Online videos have been a popular alternative for cabled channels since the rise of YouTube. In July 2022, streaming occupied 34.8% of US TV time, according to a report by Nielson. Platforms like Youtube provide a channel for creators to deliver information and for consumers to learn through audio and visual content. YouTube ranked second in most shares in the online streaming category and has established itself as a leader in the industry, with over 2.6 billion users.
With such intensive viewership, many companies have recognized the potential of YouTube to market and grow their business. In a Media Reactions study, 66% of senior marketers plan to increase their budget for online videos in the coming year. To fully capitalize on the opportunities, businesses must utilize tools to improve their presence on the platform. Adapting search engine optimization (SEO) tactics is one of the ways to achieve this.
SEO in YouTube
Much like traditional SEO, YouTube SEO guide refers to strategies put in place to rank higher on result pages. The difference between YouTube from other channels is that it consists primarily of videos. Although the goal of SEO is the same in video platforms, the methods by which this could be achieved are specific to the program’s features.
On YouTube, there are five pages where videos are displayed. These are Home, Search, Recommended Videos, Trending, and Subscriptions. SEO is helpful in numerous areas of the platform, but it is most impactful in the Search section.
Honing YouTube videos to reach their target audience more effectively is one of the goals of SEO. This is possible by configuring the components of the video content to be more search engine ready. It involves working on titles, descriptions, tags, and other details to suggest videos to users, as the YouTube algorithm relies on this information.
Engaging content help videos rank higher, especially on the Trending page, but on the Search page, SEO measures are what’s most valuable. Consider implementing the following plans to improve your ranking:
Conduct Keyword research
In brainstorming video ideas, search for keywords related to your niche. You can do this on YouTube or other search engines like Google. With the help of these programs, you can find essential information that helps you figure out what topics to tackle in your videos.
Take note of YouTube’s auto-fill suggestions, as these influence user searches. In Google, you can look at the “people also ask” portion of the results page. This is an effective method of identifying which content is popular with your target audience.
Researching also helps in determining which keywords work. Analyze your competitors’ content by observing the keywords and tags they use. You can do this with videos similar to yours as well.
In choosing key phrases, opt for low-competition keywords. These keywords have a smaller search volume than others but have fewer companies competing for them, thereby increasing your chances of garnering views.
Conduct keyword research with the help of modern tools such as Google Keyword Planner. Another way to maximize your keyword research is to target keywords for which Google suggests videos. Specific search questions lead the algorithm to recommend top videos instead of websites.
Optimize video components
After thorough research, it’s time to focus on optimizing your videos to rank high. YouTube videos have several components that can affect search ranking. The following are elements of your video you can improve to reach your goal:
Title
It’s vital to make titles short and precise. YouTube search results only display the first 60 characters of the title of a video, any more than that will not be shown and might hurt the clickthrough rate. CTR is the number of times viewers have clicked your videos. Users want titles that are concise to find information faster.
Target keywords should also be included in the title and constructed in a way that appeals to your viewers. Consider titles like ’10 Ways to…”, “How to…”, or “Get… fast”. These are popular titles that pique viewer interest.
Thumbnail
The thumbnail is not just a display picture required for videos. It is the visual introduction of your video which will dictate your viewers’ first interaction with your content. Create custom thumbnails and apply design principles to entice viewers. You can include text in your thumbnails as long as it is readable on all devices.
Descriptions
Much like the title, the description must be straight to the point. Front-load the information and place your CTA in the first three sentences. Include the targeted keywords at least twice throughout the whole text. Be wary of repeating them too often, as it might be mistaken for keyword stuffing.
Cards
Cards are the notifications that appear from the top-right corner of videos. They provide creators with opportunities to refer to their other videos, channels, or sites, resulting in better CTR.
Tags
Tags on YouTube are words or phrases that are associated with your video. They help the algorithm categorize your videos and group them with similar content. Tags are most beneficial in the Recommended Videos section, where related content is suggested to users.
Use keywords that are popular with your niche or topic, and avoid using irrelevant tags, as it might result in being penalized.
Subtitles
Mentioning targeted keywords in closed captions contribute to the ranking of your videos. The algorithm also reads subtitles and other texts. Therefore, uploading content along with SRT files or closed captions can help you rank higher in your desired keywords.
Promote your content
The last step is promotions. YouTube videos often go viral with the help of social media. It is best to utilize the influence of these sites even if you need to outsource social media management. If you want to increase your views and ranking, link your videos on your social media pages or refer to your channel in your posts.
For educational videos, you can post them on Q&A sites like Quora or Reddit, where users usually for advice. Furthermore, your website can reuse your YouTube content as blogs. This way, you make the most of your resources and help your channel and website grow.
Conclusion
YouTube SEO is a set of practices observed to help your videos improve rank on results pages. By conducting keyword research, optimizing your videos, and promoting them on other platforms, you improve the chances of your videos ranking high against millions of others on YouTube.
SEO, whether on YouTube or Google, is no easy feat. If you require quality SEO services, consider Top SEO Agency Philippines.
Sources:
- https://backlinko.com/how-to-rank-youtube-videos
- https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/youtube-seo
- https://www.fotor.com/blog/11-youtube-thumbnail-design-ideas/
- https://blog.hootsuite.com/youtube-descriptions/
- https://translatebyhumans.com/blog/4-benefits-of-adding-subtitles-to-your-youtube-videos/
Jomer B. Gregorio is a well-rounded expert when it comes digital marketing. Jomer is also known as a semantic SEO evangelist and practitioner. Check out our Digital Marketing Services today and let us help you in achieving positive and profitable results for your business.