YouTube Videos SEO Optimization in 4 Easy Steps

As we discussed in a previous blog post we can increase the possibilities to rank better in Google searchresults by implementing a YouTube video in our SEO strategy. (Statistics have shown that well optimized videos rank well in SERPs”)

Apart from that, YouTube can also be used as an alternative source of traffic considered that many individuals use it as a generic search engine like Google, Yahoo etc. (YouTube is the second most popular search engine in the world with more than 3 billion searches per month).

It is true that most of the marketers know how to use YouTube but very little use all features provided once a video has been uploaded in order to get it rank well.

In this blogpost we will try to point out some tips on how marketers can maximize their video ranking and as a result their video traffic and views.



Just like with Google, when uploading a video on YouTube online marketers must think of the keywordsthey intent to use in the following frames so as to target the right audience:
Video File Name
Video Title
Video Description
Video Tags



Tips: Do not treat YouTube and Google the same. Many of the strict algorithms that apply to Google such as panda, penguin and Hummingbird do not apply to YouTube.
VIDEO FILE NAME

By creating and submitting a video XML sitemap, the file name of your video becomes accessible to Search engines. Even though the video file name is not the most important SEO element it is still an indicator of your actual video content.

Tips: Instead of using numbers as a filename try to use sentences with hyphens so as to keep your video readable both by you and the search engine. Also this is a great way to keep your videos organized.
VIDEO TITLE

The Video filename is the most important thing once a video is posted. A video with a catchy title, apart from getting higher search ranking has a greater chance to be selected from another.

Tips: Try to use 55-60 characters on the title (according to google, YouTube reads the first 55-60). In order to achieve that use two relevant, headline key phrases if applicable.

For example:

How to increase your impressions on Google: Rank better on Google
DESCRIPTION

Very few know that YouTube allows 5000 characters for each video’s description, which means around 700 words. (This sounds like a blogpost!)

YouTube rewards longer descriptions in its search guidelines. So, try to use as much as you can of this allowance!

How?

Create an article which makes sense by including the headline key phrases from the video title. But be aware! Do not overdo it by repeating the same keywords. Try to use all relevant keywords with lower search results which have relative low competition compared to the headline.

Tips: Put a link of the video itself at the beginning of the description. Why should you do this? If someone shares your video on a social bookmarking site or elsewhere, you automatically earn a direct backlink to your video!!! (Nice backlink strategy for your website as well….)
TAGS

After the title and description, YouTube places a great importance on Tags as they provide another big clue on how videos should be categorized and ranked. So do not select a couple of random keywords often suggested by YouTube, but place keywords from your title and description, perhaps with slight variations.

Tips: Try to use at least 10 tags including your headlines key phrases.

To sum up, SEO and inbound marketing changes as time goes by. What worked before does not necessarily work nowadays. As a result online marketers must find new venues and approaches so as to remain successful. Be proactive and implement a video marketing strategy in your overall inbound marketing campaign instead of starting a keyword ranking war in traditional search engines and you will not regret it!



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