[FAQ]

I’m tweaking my video titles for SEO and keep hearing “don’t look spammy,” but no one gives a number.

How many separate keywords can I fit in a YouTube title before the algorithm—or viewers—think I’m stuffing?

Any rules of thumb or hard data? My niche is tech tutorials if that matters. Thanks!

[Jeff Bullas]

Short take: aim for one primary keyword plus one supporting phrase—anything beyond that risks hurting click-through and watch-time.

Here’s the longer logic:

YouTube caps titles at 100 characters, but viewers only see ~50-60 before the cut-off. That visible zone is prime real estate, so cramming three or four keywords usually just creates a muddled first impression.

Best-practice guides put the “sweet spot” at 50–60 characters—long enough for a clear hook, short enough to stay readable in search and on mobile.

The algorithm looks for relevance, not repetition. One exact-match keyword plus a natural descriptor tells YouTube what the video is about without tripping the “excessive keyword” filter mentioned in 2024–25 SEO docs.

User signals trump keyword count. If a title reads awkwardly, your click-through rate drops, watch-time shrinks, and the video sinks—even if you nailed every keyword. That’s why most Vault creators who test keyword-heavy vs. concise titles see a 10-20 % higher CTR on the cleaner version.

Rule of thumb to keep it safe:

1 main keyword (“Adobe Premiere Tutorial”)
1 natural qualifier (“Edit Faster in 2025”)
Connect them with a hook:
Example: “Adobe Premiere Tutorial: Edit Faster in 2025”

That gives you relevance, intrigue, and room for a power word or date without tipping into spam territory.

Some more quick tips:

Use TubeBuddy or vidIQ to confirm the primary keyword’s search volume, then stop.
Put any extra keywords in the description and tags—no penalty there.
A/B test titles (TubeBuddy Title A/B) if you’re unsure; data beats guesswork.
Stick to that “1 + 1” formula and you’ll stay on the right side of both the algorithm and your audience’s patience.

Hope that de-clutters your titles—go get those clicks!

— Jeff

[Author]

Posts