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How to Get More Views on Your YouTube Videos

Published on November 17, 2020 by KMA

How you load them can make all the difference.

How to get more views on your YouTube videos

 

Did you know YouTube has grown to become the world’s second largest search engine? Not only do people stay engaged thru entertaining videos they also look for product information or what to buy.

But have you ever wondered why some videos go viral while yours only gets a few views? You’ve spent valuable time, or money, creating a video. Now make sure it gets maximum views by loading it with these 9 steps:

Step 1: Pick a Keyword/Topic for your Video

YouTube uses “search terms” to serve videos to people the same way Google uses search terms (Google actually owns YouTube and considers both of them search engines). And, since users enter keywords to find videos about the things they are looking for, it’s important to choose the keyword you want your videos to show up for. By doing this, your video is more likely to show up ahead of others and receive more views. Choose a keyword or phrase that is the main topic of your video, like “buying a house” or “How to get more views on YouTube.”

Step 2: Make Your Thumbnail Image Appealing

A thumbnail photo is the image people see before they click on your video. Your viewers decide whether or not to click on your video based on this image. You’ll receive more views if people can quickly know your video covers the topic they are searching for. Images of people with a text description of the video subject perform best. YouTube creates automatic recommendations for a thumbnail photo, but it’s best to upload your own. You can create a thumbnail by taking a screenshot of your video and overlaying words on top, with a program like Powerpoint. See the graphic below for how to upload this image to YouTube.

 

YouTube Thumbnail configruation

Step 3: Place your Keyword in your Title

Choosing the wrong title can prevent people from finding your video on YouTube. You want to choose a title that aligns with their search terms. Depending on your niche, best practices may vary, but a good rule of thumb is to mirror the question a user is likely seeking the answer to (i.e., “How to get more views on YouTube”). It’s a great idea to search for existing videos on YouTube with similar content to see which titles perform best for your industry.

 

Step 4: Enter a Video Description (and be thorough)

Remember that people use words to search for videos they want to view. The description box gives you a chance to insert searchable information so your buyer can find your video; be sure to include your keyword throughout the description. Spend 1-3 paragraphs describing your video’s content and your business. You can also include links to your product and social media here. (In Step 9, you’ll learn how to upload default settings, so you don’t have to re-type all the links each time you upload).

 

YouTube description configuration
YouTube tag configuration

 

Step 5: Tags, Tags, Tags

Tags are yet another opportunity to provide your keyword to YouTube’s algorithm and increase the chances of your video showing in the top results. Aim for 10 tags that are related to the content of your video. You already have one — your keyword. Re-watch your video and find 9 more terms to use as tags.

 

Youtube endscreen configuration

 

Step 6: Consider adding an “End Screen” to increase views

An “End Screen” will appear at the end of your video, prompting the viewer to watch another one of your videos and subscribe to your channel. Without enabling an “End Screen” another video will automatically play, likely a competitor’s video. All you have to do is choose the style of “End Screen” you want right in the YouTube video set up process. YouTube will automatically choose a video to promote based on your viewer’s interests.

 

YouTube audience configuration

 

Step 7: Watch Out for the “Made for Kids” Setting

A recent update on YouTube resulted in many flagged video content as “Yes, it’s made for kids.” At first glance, this setting appears to be beneficial, but very few channels should utilize this setting in reality. Always choose “No, it’s not made for kids” unless you want your video to exclusively show on YouTube Kids, a separate platform designed for cartoons. Not choosing this setting can also result in your videos flagging as violating YouTube’s policies and risk your channel deactivation. We recommend choosing “No, it’s not made for kids” as a default channel setting (see Step 9).

 

YouTube playlist configuration

 

Step 8: Upload Your Video to a Playlist

Playlists are essential for two reasons. First, they group your content and encourage viewers to continue watching more of your videos. Secondly, playlists provide yet another opportunity to tell search engines what your videos are about and increase the chances of your video showing first. Use the keywords you wish to rank for in the playlist title and description.

 

YouTube video setup

 

Step 9: Save Time With Default Settings

Setting up “Default Settings” will save you so much time when uploading videos in the future. Many of the steps we just covered will automatically be completed for you. Navigate to YouTube Studio through the “Manage Videos” button on your channel page. Click “Settings” to open the panel for default settings. Carefully go through each setting you wish to default to on every video. Taking the time to do this now will save you time in all of your future uploads.

 

 

Following these 9 steps will ensure your YouTube video has the best chance of receiving more views and growing your following. Unlocking your potential on YouTube allows your videos to access millions of viewers every day. Even if you aren’t primarily a video creator, the brand growth possible with YouTube is reason enough for every brand to have some level of presence on the platform.

Taking just a little more time, and following these steps, to optimize your video for searchers can make all the difference.

If this makes perfect sense but you just don’t have the time, or want to make sure it’s done right, we’re happy to do that for you. At KMA, we not only produce great YouTube videos for our clients, we also optimize those they’ve already loaded onto their YouTube channels. It costs a lot less than you might think and we can also optimize your YouTube Channel at the same time. Contact us anytime at:

[email protected]

(850) 648-4560

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