YouTube Video SEO: 11 Ultimate Guide for Beginners

Are you interested in learning how to rank your videos on Youtube and Google?

Then you’re in the right place.

Read on…

This in-depth guide will give you 11 ultimate tips to boost your Youtube SEO.

What is YouTube SEO?

YouTube SEO is optimizing your channel to get more organic views and subscribers.

The primary objective of YouTube SEO is to increase the chances of your video appearing on the first page of Youtube search results and therefore being more visible to potential viewers.

A complex algorithm determines the way your videos will appear in YouTube rankings.

Why is YouTube SEO so Important?

YouTube SEO is one of the most important aspects of your video because it helps you rank higher on search engine results pages (SERPs).

YouTube SEO is so important because YouTube is the second most popular search engine after Google.

To be a successful YouTuber, you must use proper video SEO techniques to make your videos rank higher. You can’t just upload your videos and expect them to rank automatically.

You can have the best product or website on the market, but it’s useless if people cannot find you! Many people give up when trying to get some traffic and think hiring someone to do it for them is too expensive.

How Does YouTube Rank Video Content?

YouTube ranks video content using various algorithms, including video quality, engagement, and viewership.

The main factors that YouTube uses to rank videos are:

• Video Quality – YouTube uses video quality to determine the importance of a video. The higher the quality of your videos, the more likely they will be ranked higher.
• Engagement – YouTube looks at how engaged your viewers are with your content. Active viewers are more likely to comment and share your videos.
• Viewership – YouTube also considers how many people have subscribed to your channel.

11 Ultimate Guide For Youtube Video SEO

Now I will share 12 YouTube SEO tips to help you rank YouTube videos quickly. Let’s get started!

1. Do Keyword Research for Youtube Video

Researching keywords for videos is entirely different from researching keywords for blog posts. That’s because keywords having hundreds of searches in Google may not be searched on youtube.

Interestingly, most traffic comes from suggested videos and browse features. Later in this guide, I’ll show you how to optimize for these features.

Whenever you create a video, you should research keywords like any other piece of written content on your website.

I suggest targeting low-competitive keywords if your YouTube channel has few subscribers. This will allow you to drive high-quality traffic to your videos.

How to do Keyword Research for Youtube?

Keywords can be found in various ways depending on the niche. The cost and effectiveness of each course vary considerably. Here are a few tips on finding relevant keywords:

• Make use of YouTube’s autocomplete feature. Start typing any word into the YouTube search bar, and YouTube will list several related keywords.
• You can find keywords from other popular videos. Use the “View Page Source” feature of your browser. The hypertext markup language (HTML) source code will open up a new window. Use “Ctrl + F” or “Command + F” to search for “keywords.”, This will highlight all the keywords found in the video.
• Use Tube Buddy – It is a free tool that helps you in keyword research. By entering a topic here, you can estimate the search volume, along with a weighted and unweighted competition score.
• Use Google Keyword Planner – It is an excellent keyword research tool for Youtube channels. Using this Google Keyword Planner, you can find all related search terms with high traffic volume according to suggestions from various sources.
• YouTube Analytics could be a goldmine for keyword research because you can see the exact keywords people use to search for your videos.
• Use VidIQ’s Keyword Tool for keyword research.

2. Create Top-Quality Youtube Content

The most important factor for the success of your channel is creating top-quality content.

The internet provides endless possibilities to create and share high-quality videos, which can turn into massive traffic generators when shared on social networks.

Do not just upload random short clips or low-resolution video footage that will get lost quickly in search engine results pages (SERPs). Instead, make sure that your videos are well-structured.

Be innovative and create original content; don’t just show the same things repeatedly to gain traffic from search engines.

3. Optimize the Title of the Youtube Video

The title of your video matters a lot to Youtube SEO because people use the thumbnail and title to decide whether to watch your video.

Just as you optimize your titles for written content, you do the same for Youtube.

