People really prefer watching videos to reading content. A report even suggests that 59% of executives say that they will rather watch a video instead of reading an article. And that is really a big number to make YouTube a crucial platform to promote your content. While YouTube SEO tips will boost your video to rank higher on YouTube search pages, it will also promote your content in suggested video sections. With increasing competition, you need a better strategy and must optimize your videos to rank higher in YouTube Search.
To start with, you need to understand the basics of the Google Algorithm. YouTube and Google both fundamentally use the same algorithm. Both platforms are basically search engines and index content based on keywords to show results whenever someone searches for it.
In this blog, I will suggest some crucial and proven steps that will surely rank you higher on search engines.
YouTube SEO Tips to increase your video content views
From here, I assume that you have created your channel and have basic knowledge of playlists, thumbnails, Channel info, title, description, tags, and keywords. If not, just search for each term and have a basic idea. Let`s start understanding all tips to rank higher on YouTube.
1. Do your Keyword and keyphrase research properly
Keywords are crucial. If you choose the right keywords for your video, you multifold your chances to be visible on matching queries. To start, just write down all keywords that are related to your video. Your mind is the first tool that generates some general words and phrases.
You can also use the below tools:
- Google Keyword Planner
- Tube Buddy
- Wordstream`s Free Keyword Tool
- Semrush
2. Write your title with keyphrases
People can search the type of content that you create by typing various mixes of keywords. But there must be a specific keyphrase that is most common. You can use keyword explorer in Tube Buddy to do check some videos listed against a keyphrase. This will surely give you a good idea about how your competitors are writing their titles to get more views and what are common key phrases being used. You can even check if that keyphrase is good (with high search volume and low competition) or bad (with high competition and low search volume).
3. Structure your video description
Descriptions are the second thing a search algorithm reads to recognize the right set of keywords it should rank your video for. While the title shows which keyphrase you are focused on, the description with matching keyphrases and synonyms justifies that title. This way the algorithm, in some way, indexes your video for multiple queries related to your focused keywords.
The structure is very important when you are writing a description:
- First paragraph of the video must include keyphrases and keywords. It must include atleast once the same keyphrase that was in the title of the video.
- Try to mention someone in your video.
- Use relevant hashtags. Don`t over use these. 10 to 12 are enough.
- Include Outbound links in your description.
- Include inbound links in your video too.
- Include tags in your video.
4. Save your video file with Keyword in it
The algorithm reads it all. Even before you enter the description, it reads the name of your video file. It may not be the deciding factor for indexing purposes, but it surely triggers algo to push your video for focused keywords.
So it is necessary for you to upload a video with a filename containing a focused key phrase in it. Make sure that the file name is relevant to the content and title of the video. Don’t use shortcuts while saving.
5. Optimize your video with tags and hashtags
Hashtags on social media help system to find people interested in similar topics. Same with users too. It helps them to find relevant content related to that hashtag. You can use related hashtags in your video description to attract more viewers. A hashtag will attract viewers who are interested in a similar video by suggesting them your content. Note that the first 3 hashtags are important as they appear in blue on top of your title while in play mode.
On the other hand, when you scroll down, you will find a tags section where you need to enter keywords and key phrases related to your content. YouTube algorithm takes the help of these tags to match your content to the various number of related queries. You can use tools such as Tag Generator by rapidtags.io to generate similar tags.
6. Do choose relevant language but use of date is conditional
When you choose the language of your video, you actually let the search engine know that what language the video actually is. Now the algo knows more about the video. With title, descriptions, and tags it knows where should your video must be placed. With language, it exactly knows who must watch your videos.
On the other hand, dates must be only for date-relevant videos such as news, sports, events, etc. Videos with longer shelf life must not include dates. YouTube tends to promote videos with recent dates. Date-relevant videos with relevant tagging are shown in recent trends sections.
7. Select related category
YouTube keeps all videos divided into 15 categories namely
- Films and animation
- Cars and vehicles
- Music
- Pets and animals
- Sports
- Travel and event
- Gaming
- People and blogs
- Comedy
- Entertainment
- News and politics
- How-to and style
- Education
- Science and technology
- Non-profits and activism
You should choose the right category for your video. For example, cooking and recipe videos come under the How-to and style category. If you choose the right category, you are in the right audience segment too.
8. Customize thumbnail for more clicks
CTR (Click-through rate) is the most important factor when it comes to SEO. Suppose you did SEO right, someone searches for your focused keyword and finds your video in the result list. Now your thumbnail must be smart enough that motivate users to click on the video. This way you get high CTR. CTR is simply the ratio between the number of clicks against the number of impressions. Google shows videos with high CTR higher on the result page as well as suggests it on the video page.
Also Read – 5 digital marketing eBooks for 2022 every marketer must read
Get more views with YouTube SEO Tips
Here is a summary of all tips:
1. Do your Keyword and keyphrase research properly
2. Write your title with keyphrases
3. Structure your video description
4. Save your video file with Keyword in it
5. Optimize your video with tags and hashtags
6. Do choose relevant language but the use of date is conditional
7. Select related category
8. Customize thumbnail for more clicks
