If you haven't already tapped into the power of YouTube, then you should certainly consider doing so. People love to watch videos, and the numbers don't lie. YouTube is ranked the second largest search engine on the Internet, processing over 3 billion searches per month.
But heavy search volume ultimately leads to heavy competition. With the hundreds of millions of videos on YouTube, how do you make your videos stand out?
YouTube is owned by Google, which happens to be the number one ranked search engine on the web. However, the algorithm of YouTube happens to be far less complex. Today, I'm going to share 5 strategies that you can use to drastically increase the number of organic views on your channel.
1.) Do Your Keyword Research
YouTube's platform is heavily influenced by keywords. If you want to grow your channel subscribers and views, it's critical that you do your market research first.
Obviously, YouTube's algorithm is predicated on a number of variables. One simple way to gauge the competition of a keyword is by monitoring the monthly search metrics. Ideally, you want the number of YouTube videos to be less than the overall amount of searches for any given keyword. If there are more searches than there are results, you'll most likely have an opportunity to rank for that keyword.
The Google Adwords Keyword Tool is a free resource that you can use to determine the monthly search volume for keywords. Once you figure out the total number of searches, simply type the same keyword phrase into the search bar of YouTube. Once again, you want the number of YouTube results to be less than the total amount of monthly searches. This is a simple, effective barometer that you can use to determine whether a keyword is worth ranking for.
YouTube's "Predictive Search Suggestions" is another useful way to understand what your audience is looking for. By simply entering a keyword phrase into the search bar, YouTube will provide you with a series of relevant topics that people are searching for.
Contrary to popular belief, these are not arbitrary terms. This data reflects the goals of your audience, which you can use as content for future videos.
2.) Optimize Your Video Title
This may seem intuitive, but you'd be surprised how many marketers don't optimize the title of their videos. YouTube's algorithm is heavily influenced by keywords. Therefore, the title of your video should include as many related keywords as possible.
To maximize the amount of views to your video, place the primary keyword you are trying to rank for at the beginning of your title. Always ensure that your title accurately reflects the content of your video. Writing video titles is no different than writing email subject lines that get opened. They need to be captivating and informative to your viewer. Here are some examples below:
"How To Start An Online Business"
"3 Bodyweight Workouts To Build Lean Muscle"
Using descriptive titles will make your viewer understand what your video is about. Avoid using repetitive keywords, and focus on the benefits that your audience is looking to glean.
3.) Don't Underestimate The Thumbnail Image
The thumbnail image of your video goes hand in hand with the title. YouTube is a platform that has a visceral appeal to its users. If you don't have a compelling image to go along with your video, you are missing out on a ton of organic traffic.
You don't have to be a skilled graphic designer to optimize your thumbnails. Here are some simple tips on creating images that convert:
- Make sure the image is clear to the viewer
- Use contrasting, bright colors
- Resize the image to fit the pixel dimensions of YouTube
- Ensure the image accurately reflects the content in the video
Thumbnail images will serve as marketing posters for your videos. The quality of your thumbnails will be directly correlated to the amount of traffic on your channel. Remember, your goal is to optimize your videos to increase revenue. If you don't garner the initial click, you won't be able to generate any new leads and customers into your business.
4.) Load Up Your Video Description
YouTube allows 5,000 characters in the description of your videos. Don't overcomplicate this for one second. YouTube is simply telling you to use as many different keywords as you possibly can. This will boost your video's SEO rankings in other websites as well.
However, you don't want to continue to repeat the same keyword over and over again. Keyword stuffing will be perceived as spam, which could potentially lead to your video and account getting shut down. One way to circumvent this obstacle is to transcribe your videos and paste it into the description field.
Although the video descriptions can contain up to 5,000 characters, only the first couple of sentences will be visible to your viewer. To optimize your videos for lead generation, give a strong call to action at the beginning of your description. Use a link that directs your audience to a high converting landing page. To maximize conversions, offer a free whitepaper or mini course that is relevant to the content in the video.
Remember, your goal is to leverage YouTube's platform to build your email list. On the contrary, YouTube's goal is to maintain the attention of their viewers for as long as possible. Getting millions of views is meaningless if you don't include benefit driven keywords and calls to action in your video description.
5.) Tags
YouTube offers another dynamic feature called "Related And Recommended Videos." Just like their search engine, it is heavily dependent on keywords. When a video is done playing, YouTube will recommend a series of videos that are based on the viewer's behaviors. They can appear on your YouTube homepage or in the right hand sidebar of the video watch page. This is a great source of free traffic that you can use to leverage the audience of your competition.
When you upload your video to YouTube, you will see a small icon that says "Tags." These are additional keyword phrases that you can use to boost your visibility in the search engine and related and recommended videos features. Tags will also show up in the source code of your page, which can get picked up by other search engines on the web.
Just like the video descriptions, it's best to use as many primary keywords as possible in your tags. Make sure your tags are relevant to the content in your video, and refrain from using the same keyword more than once. If you discover new tags that are pertinent in your niche, you can always go back and add them to your videos.
Conclusion
As YouTube's platform continues to evolve, they are putting more and more emphasis on the quality of videos. Doing the proper keyword research will give you a massive advantage in your niche. When you create content that accommodates the core desires of your audience, it will increase the overall "watch time" of your videos.
YouTube encourages you to use as many primary and secondary keywords as possible. Optimizing your title, thumbnail, descriptions, and tags will drastically increase the visibility of your videos.
Once your channel starts gaining traction, you will want to focus on lead generation. Remember, your goal is to drive your traffic off of YouTube so you can capture their email address. Placing links at the beginning of your video description will help convert your viewers into prospects and potential customers.
These 5 techniques can drastically increase the amount of views to your YouTube channel. However, they are not a substitute for quality content. If you consistently provide value, your viewers will always want to learn more from you.
Do you currently use any of these strategies? If so, have you noticed an increase in the amount of views to your YouTube channel?
YouTube image via Shutterstock