In the next decade, businesses would be well-served to focus on optimizing their YouTube SEO. This is not only because of the sheer number of people who use the platform but also because of how video content is changing.
Over 42.9% of global internet users access YouTube on a monthly basis, this means even if you’re using a YouTube alternative there is a large potential customer pool you’re missing out on.
Before looking at why SEO on YouTube is so vital, it’s important to understand exactly what it is.
What is YouTube SEO?
YouTube is the second largest search engine in the world, second only to Google. SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization and this is exactly what YouTube SEO is: the process of optimizing your videos to rank higher in YouTube’s search engine results pages (SERPs).
When a user types in a query in the search bar relating to a product or service you offer, your content has the opportunity to be seen and watched.
YouTube SEO can be done through a number of methods such as video keyword research, metadata optimization, and thumbnail optimization.
This is not the same as YouTube optimization, which when combined can cause tremendous growth for a YouTube channel.
8 Reasons Why Businesses Should Focus on YouTube SEO
There are a number of benefits to being active on YouTube and building a video library of resources for your customers and clients. Here are 8 of the best reasons:
1. Ranking In The SERPs Brings In Consistent Views
Videos that appear at the top of search results generate views for months and years to come. Unlike videos uploaded without a YouTube SEO strategy, which often see a high view count in the short period after being uploaded, optimized videos have the opportunity to climb in the SERPs and increase their views over time.
2. Position Yourself as an Expert in Your Field
When people start seeing the same channel or person at the top of the search results on a particular topic, positive association begins to happen.
Your potential customers start associating you, your channel, and your business with your industry and you turn yourself into an expert. No degree is required.
When your videos appear in many searches relating to your field, viewers automatically start building a “relationship” with your channel, even if they don’t engage with your videos. When they have questions regarding your industry, you and/or your business become the first to come to mind.
3. Optimizing Around Specific Topics Turns Viewers Into Subscribers
YouTube SEO is not only about individual videos, by focusing on a specific topic/field, you also optimize your entire channel and help viewers understand what your channel is about.
This way, when a viewer comes across one of your videos in the search results, they are more likely to subscribe to your channel after watching it because they know there is a good chance you’ll have more videos on the topic they’re interested in.
4. YouTube SEO Increases Video Retention
If your YouTube videos are optimized well around a particular search term, the viewers who find your video will be far more engaged in the content.
This is because it is something they are actively searching for, as opposed to stumbling upon a suggested video and then maybe engaging with it by watching, liking, commenting, subscribing, etc.
5. Get Infront of Your Ideas Audience With SEO
When your videos are optimized around a very specific subject, you attract very specific viewers.
This means that, for example, people who are searching for “best gaming monitors in 2022” and find your review video, will be far more likely to click on a link and make a purchase because they are probably in the market for a new gaming monitor.
Whereas viewers who just stumble across your video on their home page may still be interested, but they most likely won’t be actively looking to purchase a new monitor.
By using YouTube SEO, you can get the right people to the right products or services that you are selling or affiliated with, all for free from organic search traffic.
6. YouTube Videos appear in Google SERPs
For many Google SERPs, the top results are YouTube videos, as these provide the searcher with the most relevant result. When you optimize your videos for YouTube SEO, you’re optimizing them for video results on Google too.
This increases your brand coverage, puts your content in front of more potential customers, and potentially keeps your competitors from taking those places and your business.
7. Better Chances of your Channel Going Viral
One thing that is better than having a video go viral, is having all of your videos go viral. By optimizing your channel and implementing good YouTube SEO practices, you’re increasing the likelihood of this happening.
The YouTube algorithm recommends videos based on viewer interest and engagement. When someone engaged with your video by watching it, there is a high likelihood that YouTube will recommend another one of your videos. If it matches their interest, they will click through and watch another video.
This sends a positive signal to YouTube and increases the likelihood of it being suggested to more people. With an optimized channel, this effect snowballs, causing channels to grow rapidly in very short time frames.
8. YouTube SEO is a “Safe” Investment
Failing to plan is planning to fail, and a YouTube SEO strategy is the first plan you need to take when creating a YouTube channel.
While you can’t guarantee that your YouTube channel will take off and become a viral sensation, you can control some aspects that will lay the groundwork for success.
If you don’t put in the effort to at least try and make your channel successful with proper YouTube SEO, then you’re not going to get the most out of your YouTube experience.
Unlike paid ads, the effects of YouTube SEO last for a long time, and the results are entirely organic and free.
Alternatively, you can also use a YouTube marketing agency and this can help earn you more for your money.
Conclusion
In short, implementing good YouTube SEO practices is essential for any business that wants to get the most out of its YouTube channel.
It’s a good investment because even if your videos don’t go viral, you’ll still see an increase in viewership and organic traffic. And if you do manage to make a video go viral, your channel will explode with growth.
So what are you waiting for? Start optimizing your videos today.
