It’s 2020 and we no longer are restricted to just one sort of content form. It’s no more limited to written words but possibly includes various other content forms such as blogs, ebooks, podcasts, and videos. Out of these, videos continue to be on the rise. People are showing increased interest and engagement with the video content which possibly suggests why Youtube enjoys great popularity amongst the audiences.
Youtube has become a powerful tool for marketers to reach new target audiences and is also the most widely used search engine platform after Google. You may upload an amazing video on the platform but it’s of no use if it’s unable to get views. The following are the 8 effective tips in ensuring that your video gets ranked highly on Youtube and enjoys increased audience views.
- Use a target keyword to rename your video file
The procedure to youtube search engine optimization using a keyword is similar to how it’s done with the written content. Identify the keywords using SEO tools and once done, place it in your video file name. For eg., if your identified keyword is “Best SEO tools”, your file’s name could be “best-SEO-tools”.
- Add a keyword naturally in the title
The title is the first thing that catches the viewer’s eye when searching for videos. So make sure you are adding keywords to the title of your video file in a way that it looks natural and makes sense when you read them aloud. Don’t let the theme of your video be lost just for the sake of adding keywords to the title. Make your title not only captivating but also clear and understandable. Also, keep it short-limiting to just 60 characters.
- Optimize video description
Youtube video optimization allows your video to show up in the suggested video sidebar of YouTube. Google has prescribed an upper limit for the video description which should not exceed more than 1,000 characters. Keep the description clear and concise so that the viewer gets a clear idea of what your video is all about. Youtube displays only the first three lines of your given description and the rest goes in the ‘Read more’ section so try to keep the important information (CTAs or crucial links) within those lines.
- Use popular tags which add meaning to your topic
Add relevant tags to let your viewers and YouTube know what your video is talking about. Using tags, YouTube assesses the content and context of your video and suggests it along with other similar videos. Choose accurate and meaningful tags that’ll help your video attract more views.
- Place your video under a category
Once the video is uploaded, you have to categorize it under Youtube’s “Advanced settings”. Categorizing is essential as it helps YouTube to group your video with similar content videos and this helps in getting more reach among different audiences.
- Use an attractive video thumbnail
The video thumbnail is the first element that is seen by the viewers. Based on how attractive and captivating it is, audiences decide whether to view the video or not. It says a lot about the video content and therefore greatly influences the number of clicks and views your video receives. Though Google provides an auto-generated thumbnail, one should always opt for custom-made thumbnails.
- Add subtitles or closed captions to your video
To a great extent, subtitles or closed captions optimize your video’s reach by highlighting significant keywords. Closed captions/subtitles help viewers watch your videos with ease and therefore lead to higher audience engagement with your content. Upload a transcript text which auto-syncs with your video or use timed subtitle files- either way your video will enjoy increased views.
- Keep the content of the videos interesting
Create engaging videos as only then a viewer may think of coming back to your channel. Choose informative and interesting topics for your video content as it attracts more attention from viewers that increases your chances of coming under the suggestion bar of Youtube. Also, pay attention to production quality.
Adopting these tips will help rank your video high on YouTube. Make sure you are sticking to good quality content for the video so that you enjoy more views and reach for your videos.
