How to Get More Views on YouTube | Video SEO
Matthew Dodd, SEO Specialist • Reader Digital Agency
As of 2022, YouTube has roughly 2.6 billion users worldwide, which is more than one-third of all people that access the Internet. YouTube is also ranked as the second-most popular site in the world (after Google.com, of course)
If you’re reading this, it’s probably because your YouTube videos haven’t taken off as quickly as you expected, and you’re looking for answers. You’ve come to the right place. Take a look below at a few (somewhat) simple tips for driving more traffic to your YouTube channel. But first:
How does YouTube count views?
YouTube Help doesn’t directly state how they count views, but the general consensus seems to be that watching a video for a full 30 seconds counts as an official view.
Video SEO (search engine optimization) is key to ranking
In order to rank on YouTube and Google, your video must be properly optimized before the views come pouring in. Following these steps can help get your videos in front of more viewers:
1. Keyword-Rich Title and Video Description
Before publishing your video, give it a title that’s based on search volume. Of course, you’ll want to make sure the title is relevant to the content. Here are a couple of free tools you can use to determine which keywords will work best for your video’s title and description: Keyword Tool and Soovle.
2. Thumbnails
Think of your thumbnail as an empty canvas that needs to be as “clickable” as possible. Take a look at some of the top YouTubers to get an idea of what’s working for them. Without resorting to clickbait, use an appealing image and title that’s too irresistible to not click on.
3. Tags
Use at least 10 tags for your video. You’re allowed a maximum of 500 characters, and we recommend that you use them all each time. Again, you can use the free keyword tools mentioned above to determine which tags are most relevant to your content.
4. Create a Transcripts File
Transcripts are a simple way of creating captions. The text from your transcript will help you rank higher, as it’s “crawlable” by search engines. We’d recommend you paste your transcript into the description area as well. Here are more details on how to create a transcript file on YouTube.
How can I increase my YouTube video views?
Optimizing your video is a great first step to getting it in front of viewers, but don’t rely just on search engines. You’ll need to do some footwork as well. Try this:
1. Cross-promote your video everywhere
Promote your video on all digital platforms that you have access to. Be sure to include niche platforms where your target audience may be found. This may include sharing your video on:
- Social Media – Find relevant social media pages and handles in your niche. Be sure to use popular/applicable hashtags.
- Websites, Blogs, and Forums – Share your video in the comment section of high traffic/engaging site, like Reddit, and see if you can engage with other users. Also, try contacting the website owners or managers to see if they’d be interested in sharing your video.
2. YouTube Cards
These interactive cards enable you to promote your other content within the video. You can add up to 5 cards that can boost engagement and reduce abandonment, leading to more video views.
3. YouTube Playlists
Playlists are a great tool to encourage your viewers to watch more video content on a similar topic. Create them by organizing all your video content into groups or themes of your choosing. One great perk that works similarly to Netflix binging is that once the audience has finished an episode, your next video in the playlist automatically plays (potentially increasing views).
4. YouTube End Screens
Think of end screens as the last slide of an important presentation. Highlight the most important information you want to communicate with your audience. Here, you can point your viewers to other videos, ask them to subscribe to your channel or provide a link to your website.
How can I get more subscribers on YouTube?
Increasing your subscribers leads directly to increased views by alerting your viewers the moment your video is up and ready to be viewed. Additionally, the more subscribers you have, the more worthy your content appears to new viewers, who will start poking around in your videos to see what all the hubbub is about. And voila! More views. Follow these simple steps to get more subscribers:
1. Ask Viewers to Subscribe
Don’t be shy! Ask for likes and shares at the end of ALL of your videos.
2. Embed a Sign-up Plugin or Widget on Your Site
Do you have a website? Embed a signup plugin or widget on your site for collecting YouTube subscriptions.
3. Email Lists
Do you have an email list yet? If not, get one together asap. Depending on how much video content you have, you can shoot out a weekly/monthly email to your list updating viewers with your latest videos.
4. Experiment with Paid Ads
All the methods mentioned so far have technically been organic (aka free). But if you have some extra in your marketing budget and want to accelerate the process of getting more views or growing your YouTube channel, paid ads can help get you there faster.
Professional Video Production Services in San Diego
While you want as many views as possible for each video, providing value should be your guiding principle. At the end of the day, you have to put out quality content that someone will actually want to watch. If you own a business in San Diego and you’re looking to build your brand, we can help you create videos for your website and increase your conversions exponentially.
Contact Reader Digital Agency at (619) 483-4600 for more information about how our video production services can help you grow your business.
