Ask Dave Taylor
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Home
  • YouTube Videos
  • Top Categories
  • Subscribe via Email
  • Ask A Question
  • Meet Dave
  • Home
  • SEO & Marketing
  • How to SEO optimize YouTube videos?

How to SEO optimize YouTube videos?

May 19, 2012 / Dave Taylor / SEO & Marketing, YouTube Help / 5 Comments

When I do a search on Google why are videos showing up on page 1 now, and more importantly why isn’t my YouTube video showing up? Is there some way to improve my chances of being found on YouTube and Google for videos I upload?

Research has also shown that people are becoming more and more willing to watch a short video about topics they are searching on, so as a result Google is trying to provide results that satisfy their customers (i.e. You doing the search). When you factor in how easy, and how inexpensive it is to produce videos, it’s easy to see why video content is coming up in search results.
For example many smart phones now let you create video content (i.e. the new iPhone 4s) with the touch of a button. Once recorded you can then easily upload it directly to websites like YouTube. It’s been reported that the amount of video content being uploaded every 48 hours equals the amount of video content produced since the television was invented. Let that sink in for a moment because that statistic is pretty staggering.
OK, so you want to create a video and have the world watch it… And let’s say you love potatoes so you decide to make a quick video with your iPhone in your backyard garden.
Great! However after you make your video don’t just upload it and hope the world comes to watch because sadly that isn’t going to happen… Just like optimizing your Web page for the search engines (called “search engine optimization” or “seo”, of course), you need to take some specific steps to ensure that people can find your content easily.
First up, pick a keyword phrase that is specific to your topic. If you choose to title your video ‘Gardening Tips’, while it’s related your new Hollywood production, it’s simply too generic. You need to be as specific as possible.
You need to find a keyword phrase that is 3 or 4 words in length, or even longer in some cases, because that will greatly increase your chances of being found on YouTube and Google. A better title would be Potato Gardening Tips for Beginners. See how that’s specific?

Title, Description, Tags and Category on YouTube


While you’ve created a nifty title you’re still not quite done because you still need to add the phrase you’ve selected in the description box, in addition to adding an interesting and engaging describing of the video itself. You could say something like:

In this video I talk about my best potato gardening tips for beginners. Make sure you watch the entire video because I even throw in some tips for those who are a bit more experienced. If you follow these guidelines it will add life to your garden, make you smile, and make your neighbors jealous…;o)

We then need to take this phrase and also add it to the tags section of the video. This is know in SEO circles as “keyword reinforcement”.
We’re almost done.
You need to make sure you select a ‘Category’ that YouTube provides that best describes your video. Since you’re giving gardening tips you would choose the category “How To & Style”.
What we are doing is we are telling YouTube and Google, and more importantly people we want to watch our video, exactly what our video is about.
Remember how I pointed out above that every 48 hours the amount of video being uploaded to the web equals all video content produced since the beginning of TV? To you and I that means there is a LOT of competition out there. So while these extra steps may seem like a bit of extra work, if you follow them you will greatly increase your chance of your video getting watched on YouTube, or even ranking on page one of Google.
Good luck!

Contributing editor Steve Kilberg runs SKRP Media, a consulting firm that works with small to medium size businesses. SKRP Media specializes in Video SEO, Google Places Optimization, and Apps for small businesses.
About the Author: Dave Taylor has been involved with the online world since the early days of the Internet. Author of over 20 technical books, he runs the popular AskDaveTaylor.com tech help site. You can also find his gadget reviews on YouTube and chat with him on Twitter as @DaveTaylor.

Let’s Stay In Touch!

Never miss a single article, review or tutorial here on AskDaveTaylor, sign up for my fun weekly newsletter!
Name: 
Your email address:*
Please enter all required fields
Correct invalid entries
No spam, ever. Promise. Powered by FeedBlitz
Please choose a color:
Starbucks coffee cup I do have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but first I'd like to say thank you, Dave, for all your helpful information by buying you a cup of coffee!

5 comments on “How to SEO optimize YouTube videos?”

