YouTube is an incredible social media tool. Besides the 100 hours of video uploaded per minute to the site, it’s also the second largest search engine in the world. That implies that it’s fairly easy for your video to get lost in the gigantic YouTube galaxy, but fortunately enough, there are some pretty simple and effective ways to create unique organic traffic to your videos. Here are some tips to keep in mind to win some clicks.
1. First impressions are everything
The thumbnails you create for each video are more important than you think. It’s the first thing people will see when they search for your videos, so it needs to have a “click-worthy” value. In other words, make it appealing. YouTube automatically gives you three thumbnail options to choose from when you upload a video, but it you feel you need something catchier, customize and upload your own. It goes a long way.
Also, your video intro falls under the first impression category; make sure it’s catchy and that it communicates what your channel is about.
2. Think over your title and video description
Your title is clearly important for intriguing viewers, but it can also improve your search results. The very first term should be relevant, such as a keyword and you should follow that with what is featured in the video, building a keyword phrase. While your title should be clear and concise, the video description is where you can go a little more in depth. The description can include a keyword phrase, your URL, and a mini-post that briefly describes the content of your video.
3. Create a Custom Background Image
Compliment your content with a clean channel design. Your background image can also invite viewers, so apart from the theme and color options YouTube offers, you can also upload your own background image, helping you to stand out from the crowd.
4. Make Your Best Video “Featured”
YouTube automatically shows your most recent video in the main “Featured” window on your channel page. For users that post regularly, this is ideal, but for those that post less, sometimes a better option is selecting another video to occupy that slot.
Here’s how: Go to your “My Channel” settings and select “Video and Playlists.” Using the dropdown “Featured Video” menu, you can choose a video from the list.
5. Add Channel Tags
Tag away! This is as fundamental as tagging your videos with keywords. You’ll bring the viewers to you and can find this on your settings option on the My Channel menu.
6. Pay Attention to Comments
Engage with your audience. Take the time to read your channel comments as well as those posted on your videos and be sure to respond. Remember; clean up if you have to. Delete or report spam comments, if not, it come off as if you may be ignoring your channel.
7. Recent Activity is a win-win situation
Show what you’ve been up to on YouTube lately. If you like or favorite a video on YouTube, this action will show up in your “Recent Activity” as well as the “Recent Activity” box of the content creator.
It’s a simple way to make YouTube contacts, and it may bring viewers to your page. Video owners who’ve been liked or favorited are more likely to click through to take a look at your content in return.
8. Users like playlists
Create playlists of your videos instead of having a series of separate videos. Start with your most popular or recent videos to get your fans interested, and then let them sift through new and old material.
So you see here, a little goes a long way. And these tips work. Just try them out and check your results, and it won’t hurt, because organic is free!
Create a video for your business
I have created a You Tube Channel ChrisgulleySongs4parkinsons1
From what you say about site titles I am wondering if I should change the title to Songs4Parkinsons.Your thoughts would be much appreciated. Iam finding after 2 months of hard work that the site only moves forward at all when I drive it by messaging friends on Social media `and my contacts list. otherwise nothing happens which suggests to me that I am having little or no effect on Google.
The channel comprises songs by myself. I am a former professional singer. I had to retire due to Parkinsons .However the voice still works fairly well so I decided tO do this to raise monEy for Parkinsons UK. I have done and contin ue to do an eclectic mix of classical Jazz Pop classics and music theatre.
Hi Chris,
Thanks for your message. We looked over your YouTube channel and it appears as “Classicnpop Songs 4 Parkinsons”. Our suggestion would be to use “Songs for Parkinsons”, where it’s spelt out completely so that anyone who searches these keywords can easily find them. Social Media and email messaging is great to round up more views, but what you can also do is encourage them to share or like your videos so they have more exposure. You can also add your videos to your main website by embedding them, that helps to increase engagement. Lastly, attach your website link or any donation link you may have in the description box, not so much in the video area. The videos work well and your thumbnails are great.
We hope this helps.
Best of luck with this project, it’s a great endeavour and we’re rooting for you!
Could u guys help me get more subscribers on YouTube my channel name is Dan mooses
hello! thanks for the article. So ive been searching around and a lot of youtubers with big followings said they interacted a lot with other youtubers when they first started. Im not entirley sure what this means. Would i go on to other youtubers channels and talk to people in their comments and tell them to check my channel out? or would that be spamming? What do you think is the best way to ‘interact’ with other youtubers is?
