Introduction
Applying YouTube best practices for your channel is a highly effective strategy for content creators seeking to expand their reach and cultivate an engaged audience.
As video content continues to increase in popularity, so does the use of YouTube as a search engine platform.
Thinking that 70% of people say they bought a brand as a result of seeing it on a YouTube video shows you the power of conversion: you can generate even more affiliate revenue and pitch new ideas to brand collabs. Keep reading for the best practices to apply for successful content on your YouTube Channel.
How to Create Impactful Content for Youtube?
There are 3 parts in the process of creating content for Youtube; Planning, Marketing and SEO.
1. Here’s How to Plan Your Content
- First, have a solid content schedule and a clear understanding of your content pillars.
- Once you have identified these pillars, use your blog to write about them and create complementary content for each social platform, such as reviews.
- To ensure that you never miss a deadline, consider using an editorial calendar to plan and schedule your content.
- Make sure to stick to the same themes as your blog to establish a strong brand identity and maintain consistency.
- Consider searching for popular and searchable topics within these themes, such as “How To” videos, which are highly sought after on YouTube.
- Maintaining consistency in your content will help establish your authority and improve your standing with the YouTube algorithm.
- You can also repurpose your Instagram reels into short 60-second videos on YouTube.
2. How to Market Your Channel
- Leverage Your Social Media Presence. Keep your followers informed by announcing new and exclusive YouTube content every week. Highlight the added value of subscribing to your channel.
- Harness the Power of Email Marketing. Reach out to your subscribers and keep them updated on your latest videos.
- Connect with Your Viewers. Engage with your audience in the comments section, which is a crucial metric in determining the success of your channel.
- Promote Your Channel on Your Website. Include links to your YouTube channel on your site’s widgets.
- Engage with Your Community. Utilize YouTube’s Community tab to connect directly with your audience. Respond to comments, ask for feedback and share exclusive content.
- Keep Your Channel Active. Regular engagement on the Community tab will keep your channel active in YouTube’s algorithm.
3. What is YouTube SEO and How to Apply It?
Did you know that YouTube customizes your content recommendations based on your personal preferences and watch history? Unlike Google search, where all users receive the same results, YouTube creates a unique experience for each user. This means that the content you see on your homepage and in your search results is different from other users, making your experience on the platform truly personalized.
Do Your Keyword Research!
- Like with on-page SEO, you’ll need to do your keyword research to better target the searches of your desired audience.
- While generic SEO tools can provide general guidance, they may not be tailored to your specific YouTube audience. If you’re investing in YouTube in the next few years you might want to consider a paid-for tool like https://ahrefs.com/keywords-explorer which does have YouTube keyword research capabilities alongside traditional on-page SEO.
- To ensure maximum visibility and reach for your video, remember to name your file using keywords that accurately describe the content. This simple step can make a big difference in how YouTube categorizes and presents your video to potential viewers.
- Extra Tip: Use the autofill in the search bar to give you ideas.
Add Keywords in Your Title
- Preferably front-load your keywords at the beginning as this is where YouTube places weighted importance.
- For e.g. Lemon Polenta Cake recipe: Lemon Polenta Cake – the best recipe…. Is a much stronger title than How to make Lemon Polenta Cake by…That being said there isn’t a huge amount of difference in rankings when not doing this but it can push the needle.
- Make sure your video title accurately reflects the content within. This will give viewers a clear idea of what they can expect to see.
- Opt for a title that is both informative and flows naturally. Avoid frontloading your title with too much information, but ensure it clearly communicates the essence of your video..
- Add brackets in your title if possible e.g. ….(gluten-free) / (vegan) etc . Analysis has shown that adding brackets also help in the comprehension of subtopics and categories which span your video content.
- Extra tip: Make sure to include the year in brackets at the end of your titles when appropriate. This simple update will enhance the relevance of your content to search engines, where recentness is a significant factor in determining the search query results. Remember to update the year annually for optimal results.
Add Your Keywords into Your Description
- You have up to 5000 characters to increase your chances of visibility for key themes (however only 157 will appear in a search result).
- Link to content on your own website that adds further value. If possible, paraphrase and promote your longer-form content on your website within the video description and then link to your for an added SEO boost.
- By providing a comprehensive and descriptive account, you enhance the likelihood of your content reaching its intended target audience.
However, remember the importance of explaining the actual video as well as adding all of your links!
Front Load Your Description
YouTube will only show the first lines of your description to your audience therefore if you want people to see it, the first sentence needs to deliver a reason to click to view more!
Think keywords! What would your target audience be searching for? What do we want to rank for?
Add CTAs!
- Commenting is one of the strongest engagement indicators for YouTube. Engagement rates indicate content superiority. Make sure you are adding your call to action (CTAs) in your videos to drive engagement!
- Therefore be specific on what and how you want your viewers to act both within the video and in the description. Remember, YouTube is a social media platform (technically). Be responsive! Check in with your community.
- Extra Tip: Hyper-specific CTAs work much better to drive commenting action.
Get Specific with Your Tags
Tags play a crucial role in communicating to YouTube what your content specializes in and the related content it is associated with, thereby boosting the likelihood of appearing as a “suggested video.”
Make sure you’re using the optimal amount as using too many can confuse Search Engines.
Follow this method: 1) Make the first tag the same as the keyword you want to rank for .i.e. lemon polenta cake.
2)Then use a few more tags as variations of the keywords you want to rank for.
3) Lastly, use a few broader ones e.g. baking, recipes and gluten-free.
Gain insight from your competitors by utilizing the tags from their videos to boost your own visibility as a suggested video. To do so, simply right-click and view the page source, then search for the relevant keyword to uncover their tags.
Assign a Category to Your Content
To optimize your content on YouTube, utilize the Advanced Settings feature. Keep in mind, however, that merely selecting a category is not enough. The category helps YouTube understand related content, so it is recommended to thoroughly research the top-performing content in the categories you are considering. This research should encompass not just the content itself, but also the length, format, and style of your videos.
Upload a Custom Thumbnail
Upload a custom thumbnail with a text overlay of your title. According to YouTube themselves: “90% of the best performing videos on YouTube have custom thumbnails,”. Not having your own will likely hinder your click to watch rate, ultimately reducing your engagement and thus reach.
Create a Playlist
Playlists act like a category of content on your WordPress website. Therefore it’s wise to lump relevant and related content in playlists that contain keyword-rich videos. By adding these videos together you build closer associations of video to video in YouTube’s eyes which can expand your reach on particular keywords of focus.
Add Subtitles to Your Content.
Many viewers prefer to watch videos with the sound turned off. This not only enhances their viewing experience, but also provides added context through the use of captions. By incorporating captions, you can also increase visibility and recognition for keywords. To add subtitles, simply use the YouTube Studio tool.
Use Cards and End Screens.
Maximizing the viewer’s experience is a crucial factor that YouTube recognizes as a marker of high-quality content. Utilizing these tools also presents you with more chances to steer promotion to your website, newsletter, social media, and other platforms. You can incorporate up to 5 cards per video, with different types to choose from. Additionally, you can include an end screen with a final call-to-action and recommended video suggestions.