  1. Dragon says:
    March 14, 2014 at 7:53 am

    OMG, thank you. It’s exactly what I was looking for!

    Reply
  2. sara says:
    January 22, 2014 at 1:58 am

    thank you dave for your post it’s greats and it helped me out with our videos!

    Reply
  3. stevie says:
    August 22, 2012 at 11:47 pm

    your post was really helpfull. ! thank you

    Reply
  4. Mark Hawthorne says:
    May 28, 2012 at 1:10 am

    G’Day Dave I just sent you a post about a mac and I didn’t know you are into linux as well.
    So my question is if you can help, how do you get downloaded software from the software centre that has been ticked as downloaded to the the applications menu.
    I have downloaded software from both the synaptic manager and the software centre some go the applications menu some don’t, now I do know where they are in the file system I even got them to the desktop but can’t open them.
    Cheers Mark.

    Reply
  5. david says:
    May 21, 2012 at 8:50 am

    Hi Dave, good tips on SEO for video on youtube. Even though we may have heard some of this before it is always great to hear it again and learn some new things at the same time.
    Reinforcement is the key to learning.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Search

Recent Posts

  • Everything You Need to Know about Apple’s Clean Energy Charging
  • How Can I Watch Free Classic Movies on my Windows PC?
  • How Can I Maximize Online Privacy with a VPN Connection?
  • SCAM: Did I Just Buy A Computer From Amazon? I Demand a Refund!
  • How Can I Stop My AirPods Pro Making Beeps and Noises?

On Our YouTube Channel

iClever Bluetooth 34-Key Number Pad Keyboard -- REVIEW

Google Pixel 7 Pro Android Smartphone - UNBOXING

Categories

  • AdSense, AdWords, and PPC Help (106)
  • Amazon, eBay, and Online Shopping Help (164)
  • Android Help (228)
  • Apple iPad Help (147)
  • Apple Watch Help (53)
  • Articles, Tutorials, and Reviews (346)
  • Auto Tech Help (17)
  • Business Advice (200)
  • ChromeOS Help (33)
  • Computer & Internet Basics (782)
  • d) None of the Above (166)
  • Facebook Help (384)
  • Google, Chrome & Gmail Help (188)
  • HTML & Web Page Design (247)
  • Instagram Help (49)
  • iPhone & iOS Help (625)
  • iPod & MP3 Player Help (173)
  • Kindle & Nook Help (99)
  • LinkedIn Help (88)
  • Linux Help (174)
  • Linux Shell Script Programming (90)
  • Mac & MacOS Help (914)
  • Most Popular (16)
  • Outlook & Office 365 Help (33)
  • PayPal Help (68)
  • Pinterest Help (54)
  • Reddit Help (19)
  • SEO & Marketing (82)
  • Spam, Scams & Security (96)
  • Trade Show News & Updates (23)
  • Twitter Help (222)
  • Video Game Tips (66)
  • Web Site Traffic Tips (62)
  • Windows PC Help (951)
  • Wordpress Help (206)
  • Writing and Publishing (72)
  • YouTube Help (47)
  • YouTube Video Reviews (159)
  • Zoom, Skype & Video Chat Help (62)

Archives

Social Connections:

Ask Dave Taylor


Follow Me on Pinterest
Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on LinkedIn
Follow me on Instagram


AskDaveTaylor on Facebook



microsoft insider mvp


This web site is for the purpose of disseminating information for educational purposes, free of charge, for the benefit of all visitors. We take great care to provide quality information. However, we do not guarantee, and accept no legal liability whatsoever arising from or connected to, the accuracy, reliability, currency or completeness of any material contained on this site or on any linked site. Further, please note that by submitting a question or comment you're agreeing to our terms of service, which are: you relinquish any subsequent rights of ownership to your material by submitting it on this site. Our lawyer says "Thanks for your cooperation."
© 2023 by Dave Taylor. "Ask Dave Taylor®" is a registered trademark of Intuitive Systems, LLC.
Privacy Policy - Terms and Conditions - Accessibility Policy