Growing your YouTube channel can be daunting, especially when you’re up against channels with massive followings.
However, the size of your channel doesn’t determine the limit of your SEO potential. Proper SEO techniques can significantly boost the influence of even the smallest channels.
In this article, we’ll review the exact SEO tactics that will boost your channel’s visibility, no matter when they were uploaded. We will unpack the strategies that work for channels of any size, from leveraging long-tail keywords to creating engaging titles and optimizing descriptions, we’ll show you how to scale your channel will good SEO. Plus, we’ll discuss the tools and tactics that can make your videos more searchable and clickable.
Ranking High Despite Channel Size
Don’t let the size of your channel hold you back. The key is to focus on quality over quantity, ensuring each video is fully optimized to be found by your target audience.
How to: Focus on optimizing evergreen content for enduring relevance. Use analytics to identify your top-performing content and update it with current information and keywords. If you are just starting your channel, use analytics from your blog, create videos that compliment your most popular articles. Don’t forget to go back and embed your video into the blog.
Passive Income from Evergreen Content
Your older videos can still be gold mines. By optimizing these videos with current SEO practices, they can continue to generate revenue and attract new viewers, long after their upload date.
Long-Tail Keywords are a Must
Incorporating long-tail keywords in your titles can significantly increase your chances of appearing in searches. These specific phrases have less competition and can effectively target your desired audience.
How to: Use keyword research tools to identify long-tail keywords with high search potential and low competition. Integrate these into your titles in a natural, compelling way.
Tools for Keyword Mastery
Tools like ‘Keywords Everywhere’ and ‘TubeBuddy’s Keyword Explorer’ are essential in your SEO toolkit. They help you discover relevant long-tail keywords to enhance your video’s searchability.
Install the Extension: Begin by adding ‘Keywords Everywhere’ as an extension to your web browser. It’s compatible with both Chrome and Firefox.
Access TubeBuddy: Make sure TubeBuddy is installed and linked to your YouTube account.
Creating Click-Worthy Titles
Mix drama with data. Use compelling words alongside your long-tail keywords to make your titles irresistible to both search engines and potential viewers.
How to: Blend long-tail keywords with emotive, curiosity-piquing language. Test different title formats to see which resonates best with your audience. Another tips is to add parentheses or brackets at the end of the title to increase click through rate.
Description Strategies: Beyond Summaries
Your video description is prime real estate for SEO. Pack it with relevant long-tail keywords and related terms to increase your search presence.
How to: Write descriptions packed with relevant long-tail keywords, related terms, and a call-to-action. Ensure the first couple of lines are particularly engaging as they appear in search previews. Here is a framework that we use for our SEO clients at Clapping Dog Media, make a copy.
The First 48 Hours: Make Them Count
Your video’s initial performance is crucial. Use hashtags, tags, engage with your audience, and promote your video extensively in the first 24-48 hours to give it an SEO boost.
How to: Regularly use hashtags relevant to your content, tag related channels or influencers, pin top comments to encourage engagement, and actively promote your content across social platforms in the first 48 hours.
Doubling Down on Winning Topics
If a topic performs well, create more content around it. This not only establishes your authority but also improves your channel’s visibility in related searches.
How to: Analyze your analytics to identify which topics are driving traffic and engagement. Develop a content series around these topics to establish authority and boost SEO.
In 2024 videos must be a part of your SEO strategy, use these tips to get found on YouTube and Google.