If you\u2019ve spent time and money creating amazing, relevant, interesting videos but they\u2019re not getting discovered or watched on YouTube, we suggest you think again about your YouTube SEO strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We believe SEO starts before you\u2019ve even made the video. If the creative relates to something audiences are actually looking for, it will be found. Therefore, having SEO embedded within the creative process helps enormously post-production, getting that video organically discovered and watched.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, whether you\u2019re getting started on YouTube or are looking to breathe life (and views) into your existing video or future content, we suggest you consider these 6 key tips to maximise your YouTube SEO:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Research the keywords<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\nPerforming a simple keyword search for your website SEO strategy is the first thing every marketeer knows. But the same is also true for your YouTube SEO strategy. Knowing your audience\u2019s keyword search terms is the cornerstone of your YouTube SEO strategy and can make the difference to where you\u2019re ranked and who gets to see your videos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, what are keywords? Keywords are the words your audience use to search for your videos. By knowing these keywords, you can ensure your videos get seen above other, similar videos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are several ways you can research your keywords. You can use websites that give you lists of keywords and the search volumes. Here are a number of that we like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2022 TubeBuddy – www.tubebuddy.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\u2022 Moz – https:\/\/moz.com\/<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\u2022 Semrush – www.semrush.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\u2022 Ahrefs – https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\u2022 Keyword Tool Dominator – https:\/\/www.keywordtooldominator.com\/<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\u2022 Keywords Everywhere – https:\/\/keywordseverywhere.com\/<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nOr you can simply use Google or YouTube itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n![\"Image](\"https:\/\/the-cma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/YOUTUBE-SEO-Navigate-Video52-1024x576.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n![\"Image](\"https:\/\/the-cma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/YOUTUBE-SEO-Navigate-Video53-1024x576.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nWhen you type your search query into Google or YouTube, a number of suggested search terms will appear. These are the keywords that are related to your query. Bingo \u2013 you have your list of keywords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. Optimise your video’s metadata<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\nMetadata is your video’s title, tags and description. Ensuring these elements are optimised (i.e. \u2013 have relevant keywords that your target audience resonates with) will give your video the best possible chance of being served to your audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. Optimise your thumbnails<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n90% of the best performing videos on YouTube have custom thumbnails, so it\u2019s important each thumbnail that you create is distinctive, but instantly recognisable. Video thumbnails let viewers see a quick snapshot of your video as they’re browsing YouTube search results or recommended content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We would recommend you upload a custom created thumbnail that allows your brand and video to be clearly identifiable. Keep an eye on your YouTube analytics as thumbnails are a great way to improve your CTR (click-through-rate). If you need any more persuading, even MrBeast (YouTube\u2019s highest earning creator) optimises his thumbnails on an ongoing basis!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To learn more about how to optimise your thumbnails check out our video: www.navigatevideo.com\/news\/how-to-create-the-perfect-youtube-thumbnail<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n4. Add key moments (aka time stamps) and subtitles<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\nKey moments or time stamps are a way to link to a specific moment in your video. Adding key moments to your description will provide a better experience for your viewer. They allow viewers to look at the part of the video they want to see, ensuring they don\u2019t \u2018bounce\u2019 away from your video if they can\u2019t find it. Time stamps also help with SEO. By adding in more specific search terms to your description it helps the algorithm find and serve up your video to audiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Creators can add subtitles and captions to their videos within YouTube Studio, which can also positively impact on SEO. But what is the difference? Captions are designed for viewers who cannot hear the audio in a video, while subtitles are designed for viewers who can hear, but do not understand the language being spoken in the video.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Top tip:<\/strong> always check autogenerated subtitles for mistakes or misspellings!<\/p>\n\n\n\n5. Add info cards and end screens<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\nSimply put, info cards are a device that enable any YouTube creator to add an extra layer of interactivity to their videos<\/strong>. When the card pops up, it’s giving the viewers the option to click a link to other content (a product, a website or more effectively, another relevant video on your channel). These cards are an effective way to keep your audience engaged with your channel, providing them with interesting, and relevant content.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAn end screen is a YouTube feature that appears in the last 5-20 seconds of a video<\/strong>. End screens are a fantastic tool to use within a video to help extend watch time on your channel as well as the user journey, by recommending similar content and driving viewers through to your website.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIt is astonishing how many brands and creators do not use this simple mechanism. We believe end screens are essential to the success of your video\u2019s discoverability and search capabilities. The moment a viewer finishes watching a video from your channel, the hunt for the next best video begins, or the viewer might even choose to exit YouTube altogether.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you don\u2019t know how to create your info cards and end screens check out these two great links that tell you how:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2022 https:\/\/support.google.com\/youtube\/answer\/6388789?hl=en-GB<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\u2022 https:\/\/support.google.com\/youtube\/answer\/6140493?hl=en-GB&ref_topic=9257785<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n6. Optimise your channel<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\nHere are a few of the quick wins you can make to your channel today:
