YouTube, the second largest search engine after Google, is the next best site that internet users visit for information. From hilarious cat videos to fascinating facts from around the globe and inspiring stories of our favourite idols, the list is endless.
With a spike in digital trends and the growing importance of videography as a medium of presentation, getting ourselves out there is important.
Now, let’s say, we managed to build our presence on YouTube. So, what next?
Getting noticed.
There’s been a rise in the use of videos in educational institutions, corporate organizations, industries and within households. With a spike in demand, the supply has also risen. The end result is increased competition in various niches on YouTube. Hence, standing out becomes all the more important.
Here are a few important SEO determinants that can help one gain better visibility on YouTube:
1. Optimized Video Title
Titles are an important component of videos. Viewers are exposed to the title before watching any video. First impressions count. Your video title is the best opportunity to build your impression among your viewers. So, when you make a YouTube video, remember to write an attention-grabbing title.
An optimized title should only be of 100 characters in length. It must be descriptive and should closely relate to the viewers’ search intent.
Research on keywords within your target niche and implement relevant keywords in your YouTube video title. Focus on targeting low competition keywords if you are new on YouTube.
2. Optimized Video Description
Your video’s description box is your next prospect. Adding a short description of your video with a few relevant keywords is a great way to rank better on YouTube. You can also include your website URL, links to your social media pages, and trending hashtags within the description box.
A thumbnail is that part of your video that gives the viewers a glimpse of what they can expect to see in your YouTube video. Optimizing your video with a custom thumbnail is great for YouTube SEO.
YouTube will add a thumbnail for your video by default. This thumbnail can be optimized with a custom version once you are verified by YouTube.
3. Cards
Cards or annotations can be found in the top right corner of your video viewing screen in the form of an ‘i’ icon.
They pop up while viewing videos to encourage viewers to watch similar videos on the channel. Cards are also used to drive attention to external sites that the channel suggests the viewers to visit.
4. End Screens
As opposed to cards, end screens are displayed towards the end of the video.
For Youtube SEO, the channel can be optimized with videos that you’d like your viewers to watch after a video. Setting up these end cards can definitely help boost SEO and also help retain traffic on your channel.
5. Categorize your YouTube videos
Setting up playlists with videos as per genre is a great way of helping improve your YouTube SEO rank. Similar videos organized into playlists help videos gain more views and also rank better on YouTube.
6. Channel description
When a viewer searches for videos on YouTube there is a high probability that your channel will appear in the search results. An optimized description for your channel can help entice a higher click-through rate for your channel. This is the first interaction of potential subscribers to your channel and an SEO rich description can make it worthwhile.
As of 2021, there are more than 2 billion YouTube users across the globe. The numbers are surging, so are our opportunities to be discovered with SEO optimization efforts.
At Global Media Insight, our team of YouTube Optimization specialists have been catering to a diverse list of clients in the Middle East, helping maximize impressions and visibility across the platform, for over a decade now. Get in touch with us, so that we can optimize your YouTube channel and help your brand stand out.
GMI’s Research Team is a panel of knowledgeable experts from various fields such as digital marketing, social media, and web development, all united by a common goal—to educate. We enjoy exploring everything from the latest industry trends and emerging technologies to people and demographics, both in the UAE and beyond. Through our blog posts, we share valuable insights that help businesses and marketers stay informed and prepared for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
