How to Rank like a Pro: SEO for YouTube Videos
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You know it exists. You know it is smart for business. So you’ve decided to take the plunge and make a video as part of your content marketing strategy.
But what can you do to rank like a pro? It’s all about SEO for YouTube videos.
SEO is all about Projecting Relevance and Authority
Just like utilizing SEO techniques is your written online content, it is about using the right words at the right time in the right places.
If you’ve already made your video, your next step is identifying keywords that best describe the video. While a blog article may have phrases like getting more views, attracting more customers, and the best restaurants in Chicago, the YouTube user often seeks a specific answer to a question.
So, think like a YouTube user and position your keywords as interrogatives:
- How do I get more YouTube views?
- How do I attract more customers to my website?
- How do I find the best restaurants in Chicago?
People ask questions because they want answers. Therefore, position yourself and your videos as relevant with authority to answer the question.
Location Matters
Where you put your newly created “How to…” keywords is essential. When uploading and creating your video’s presentation, put your keywords in these locations:
- Title,
- Description (make it lengthy, too, as it helps denote authority),
- Any images that are on the page,
- Your video transcript,
- Video file name,
- Video thumbnail, and
- Video sitemap
Make it Easy
to Share! When social media links are directly on the YouTube page, your video is shared more often.
And the more options for sharing, the better. Remember to include sharing links for:
Call To Action
We seek out videos on YouTube to learn something. So, once you’ve imparted knowledge, provide your audience with the next steps.
For instance, direct them to the following video if the video is one in a series. Then, suggest a few scenarios where the advice can be practised if you’ve provided advice.
And, to help increase that SEO, ask for engagement. Engagement with videos is much like with other online content. Your search engine rankings will improve with more likes, dislikes, comments, and shares.
To double-down on your SEO for YouTube videos, make your link easy for others to embed into their websites or blogs.
Monitor Your Choices
Check link statistics to see how your YouTube video is performing.
You can make subtle changes in keywords, locations, and social media links and track what is working for your audience and what isn’t.
Considering SEO for YouTube Videos Before Filming?
Perfect! This gives you an advantage because you can pair SEO advice with successful production options.
First, consider your content. Does it solve a problem? Does your script make it easy for the viewer to identify the solution? If not, it’s time to revise.
Second, length matters. To help convey authority, make your videos at least 2 minutes long. Of course, the ideal time is 10 minutes, but if you don’t have the content for 10 minutes, don’t stretch it out for time’s sake.
Your viewers can tell if you are wasting their time.
Finally, first impressions matter. So make your page attractive, easy to navigate, and your videos polished.
Final Thoughts
Working on your SEO for YouTube videos or your website is never too late.
It is best practice to review all your online content marking and keep on top of the content marketing trends to avoid. This will help you build your audience, maintain relevancy, and grow your authority.