Hidden YouTube SEO Strategies for Explosive Growth

This article was Authored by: Joseph Schneider | Director of Marketing

What is YouTube SEO?

YouTube has emerged as one of the most popular video platforms on the planet today. For both short and long form content, YouTube has established itself as a key player across all brands and verticals. And it also has a massive 2.7 billion people logging into it every day.

From a business perspective, the key to getting the most out of your YouTube channel is to focus on YouTube SEO. The YouTube algorithm wants more engagement over views; this means simply racking up views will not help your channel. Videos need to encourage people to subscribe and comment as well.

To achieve success on YouTube, there is no single strategy that can help. Rather, it is a multi-pronged and strategic approach that will help achieve goals on the platform. Here are a few SEO-related tips that can help catapult your channel into the upper echelons of the YouTube landscape.

12 Little-Known YouTube SEO Techniques to Get Increasing Video Views

1. Understand the Importance of “The Hook”

Arguably, the most important part of YouTube video creation has always been the hook. With hundreds of thousands of videos being released every day, it is safe to say your video is competing against many others for user attention.

Here, the first 15 to 30 seconds are what determine if the user is going to sit through the rest of the video. One strategy to get them to watch is to create a short 5 or 10-second preview of the most interesting parts of the video. This will get them interested in what's ahead.

Another tip is to start with the most compelling question or statement that a user has when they click the video. Avoid using lengthy intros, self-promotion, sponsors, and jarring music right at the start of the video.

2. Focus On Creating Related Videos

A great way to ensure continued viewership and earn that subscription is to create a series of related videos. YouTube has an "Up Next" option, which lets users continue on to the next video automatically without having to interact with their device or browser.

Work on creating a multi-part video or a content series focused on a particular issue. Grouping these videos into a thematic playlist can increase the chances that people will keep watching your videos. Also, ensure that your videos are split into chapters so people can pick up where they left off more easily.

Needless to say, this can considerably improve the channel's watch time and session duration times. All of these are important SEO metrics that can improve the channel/video's relevance and ranking.

3. Optimize With Long-Tail Keywords

Keywords are a vital part of the YouTube SEO experience. The goal of choosing keywords should be to target specific, lower-competition search queries related to the topic of discussion. Without filling the video with fluff, try to answer questions users might have directly and to the point.

Research shows that keywords with higher intent can lead to more engagement and better conversions. To get a list of the best keywords for a particular topic, you can refer to Google Search's People Also Ask section. For a more specialized tool, AnswerThePublic is what you need.

Another easy way is to type out various keywords on YouTube's own search bar and make a note of the suggestions. Adding the primary long-tail keyword in the title is something that can help immensely with SEO.

4. Create a Visual Narrative (Don’t Just Group Videos)

Many brands make the mistake of just creating a bunch of videos and putting them in a playlist and calling it a day. This type of strategy will never deliver optimal results. The goal of brands using video on YouTube is to create a visual narrative.

Create custom playlists complete with engaging thumbnails that reflect the discussed topic and also the chapter or number. Featuring these prominently can help the user figure out the order of the videos to watch.

Another way to improve viewership is to create a narrative arc across multiple videos that focus on progression. Some of the most popular narrative series are "Beginner to Pro," "I spent X days doing this," and more. Finally, focus on creating an appealing and cohesive channel homepage.

5. Use Unlisted Videos Strategically

A great feature of YouTube that just does not get enough attention when it comes to engagement and SEO is the unlisted feature. Simply put, a video that is published as unlisted is not listed on search and can only be accessed with the link.

Unlisted videos can be used to leverage email subscribers and other insiders to deliver exclusive branded content. It also works to share a development video of the product or service with the clients before it has been completed.

Unlisted videos can also be used as a lead magnet for engaging with your email signups. While these do not affect the SEO metrics directly, they can create a sense of loyalty for fans of your brand or channel.

6. Add the Right Keywords to Your Descriptions

Long-tail keywords are as important in YouTube SEO as they are on search engines, in fact, more so. When it comes to YouTube, there is a limited scope to use long-tail keywords. The most common place where keywords are added is the video description.

While it is not a strict rule, ideally, the first two sentences in the video description should contain primary keywords and address the subject of the video. Ensure that the keywords are added naturally into the description and do not appear forced into it.

Add as many details as you can so the YouTube algorithm can accurately categorize the video, and it will show up on relevant searches. This space should also be used to link to other related videos and playlists so users can navigate to them more easily.

7. Include Timestamps in All Your Videos

The one thing that a lot of YouTube video creators fail to do is to divide the video into searchable chapters via timestamps. It goes without saying that timestamps can massively improve user experience and help navigation through the video.

