Why Are Some Videos Always on Top? Discover Top 10 YouTube SEO Tips

Just last week, while binging on cat videos on YouTube (as one must), I noticed something intriguing.

Some videos had millions of views, while others with equally cute cats barely had a few hundred. As someone who’s been in the YouTube game for a while, I knew there was more to this than just adorable felines.

It’s not just about creating great content; it’s about making sure your videos get found. That’s where YouTube SEO comes in. Over the years, I’ve fine-tuned my approach to optimizing videos, and it’s paid off big time. My videos consistently rank high, drawing in views and engagement.

Today, I’m sharing the strategies that have worked for me. From keyword placement to promoting your videos, I’ll break down the top 10 tips and tricks to help your videos climb the search results. Let’s get your content the attention it deserves and learn how to make money on YouTube.

#1 Get your keywords right

There are many ways to do this; one of the most effective methods is through keyword research.

Keyword research allows you to discover long-tail keywords or phrases people use when they’re searching online.

For example: if someone searched, “How to make chocolate chip cookies” and you optimized your video for that keyword, your video will rank higher in search engines and you’ll get more traffic.

Using tools to find the right long-tail keyword

Here are some great tools to use to find long-tail keywords:

• Ubersuggest – Ubersuggest is a free tool that helps you find related keywords in relation to the main keyword. Enter your keyword and select which search engine you want to use: Google, YouTube, or Bing.
• Keywordtool.io – This is another free tool that offers suggestions for additional keywords if you enter in the main keyword phrase.

This is also an easy way to discover new long-tail keywords related to your business idea without any extra work. You can just enter your keyword and hit the “show me more” button to get some great long-tail recommendations.

Once you have discovered these phrases, simply add them into YouTube’s video editor box under “tags.” This will help boost your overall views as well as your SEO.

What happens if you don’t do the right keyword research?

You might create a great video or even a series of videos, but no one ever finds them. So don’t leave this critical step out of your video creation process. There’s nothing worse than creating a video and then realizing that your title, tags, or descriptions aren’t optimized for these long-tail keywords.

If you don’t optimize your videos correctly, they won’t rank highly in YouTube search results; not only that, but the SEO process will take longer to work because Google needs to understand what the content is about. If you do this correctly, when someone searches for something on Google, they can find your video right away even if it doesn’t show up in YouTube’s main feed.

The most important tip we can give you when it comes to optimizing your YouTube channel and finding keywords: do your research beforehand. You can do a quick search on Google and find tons of keywords you didn’t even know existed (for example: “how to make homemade ice cream” is not just one keyword, but you can come up with many different long-tail keywords based on that).

If you’re planning a series of videos, try and plan so that you can easily add the new keywords into each video description, tag, or annotation.

Expected results with proper keyword research

If you’ve done the proper keyword research, YouTube’s search engine will start to recognize the kind of videos that your channel has and you’ll begin showing up on Google when someone is searching for a topic related to your video.

This allows you to get more traffic right away without having to wait for views and then hope it shows up in the feeds or search results.

#2 Now, optimize your title and description

You’ve found the right keywords, but what do you do with them? With 4 billion videos being viewed every day, including your keywords appropriately is crucial if you want to be successful.

Make sure to include appropriate keywords in the title and description of each video. The first few sentences should be written as though they would be used for a search engine snippet if possible.

If you have a video about “Lead Generation,” add the word in your title and description. If possible, include keywords that are relevant to your product or industry.

When people search for keywords related to videos found on YouTube, they will sometimes see other recommendations based on their search.

Both Google and Bing use information from YouTube when ranking keyword-related searches so it’s important to optimize the metadata of your videos appropriately if you want them to be found by customers searching for topics related to your business.

#3 Include a call-to-action in the annotations of each video

Within YouTube’s annotation tool, you can overlay text onto your video that viewers must click before accessing additional details relating to the content displayed in this space.

This is an excellent way to direct your viewers to a specific page on your website including a “resource center” that will provide tutorials, videos, reports, or press releases.

If you want people who’ve watched your video to get in touch with you, download a PDF file, or move down your sales funnel, this is an incredible opportunity to do so.

#4 Don’t forget the tags

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When it comes to tags, be careful not to make them sound spammy by stuffing keywords where they don’t belong. Write naturally while still incorporating important phrases into your tags. Also, remember that you can upload up to 30 tags per video – though I don’t recommend that you use up all 30.

#5 Create keyword-focused playlists

On your YouTube channel, you can create various sections or “playlists” that separate the videos you choose to have listed under each of these headings. Don’t forget to label them in such a way to make it easy for people searching for specific topics to find what they’re after.

A good playlist will help people find more videos on topics that interest them. Additionally, you can include relevant playlists to optimize your channel’s overall presence online.

