YouTube is the go-to social media application for videos. Whether it’s long-form or YouTube Shorts, they have penetrated the video market significantly and are the leaders.
Did you know YouTube remains the most widely used social media platform, with a whopping 90 percent of marketers using it for video marketing?
No matter what you are interested in or what you want to see online, YouTube will always have content available that’s relevant to your search.
However, how is YouTube gaining so much popularity? And, how do you leverage the platform for your gain?
If these questions resonate with you, you clicked on the right link. This blog post covers everything you need to know about YouTube and the marketing techniques that boost videos online. So, let’s get started!
Why YouTube’s ranking is booming
We’ve come a long way from reading content to watching content. In 2024, YouTube gained significant popularity in the last few years, and now, it’s here to change the game. Although social media plays a pivotal role in brand identity and awareness, YouTube is transforming brands and individual interests for people across the globe.
Various factors are driving its popularity and user engagement.
1. The sheer content volume and variety
There is no limit to the type of content you can find on Youtube. You like to cook? Check out a recipe! Cars? Here’s a review of a race car that’s newly launched in your area. Chess? Why don’t you check out the recent match on YouTube?
As the ecosystem caters to a wide range of interests and demographics it attracts a massive audience. From entertainment and education to niche hobbies and tutorials, there’s something for everyone on YouTube, encouraging prolonged engagement rate and repeat visits.
2. Accurate recommendation algorithms
Have you noticed how if you watch a video on YouTube, let’s say a snippet of a show you adored, YouTube will recommend you similar videos?
Recommendation algorithms play a pivotal role in enhancing user experience. By analyzing individual viewing habits, preferences, and interactions, the algorithms deliver personalized content recommendations tailored to each user. This personalized approach keeps users engaged and encourages them to explore new content, contributing to increased watch time and overall platform activity.
3. The big rave around YouTube monetization
People, especially young adults, are joining the train of YouTube monetization. The app, after a person reaches a specific number of followers, offers various monetization options for creators, such as ads, memberships, and merchandise sales. This has become a popular payout for multiple, and gives it more incentive for people to watch videos.
Read more: How to get your business on YouTube (and why you should)
How YouTube ranking works
YouTube’s algorithm focuses on three aspects, as illustrated below.
YouTube’s algorithm considers various factors to determine a video’s ranking. They include:
Engagement: YouTube considers metrics, like watch time, average percentage viewed, likes, comments, and shares, to determine a video’s engagement.
The higher the engagement, the greater its potential to rank highly.
Additional information: Engagement also gives relevant data to YouTube’s recommendation system, displaying your videos in the recommended results.
Relevance: YouTube uses keywords in a video’s title, description, and tags to understand what the video is about. YouTube aims to show viewers videos that best satisfy their search intent. So, a video titled “phone review” will likely show up for the query “best phone” if it meets the searchers’ needs well.
Quality: When ranking videos, YouTube considers a channel’s expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness. A strong subscriber base and consistent viewership are signals of quality.
Read more: 6 marketing strategies to boost your brand on YouTube
Below is an illustration of the key metrics YouTube considers to determine video rankings.
How to get a good YouTube ranking with keywords
An SEO strategy for multimedia content specific to your YouTube channel and audience is crucial to increasing your rank. When talking about keywords, there are 8 key tactics to remember:
- Always conduct a comprehensive keyword research and identity words that relate to your channel
- Optimize the video titles by incorporating the primary target keywords
- Write detailed and engaging video descriptions with keywords
- Leverage relevant, interesting tags for maximizing content visibility
- Create high-quality, valuable content that resonates with your audience
- Use keywords naturally within video content through dialogue or captions
- Include AI consulting into your content strategy to get insights into latest content trends.
- Promote your videos on other platforms to increase visibility and engagement
How to optimize the visibility of your videos on YouTube
Unlock the secrets to maximizing your YouTube presence and reaching a wider audience with strategic video optimization techniques.
#1: Give importance to keywords
Keywords are the backbone of YouTube SEO.
