Do not be intimidated by SEO.
YouTube SEO or Search Engine Optimization is the art of making your channel more likely to be viewed based on the algorithm and human behavior.
Optimizing your channel does not need to be a difficult or time-consuming process.
But it does take intentionality.
Here are some top ideas to improve your channel and increase your viewership:
Click here for the video version of this post!
Tip #1: Use Popular Keywords
Similar to the way we encourage leaders to use hashtags when posting on Instagram, we encourage keyword use on YouTube.
Before you start using keywords at random, consider doing some research into what keywords are popular and effective.
There are many reputable sites and apps that can help with this research, but there are also a few easy and free things you can start doing today.
For example, look at what keywords others in your niche are using. Are there specific keywords used by others who are excelling on YouTube in a similar way you hope to?
Another way to research is by checking what people are searching for on YouTube and Google. You can do this by starting to type a phrase or a few niche-specific words into the search bar and seeing what pops up as suggestions.
These recommended searches are popular searches, so consider whether or not they are topics you can authentically connect to your channel.
Tip #2: Create an Interesting Title
As we’ve discussed in our article YouTube Hacks to Increase Sermon Views, you need to create an interesting title for your videos.
A general information-specific title may not cut it.
Yes, you may feel like you are selling it a bit, but there’s a lot of competition on Youtube! In a way, you are selling your video over everyone else’s.
One way to do this is to incorporate a numbered list into your video title. For example, this video!
We could have just called it “Ways to Improve YouTube SEO,” but by making it “4 Ways to Improve YouTube SEO,” it seems like a more manageable collection of ideas even if it would have been exactly the same information without the “4.”
Tip #3: Include Eye-Catching Thumbnails
Thumbnails matter!
Thumbnails are the photos attached to each of your videos. Some say they are even more important than the title itself.
When people see an interesting thumbnail, they want to know more even if they haven’t read the title.
If you show your face in your YouTube videos, try to include your face in a thumbnail as well. People often connect with faces better than logos or words.
Speaking of words, the words included in your thumb now do not need to be the same ones in your title. That means if you are stuck between two really enticing titles, you could make one the title and one the words on your thumbnail.
Tip #4: Pay Attention to What is Working
Always remember to value your analytics.
An easy analytic to pay attention to is how many views each of your videos get. After posting consistently for a while, you are bound to have a video or to perform well Above the Rest.
Pay attention to what you did differently with these more popular videos.
Is this style or topic something that you can replicate?
Lean into these more popular topics by creating more content around that theme.
Oftentimes creators who have a popular video are able to create similar content and find similar success with additional videos discussing the initial popular message.
Now it’s your turn!
We brought the knowledge, now it’s your turn to put it into action!
Initiate just one of these tips today and you’ll be on your way to a more SEO friendly channel in no time.
Speaking of channels, why not check out ours? Give us a sub and say hello!