YouTube is the largest video-sharing platform in the world. Millions of viewers log in every day to watch their favorite video content, keep up on the news, figure out how to change the oil in their car and follow the latest content creators.
In fact, YouTube boasts over 2.5 billion active users every month. And that number will probably only continue to grow.
YouTube has become a hub for entertainment, information and inspiration, revolutionizing the way we consume video content online.
And companies around the world are tapping into YouTube to grow their business, gain views and build an audience.
But how do you leverage YouTube for your business? How can you dominate the YouTube algorithm, keep up with the competition and use keywords to boost views?
We’re going to walk you through how to optimize your videos with the right keywords to increase visibility and attract more viewers.
So if you’re asking yourself, “How do I increase my YouTube views with keywords?”, you’re in the right place.
Let’s jump in!
YouTube Is a Search Engine
YouTube has very high engagement rates and users spend a ton of time watching videos on its platform. This gives businesses a unique opportunity to capture people’s attention and deliver their messages through engaging video content.
YouTube also offers more opportunities for monetization and creators can earn extra revenue through channel memberships, ads and sponsored content.
But a lot of people don’t realize YouTube is just one giant search engine. There’s a reason Google bought YouTube back in 2006 for a whopping $1.65 billion. (At the time, it was Google’s second-largest acquisition!)
Yes, YouTube is a video platform, but behind the scenes, it’s a search engine. When people type in “funny cat videos,” just like on Google’s homepage, YouTube serves up a sampling of the best and funniest cat videos.
Search Engine Optimization (or SEO) is the foundation of YouTube’s platform and user experience. Without SEO, users wouldn’t get relevant videos when they search for things.
Relevancy and quality are big factors in what YouTube decides to show people. And the way that YouTube knows what to show is all about the keywords used.
What Are Keywords and Why Are They Important?
Keywords are specific words or phrases that users type into the search bar to find relevant video content. They help search engines understand what your video is about and match it to relevant search queries.
The bottom line? Without the effective use of keywords, your videos won’t be shown to the right people.
By strategically mixing keywords into your video title, description, tags and content, you can improve your chances of appearing in people’s search results and attract the right kind of viewers to build your audience.
So if your goal is to increase YouTube views, you’ll have to combine strategic keyword optimization with high-quality content creation and active cross-promotion of your channel.
Let’s learn more about how to use keywords.
How to Do Effective Keyword Research
Keyword research is the foundation of any successful YouTube SEO strategy. Using keyword research tools, you can identify popular search terms and phrases that your target audience is likely to use. These tools provide insights into search volume, competition and related keywords, helping you choose the most relevant and high-performing keywords for your videos.
Here are some tips for selecting the right keywords to target.
1. Look at search intent
It’s crucial to consider the user’s search intent. You have to really pay attention to the why behind people’s search terms.
For example, if someone types in “how to make chocolate chip cookies,” they’re not looking to buy chocolate chip cookies. Showing videos or ads about how to buy chocolate chip cookies, or the history of cookies, would be irrelevant to what they’re searching for.
They simply want recipes or a how-to video that will walk them through baking chocolate chip cookies. Anything other than this would not match their search intent.
Another example is if you have a YouTube channel focused on cooking tutorials. Your target keywords might include “easy recipes,” “cooking tips,” or “healthy meal ideas.”
By mixing these keywords strategically into video titles, descriptions, tags and content, you’re increasing the chances your videos will appear when users search for those specific keywords.
Understanding what users are really looking for can help you create content that matches these needs.
2. Use keywords in a natural way
Keywords can and often are overused in the world of SEO. SEO is an extremely competitive space, and people will sometimes do what’s called “keyword stuffing.” This is where you insert a keyword into every possible area you can and as often as possible.
But effective keyword usage should always be done in a natural way and not excessively.
Instead of keyword stuffing, focus on creating high-quality, engaging and informative content that aligns with your target audience’s interests and preferences.
Relevant keywords should be used, but not overused.
3. Using keyword research tools
YouTube SEO experts use keyword research tools like Google Keyword Planner, YouTube Analytics or SEMrush. These tools provide insights into search volumes, competition levels and related keywords.
Having the right SEO and keyword tools can make a big difference in the success of your YouTube channel. They can help you identify keywords that will help you attract the most traffic.
Types of Keywords to Use on YouTube
When it comes to finding the right YouTube keywords, using the right types of keywords is crucial.
Here are the different types of keywords out there so you can understand better what to focus on:
1. Primary keywords
Primary keywords are the main ones that directly represent the core topic or theme of your video. Primary keywords are where to start when doing keyword research.
You should always include primary keywords in your video title, description, and tags so that search engines know what your video is about and rank it accordingly.
Picture primary keywords as the building blocks of your keyword strategy.
2. Relevant keywords
Relevant keywords are additional keywords related to your primary topic that can give search engines a little more context about your video content.
Mixing relevant keywords into your video description and tags help improve the chances your video will appear in relevant search queries.
3. Long-tail keywords
Long-tail keywords are longer and more specific phrases that target a niche audience. Use long-tail keywords to attract viewers who are specifically looking for that particular topic.
4. Trending keywords
Trending keywords are widely searched for and highlight trends you can piggyback on. If you keep an eye on trending keywords and use them in your video titles and descriptions you can take advantage of the current buzz and gain more views.
5. Location-based keywords
If you’re targeting a specific geographical area or audience, location-based keywords can help you enhance your video’s visibility in certain regions.
Other Areas of YouTube to Focus On
As important as keywords are, they aren’t the only thing you should focus on when it comes to growing your YouTube channel.
Don’t forget other factors like video content quality, audience retention and viewer experience. These can all contribute to the success of your YouTube channel.
Here are a few other things to keep in mind while leveling up your keyword research.
1. Effective video titles and descriptions
Optimize your video titles and descriptions with attention-grabbing phrases and call-to-actions to attract viewers.
2. Thumbnails
Don’t forget the importance of a good thumbnail! Thumbnails are often the first thing that will jump out at viewers and entice them to click.
Are you putting thought into your thumbnails or are you just grabbing a quick screenshot from your video and posting it?
Don’t underestimate the power of a good thumbnail to increase your views and YouTube clicks.
3. Adding video chapters and subtitles
You should also be incorporating video chapters and subtitles to enhance user engagement, encourage viewers to watch your videos and boost the watch time metric.
4. Cross-platform promotion
You should also be promoting your YouTube channel and videos on other social media platforms. The goal is to raise as much awareness as possible that your channel exists and that you’re providing relevant content to your target audience.
Drive more traffic to your YouTube page by leveraging social channels like Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and Instagram.
5. Stay engaged
Finally, engaging with your viewers through comments, messages and collaborations also helps foster a sense of community and loyalty, increasing your chances of gaining more subscribers—and sales!
Get Extra Support
If you want to boost views by using keywords more effectively, you might want to consider getting some extra support.
Mastering the YouTube algorithm (and the constant algorithm changes) can be a tough business.
That’s why we created Raffiti Media. To partner with companies like you to help you get the most out of your YouTube channel.
YouTube is an extremely effective way to grow your business and keep leads coming in. But only if you know how to use it. That’s where we come in. We help companies of all shapes and sizes figure out how to grow their YouTube channel.
We also offer multiple different packages and can be your “done-for-you” YouTube marketing growth partner.
Schedule a free call to learn more about how we can help!
