In today’s digital age, creating content and uploading it on YouTube has become an essential aspect of digital marketing. But with over 500 hours of video uploaded every minute, it can be challenging to get your content seen by the right people. This is where YouTube SEO comes into play. In this article, we will discuss how to rank on YouTube to get more views and subscribers, and share some tips and examples to help you get started.
Optimize your Video Title, Description, and Tags
Optimizing your video title, description, and tags is the first step to ranking your video on YouTube. The title should be clear, concise, and relevant to the content of the video. It should also include keywords that people are searching for. The description should be detailed and provide additional information about the video. Make sure to include relevant keywords in the description as well.
Tags are important because they help YouTube understand what your video is about. Include as many relevant tags as possible, but make sure they are specific to your content. Avoid using generic tags that are not relevant to your video, as this can lead to your video being flagged for spam.
Example: This video from Backlinko on “How to Rank #1 on YouTube” has a clear and concise title, a detailed description, and relevant tags.
[Insert image of Backlinko video]
Use Closed Captions and Transcripts
Closed captions and transcripts are important for accessibility, but they also help with YouTube SEO. YouTube uses closed captions and transcripts to understand the content of your video. This makes it easier for YouTube to rank your video for specific keywords.
Make sure your closed captions and transcripts are accurate and provide a detailed account of the video’s content. This will help with both accessibility and SEO.
Example: This video from TED-Ed on “How the food you eat affects your brain” has accurate closed captions and a detailed transcript.
[Insert image of TED-Ed video]
Create Engaging and High-Quality Content
Creating engaging and high-quality content is essential for ranking on YouTube. YouTube rewards content that keeps viewers engaged and watching for longer periods of time. This means creating videos that are informative, entertaining, and visually appealing.
Make sure your video is well-edited, with clear audio and visuals. Use graphics, animations, and other visual elements to keep viewers engaged. And most importantly, make sure your content adds value to your viewers.
Example: This video from Vox on “Why cartoon characters wear gloves” is engaging and visually appealing, with clear audio and visuals.
[Insert image of Vox video]
Promote Your Video on Social Media
Promoting your video on social media can help increase views and subscribers. Share your video on your social media platforms, and encourage your followers to share it with their friends and family. This will help increase your video’s visibility and reach a wider audience.
Make sure to optimize your social media posts with relevant keywords and hashtags. This will help your post appear in search results and increase its visibility.
Example: This Instagram post from beauty YouTuber Jackie Aina promotes her latest video, and encourages her followers to watch and subscribe.
[Insert image of Jackie Aina’s Instagram post]
Engage with Your Viewers
Engaging with your viewers is important for building a loyal audience and increasing your YouTube ranking. Respond to comments on your videos, and encourage your viewers to leave feedback and suggestions. This will help build a sense of community around your channel and increase engagement.
Make sure to also ask your viewers to like and subscribe to your channel. This will help increase engagement and improve your YouTube ranking.
Example: This video from Casey Neistat engages with viewers by asking for their feedback and suggestions
