Youtube is the second largest search engine in the world, with over 2 billion monthly active users. If you want to reach a wider audience and grow your channel, it’s important to optimize your videos for search. In this article, we’ll share 10 YouTube SEO tricks to help you get more views and subscribers.
Keyword Research Start by identifying the keywords and phrases that your target audience is searching for. Use tools like Google Keyword Planner, YouTube’s autocomplete feature, and other keyword research tools to find relevant keywords. Incorporate these keywords into your video title, description, tags, and even your video script.
Optimize Your Video Title Your video title is the first thing that users will see when searching for content on YouTube. Make sure your title is clear, concise, and descriptive. Include your target keyword at the beginning of the title, as this can help with SEO.
Craft a Compelling Video Description Your video description provides additional context and information about your video. Use this space to expand on your video’s topic, provide relevant links, and include your target keyword. Aim for a description of at least 250 words, as longer descriptions tend to perform better in search. Use bullet points and formatting to make your description easy to read and scan.
Choose the Right Tags Tags help YouTube’s algorithm understand what your video is about and where it should be ranked in search results. Use a mix of broad and specific tags that are relevant to your video. Avoid using tags that are irrelevant or spammy, as this can hurt your rankings. You can also look at the tags used by other popular videos in your niche for inspiration.
Create Engaging Content At the end of the day, your content is what will keep viewers coming back to your channel. Make sure your videos are engaging, informative, and entertaining. Use eye-catching visuals, clear audio, and engaging storytelling to capture your audience’s attention. Encourage viewers to like, comment, and subscribe to your channel, as engagement signals are an important ranking factor for YouTube’s algorithm.
Use Cards and End Screens Cards and end screens are interactive elements that can help increase engagement and drive traffic to your other videos and channels. Use cards to promote your other videos, playlists, and websites. Use end screens to promote your other videos, channels, and calls to action.
Optimize Your Video Thumbnail Your video thumbnail is the first impression that viewers will have of your video. Use a high-quality image that accurately represents your video’s content. Use contrasting colors, bold text, and eye-catching visuals to make your thumbnail stand out in search results.
Create Playlists Playlists are a great way to organize your content and keep viewers engaged on your channel. Create playlists around specific themes, topics, or series. Use descriptive titles and descriptions for your playlists, and include relevant keywords.
Share Your Videos on Social Media Once you’ve uploaded your video, share it on your website, social media, and other relevant channels. This can help drive traffic to your video and increase engagement. Encourage your viewers to share your video with their friends and family, as word-of-mouth promotion can be incredibly powerful on YouTube.
Analyze Your Performance Use YouTube’s Analytics tool to track your video’s performance and optimize your future videos. Pay attention to metrics like views, watch time, engagement, and audience retention. Use this information to create more engaging content that resonates with your target audience.
By following these YouTube SEO tricks, you can increase your visibility on the platform, and attract more views and subscribers.