9 YouTube SEO Strategies to Get More Views and Subscribers

Calling all YouTube creators!

Want to take your channel to the next level and score more views and subscribers? Look no further! This guide will equip you with nine powerful YouTube SEO strategies to boost your video rankings and organic reach.

What is YouTube SEO?

Like search engines like Google, YouTube has an algorithm that determines which videos appear in search results. YouTube SEO is about optimising your videos and channel to rank higher in these searches, attracting viewers without relying solely on ads.

Ready to supercharge your YouTube success? Let’s dive in!

1. Keyword Research: Unlocking the Search Power

The foundation of a winning YouTube SEO strategy lies in keyword research. Identify keywords your target audience is searching for using free tools like Google Keyword Planner or YouTube’s auto-complete function. Focus on a mix of:

• • Primary Keywords: High-volume, competitive keywords offering significant rewards.

• • Secondary Keywords: Related keywords add depth and target specific search intent.

• • Long-Tail Keywords: More specific phrases with a higher conversion rate.

Strategic keyword placement in your titles, descriptions, and tags is crucial for search visibility.

2. Title & Thumbnail Optimisation: The Art of Attraction

Your video title and thumbnail are the first impressions that grab viewers’ attention. Craft clear, concise titles that accurately reflect your video’s content and incorporate relevant keywords naturally.

For thumbnails, create custom visuals that are eye-catching, informative, and consistent with your channel’s branding—Utilise templates to maintain a recognisable style. Please consider using a freelance thumbnail designer if you need to.

3. Content is King: Quality & Consistency Reign Supreme

There’s no shortcut to building a successful YouTube channel – high-quality content is paramount. Invest in good video and sound production, prioritise clear visuals, and engage your audience with a solid call to action (CTA) at the end.

Here are some tips for creating valuable YouTube content:

• • Know your audience: Tailor your videos to their interests and pain points.

• • Structure & Planning: Outline your videos beforehand for a smooth flow.

• • Professional Polish: Invest in good audio, video, and lighting.

• • Community Engagement: Respond to comments and foster interaction.

• • Consistent Uploads: Maintain a regular posting schedule to keep viewers returning.

If you’re stuck on ideas, explore niches you’re passionate about. Start with a straightforward channel setup, branding elements, and a well-crafted description. Brainstorm video ideas like tutorials, interviews, product reviews, challenges, or behind-the-scenes glimpses.

4. Demystifying the Algorithm: Your Key to Success

Understanding how YouTube’s algorithm prioritises videos is essential for ranking higher. Factors like watch time, click-through rate, viewer retention, and engagement play a role. Here’s what the algorithm considers:

• • Watch Time: The longer viewers stay engaged, the better.

• • Click-Through Rate (CTR): How often viewers click on your video thumbnail.

• • Viewer Retention: How much of your video do viewers typically watch?

• • Engagement: Likes, comments, shares, and subscriptions signal positive reception.

5. Enhance Accessibility with Transcripts, Captions & Timestamps

Could you provide transcripts, closed captions, and timestamps in your videos to improve watch time and searchability? Transcripts allow viewers to quickly assess relevance, while captions cater to viewers with hearing impairments or those who prefer watching with sound off. Subtitles in multiple languages can expand your reach to international audiences.

Timestamps act as chapter markers, allowing viewers to jump to specific sections. This improves overall watch time by eliminating the need to search the entire video and reducing viewer frustration.

6. Social Media Synergy: Spreading the Word

Don’t rely solely on organic YouTube search! Promote your videos across social media platforms like Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter) to build a wider audience and online community.

• • Cross-promotion is Key: Share snippets of your longer videos as shorter clips to pique viewers’ interest and link back to the full video.

• • Plan Your Posts: Utilise a calendar to organise your social media content for consistent scheduling.

• • Repurpose & Analyze: Repurpose YouTube shorts as TikTok videos and vice versa. Track your results using social media analytics tools to measure campaign effectiveness.

7. Collaboration & Influencer Power

Partnering with relevant creators or influencers is a fantastic way to reach new audiences. Please look for creators in complementary niches that don’t directly compete with you but share a similar target audience.

Consider influencer marketing, but focus on smaller influencers (1,000-5,000 subscribers) who often boast higher engagement rates than more prominent names.

8. Leverage Hashtags & Tags: The Power of Discovery

Strategising hashtags and tags within your descriptions helps viewers discover your content. However, avoid keyword stuffing – focus on 3-5 relevant terms. Include your target keyword for optimal results.

Creating content that aligns with trending YouTube topics, hashtags, and tags can open your videos to a broader audience and boost your subscriber count.

9. Analyse & Adapt: Metrics are Your Guide

Keep going if you see immediate results. I’d like you to regularly look over your YouTube analytics to see what’s working and what’s not. Here are some helpful tools:

• TubeBuddy: Offers AI features and an SEO studio to optimise thumbnails and descriptions.
• Ahrefs: Features a Keyword Explorer tool for in-depth keyword research.
• VidIQ: Provides optimisation scores and audits your channel for better video ranking.

Are you feeling overwhelmed? I suggest partnering with an analyst to help you decipher the data and optimise your strategy.

Don’t Hesitate to Get Help!

Managing a successful YouTube channel involves a lot of work. Axiom Online offers services for everything from video editing to content creation.

By following these strategies and leveraging the resources available, you’ll be well on your way to YouTube SEO mastery and a thriving YouTube channel!