YouTube SEO: How to Optimize Your videos in YouTube Search
A decade back, using inbound marketing was a new concept. Marketers were discovering that they could not just create large amounts of content, but it must be quality and well-optimized so that it was as quickly discoverable through search engines.
This content was previously only available in the written word. Nowadays, this isn’t the scenario.
Nowadays, a complete content strategy incorporates written works like ebooks and blogs and other media like podcasts and visual assets and videos.
SEO optimization is needed to reach the maximum audience and generate your channel’s subscribers. You can also buy subscribers with SubPals.
1. Change the name of your video file with an appropriate keyword.
Like you do when optimizing the written content. You’ll utilize an SEO tool to determine the key phrases you’d like the video’s content to focus on (you can look up the most popular YouTube search engine optimization tools beneath these suggestions or click that link earlier in the sentence).
Once you have a keyword, it is the first spot to put the video file before posting it on YouTube. Why? YouTube isn’t able to “watch” your video to determine if it’s relevant to the keyword you’re trying to rank for and, as you’ll discover in the next section, there are only a few places you can put the keywords on the video’s page of viewing when it’s uploaded. However, YouTube can examine the file’s name as well as the codes that come with it after it’s uploaded.
With that in mind, replace the “business_ad_003FINAL.mov” file name (don’t be embarrassed … we’ve all been there during post-production) with your desired keyword. If your keyword is “house painting tips,” for example, your video’s file name should be “house-painting-tips” followed by your preferred video file type (MOV, MP4, and WMV are some of the most common that are compatible with YouTube).
2. Include your keyword naturally in the video’s title.
When we look for videos, One of the first things our attention is attracted by will be the name. This is often the deciding factor in whether or not a viewer will click on your video; therefore, the title shouldn’t just be appealing. However, it should also be simple and straightforward.
While your keywords play an essential part in the title of your video, it is also helpful when the title is closely matched to what viewers are looking for. The research conducted by Backlinko revealed that videos with a precise keyword that match the title are just a slight advantage over videos that don’t.
3. Optimize your video description.
First of all, according to Google, the maximum number of characters allowed for YouTube descriptions of videos is 1000 characters. While it’s OK to fill up all this space, remember that the viewer was here to view an online video, not write an essay.
If you choose to write a more detailed description, remember that YouTube only shows the initial two to three lines, approximately 100 characters. At this point, viewers need to hit “show more” to see the full description. This is why we recommend loading descriptions with crucial details, like CTAs or essential hyperlinks.
For optimizing the video, it’s not a bad idea to include a video transcript, specifically for those who must watch it at a low volume.
4. Make sure to tag your YouTube video using relevant keywords that pertain to your subject.
The YouTube Official Creator Academy recommends using tags to inform viewers of the content of your video. However, you’re not only providing information to your viewers, but you’re also educating YouTube on the platform itself. Dean says that YouTube utilizes tags “to understand the content and context of your video.”
This is how YouTube determines how to connect your video with similar ones. This can expand the reach of your video. However, you must choose your tags carefully. Don’t choose an irrelevant tag just because you believe it will bring you more views; however, Google might penalize you for it. Similar to the description you’ve provided, be sure to use the most relevant keywords, which include a mixture of popular keywords and those that are more long-tail (as they answer a query like “how do I? “).
5. Classify your video.
After you upload your video to YouTube, it is possible to group your video in “Advanced settings.” Selecting a category is a different option to organize your video alongside similar content on YouTube, which means it will appear in various playlists and gets exposure to a broader audience who share your interests.
It’s not so simple as it appears. In reality, the YouTube Creator Academy recommends that advertisers undergo a thorough procedure to determine each video’s category. It’s beneficial, as the guide states, “to think about what is working well for each category” that you’re contemplating through answering questions like:
- Who are the most successful creators in this category? What do they stand for, and what is it they excel at?
- Are there any commonalities in the audience of similar channels within a particular group?
- Do the videos in the same category share production value length, size, or size characteristics?
6. Upload a custom thumbnail for the result of your video’s link.
The thumbnail of your video is the primary image viewers are presented with when browsing through the video results. Along with the video’s title, it indicates to the user about the video’s content and could affect the number of clicks and views your video gets.
Although you can select one of the thumbnails that YouTube automatically generates, We strongly recommend uploading your custom thumbnail. The Creator Academy reports says that ” 90% of the best performing videos on YouTube have custom thumbnails,” We recommend using images with a resolution of 1280×720 pixels -which corresponds to an aspect ratio of 16:9, which are saved as smaller than 2MB .jpg, .gif, .bmp and .png files. If you adhere to these guidelines, this will help ensure that your thumbnail is displayed with the same quality across all viewing platforms.
It’s crucial to know that your YouTube account needs to be verified to upload a customized thumbnail image. To verify your account, go to youtube.com/verify, then follow the directions there.
7. Utilize an SRT File to include subtitles and closed captions.
As with most text we’ve reviewed here, Subtitles and closed captions can help YouTube search results by highlighting keywords.
To add closed captions or subtitles to your videos, you’ll need to upload a caption text or timed subtitles files. If you’re looking for the latter alternative, you can directly input the transcript text of the video to ensure that it syncs automatically to the movie.
Subtitles can be added using the same procedure, but you can restrict the quantity of text you want to display. For either option, visit your video manager and select “Videos” under “Video Manager.” Choose the video you want to include closed captioning or subtitles to, then click the drop-down arrow beside the “Edit button. Choose “Subtitles/CC.” Then, you can choose how you’d like to include closed captioning or subtitles.
8. Create End Screens and Cards to boost the number of viewers on your YouTube viewership.
Cards
While watching a video, Have you ever seen an oblong, white symbol with the letter i in the center appear in the corner or a transparent bar of text that asks for your subscription? They’re Cards and are what Creator Academy defines as “preformatted notifications that appear on desktop and mobile which you can set up to promote your brand and other videos on your channel.”
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There is the possibility of adding up to five cards in one video, and there are six types of cards:
- channel cards that direct users to a different channel.
- Donation cards are designed to promote fundraising for U.S. nonprofit organizations.
- Funding from fans to encourage your viewers to contribute to the development of your video content.
- Link cards guide users to an external website or crowdfunding platform that is approved or an approved selling of merchandise platform.
- Poll cards are cards that ask questions to the audience and let them vote on a possible answer.
- Videos or playlist cards that connect to the other YouTube content like this.