You open YouTube Studio. 347 new comments. Where do you even start?
You scroll through them randomly, replying to whatever catches your eye. An hour later, you've replied to 12 comments, but you're not sure if they were the right ones. You feel like you're missing something important, but you can't tell what.
Here's the problem: not all comments are equal. Some replies create more value than others. Some comments need immediate attention. Others can wait.
If you're replying randomly, you're wasting time on low-impact comments while high-impact opportunities slip by.
You need a priority system.
Why Priority Matters
Here's what happens when you reply randomly:
- You answer "Nice video!" before answering "How did you do that?"
- You reply to spam before replying to questions
- You engage with low-value comments while high-value ones get buried
- You spend time on comments that don't move the needle
The result: You're busy, but you're not effective. Your audience sees you engaging, but the engagement that actually matters gets missed.
Priority isn't about ignoring comments. It's about engaging with the right ones first.
The Priority Framework
Here's a simple system. Use it every time you check comments:
Tier 1: Answer Immediately (Within 24 Hours)
Questions — These are your highest priority. Someone asking means they're engaged enough to want more information. Answering builds relationships and shows you're listening.
Questions don't always look like questions. "I don't understand this part" is a question. "Can you explain X?" is a question. "What camera do you use?" is a question.
Why questions first: They're time-sensitive. Someone asking wants an answer while they're still thinking about it. Answer quickly, and you turn a viewer into an engaged community member.
Early comments (first 24 hours) — Comments that come in right after you publish set the tone for the entire thread. Your early engagement encourages more discussion.
Comments with high engagement — If a comment already has likes or replies, your response amplifies an entire thread, not just one person.
Tier 2: Answer This Week
Constructive criticism — Feedback that helps you improve deserves a thoughtful response. But it doesn't need to be immediate. Take time to craft a good reply.
Thoughtful feedback — Longer comments, personal stories, or detailed responses show someone invested real time. Acknowledge that investment.
Content requests — "Can you make a video about X?" These are valuable, but they're not urgent. Note them for content planning, then reply.
Community members you recognize — Regular commenters deserve recognition. But if you're prioritizing well, you'll get to them.
Tier 3: Batch or Skip
Simple praise — "Great video!" is nice, but it doesn't need a personal reply. Heart it, or batch reply with a quick "Thanks!"
Generic comments — Low-effort comments get low-effort responses. Or no response.
Spam — Delete it. Don't reply to it.
Repeated questions — If you've answered this question 10 times, use a template or point to your previous answer. Don't rewrite the same reply.
How to Identify High-Priority Comments Quickly
You don't have time to read every comment in detail. Here's how to scan efficiently:
Scan for question words:
- What, how, why, when, where, can, could, would
- But remember: not all questions use question words
Look for engagement signals:
- Likes on the comment
- Replies to the comment
- Longer comments (usually more thoughtful)
Check timestamps:
- Comments from the first 24 hours
- Recent comments (within the last few hours)
Identify community members:
- Names you recognize
- People who comment regularly
Filter out low-priority:
- One-word comments
- Emoji-only comments
- Generic praise
- Spam
The goal: Find what matters in 30 seconds, not 30 minutes.
The Time Investment Rule
Here's a practical way to think about priority: invest time proportional to impact.
High impact (invest time):
- Questions → Detailed, helpful answers
- Criticism → Thoughtful, professional responses
- Community members → Personal, relationship-building replies
Medium impact (quick replies):
- Praise → "Thanks!" or heart
- Simple feedback → Brief acknowledgment
- Content requests → "Great idea, noted!"
Low impact (skip or batch):
- Generic comments → Heart or ignore
- Spam → Delete
- Trolls → Ignore or delete
The math: Spend 5 minutes on one high-impact question, not 5 minutes on 10 low-impact "Nice video!" comments.
Real Examples: Priority in Action
Example 1: The Question
Comment: "I tried this method but it didn't work. What am I doing wrong?"
Priority: Tier 1 (answer immediately)
Why: This is a question from someone who actually tried your content. They're engaged. They need help. Answering builds a relationship and shows you care about your audience's success.
Response time: Within 24 hours
Example 2: The Early Comment
Comment: "First! Great video as always!"
Priority: Tier 3 (batch or skip)
Why: "First" comments are low value. The praise is generic. This doesn't need a personal reply. Heart it and move on.
Response time: Skip or batch
Example 3: The High-Engagement Thread
Comment: "I disagree with your approach. Here's why..." (has 15 likes and 8 replies)
Priority: Tier 1 (answer this week, but engage with the thread)
Why: This comment sparked discussion. Your response amplifies an entire conversation. But it doesn't need to be immediate—take time to craft a thoughtful reply.
Response time: Within a few days
Example 4: The Content Request
Comment: "Can you make a video about X? I've been struggling with this."
Priority: Tier 2 (note it, then reply)
Why: This is valuable feedback about what your audience wants. But it's not urgent. Note it for content planning, then reply acknowledging the request.
Response time: This week
The 15-Minute Daily Priority Routine
Here's how to apply this system daily:
Minutes 1-5: Find Tier 1 comments
- Scan for questions
- Check early comments
- Identify high-engagement threads
- Use tools that surface questions automatically if available
Minutes 6-10: Answer Tier 1 comments
- Reply to questions with helpful answers
- Engage with early comments to set tone
- Respond to high-engagement threads
Minutes 11-15: Handle Tier 2 and batch Tier 3
- Quick replies to constructive criticism
- Acknowledge thoughtful feedback
- Batch process simple praise
- Delete spam
Result: You've handled what matters in 15 minutes, not 2 hours.
Common Priority Mistakes
Mistake 1: Replying to everything in order
- Comments aren't a queue. They're a priority list. Handle what matters first.
Mistake 2: Ignoring questions because they're buried
- Questions are always Tier 1, even if they're at the bottom of your comment list. Find them first.
Mistake 3: Spending equal time on all comments
- A question deserves 5 minutes. "Nice video!" deserves 5 seconds. Or a heart.
Mistake 4: Replying to spam or trolls
- These are Tier 3 (delete). Don't give them attention.
Mistake 5: Ignoring early comments
- Comments in the first 24 hours set the tone. Engage early.
Why This System Works
Priority works because it's impact-focused, not volume-focused.
You're not trying to reply to every comment. You're replying to the comments that:
- Build relationships (questions, thoughtful feedback)
- Create engagement (early comments, high-engagement threads)
- Show you care (community members, constructive criticism)
- Move the needle (content ideas, valuable feedback)
When you prioritize well, you:
- Save time (focus on what matters)
- Build better relationships (engage with people who care)
- Create more value (answer questions, address concerns)
- Grow your community (show you're listening and helpful)
The Bottom Line
Not all comments deserve the same attention. A priority system helps you engage efficiently without missing what matters.
The system:
- Tier 1 (immediate): Questions, early comments, high-engagement threads
- Tier 2 (this week): Constructive criticism, thoughtful feedback, content requests
- Tier 3 (batch or skip): Simple praise, generic comments, spam
The rule: Invest time proportional to impact. Questions get detailed answers. Praise gets hearts. Spam gets deleted.
The result: You engage with what matters, save time on what doesn't, and build a community that feels heard.
Your audience wants to connect with you. A priority system helps you connect with the right people, at the right time, in the right way.
Struggling to find questions and high-priority comments in hundreds of comments? Engage Suite automatically surfaces questions, identifies high-engagement threads, and helps you prioritize what needs attention — so you can focus on engaging, not searching.