Optimising Youtube Video SEO ranking
YouTube is the second-largest search engine in the world and the first-largest search engine for videos. So, just as you use SEO for text-based pages, you have to use SEO for YouTube videos.
Moreover, YouTube is owned by Google, which means that YouTube videos appear in Google search results more often than videos from any other source. And for certain queries, video results are even prioritized over regular organic results. These queries are:
- instructions and tutorials (How to …)
- reviews and unboxing videos (iPhone 13)
- entertaining videos (funny animals, stand-up comedians)
- sports and training (power yoga, full-body home workout)
Most of these queries are best satisfied with visual content and your regular articles are not gonna cut it. If you want to rank for these types of search queries, you have to make videos a part of your content strategy and follow the best SEO practices to optimise your videos for search.
Here are some tips to help you with YouTube video optimization:
1. Keyword research
Conduct thorough keyword research to identify relevant and popular keywords related to your video content. Use tools like Google Keyword Planner, VidIQ, or TubeBuddy to find keywords with high search volumes and low competition.
2. Title optimisation
Craft a compelling and keyword-rich title for your video. Make sure it accurately describes the content and grabs viewers' attention. Include your main keyword towards the beginning of the title.
3. Description optimisation
Write a detailed and keyword-rich description for your video. Include relevant keywords naturally in the description while providing valuable information about the video's content. Use a mix of primary and secondary keywords.
4. Tags
Add relevant tags to your video to help YouTube understand its content better. Include a mix of broad and specific tags. Look for tags used by popular videos in your niche, but ensure they accurately represent your content.
5. Thumbnail
Create eye-catching and enticing thumbnails that accurately represent your video's content. A compelling thumbnail can increase click-through rates and improve your video's visibility.
6. Closed captions and subtitles
Provide closed captions or subtitles for your videos. This helps YouTube understand the context of your video and makes it accessible to a wider audience, including those who are hearing impaired or non-native English speakers.
7. Video length and engagement
Create videos of optimal length that cater to your target audience's preferences. Longer videos tend to perform better in search results. Also, encourage viewers to engage with your video through likes, comments, and shares, as engagement signals are considered by YouTube's algorithm.
8. Playlists and end screens
Organize your videos into playlists based on related topics to keep viewers engaged on your channel. Utilize end screens to promote other relevant videos or encourage viewers to subscribe, increasing overall watch time.
9. Promotion and engagement
Promote your videos on social media platforms, your website or blog, and engage with your audience by responding to comments and encouraging discussions. Building a loyal community can help boost your video's visibility.
10. Monitor analytics
Regularly review YouTube Analytics to gain insights into how your videos are performing. Analyze metrics like watch time, audience retention, click-through rates, and user demographics to identify areas for improvement and refine your video optimization strategies.
By following these steps and continuously optimizing your video content, you can increase your chances of success in optimizing your videos for the YouTube search algorithm.