The Secrets of SEO for YouTube Videos
YouTube SEO, or search engine optimization, is the process of smartly optimizing your videos so they rank higher in YouTube search results. It’s about making your video content more discoverable to potential viewers by understanding and implementing effective YouTube SEO strategies. This is how you can significantly increase your YouTube videos' visibility, attract larger viewing audiences, and even potentially boost your YouTube earnings! Let's get you started on a successful YouTube SEO strategy so you can start climbing those search rankings.
What is YouTube SEO?
YouTube SEO, put simply, is how you improve a video's position (and your channel's position) in YouTube search results. YouTube SEO works a little differently than regular SEO, though. Instead of strictly looking at a specific string of text, the engines will be crawling all of the text associated with your videos, including your title, tags, descriptions, keywords, and even closed captions. So the aim is to incorporate essential keywords into all of these places to help the search engine know how to return your videos and channel when someone does a YouTube search.
YouTube's algorithm determines video rankings by "looking at" a range of factors, including watch time, audience retention, video and keyword relevance, and click-through rate. Your job: to optimize these elements so you can improve your videos' chances of appearing higher in YouTube search results!
Benefits of YouTube SEO for Content Creators
Learning how to maximize your YouTube SEO is so important for content creators. The main thing it can do is boost your video's visibility, making it easier for new viewers to do a YouTube search that leads them to your content. Next, that increased visibility can lead to a larger viewing audience, as when more people watch a video, the algorithm sends more additional people to watch it, too - and now some of those people might subscribe to your channel and watch your other videos. You're on your way!
YouTube videos that are optimized for YouTube SEO also tend to have higher audience engagement, with viewers sticking around longer, hitting that thumbs up, commenting, and sharing. And once you've got all of the above rolling, your improved visibility and audience growth can get you more opportunities for increased monetization through ads, brand deals, and merch sales - at that point, it would also be a good idea to have your online merch store ready, like the ones you can easily set up and customize on Fourthwall!
Create Your First SEO Strategy in 8 Easy Steps
Developing your YouTube SEO strategy can potentially bring you great success, so take notes! Here's a step-by-step guide to get you started:
1. Do Keyword Research
Identifying relevant keywords and phrases that your target audience is likely to search for is your first step. You can utilize YouTube's own search suggestions alongside keyword research platforms like Moz or Semrush to find popular and competitive keyword terms. For example, a cooking channel might put together keyword phrases like "healthy and fresh dinner ideas" or "easy spicy chicken recipes."
2. Get Creative with Titles
Compelling, fresh, keyword-rich titles that accurately reflect your video's content are one of the keys to your YouTube SEO strategy. A strong title can encourage viewers to click on your video, so instead of a generic title like "How to Apply Eyeshadow," try something more specific, intriguing, and creative like "Get Magic Eyes! How to Apply Eyeshadow That'll Make Them Pop."
3. Write Detailed Descriptions
Good YouTube video descriptions don't just state the obvious - they also provide interesting context about your video and include relevant keywords. A well-written, concise description can really help viewers quickly understand what your video is about, encouraging them to click and watch - and don't forget those all-important YouTube SEO keywords. Make sure to link to your other socials in your description - Instagram, TikTok, Twitter (X), etc. - and connect your channel to YouTube Shopping and TikTok Shop, where you can showcase custom merch from your Fourthwall store!
Watch this video to learn how to set up YouTube Shopping and link your Fourthwall shop!
4. Use Tags!
Add accurate and descriptive tags to your video to help YouTube categorize your video content correctly. A combination of general and specific tags related to your video topic is most effective - for a video about spending the day at a theme park, you might use tags like #themepark #amusementpark #thrillrides #coasterenthusiasts #parkexplorers and #summerfun. Sites like Best Hashtags or even ChatGPT can help you compile a quick list, and you can choose the best from there.
5. Create Great Thumbnails
Visually appealing, creative, and informative thumbnails that accurately represent your YouTube video's content can really grab viewers' attention, significantly impacting your click-through rates. Popular styles of thumbnail on YouTube change often, so before designing your own thumbnails, browse through some other videos in your niche to see what other creators are doing with their thumbnails - and then put your own spin on what's trending. Check out this Fourthwall article for more about how to make great YouTube thumbnails!
