As a beginner YouTuber, it’s essential to ensure your videos are easily discoverable by your target audience. One of the most effective ways to achieve this is by leveraging Search Engine Optimization (SEO) techniques. In this guide, we will outline various proven SEO techniques used by successful YouTubers to increase views and make their channels more discoverable. Additionally, we will provide step-by-step instructions on how to execute each technique, along with real-life examples of YouTubers who have found success with these methods.

Keyword Research:

A crucial SEO technique is conducting keyword research to identify relevant search terms for your video content. This helps you optimize your titles, descriptions, and tags, ultimately making your videos easier to find.

Step by Step Guide:

1. Use tools like Google Trends, Keyword Planner, or YouTube’s autocomplete feature to find popular search terms related to your content.
2. Make a list of relevant keywords and phrases.
3. Integrate these keywords naturally into your video titles, descriptions, and tags.

Example: YouTuber “Alisha Marie” used keyword research to optimize her video, “How to Start a Successful YouTube Channel,” by incorporating popular terms like “YouTube tips” and “grow your channel.”

Optimize Video Titles:

An engaging and SEO-friendly title can significantly increase your video’s visibility. Your title should be concise, clear, and include relevant keywords.

Step by Step Guide:

1. Keep your title under 60 characters to ensure it displays correctly in search results.
2. Place important keywords towards the beginning of the title.
3. Create a title that accurately describes the content and piques viewer interest.

Example: YouTuber “Peter McKinnon” optimized his video title, “8 Camera HACKS in 90 SECONDS!!” by incorporating the keywords “camera hacks” and a specific time frame to attract viewers.

Write Effective Descriptions:

A well-written description not only helps viewers understand your video’s content but also improves your video’s SEO.

Step by Step Guide:

1. Use the first two sentences to provide a clear summary of the video and include relevant keywords.
2. Expand on the video’s content and provide additional context in the remaining description.
3. Add timestamps, links to related content, and any necessary credits.

Example: YouTuber “Marques Brownlee” provides comprehensive descriptions for his tech reviews, incorporating keywords and additional information to boost SEO.

Utilize Tags:

Tags help YouTube’s algorithm understand your video content and recommend it to potential viewers.

Step by Step Guide:

1. Use 5-8 relevant tags that include your target keywords.
2. Include a mix of broad and specific tags.
3. Add your channel name as a tag to improve discoverability.

Example: YouTuber “Liza Koshy” effectively uses tags for her comedic videos, ensuring they reach her target audience.

Customize Thumbnails:

An eye-catching thumbnail is crucial for attracting viewers and improving your video’s click-through rate (CTR).

Step by Step Guide:

1. Use high-resolution images with a 16:9 aspect ratio.
2. Incorporate bold colors, text overlays, and clear visuals.
3. Ensure the thumbnail accurately represents the video’s content.

Example: YouTuber “Casey Neistat” creates visually appealing thumbnails that accurately represent his vlogs and entice viewers to click.

Engage with Your Audience:

Actively engaging with your audience through comments, likes, and shares can boost your video’s SEO, as YouTube favors videos with high engagement rates.

Step by Step Guide:

1. Encourage viewers to like, comment, and share your videos.
2. Respond to comments and questions in a timely manner.
3. Pin top comments or ask questions to spark conversation.

Example: YouTuber “Philip DeFranco” regularly engages with his audience in the comment section, fostering a sense of community and boosting his videos’ SEO.

Leverage Video Transcripts and Closed Captions:

Adding transcripts and closed captions can improve your video’s SEO by making it more accessible and providing additional keyword-rich content for search engines.

Step by Step Guide:

1. Use YouTube’s automatic transcription service or a third-party tool to generate a transcript.
2. Edit the transcript for accuracy and add relevant keywords.
3. Upload the transcript and closed captions to your video.

Example: Educational YouTuber “Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell” consistently provides transcripts and closed captions, making their content more accessible and improving SEO.

Create Playlists:

Organizing your videos into playlists can help viewers easily find related content and increase your channel’s overall watch time, which is a critical ranking factor for YouTube’s algorithm.

Step by Step Guide:

1. Categorize your videos by topic or series.
2. Create playlists with descriptive titles and descriptions, including relevant keywords.
3. Feature playlists on your channel’s homepage for easy navigation.

Example: YouTuber “Tasty” organizes their cooking videos into themed playlists like “Quick & Easy Recipes” and “Dinner Ideas,” improving user experience and boosting SEO.

Share Your Videos on Social Media and External Platforms:

Promoting your videos on external platforms can drive traffic to your channel and improve your video’s SEO by increasing views and engagement.

Step by Step Guide:

1. Share your videos on relevant social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
2. Post your videos on niche forums or communities where your target audience is active.
3. Collaborate with other YouTubers or influencers to reach new viewers.

Example: YouTuber “Gary Vaynerchuk” actively shares his videos on various social media platforms, increasing his reach and overall video SEO.

By consistently applying these SEO techniques, you can effectively optimize your YouTube channel and video content, resulting in higher rankings, increased views, and a more engaged audience. Learn from successful YouTubers and adapt their strategies to suit your unique content and style, and you’ll be on your way to achieving YouTube success.