Best Practices for Video Title Optimization:

• The video title must include a focus keyword.
• It should be able to explain how watching your video will benefit your audience.
• Use Attention-Grabbing Words
• Don’t use clickbait titles.

Clickbait Title: How to rank your video in 5 minutes
Perfect Title: How to rank your video – 5 Simple Steps

4. Optimize the Video Description

Video descriptions are metadata that help YouTube understand a video’s content.

You should use video descriptions to provide more information about your video. Videos with keyword-rich optimized descriptions help rank videos in the Youtube search results, which allows you to get organic views from Youtube.

Best Practices for Video Description Optimization:

• Descriptions for videos should be long and thorough (200 words or more)
• Included your keyword at the beginning of your description

5. Use Youtube Tags

Tags on YouTube (also called “video tags“) are words and phrases used to provide context to a video. These tags help improve your video SEO and get more views.

Best Practices for Youtube Tags Optimization:

• Use long-tail keywords as targeted tags
• Don’t use dozens of tags
• You can generate tags with an online tag generator

6. Focus on the First 10 Seconds

For one simple reason: the first impression is the most important.

Some believe the first impression is the last impression.

The initial view is critical in getting more organic views on Youtube. This will increase your chances of being recommended by other people who have viewed that exact video.

7. Use Eye-Catching Thumbnails

Thumbnail images act as the cover pictures of your YouTube video. Thumbnails are essential to SEO because they help people decide whether or not to click on your video.

Best Practice for Thumbnail:

• The ideal YouTube thumbnail size is 1280 pixels by 720 pixels.
• Keep thumbnail images under 2MB.
• Don’t use misleading images or titles
• Experiment with different thumbnail designs

8. Upload a Transcript

Transcription is a great way to add value to your video and help people understand your words. It allows YouTube to understand the topic of your video.

I have found that video transcripts make it easier for native and non-native speakers to follow and understand the video. Making those video transcriptions available in multiple languages can result in a massive payout in the future.

By creating video transcripts, you can make your content more accessible to a larger group of people.

Best Practice for Video Transcript:

Make sure the transcription is accurate and free of grammar mistakes.

9. Do Channel’s Branding and Messaging

The YouTube platform is flooded with billions of videos, but how can brands stand out?

The answer is BRANDING.

Ensuring your branding and messaging align with your channel’s brand is important. Doing so will help people understand your message and strengthen your connection.

Best Practice for Channel Branding:

Use consistent colors, fonts, and graphics throughout all of your content.
Avoid using ads or sponsorships that clash with the tone or style of your channel.

10. Add a Call to Action in Channel Header

The channel header is the first thing people see when they browse your YouTube channel. It’s a significant opportunity to create a strong impression and set the tone for your channel.

Best Practice for Youtube Channel Header:

• Recommended YouTube banner size is 2560 x 1440.
• Make use of bright colors, graphics, and fonts.
• Inform users about your content calendar.

11. Create Playlists on Your Youtube Channel

YouTube playlists are collections of videos organized to make it easier for users to watch them, but many YouTubers undervalue playlists. Playlists provide a variety of hidden benefits that are often ignored.

If you want to maximize your presence, Youtube Playlist is a solution. It is a collection of youtube videos.

Benefits of Creating a Youtube playlist:

• Playlists are a great way to organize your content and make it more discoverable.
• Playlists describe your channel to viewers
• They are designed to save time and provide value to the viewers
• Viewers may watch more content if you offer them related videos in a playlist.
• Content appears multiple times for the keywords because playlists are indexed separately from videos.

Browse more SEO Tutorials:

• Image SEO Tips for Beginners
• Pogo sticking: How to Improve it for SEO
• 6 Quick Ways to Improve Page Loading Speed for Good SEO
• Update Old Blog Posts for SEO [11-Step Guide]

FAQ about Youtube SEO

Conclusion

Youtube is an excellent platform for individuals and businesses that want to create videos. Creating your own channel will help you gain more followers, views, subscribers, and, most importantly, money!

You should find this guide helpful in Youtube SEO optimization. We welcome your questions in the comments below.