a. Have a trailer that has an overview of your channel with relevant keywords in the description of the video
b. Use channel art
c. Have playlists to ensure the channel is easy to navigate
d. Fill out the About tab with relevant keywords from your initial search
e. Use both long form and short form video<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If your content is innovative, interesting and relevant and you\u2019ve followed the above steps to ensure the best chance of organically being found on YouTube, we believe you\u2019re in the best possible position to have your video discovered and seen by your audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are numerous ways to ensure your YouTube channel is optimised and the team at Navigate Video<\/a> are here to talk through ways in which we can help. If you\u2019re a brand or a creator, we\u2019d love to chat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2022 Moz – https:\/\/moz.com\/<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Semrush – www.semrush.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Ahrefs – https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Keyword Tool Dominator – https:\/\/www.keywordtooldominator.com\/<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Keywords Everywhere – https:\/\/keywordseverywhere.com\/<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Or you can simply use Google or YouTube itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you type your search query into Google or YouTube, a number of suggested search terms will appear. These are the keywords that are related to your query. Bingo \u2013 you have your list of keywords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Metadata is your video’s title, tags and description. Ensuring these elements are optimised (i.e. \u2013 have relevant keywords that your target audience resonates with) will give your video the best possible chance of being served to your audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 90% of the best performing videos on YouTube have custom thumbnails, so it\u2019s important each thumbnail that you create is distinctive, but instantly recognisable. Video thumbnails let viewers see a quick snapshot of your video as they’re browsing YouTube search results or recommended content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We would recommend you upload a custom created thumbnail that allows your brand and video to be clearly identifiable. Keep an eye on your YouTube analytics as thumbnails are a great way to improve your CTR (click-through-rate). If you need any more persuading, even MrBeast (YouTube\u2019s highest earning creator) optimises his thumbnails on an ongoing basis!<\/p>\n\n\n\n To learn more about how to optimise your thumbnails check out our video: www.navigatevideo.com\/news\/how-to-create-the-perfect-youtube-thumbnail<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Key moments or time stamps are a way to link to a specific moment in your video. Adding key moments to your description will provide a better experience for your viewer. They allow viewers to look at the part of the video they want to see, ensuring they don\u2019t \u2018bounce\u2019 away from your video if they can\u2019t find it. Time stamps also help with SEO. By adding in more specific search terms to your description it helps the algorithm find and serve up your video to audiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Creators can add subtitles and captions to their videos within YouTube Studio, which can also positively impact on SEO. But what is the difference? Captions are designed for viewers who cannot hear the audio in a video, while subtitles are designed for viewers who can hear, but do not understand the language being spoken in the video.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Top tip:<\/strong> always check autogenerated subtitles for mistakes or misspellings!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Simply put, info cards are a device that enable any YouTube creator to add an extra layer of interactivity to their videos<\/strong>. When the card pops up, it’s giving the viewers the option to click a link to other content (a product, a website or more effectively, another relevant video on your channel). These cards are an effective way to keep your audience engaged with your channel, providing them with interesting, and relevant content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n An end screen is a YouTube feature that appears in the last 5-20 seconds of a video<\/strong>. End screens are a fantastic tool to use within a video to help extend watch time on your channel as well as the user journey, by recommending similar content and driving viewers through to your website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is astonishing how many brands and creators do not use this simple mechanism. We believe end screens are essential to the success of your video\u2019s discoverability and search capabilities. The moment a viewer finishes watching a video from your channel, the hunt for the next best video begins, or the viewer might even choose to exit YouTube altogether.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you don\u2019t know how to create your info cards and end screens check out these two great links that tell you how:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 https:\/\/support.google.com\/youtube\/answer\/6388789?hl=en-GB<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 https:\/\/support.google.com\/youtube\/answer\/6140493?hl=en-GB&ref_topic=9257785<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are a few of the quick wins you can make to your channel today: If your content is innovative, interesting and relevant and you\u2019ve followed the above steps to ensure the best chance of organically being found on YouTube, we believe you\u2019re in the best possible position to have your video discovered and seen by your audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are numerous ways to ensure your YouTube channel is optimised and the team at Navigate Video<\/a> are here to talk through ways in which we can help. If you\u2019re a brand or a creator, we\u2019d love to chat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n2. Optimise your video’s metadata<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
3. Optimise your thumbnails<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
4. Add key moments (aka time stamps) and subtitles<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
5. Add info cards and end screens<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
6. Optimise your channel<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
a. Have a trailer that has an overview of your channel with relevant keywords in the description of the video
b. Use channel art
c. Have playlists to ensure the channel is easy to navigate
d. Fill out the About tab with relevant keywords from your initial search
e. Use both long form and short form video<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/the-cma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Stuart-Stubbs-Navigate-Video.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n