture collaboration.

Furthermore, expert projections estimate that channels using frequent collaborations see 75-100% faster growth in views, subscribers and revenue compared to solo creators.

This provides added incentive for YouTubers to adopt collaborations and "ft." credits as core strategies going forward.

In conclusion, the usage, impact and importance of "ft." featuring credits on YouTube will scale new heights in the years ahead!

Key Takeaways

To recap this comprehensive guide on what "ft." means on YouTube:

  • "ft." stands for "featuring" and credits collaborators in video titles

  • Originated in music, now used for all genres of YouTube videos

  • Place after your name and before the collaborator‘s name

  • Helps attract cross-audience and provides transparency

  • Interchangeable with "feat." – both mean "featuring"

  • Properly credit up to 1-3 main collaborators in titles

  • Ask first, agree on order, be consistent, and promote their channels

  • Avoiding miscrediting people or overusing "ft."

  • "ft." usage has grown exponentially and will likely keep rising

So next time you stumble upon "ft." in a YouTube title, you‘ll know exactly what it signifies – an exciting collaboration at play!

By properly leveraging "ft." featuring credits, you can create captions that provide value, visibility, and mutual benefits for all involved.