Home > Video Production Knowledge Centre > YouTube Search Optimization
Youtube Video Search Optimization
Video has become a very cost effective form of marketing and the benefits of video for the web are increasing everyday. Search results from YouTube now appear even within Google's regular search results.
The ultimate goal of having uploaded your video to YouTube in the first place is of course for it to be seen. Following these basic optimization tips can increase the chance of this happening.
YouTube Search Engine Overview
The YouTube search engine uses three basic items to rank your video for a given keyword:
- The title of your video
- The description of your video
- The tags assigned to your video
1. Title Optimization
This is perhaps the most important thing you can use to grab a viewer's attention within search results. Make it catchy and try to include some keywords which people might use when attempting to find your content.
2. Description Optimization
Make your description compelling and concise. Try to include any relevant keywords, but be sure to keep this in a properly written format that can be read by a human being (avoid keyword stuffing).
This is also the place to include a link to a related website or any other contact information.
3. Tag Optimization
Tags are keywords which most accurately describe the content of the video. They can be entered as single words or phrases by including multiple words within quotations.
Think outside the box on this one, considering regional attributes, and possibly even the terms of competing products or services. Most importantly, think of search terms which would be used by a layman, not necessarily the industry terms with which only you are familiar.
Other Factors
You will have a choice from several automatically generated thumbnails which will represent your video. Although this does not directly affect your ranking within the search results, it may affect a viewer's decision to click on your video - so choose something interesting.
The category to which you submit your video may affect its exposure to a targeted audience who may choose to browse within a specific category instead of performing a general search.
You can now also add Captions & subtitles to YouTube videos which will make them accessible for the hearing impaired along with the search engine optimization benefits of traditional text. Learn how in this article.
Last but not least, keep in mind that YouTube is fundamentally a social network. Participating in the community, networking and making friends, commenting and ranking on the videos of others, are all good ways to increase your views.
Related: Top 5 Benefits of Video for Your Website | Encoding for the Web
About Basetwo Media
Basetwo Media is a Vancouver video production company specializing in promotional, educational & training videos and event videography. We help businesses communicate using the power of video.
Attitude rocks! Basetwo were a perfect fit with the culture of our organization at 1-800-GOT-JUNK? Get the job done but have fun!"