Anika
Hi Anika,
Glad you liked the article! Interacting with other YouTubers can mean a variety of things. You can subscribe to their channel, comment on their videos, or give them a Thumbs up for something they’ve posted. You can always talk to people and suggest to visit your channel, but the best thing you can do is make sure that you’re also watching and giving genuine feedback on content that is relevant to you. Your input will most likely get you noticed. Best of luck with your channel!
Hey great post, great tips. Some of this stuff I knew but was lazy about not doing so great reminder not to make a great video and then slack on the seemingly small aspects like being lazy and not creating playlists or not having a great title and wasting all that effort. You’ve inspired me to clean up my channel a bit and cross some t’s and dot some i’s I’ve been neglecting. I need some better channel art as well, Fiverr here we come. If you wanna checkout my channel it’s rulesforrebels on youtube.
Thanks for your comment, Robby. Best of luck revamping your channel!
Hi there
I have a Channel called Greek Music Key and i have 5500 subscribers . The problem is i dont get as many views as i want.. can you give me a solution?
Thank you
Hey,
I have been trying to round up subscribers and views on my gaming channel; Skilled x James. I currently have 85 subscribers, and it didn’t take me long to hit 50. However, recently my average subscriber count has been seriously decreasing and I’m not sure why. I used to average around 1 or 2 subscribers every 2 days, now I’m getting 1 or 2 a week. Why could this be? I would appreciate it if you helped me out, and maybe subbed yourself 😉
I think it is a great idea to improve channel. A user can also add annotations and cards to attention people. It improve your subscribers that is a great opportunity to popular user’s channel.
nice article
You obviously know what you’re talking about!
Marketing with YouTube can be difficult, unless you figure out all of the little tricks and treats such as monitoring your comments, tags, title, etc etc…
If you don’t put tags, a good description, etc into each and every video…you aren’t going to get the results that you want.
Better description, title, etc = more views, shares, subscribers, etc!
Hi there. I was reading your blog post and saw that you said titles and thumbnails drive viewers in. I feel like I’m doing it right but still not much growth. I know patience is key but I’ve been on YouTube for 3 or 4 years and I have’nt even made my first thousand should I be worried?
I have only one word to say, WoW. I read the article what a awesome article, improving my website google ranking thank you for sharing. I have a lot of work you will find a lovely support.This post is very inspiring me. I always take your advices very seriously, keep posted.
Thank you ravigupta! We’re happy to know this post helped. Feel free to check our other articles, we think you’ll find more useful advice for your website.
You have remarked very interesting points! ps decent site. “Become addicted to constant and never-ending self improvement.” by Anthony D’Angelo.
Great Articles ..
Collecting email addresses can do wonders for your channel and video brand. It allows you to notify your fans and viewers directly in their email inbox. If interested, you can use a program like Aweber. Email marketing gives you the ability to notify your followers of any new updates and videos whenever you like.
Nice tips, can’t wait to use it on my channel I just started my youtube account which is Top 5 Picks , I’m still lost what do first
Thanks, Aj! You’ll be busy setting up your channel. Just try applying a little of everything you’ve read and see how it goes! Feel free to share your results or channel with us, and most of all, best of luck to you!
I have just started an educational channel to be promoted via YouTube platform. I have researched a lot about the ‘How To’ concept and this article is one of the most potential finding i have till date.
I am already applying all these tricks to promote the channel and hope this will guide me in further for branding my website PuzzleDuniya.com and my channel as well.
So great to hear that, Sonali! Be sure to share your results with us. Best of luck to you!
Hi, thanks for this great article. It is really informative.
I have started a technology tutorial website mainly containing videos about programming and computer science. It’s been a month and I have around 450 views and 4 subscribers. I have implemented most of the techniques you have mentioned here. Could you please tell me how am I going about. Is it a slow growth?
One more question that I have if I wanted to create a completely different video like a music video should I create a different channel for it?
We’re happy to hear that you found it helpful!
Your channel is looking great! A YouTube channel that has videos covering a variety of topics relevant to your businesss is always a positive thing! As long as the music video is related to your business, you can upload it in the same channel and put it in its own playlist, if you like.
Best of luck!
Awesome, thank you for sharing some tips! Keep it up 🙂
Thanks for reading Mary! 🙂
Do you have newsletter feed to follow up by email, Sir?
Hi Hasilbertapa,
No. But I recommend you to visit our blog often because we are always creating new posts.
Thanks for getting in touch!