How To Rank Videos On YouTube 2023
Welcome to the ultimate guide on how to rank videos on YouTube!
If you’re anything like …a normal person looking for internet visibility, you’ve probably spent countless hours perfecting your YouTube content.
And, just like a normal person, you felt like it would nonetheless fall into the endless abyss of the internet.
We’re here to help you get your video in front of the right audience and attract more eyeballs than… a peacock with a fancy feather display.
We’ve combed the internet, tested different strategies, and distilled the best YouTube SEO tips to help you climb the YouTube ranks and become the next viral sensation.
This is a guide for businesses, especially those that want to increase their brand’s visibility through video.
YouTube: A Key Platform For Your Visual Marketing Efforts
Let’s face it, in today’s digital age, video is king. And when it comes to video, there’s no platform more important than YouTube. (shocker)
With over 2.5 billion active users, YouTube is the go-to destination for video content of all kinds.
So, I guess it’s a…necessary skill to understand how to rank Youtube videos!
So Why Is Youtube So Important?
Well, for two main reasons….it’s a search engine.
(And before you say, “Oh, I knew this; it’s the second biggest search engine behind Google!” – you’ll be WRONG!
This is one of those myths that just won’t die.)
However… it still remains the second most popular website in the entire world.
And obviously, the higher your video ranks in search results, the more it will be seen by your target audience.
But YouTube is more than just a search engine.
It’s a social platform as well, where viewers can engage with creators and share content with their own followers.
And let’s not forget about the power of video as a marketing tool.
According to a study, 86% of businesses use video as a marketing tool and consider it an important part of their visual marketing strategy.
How To Rank Videos On YouTube Fast?
The Power of (an Amazing) Thumbnail
Do you know that the first thing (sometimes it’s the only thing) people see when they come across your video on YouTube is the thumbnail?
Well….of course, you know that, but it’s critical to bring this to your attention over and over again.
After all… the thumbnail can make or break your video’s success.
That’s why it’s crucial to create an eye-catching thumbnail that accurately represents your video and grabs the viewer’s attention.
You can use Canva to make some catchy and clickable thumbnails.
Speak Up!
Believe it or not, mentioning your most important keywords verbally in your video can actually boost your video’s visibility on YouTube.
So, if you want to rank your videos fast, start speaking up!
Whether you’re doing a tutorial, vlog, or review, make sure to mention your important keywords at least once in your video and especially in the beginning.
Remember that YouTube can detect the words you say in your videos with its Cloud Video Intelligence API.
The Importance of Keywords
Keywords are the bread and butter of YouTube SEO.
If you want to rank your videos fast, you need to choose the right focus keywords and optimize your thumbnails and filenames with them.
But don’t stop there… make sure to mention your most important keywords in your YouTube description, preferably at the beginning.
Consistency Is Key
If you want to grow your YouTube channel and attract more eyeballs, you must publish consistently.
This means creating a schedule and sticking to it.
Whether it’s once a week or twice a month, make sure to stay consistent so that your viewers know when to expect new content from you.
However…
Quality over Quantity
Don’t focus on publishing consistently if you will be sacrising your quality for that.
(BTW, this piece of advice works for every type of content on the internet)
Take the time to create high-quality content that your viewers will love, and the rest will fall into place.
Use Keywords in Your Video Title
Optimize your video title with relevant keywords that accurately describe your content.
The video title is crucial for YouTube SEO. Including relevant video keywords in your video title helps attract viewers and boosts your video’s ranking in YouTube search results.
Ensure your title is clear and concise, incorporating the main keywords that best describe your video content.
This strategy not only improves your video’s visibility on YouTube but also enhances its appearance in Google search results, drawing more traffic to your YouTube channel.
Optimize Your Video Description
Make sure you YouTube video description is detailed, keyword-rich, and engaging to help with search visibility.
Well-optimized YouTube video descriptions can significantly impact your video’s rank. Begin with a strong introduction that includes your primary target keywords.
Follow with a detailed breakdown of your video content, incorporating keywords naturally throughout. This not only helps with YouTube video SEO but also provides valuable information to your viewers.
Don’t forget to add links to related videos, your YouTube channels and social media profiles to encourage further engagement and drive more views to your other videos.
Select a Video Category
Categorize your video correctly to ensure it reaches the right audience. Selecting the appropriate video category is essential for reaching your target audience on YouTube.
Proper categorization ensures your video appears in relevant searches and is recommended to viewers interested in similar content.
This step enhances the chances of your video being discovered by the right audience, contributing to higher engagement and better overall performance of your YouTube channel.
Use Video Hashtags to Drive YouTube Search Results
Adding relevant hashtags can help your video get discovered in search results.
YouTube tags are an effective tool for boosting your video’s visibility on YouTube. By adding relevant hashtags to your video title and description, you help YouTube’s search algorithm categorize and recommend your content.
Choose hashtags that are specific to your video’s topic and popular within your niche. This practice not only helps in ranking YouTube videos higher in search results but also attracts viewers who are searching for similar content.
Add Subtitles and Closed Captions
Subtitles and closed captions can improve accessibility and boost your video’s SEO.
Adding subtitles and closed captions to your YouTube videos is a smart move for multiple reasons. They enhance accessibility for viewers who are deaf or hard of hearing and for those who prefer watching videos without sound.
Moreover, YouTube’s algorithm indexes these subtitles and captions, which can improve your video’s search ranking. Accurate and well-timed subtitles also contribute to a better viewer experience, increasing the likelihood of higher watch time and better engagement.
Create a Playlist About Your Video’s General Topic
Organize your videos into playlists to keep viewers engaged and improve watch time.
Creating videos playlists around a general topic is a powerful way to keep viewers engaged on your YouTube channels. Playlists provide a seamless viewing experience, automatically playing one video after another, which increases overall watch time—a critical factor in YouTube’s ranking algorithm.
By grouping your videos into relevant playlists, you help YouTube understand the context of your content, which can lead to better recommendations and higher ranking videos in YouTube search results.
Playlists also appear in search results, giving your videos additional exposure and driving more traffic to your YouTube channel.
Final Remarks
We hope that with these tips and tricks, you’ll be able to rank your videos on YouTube fast and attract more eyeballs (did you count how many times we used the word “eyeballs” throughout this blog?) than ever before.
Remember, creating high-quality content is key, but it’s not the only thing that matters.
You also need to optimize your videos for YouTube SEO and put in the effort to promote your content.