Did you know that videos are a great way to increase your exposure in search engines like Google and Bing? In addition, the online video service YouTube is the second most popular search engine on the Internet. YouTube SEO is the process of optimizing your videos on YouTube to increase the chances of them showing up when users search for specific keywords in search engines like Google and on YouTube itself.
Optimizing your YouTube video is pretty straightforward. Check out this brief tutorial for 3 easy steps to higher rankings in Google (and other search engines):
Video Transcript
Hello and welcome to Gnome Tips. Today we’ll talk about YouTube SEO and how to get higher rankings in Google and other search engines in three easy steps.
First of all, why are videos important for SEO? Well, if we do a search for “how to upload a YouTube video,” you can see that three of the first four results are videos. Google likes to place videos, images, and other types of content in the search results, if it seems relevant to the search term.
So how do you make your amazing video show up higher in the search results? Let’s find out with three easy steps:
Step 1: Take time to do some keyword research. Just as with content writing, it’s important to do some keyword research before optimizing your video.
A great, free tool is the Google AdWords Keyword Tool. Even if you don’t have an AdWords account, you can access the tool at the URL show at the top of this slide.
Step 2: Create a catchy title. People are more likely to click on your video if you have an interesting title.
Take a look at these search results for the keyword YouTube SEO… Which titles catch your eye?
I believe #2 and #3 have the best titles, because they sound authoritative and like something I would take time to view.
You know your audience – create catchy titles that resonate with them.
Step 3: Add video information and select a compelling video thumbnail.
In your video manager view, find the video you want to optimize and click the “Edit” button.
The section called “Video Information” is your opportunity to tell the search engines what your video is all about. Here is where you enter your catchy title, a short and powerful description, and keywords or “tags” that users may search for to find your video. If your tag has multiple words, place quotes around the words.
You also have a choice between three video thumbnails. Select the thumbnail that is most relevant to your video and that looks most interesting. Save your changes and watch those analytics numbers soar!
Thanks for watching this edition of Gnome Tips. To learn more about SEO, visit our website at www.webgnomes.org.