YouTube algorithms are not the most coherent things on earth, but there's still a certain logic in them. SEO-optimized videos posted a while ago keep receiving new views, thus ranking the video on top of search results and getting more traffic.
But what can you do to achieve such outstanding results? Add tags? Comments? Interweave keywords into a speaking pattern? Honestly... a little bit of everything. Drumroll! Roll 'em! We'll teach you how to tame YouTube.
Unsheathe the Tags!
It's not a secret that YouTube uses key queries to show recommendations, and these key queries may include either words, phrases, or even sentences. Evidently, an ordinary human being (just like the author writing this article for several hours and trying to find proof of all the information mentioned in the text) won't be able to parse keys and define which ones work best, but programs can. Thank God Almighty, progress has bestowed services that make our lives easier.
Expectedly, Google Adwords is the first on the list. Is there a problem Google can't solve?.. Even if such a thing exists, there's still a wide range of tasks taken care of.
- Plan your content. You can pick the keys based on the recommendations system offers. You may be tempted to skip this unnecessary step, but that's where you start planning your videos and outlining the script.
- Assess your key statistics. The system creates a report showing the number of queries and their frequency.
- Organize your queries. Google collects the keys and checks how popular they are with users. So, using this information, you can draw up a list (or several lists, for that matter) regarding the query frequency.
If Google failed to meet your expectations, or if you feel growing and inexplicable animosity toward the service, try TubeBuddy, Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox extension. Free functions are available, and you will certainly find useful features for your YouTube prosperity, but in case you want to unleash the full potential of the app, you'll have to pony up the money. The more, the better.
Not that we're depriving you of the valuable knowledge of the free version. Before you make the decision to switch or not to switch to TubeBuddy, breeze through the basic functions.
- Analyze competitors. The system scrutinizes views, engagement, comments, and tags. The tags, by the way, are not hanging in the air: TubeBuddy shows how they are ranked on the platform.
- Select tags. Use the tool to choose the right hashtags for new videos and expand the list for the older ones. By the way, there's a shtick that may come in handy: the system divides tags into 2 groups, those that are already popular and those that are about to strike. So instead of hitting home in one section you're aiming at, you can certainly climb up the ladder of newly created flash mobs.
- Learn the dynamics. You can see the ebb and flow of keywords and peek at the popular queries in other countries.
TubeBuddy's half-sibling, VidIQ, is another optimization option with several unique features.
- Follow the lead. You no longer need to plow through your competitors' content, so save your energy for the great strides you're about to make. The system parses their most popular content, so you don't have to count someone else's views.
- Don't miss the trends. YouTube trend notifications are on, so use the information you're given and create popular videos.
- Take everything under control. Detailed information on your videos is stored in one place.
- Watch out. You can see all the necessary readouts and indicators of your channel on any YouTube page.
- Know your onions. Knowledge is key. And YouTube is not an exception to the rule. Thus, the platform gives you access to the courses helping you improve your YouTube experience.
- Compare and contrast. Finally, you can define your achievements and progress compared to your other videos.
- Peruse the analytics. No need to thrash about in the dark, trying to find the best keywords that would work. The app will do it for you, just give it a chance.
Keyword Tool is the last tool we mention, but it doesn't mean it's worse than any of the aforementioned options. It's just as good. The thing is that this service helps you find keywords on various platforms, such as Google, YouTube, Bing, Amazon, and AppStore.
As always, a free version is available. It works fairly well, offering you up to 750 keys, however, if you wish to deepen your analysis and choose all the right tags for your project, you'll have to shell out money. What does it do? Hold your horses! We were just getting to that. Filter, export, and sort your keywords, autocomplete, parse your competitors' content… you name it. You buy it, and then you name it, to be precise.
Cheating Approved
Well, this is not what you think it is going to be. If you expected a profound cheating strategy described in excruciating detail, alas, there's nothing to unearth. We're not saying it doesn't exist, it very well can, but today we're simply trying to select the tags manually. Yes, it's 2023, and people still do that.
In case you find the option appealing, start typing keywords in the search bar and pay attention to the pop-ups. This tool was created for the users who aren't sure what to seek and how to formulate their ideas clearly, but to you this is a real cheat sheet, deciphering what people—your potential target audience—are actually looking for. The phrases you've gathered can be further used in your videos as titles or descriptions: after all, these are the most frequently searched queries on the platform, so your video will definitely pop up.
Still, don't out-Herod Herod: no need to chase all the queries at once, trying to cram everything into one video. Do a little filtering! Sort the keywords, choose the most relevant ones and make sure they are applicable to your video and the topic you're covering.
This, though, is not the core of optimization. To succeed, you need to pay heed to other aspects as well.
- Form the semantic kernel. Not to be an annoying linguist, but lists always help. Find the most popular queries, followed by the less frequent ones, which can be later edited or deleted for good.
- Write tags in the title. In fact, you should start by using the keywords in your script. In fact, you can even verbalize them or make the speaker pronounce them. When it's done, switch to the name (which should be easy to read) and make sure it's coherent enough. Remember, the viewer wants to immediately receive the answer to a question they have formed in their head. Ah, by the way: this is the user who asks questions. You avoid them.
Optimization is one hell of a business, fuss, and constant turmoil that devours your time even worse than traffic. And that is one hell of an aberration. If you explore the options, find the services, extensions, and apps that adjust keywords, you will simplify the whole process just in time to seize the reins. What's next? Relax and prepare for the glory following right after your videos appear at the top of the search bar. :)
