YouTube SEO: How to Rank YouTube Videos in 2023
YouTube is the home for online videos. With more than 2.5 billion users worldwide, this video-sharing platform has quickly become an essential marketing channel for marketers that aim to engage audiences using video content.
More than 500 hours of video were uploaded to YouTube every minute. While it’s so much easier for users to find the video they’re looking for, it’s only getting harder for creators and marketers to make their videos stand out.
This is where YouTube optimization comes in handy.
By paying attention to YouTube SEO, you have opportunities to reach out to more people as you have a higher chance of appearing at the top in the search results.
Whether it’s a short clip or a professionally-crafted explainer video, when you optimize them, they’re more eligible for features like YouTube’s Homepage, Suggestions, and Recommended Videos.
There are two types of optimization you can do on YouTube: On-page and off-page.
In this article, we’ll break down on-page and off-page YouTube optimization so you can take your video marketing to the next level.
On-Page YouTube Optimization
On-page YouTube optimization is all about optimizing your videos and making sure they are properly formatted for the search engine to understand. This includes:
#1. Conduct Keyword Research
Before you can optimize your videos, you need to first understand what people are searching for on YouTube.
This is where keyword research comes in handy. Tools like Google AdWords Keyword Planner and YouTube Keyword Tool can help you find relevant keywords for your video.
You can also use Google Trends to see if there’s a spike in the search volume for certain keywords over time. This is helpful if you want to know what’s trending so you can produce content that’s timely and relevant.
#2. Optimize Titles and Descriptions
Your titles and descriptions are what show up in the search results, so it’s important to make them keyword-rich and informative. Your title should be no longer than 70 characters, so it doesn’t get cut off in the search results.
For your description, you have up to 5,000 characters to work with, but you should only use about 2-3 sentences. Make sure your title and description accurately describe your video content. This not only helps with YouTube optimization but also improves your click-through rate.
#3. Use Tags
Tags are one of the most important ranking factors on YouTube. They help the search engine understand what your video is about and match it with relevant searches. You should use a combination of broad and long-tail keywords as tags.
Don’t stuff your tags with irrelevant keywords just for the sake of including more keywords. This will only hurt your ranking in the long run. Aim for 4-5 word tags and use them throughout your video’s description.
#4. Create Engaging Thumbnails
Your thumbnail is what shows up in the search results, so make sure it’s something that will stop users from scrolling past your video. Use bright colors and an image that accurately represents your video content.
You can also use text on your thumbnail but make sure it’s legible and not too small. If you want to take things a step further, you can create custom thumbnails for each video.
#5. Optimize Your Video File
When you upload a video to YouTube, you have the option to choose the file type and quality. The most common file types are .mp4 and .mov.
For quality, you can choose between high definition (1080p), standard definition (720p), or lower resolutions like 360p and 240p. The file size and length will also affect your video’s ranking.
Report says the average ideal YouTube video length is between 7-11 minutes, as longer videos tend to get fewer views.
#6. Make It Mobile-Friendly
Most YouTube views come from mobile devices, so it’s important to make sure your videos are optimized for mobile. This means using a large font size for your title and description and using images that are easy to see on a small screen. Also, consider:
- Adding closed captions. This can make your video makes it accessible to a wider audience, including those who are deaf or hard of hearing.
- Including end screens and annotations. End screens and annotations are called to action that encourage viewers to engage with your content, subscribe to your channel, or watch more videos.
Avoiding using pop-ups or other features that might be difficult to view on a mobile device.
Off-Page YouTube Optimization
Off-page optimization improves the overall performance of your YouTube videos and increases your visibility and engagement on the platform, leading to increased views, engagement, and subscribers.
When both on-page optimization and off-page are well combined, you can achieve better results and ROI for your video marketing campaigns.
#7. Engage in Social Media Marketing
Social media is a powerful platform to promote your YouTube videos. Platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat all have huge audiences that you can tap into. You can also use social media to run paid ads that target specific demographics and interests.
For example, Facebook allows you to target users by their age, gender, interests, and even behaviors. This ensures that your ad reaches the right people, which increases your chances of getting more views.
#8. Include Call-to-Action (CTA)
A call-to-action, or CTA, is a statement that encourages viewers to take a desired action. This can be anything from subscribing to your channel to watching another video.
CTAs can be added in the form of annotations or end screens. You can also include them in your video descriptions. Just make sure your CTAs are clear and offer value to viewers.
#9. Reach Out to Influencers
Influencer marketing is a great way to promote your videos and get them in front of a new audience. You can reach out to influencers in your industry and ask them to share your video with their followers.
This is especially effective if the influencer has a large following in your target market. When choosing an influencer, make sure they are relevant to your brand and have an engaged audience.
#10. Collaborate with Other YouTubers
Collaborating with other YouTubers is a great way to get more exposure for your channel. You can collaborate by doing something as simple as an interview or guest post.
This is a great way to build relationships with other bloggers in your industry. When you collaborate with someone, make sure they are relevant to your brand and have a similar target audience.
#11. Invest in Paid Advertising
If you have a professional-looking video and want to give it a boost, you can run paid ads on YouTube. You can use Google AdWords to run video ads that appear before, during, or after other videos. You can also target specific demographics with your video ads.
This is a great way to get more views from people who are interested in your product or service.
Wrapping Up
By combining both On-Page and Off-Page YouTube optimization techniques, you can create a comprehensive strategy to improve the performance of your videos and grow your channel.
Remember always to create high-quality, engaging content that resonates with your target audience and reflects your brand's voice and values. With time, effort, and consistency, you can build a loyal following and establish your presence on the platform.