6 YouTube SEO Tips: Boost Your Views, Grow Subscribers

If you’re looking to dominate YouTube with your videos and outrank your competitors, simply creating great content won’t be enough.

To achieve higher rankings on the platform, you must focus on optimizing your YouTube channel and videos for search engines. In this article, we’ll reveal six powerful YouTube SEO tips that will accelerate your path to the top of the search results.

1. Perform Thorough YouTube Keyword Research

To succeed in YouTube SEO, conduct thorough keyword research. Strategically incorporate relevant keywords in your title, description, meta description, and script.

Use a mix of short-tail and long-tail keywords for a broader reach and a more engaged audience. Utilize YouTube’s search bar and autocomplete feature to discover popular search terms related to your target keyword.

For instance, if you’re a hairstylist planning a pastel pink hair dye tutorial, search for “dying hair” and then refine to “dying hair pastel pink” to find suitable keywords.

2. Understand Search Intent

Understanding search intent is crucial for engaging your audience effectively. Before targeting a specific keyword, examine the top five search results for that term. Analyze the content and format of these videos to gauge what users are looking for. For instance, if the top results for “dying hair pastel pink” are mainly “how-to” and “dos and don’ts” videos, creating a tutorial on “how to dye your hair pastel pink” would likely perform well.

3. Create Compelling Video Content

To maintain viewer engagement and improve your rankings, your video content must be captivating from the start. Adopt the following three-step format, inspired by SEO expert Brian Dean, to keep your audience hooked:

1. Clearly state the video’s purpose at the beginning, as many viewers decide to stay or leave within the first 10 seconds.
2. Jump straight into the main content without lengthy introductions to maintain interest.
3. Use open loops to preview exciting moments or information that will occur later in the video, piquing viewers’ curiosity and encouraging them to watch till the end.

4. Optimize Your Video On-Page

Before hitting the publish button, ensure you optimize your video’s on-page elements to enhance its visibility. Pay attention to the following:

Titles

Create short and catchy video titles that contain your target keyword and consist of at least five words or around 75 characters. Effective title types include questions, lists, how-tos, and comparisons.

Descriptions

Compose informative descriptions of at least 250 words, featuring your target keyword in the first 25 words and using it 2–4 times throughout the description. Utilize the description to provide additional information about yourself, your brand, and your offerings. Include relevant timestamps and links to other videos on your channel, your website, and social media profiles.

Tags

Use relevant keywords and phrases as tags for your video. Additionally, research your competitors’ tags and consider using them to appear as related content.

More on Eklipse Blog >> YouTube Hashtags Tips Every Creator Must-Know

Thumbnails

Design eye-catching and professional-looking thumbnails that incorporate striking colors, avoid oversized logos, and include graphics, images, and text.

5. Implement In-Video Optimization Techniques

In addition to on-page SEO, consider employing in-video optimization strategies to enhance user experience and keep viewers engaged:

Use High-Quality Closed Captions

Manually add closed captions to your videos for better accuracy and improved accessibility. This will also prevent search engines from associating your content with spam.

Incorporate Your Target Keyword in the Video

Ensure you mention your target keyword in the video content to reinforce its relevance.

Leverage YouTube Cards

Utilize YouTube Cards to add interactivity to your videos. This feature allows viewers to take actions such as watching another video, making a donation, discovering other channels, or visiting external links.

Employ YouTube End Screens

Maximize viewer engagement by employing YouTube End Screens, which prompt viewers to subscribe to your channel, visit your website, or watch additional content after the video ends.

6. Promote Your YouTube Video Strategically

After creating an exceptional video and optimizing it for search engines, it’s essential to promote it effectively to maximize its reach and impact. Employ the following strategies:

Timing Matters

Analyze your real-time reports to identify patterns of user activity. Test different publishing times to determine the most engaging timeframes for your audience.

Engage with Viewers in Comment Section

Be active in the comments section during the initial week of video publication. Respond to comments, interact with viewers, and show appreciation through likes and hearts.

Leverage Other Platforms

Promote your video on other social media platforms, via email newsletters, and on your blog. Use teaser videos on social media and link back to the full video on YouTube.

Create Playlists

Organize your videos into playlists based on specific topics, increasing the likelihood of higher views through autoplay.

More on Eklipse Blog >> How to Edit Twitch Stream to YouTube Video, Instantly with AI

Conclusion

By implementing these six YouTube SEO strategies, you’ll enhance your chances of ranking higher in search results and growing your YouTube audience exponentially. Embrace the power of SEO and produce remarkable content to stand out in the competitive YouTube landscape.