#6 Add cards and end screens to increase viewership

It is often said that the devil is in the details. With YouTube, that cannot be truer. Because small things like adding cards or end screens to videos automatically improve the likelihood of a subscription. The term used is called “YouTube Rabbit Hole.” Adding relevant cards and end screens allows you to expand your video’s possibility of succeeding in YouTube search results. There are several types of cards:

• Video or playlist: A way of starting the rabbit hole or increase your views
• Channel: Promote your own channel, an associate channel, or someone else’s channel
• Donation: Encourage viewers to donate to a cause via a non-profit or an NGO
• Poll: Engage viewers by giving them a chance to decide on what they can get to see
• Link: Add a link to a website on your YouTube videos

#7 Create an appealing banner image

You should have already uploaded an eye-catching graphic that will be displayed at the top of your channel page when someone views it through either Google search results or YouTube itself.

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This image seems minor but it’s very important to include keywords in this space so that people who are browsing through search results can find your channel and start to remember your personal brand.

#8 Don’t forget transcripts, subtitles and closed captions

Pro Tip – Sometimes, your potential audience does not speak your tongue. A study revealed that a video was able to generate 48% in terms of overall intended action. So, adding captions or subtitles makes your video relevant to audiences that do not understand your vocal delivery.

You don’t want someone trying to engage with your videos because they’re interested in a specific topic, only to be frustrated by the fact that it hasn’t been captioned and now they must rely on audio alone. This will likely lead them to click elsewhere to view an option where they can avoid this hassle. So, also enable transcripts.

Also, transcriptions are an awesome tool for showing videos to people who may not have visual access to the entire video. This might include people that are using screen readers due to vision impairments.

If you manage to do a product demonstration video, you are already on track for 57% more conversion. But add subtitles to the mix, and you automatically become more relevant for the video to get the intended action. It will also result in a 40% increase in the watching time of your YouTube Video.

#9 Spend time on promoting your videos

There is a huge community of YouTubers online and many of them will be more than happy to help promote your content if you participate in their channel as well. Highlight any relevant information that ties into yours.

Be sure to add a link back to your site within the description or annotation fields of whichever video you choose to promote and encourage viewers to follow up with either you or whoever owns that particular channel directly. This will allow you to grow your YouTube channel and get more people to come across what you’re creating.

Embedding your videos on other websites is another great way to go viral and get the most out of your YouTube content.

Be sure to add this to your website, blog, or relevant forum posts. You can even include links within your description field that direct interested viewers back to your channel as well as show them more videos and related information.

#10 Upload a custom thumbnail image

Previously, the thumbnail on a YouTube search result used to be one of the scenes from the actual video. However, as content creation has evolved, the overall bar for creativity has been set high. So now, you can design a custom thumbnail for every video, and YouTube will show that banner every time someone searches.

So, to make sure your users can understand what you want them to remember, use a custom-designed thumbnail image. A step further, a pattern has also emerged where the custom thumbnail uses four specific colors to stand out to the user.

They are called BOGY or:

• Blue
• Orange
• Green
• Yellow

This is because it stands out from the conventional Black, White, and Red color scheme of YouTube. Hence, it instantly pops out to the user and manages to garner their attention. Whether they click can subconsciously be decided by the choice of standing out or blending in.

One of the biggest examples of this color scheme usage is Neil Patel. Most of his videos have a custom thumbnail that uses his own signature colors that are Orange and White.

Another example of the BOGY (Blue, Orange, Green, and Yellow) thumbnail approach is the YouTube channel “How it Should Have Ended,” which has 10.1 million subscribers.

Final thoughts on YouTube SEO

By understanding how keywords, titles, descriptions, and engagement affect ranking, I saw my videos start to climb the search results. It wasn’t just about getting views—it was about attracting the right audience and keeping them engaged.

Implementing these strategies has not only boosted my views but also fostered a more engaged and loyal audience. I’ve learned that optimization is a continuous process. It requires staying up-to-date with trends, regularly tweaking keywords, and always focusing on creating valuable content that resonates with viewers.

So, my advice to you is to dive in and start experimenting. Apply these tips, analyze your results, and adjust your approach as needed. With dedication and the right strategies, your videos can reach new heights. If I can do it, so can you. Happy optimizing!

FAQs

What is YouTube SEO and why is it important?

YouTube SEO involves optimizing your video content to rank higher in YouTube search results. It’s crucial because higher rankings lead to more visibility, which can result in more views, engagement, and subscribers.

How do I choose the right keywords for my YouTube videos?

Start by researching what keywords are relevant to your content using tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, or TubeBuddy. Look for keywords with high search volume and low competition. Incorporate these keywords naturally into your video title, description, and tags.

What are the key components of optimizing a YouTube video?

The key components include a compelling title, a detailed description, relevant tags, a custom thumbnail, and adding cards and end screens. Engaging with viewers through comments and likes also boosts your video’s SEO.

How can I create an effective video title?

An effective video title should be concise, include your main keyword, and be compelling enough to entice clicks. Aim to keep it under 60 characters to ensure it’s fully visible in search results.

How can I create an engaging thumbnail?

Create a custom thumbnail that is visually appealing and relevant to your video content. Use bright colors, readable text, and a clear image to attract clicks. Thumbnails should be 1280×720 pixels for the best quality.