6. Organize Your Videos
Organizing your YouTube video's content in a logical and descriptive way can really optimize your YouTube presentation, add even more components to your YouTube SEO, and help your viewers further engage with what you've created. Create a solid intro, clear sections, and chapter markers, and keep a consistent, smooth pace in the video itself to hold viewer interest. Good editing can also help take your videos from amateur to pro! And if it helps you to write a script, script outline, or use a teleprompter tool - then by all means take advantage of those tools!
7. Encourage Audience Interaction
Once people are watching your YouTube videos, give them reasons to want to watch more by building a community around your video content! Answering comments promptly, asking viewers questions, encouraging likes and shares, reminding them to subscribe, and thanking them for watching all foster engagement, show appreciation, and can improve your video's visibility as people start feeling like they're part of what you're doing. You can also direct people from your YouTube channel over to your Fourthwall website, which you can run much like a fan clubhouse - you can upload exclusive behind-the-scenes content ("making of" your YouTube videos would be one idea!), and sell memberships to your viewers so they can get even more involved in your fandom and community.
8. Analyze and Refine
YouTube Analytics are a great tool! Regularly monitor your video performances using those analytics so you can track views and watch time, research your audience demographics, and learn about your viewer engagement and how your YouTube SEO is working. Those insights can then be utilized to identify areas for improvement and make adjustments to your strategy as you go.
You can also utilize advanced tools like TubeBuddy, which helps you analyze your thumbnails and titles, and dig even farther into keywords. Creating a Fourthwall website as a base for your content gives you yet another set of analytics from your Fourthwall site and shop, so you can gather info from all sides!
YouTube Pro Tips and Tricks to Get Ranked Even Higher!
In addition to the plan we've outlined above, consider these four additional pro tips to keep maximizing your YouTube SEO and boosting your YouTube rankings!
Optimize!
A smart way to surf the waves of trending videos is to optimize your content for YouTube's suggested videos and autoplay features, using YouTube Trends to identify emerging trending topics and formats. Creating video content that aligns with or complements popular YouTube videos in your niche can draw viewers in, and encourages them to watch more of your content. If you decide to try this tactic, make sure to use strong hooks at the beginning of your videos to capture viewer attention right away.
Use Cards and End Screens
YouTube cards and end screens are like miniature billboards you can attach to your content to catch your viewers' eyes; learn how to create and place them, and then use them to promote your other videos, playlists, or even external links. Doing this effectively can keep your viewers in your little ecosystem for even longer, increasing watch time and audience engagement. You can also create playlists to encourage your fans to binge-watch your content, which of course increases your watch time numbers.
Make Consistent Content
While it's fine to initially create with whatever you've got - even a basic webcam and good inexpensive mic can get you rolling! - it can only benefit you to keep upgrading your gear as you go, from good video equipment to eye-catching backgrounds and pro-level overlays. But remember that content is king, and consistency isn't far behind! No matter what stage of content creation you're at, focus on good storytelling and performances in all of your YouTube videos, and put the effort in to connect with your audience.
Maintaining a consistent upload schedule is also important, so your fans start looking forward to when you're going to post next - but keep in mind that there's no "perfect" time to upload. You just need to keep analyzing your audience's viewing and watch time habits, and adjust your upload times accordingly.
Collaborate!
Partnering with other creators and complementary channels can really help expand your reach and introduce your content to new audiences. There are lots of ways to collaborate with fellow creators in your niche - and sometimes it can be even more effective to collab with creators who aren't directly in your niche, but are content-adjacent. For instance, a model train hobbyist might team up with a travel vlogger who takes train trips; or a Fortnite player might do a special stream with a parachuting enthusiast. This can make for exciting content that will draw in two different types of audiences with plenty of potential for crossover!
YouTube and Fourthwall - a Perfect Pairing!
Implementing these YouTube SEO strategies consistently will help you improve your video rankings and attract a larger audience that you can then funnel over to your Fourthwall website! With Fourthwall, you can easily create your own customized website and merch store, so all of your new YouTube fans will have a place to gather and collect your merch.
But that's not all - Fourthwall has plenty of features that will complement your YouTube journey. By offering your own exclusive custom products, video extras, and membership features to your viewers, you can generate more excitement for your YouTube video content, interact even more with your audience, increase your revenue, and strengthen your brand. Get started on Fourthwall today!