What is YouTube SEO?

Besides Google, there are many search engines all over the internet.

In fact, most websites have a search feature that helps you find content on that site. Technically, they are search engines. Yep, that even makes social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin search engines.

YouTube is also a search engine. Because besides recommending videos, it also has its own SERPs where users can easily find channels and videos they are looking for.

So if Youtube is a search engine… And SEO is “Search Engine Optimization”…

Then YouTube SEO is the process of optimizing your videos to rank higher in YouTube search results.

How does YouTube SEO work?

Youtube was purchased by Google. As a result, it has adopted similar search intelligence as its parent company.

When a user searches for a term on YouTube, the YouTube bots crawl through the index of all channels and videos on the platform to provide the best, most relevant, results. YouTube’s algorithm considers various factors to find the best results for users:

• user’s watch history
• relevancy to the user
• the number of subscribers
• the number of videos on a channel that a user has viewed,
• the number of subscribers who watch a video immediately after it is posted

Account optimization is also a ranking factor.

It considers your title, descriptions, and meta descriptions. So a video that properly fills in the title, tags, and description fields will rank high on the SERPs.

The platform recognizes that these videos provide a more valuable user experience. Also, when a user searches a term on Google, the SERP produces a carousel of relevant video content from YouTube and other platforms. This is because Google and YouTube are owned by the same company and as such are linked.

Meaning the SEO optimizations that you make to rank on YouTube also apply to Google SERPs.

Using your website to rank Youtube videos

Your Channel’s ranking on Google can be improved by embedding YouTube videos within your website.

According to Moz, YouTube videos account for 94% of video search results on Google. Embedding your YouTube videos on your website keeps users engaged with your content for longer. Both channels will benefit from this strategy. Your YouTube video metrics will increase, and your website’s engagement performance will improve.

YouTube SEO Tips To Rank Higher In Search

Here are some SEO tips to help you rank higher on YouTube SERPs

1. Do extensive YouTube keyword research
2. Choose keywords with good reach potential
3. Optimize your video for your keywords.
   1. Say your keywords in your video,
   2. use keywords in the video’s title and description,
4. use tags with your keywords to drive YouTube search results
5. Rename your video file using your keywords.
6. Create and publish a high-retention video.
7. Raise your production value as much as possible
8. Categorize your video.
9. Create custom thumbnails for your video
10. Add subtitles and closed captions with an SRT file. Also, offer subtitles in multiple languages
11. Add a transcript to your video description
12. Add Cards and End Screens to promote other relevant videos.
13. Incorporate a CTA in your video. Ask your audience to comment, like, subscribe, etc.
14. Promote your video on other platforms
    1. Create playlists
    2. Embed your YouTube video on your website
    3. Invite your audience on social media to engage with your videos
15. Experiment with paid ads
16. Track your analytics