When searching for videos online, the keywords make it easier for the algorithm to ensure they discover relevant videos. For example, if you’re running a fitness channel and uploading a workout tutorial, keywords like “home workouts,” “cardio exercises,” and “strength training” are crucial.
Incorporate these keywords organically into your video titles, descriptions, and tags. The key is to balance search volume and competition to maximize your video’s visibility.
Tip: Focus on low competition keywords and utilize tools to identify high-performing keywords and ensure content optimization for diverse platforms.
#2: Think about thumbnails—and make them pop!
The first thing a viewer sees when searching for videos online is the thumbnail. That’s why optimizing and choosing relevant images for videos is crucial.
Opt for visually appealing thumbnails that accurately represent your video’s content and compel users to click. Consider using bright colors, clear imagery, and bold text overlays to make your thumbnails stand out.
Experiment with different thumbnail styles and analyze their performance to refine your approach.
For example, if you’re a travel vlogger, like Kritika Goal, showcasing a scenic destination, a thumbnail featuring breathtaking scenery and captivating text can entice viewers.
Tip: Ensure your thumbnails are high-resolution and optimized for various devices to maintain visual appeal across different platforms and screen sizes.
#3: Create a channel trailer for your audience
Channel trailers are gaining popularity significantly in 2024. The trailer is a dynamic introduction to your YouTube channel, offering viewers a glimpse of your content and encouraging them to subscribe.
Before you think about creating a trailer, getting to know your target audience and crate customer segments is crucial.
Craft a compelling trailer that showcases your channel’s unique value proposition, highlights your best content, and resonates with your target audience. Keep your trailer concise, engaging, and reflective of your channel’s tone and style.
For example, if you’re a cooking channel specializing in easy-to-follow recipes, your trailer could feature quick recipe snippets, testimonials from satisfied viewers, and a personal message from the creator.
Tip: Update your channel trailer periodically to keep it fresh and relevant, aligning with any changes in your content or branding strategy.
#4: Write engaging titles with eye-grabbing descriptions
The first thing anyone sees when seeing a video online is the title and description. It’s crucial to make them interesting and relevant to your videos.
Craft compelling titles that spark curiosity, evoke emotion, or promise value to the viewer. Pair your titles with captivating descriptions that provide additional context and entice users to delve deeper into your content.
For instance, if you’re a science educator sharing a video about mind-bending experiments, a title like “Unbelievable Science Tricks That Will Blow Your Mind!” and a description teasing the fascinating experiments featured in the video can captivate viewers.
Tip: A/B test different title and description combinations to identify the most effective ones for driving clicks and engagement.
#5: Collaboration is a MUST
Collaboration offers a powerful opportunity to expand your reach, tap into new audiences, and foster meaningful connections within the YouTube community.
Identify potential collaborators whose content aligns with yours or complements your niche. Propose mutually beneficial collaboration ideas that add value to both parties’ audiences.
Let’s take the example of Ankush Bhauguna. He has taken YouTube by a storm with his makeup vlogs. His collaborations empowered him to cultivate genuine relationships with fellow creators and leverage each other’s strengths to create compelling collaborations. With years of posting videos, his collaborations gave him his brig break and he started his Lakme series with multiple celebrities!
Tip: Be proactive in reaching out to potential collaborators, and approach them with well-thought-out collaboration proposals outlining the benefits for both parties involved.
Read more: Influencer marketing is shifting in 2020, with YouTube and TikTok in a power struggle
Conclusion
Beyond YouTube, numerous avenues exist to optimize and extend the reach of your content, amplifying your online presence and engaging with audiences across diverse platforms. Leveraging social media platforms like Instagram, X (Twitter), and Facebook can significantly enhance your content’s visibility and foster community engagement. Utilize these platforms to share snippets, behind-the-scenes footage, and promotional teasers of your YouTube videos, driving traffic back to your channel and expanding your audience reach.
By diversifying your content distribution strategy and embracing multi-channel optimization tactics, you can maximize the impact of your content beyond YouTube and cultivate a loyal audience base across various digital platforms.