7 surefire tips to secure your YouTube SEO efforts in 2022

YouTube SEO similar to SEO on other search engines? If not, how does it play out for marketers? Reaching your target audience on YouTube may not be as easy as on Google, but it is easier to impress YouTube algorithms, so it recommends your videos in the search results.

All you need to do is implement some surefire strategies to get that coveted exposure on the biggest video-sharing platform in the world.

Read this document to learn about proven YouTube SEO and tips that will work for your business irrespective of the size of your channel.

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How to Rank Videos on YouTube

You must understand YouTube’s ranking factors and algorithms to get your videos on the search results. It is ubiquitous for search engines to serve content that satisfies users’ queries. When you embark on YouTube SEO, find ways to plug phrases and terms frequently used by your audience.

There is a metric called " watch time" YouTube prioritises when ranking videos. The metric is nothing but the amount of time viewers spend watching a particular video. Videos with longer “watch time” essentially deliver relevant and valuable content and will get featured on search results more often. The opposite is true for videos with shorter “watch time”. You must therefore start creating content that guarantees longer watch times. One way to do this is by offering your viewers a giveaway or similar surprise elements if they watch the entire video.

Why should you optimise videos on YouTube?

Just like how influencers and content creators thrive on the platform, businesses can enjoy the same benefits if they manage to find and target the right audience. Lion’s share of your YouTube optimization process will be met if your videos can address and solve your customers’ problems.

YouTube SEO Tips

1. Assign a target keyword to your video file

Identify the keywords for your content using an SEO tool and replace the default file name with your keyword before uploading. If you don't have the required expertise to do that, you can always get help from an SEO agency. For example, if the keyword you discovered is “ video editing tips”, your file name should be “video-editing-tips” followed by the file’s preferred format. YouTube will read the file name and the associated codes after you upload the file.

2. Include your keyword in the video’s title

All your video titles should be click-worthy by being succinct, clear, and compelling. The keyword in the video title has to align with what your viewers are looking for. Ensure the length of the title is curtailed to 60 characters to avoid them from getting cut out.

3. Optimize the description of your video

Video descriptions inform the viewer beforehand about the video content. Since the maximum permissible character limit for a video description is 1000, including the most relevant information, such as CTAs and important links in the initial 100 characters( first 2-3 lines), else people will have to click the “show more” option to see the whole information. Descriptions can also include video transcripts to help people understand the content in muted mode. A well-optimised video description has the potential to get featured in the suggested videos sidebar, which attracts viewers to most channels. You can leverage help from a content writing agency or a freelancer to write descriptions that encourage viewers to make meaningful actions.

4. Tag your video with top-performing keywords

YouTube leverages tags to understand the content and context of each video. Doing so helps the platform relate your video with similar content, thereby expanding the reach of your content. To gain maximum benefit, use relevant tags containing crucial keywords (both short and long-tail keywords).

5. Classify your videos.

It will be helpful for users if you can categorise all your uploaded videos using the “ Advanced settings” option. Make sure you group the videos based on popular playlist categories so YouTube can suggest your video categories. As a result, you gain exposure to more viewers identical to your target audience.

6. Add a custom thumbnail image

Thumbnails that appear on the results link are one of the things that attract users to click on your video. Thumbnails you upload must represent the key moments of the video with a pixel density of 1280x720 and an aspect ratio of 16:9. You can add popular image files (.jpg, .bmp, .png, etc.) of less than 2MB for your thumbnail. Remember, to upload custom thumbnails, you should have a verified account in the first place. You will get information about your verification status by visiting youtube.com/verify.

7.Include subtitles & closed captions.

Subtitles and closed captions (CC) boost YouTube SEO since they highlight important keywords.You can use an SRT file - timed subtitles file or text transcript and upload it to the respective video to achieve that.

There are several SEO tools and tips on the internet to help you succeed on this front, but none can outperform the importance of quality content. For your brand’s YouTube channel to gain the desired thrust, ensure you create relevant and engaging content at all times.

Good Luck!