These chapters can also be used to create an "entry point" into the video, which doesn't have to be right at the start. Search results can now highlight a specific relevant part of the total video. This increases the chances of the video being clicked by users who are looking for a solution that is embedded inside a particular chapter of the video.

In addition to this, creators can also use long-tail keywords inside the chapters, making it more "searchable" on other social media platforms. Splitting the video into different chapters ensures a more professional and well-organized outlook for the channel.

8. Create a “Searchable Quote” Thumbnail

Whether we like it or not, virality does generate buzz! Something that can help get your videos more popular is featuring a controversial or insightful quote from the video on your thumbnail. The text should be in a reasonably large font, ensuring readability even on smaller devices. Ensure that it stands out from the rest of the background with the use of the right colors.

Brainstorm the quote that should appear on the thumbnail with other members of your team. Ideally, a quote should generate interest and encourage a person to click the video. This could be a question or a takeaway at the end of the video.

It is also a great idea to add a picture of the creator with an expression consistent with the tone of the thumbnail text. As always, exhaustively A/B test ideas with a group to find the one that is most clickable and on-brand with your channel.

9. Ensure SEO Optimization Before Upload

Before you begin uploading, ensure that all collateral is SEO-ready and optimized as much as possible. Finalize all the keywords in the descriptions, chapters, and title, ensuring that you haven't resorted to keyword stuffing.

Design and upload the custom thumbnail, not forgetting the text blurb added to it. It is also vital that you add the intro card and the end card to the editor before the video upload. Remember that the thumbnail will be much smaller on mobile devices, so make sure it is readable even on those compact screens.

When uploading videos, it is good practice to set them to unlisted first. This can help you correct any errors if you spot them and then reupload if necessary. Having a checklist before you upload videos helps you keep track of the steps and not miss anything.

10. Leverage Community Tab for Teasers

YouTube's community tab is a relatively new feature that works like a social media platform. It allows creators to connect with their audience using text, images, and even short videos. This feature unlocks for a creator when they get 500 followers.

Using this to generate pre-upload hype is a game-changer for your reach. In fact, you can use the community tab to ask your audience about what to post through polls and contests. This can help you gauge what type of content would do well with your community.

Uploading content to community tabs creates anticipation before launch - especially useful when unveiling a new product or service. It also helps you engage directly with your subscribers and make necessary course corrections before releasing a video.

11. Create an Accompanying YouTube Short

YouTube Shorts are short videos that last less than 60 seconds. Unlike longer YouTube videos, it appears in a vertical format and is aimed at smartphone users. People can also flick through related shorts with just a swipe.

The most popular creators on YouTube "clip" specific parts of their videos into Shorts. It is a great way to create a teaser for the full video. Shorts have a description section that contains the link to the full video, which users can click.

There is no single rule when creating Shorts except that they need to be short and impactful. Don't limit the number of shorts that a single video can have. But also remember that too many can dilute the experience.

12. Analyze YouTube Metrics and KPIs

YouTube has detailed analytics that creators can use to get every little detail about their channel metrics. It is critical that they have a complete understanding of the analytics ecosystem to get the most out of their channel.

Click-Through Rate is one of the most important metrics on a video. It shows how well the video thumbnail and title are performing among your audience. Traffic sources to your video need to be reviewed constantly to understand where you are getting your viewers from.

Also, keep track of which videos elicit the most response from your viewers to subscribe and create more related to the same topic. With the YouTube analytics suite, you will be able to make data-driven decisions that can benefit your channel in the long run.

YouTube SEO FAQs

1. What Is the Most Important Ranking Factor on YouTube?

There is no single metric for YouTube ranking, but one of the more important ones is Watch Time and Audience Retention. A video with a high WT and AR will outperform another with just a high view count. Content that keeps users on the platform is better than when a user clicks on a video and then immediately clicks away.

2. How Can I Find the Right Keywords for My Videos?

Deep dive into your audience and brainstorm a list of keywords that are best suited to your video and channel. Competitor analysis is also another reliable source of keywords. You can also use YouTube's autocomplete to get the right keywords to use for your video.

3. What Are Some Tips for Improving Click-Through Rate?

The simple definition of Click-Through Rate is how often a user clicks your video. It can be improved by making your titles and thumbnails more appealing to the average audience member. Captivating thumbnails with "searchable quotes" can entice more people to click on videos.

4. Is There an Optimal Upload Schedule?

When it comes to uploads, there is no one-size-fits-all schedule. A rule of thumb to remember is that quality trumps quantity. It is always better to upload one high-quality video than to push out 4 hurried, low-effort videos.