Free SEO Techniques to Promote YouTube Videos

If you had to choose between reading a long blog post and watching a video, you’d probably choose the latter. As a video content creator, this means many will pick your content over articles and blog posts.

Nevertheless, you aren’t the only YouTube content creator out there. Many others are jostling for users’ attention, just like you. The implication is that you need to stay ahead of the competition — you have to rank higher.

This article introduces you to some of the best SEO techniques for YouTube videos. These techniques can make a world of difference in determining whether your YouTube videos get high views or not.

What Is YouTube SEO?

YouTube SEO is the process of optimizing videos so that they appear higher in search engine results. It involves strategically selecting titles, descriptions, and tags to increase visibility and engagement on YouTube as well as other search engines such as Google.

By implementing effective techniques for YouTube SEO, content creators can ensure their videos are seen by more people and attract a larger audience.

SEO Techniques for YouTube Videos

Now that we have a clearer picture of YouTube SEO, let’s check some of the best techniques out there.

Include Relevant Keywords in Your Video Title

Like your regular written content, keywords are important for YouTube video SEO. This means you must do detailed keyword research to identify the most popular and relevant keywords. Place the keywords naturally into your video titles.

Include the Keyword in Your File Name

We’re not done with keywords yet. You must also ensure the name of the file you’re uploading to YouTube has the target keyword. Your default video name might be something like “vid_001_2023.”

You shouldn’t upload the video with this file name. Instead, rename it so that it includes your keyword. This way, YouTube’s ranking algorithm can read your file name and identify it as a match for the search term.

Tag the Video With Popular Keywords That Are Related

You may have multiple keywords in mind, but you have to settle for the best. All is not lost because YouTube allows you to use tags to help viewers know what the video is about.

With these tags, it’s easier for YouTube to link your video with other videos in the same category.

Hashtags Can Increase Your Reach

While hashtags are relatively new additions, they can prove useful for your YouTube SEO. Hashtags are a great way to include relevant keywords in your video to have others find your content.

For example, if you’re a makeup artist, use these hashtag phrases that are related to your occupation: #makeupartist, #makeup, #cosmetics. It’s important to avoid overusing hashtags — don’t spam.

Optimize Your Video Description

The description of your YouTube video is another good way of optimizing your video for SEO. The description is where you get your audience’s attention by engaging them.

To optimize your video description, it is best to include your keywords in the first few sentences. Doing this is important because your first few sentences are what viewers see. Don’t save the best for the last.

There are a few things to note when writing your video description. The first is that the description should draw viewers in. You want them to read your description and feel they really need to watch your video. In addition, a well-written video description helps the algorithm better determine what your video is about.

Use Custom Thumbnails for Your Videos

Your thumbnail is the preview image users see first. When you upload a video, YouTube automatically assigns a thumbnail to it. This thumbnail is usually an out-of-context still image from your video.

Thus, the thumbnail may not do justice to the content of your video. This is why it is better to take out time to create your own custom thumbnail. Note that creating and uploading custom thumbnails is for verified accounts only.

Include Subtitles and Closed Captions

Adding subtitles and closed captions to your video is a great way of improving your SEO. While search engines can’t watch videos, the text of the transcript helps them index your videos better.

It is also important to note that closed captions offer a near-equivalent audio experience for viewers with hearing difficulties.

Final Thoughts

Good SEO techniques for YouTube videos involve crafting descriptive titles, including closed captions when possible and a host of other tactics.

These tactics ensure viewers get accurate information about the content of the video while also helping it show up more frequently in related searches. This article has set you on the right path. All you need to do now is to implement.