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YouTube SEO Checklist Backlinko

This document provides a checklist for optimizing videos on YouTube to improve rankings. It includes 4 main steps: 1) finding relevant keywords, 2) planning videos with user experience in mind, 3) uploading and optimizing videos with keywords and descriptions, and 4) getting views through embedding, social sharing, and using competitors' tags. Bonus tips include using competitors' channel names as tags and featuring related videos to drive more views. The overall goal is to improve rankings and traffic by focusing on user signals that YouTube prioritizes like engagement, watch time, and shares.

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Rodney Trimble
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892 views5 pages

YouTube SEO Checklist Backlinko

This document provides a checklist for optimizing videos on YouTube to improve rankings. It includes 4 main steps: 1) finding relevant keywords, 2) planning videos with user experience in mind, 3) uploading and optimizing videos with keywords and descriptions, and 4) getting views through embedding, social sharing, and using competitors' tags. Bonus tips include using competitors' channel names as tags and featuring related videos to drive more views. The overall goal is to improve rankings and traffic by focusing on user signals that YouTube prioritizes like engagement, watch time, and shares.

Uploaded by

Rodney Trimble
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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YouTube Ranking Factors

CHECKLIST
I probably don’t need to tell you that YouTube
is a MASSIVE untapped traffic source for most
online businesses.
Unless you plan on your video going viral Fortunately, YouTube SEO isn’t rocket science.
Justin Bieber-style, you’ll need to focus on Just follow the steps in this checklist and
ranking your videos in YouTube and Google you’ll notice your videos ranking higher in
to get views. YouTube and in Google – meaning more
traffic for you.

STEP
1 Find Video Keywords

Like with “regular” SEO, keyword research is THE most important part of YouTube SEO.
Before you shoot a second of video, you need to find keywords that have YouTube results in Google.
In other words, Video Keywords.
Video Keywords tend to be:
How-to keywords (“how to shave a cat”) Anything fitness or sports related (“Cardio kickboxing”)
Reviews (“Bluehost review”) Funny videos (“Cute animals”)
Tutorials (“Setting up WordPress”)

Once you’ve found a video keyword, use the Google Keyword Planner to make sure that keyword
gets at least 300 searches per month.

VIDEO KEYWORDS
STEP
2 Plan Your Video With YouTube User
Experience In Mind
Unlike Google – which largely uses backlinks to The better your user YouTube experience
measure content quality – YouTube has no such signals, the higher you’ll rank.
luxury. In fact, you can outrank competitors with
What do they use instead? 10x more views if your video has better user
User experience signals. experience signals:

As you script and film your video, keep these S


 ocial shares: How many people share
critical YouTube user experience signals in mind: your video on social media sites like Twitter
and Google+.
 A
 udience retention: The percentage of
your video people tend to watch (the more, F
 avorites: The number of people that
the better). favorite your video or add it to their
“Watch Later” playlist:
C
 omments: If people comment, they
probably enjoyed the video (or at least T
 humbs up/Thumbs down:
watched it). Self explanatory

S
 ubscribes after watching: If someone O
 ne more tip: Make sure your video is at
subscribes to your channel after watching least 5-minutes long. I’ve done extensive
your video that sends a HUGE signal that testing and found that 5+ minute videos
you have an amazing video. perform MUCH better than shorter videos.
STEP
3 Upload and Optimize Your Video

Now that you’ve found a Video Keyword and created Description: When most people upload a video
a compelling, 5+ minute video around, it’s time to to YouTube, they mindlessly toss a few words
upload your video... with YouTube SEO in mind. into the description box. That’s a HUGE mistake.
Remember that Google can’t watch or listen to
Here’s how: your video content.
Video Filename: Should include your target Instead, they rely on your video’s text-based title
keyword. But also include a word before or and description to determine what your video
after so it doesn’t look like keyword-stuffing. is about. So give them enough information by
For example, YouTube_SEO_Video.mp4. writing a 200+-word description that includes
Video Title: Make sure your keyword is at the your keyword 3-4 times.
beginning of your title. If possible start your video Tags: Just include your keyword as your first tag
title off with your target keyword. For example, and a few related keywords as tags. Simple.
if your keyword was “weight loss”, your video
title should be something like: Weight Loss Tips:
5 Ways to Drop Extra Pounds.

INCLUDE YOUR TARGET KEYWORD

STEP
4 Get High-Retention Views

When it comes to YouTube views, quality and Embed Your Videos in Blog Posts: Whenever
quantity are both important. you write a blog post (on your site or as a guest
Here’s how to get lots of views that actually stick post for another site), think to yourself: “Where
around and watch your video: can I embed a YouTube video into this post?”

Mention Your Video on Quora and Other Q&A Social Media: Share your video to your followers
Sites: Just search for a question on your video’s on Twitter, Facebook and Google+ (seems
topic. And add a link to your video. Or better yet, straightforward but I’m surprised how many
embed it into your answer. people don’t do this!).

Link To Your Video In Your Email Signature:


People that email you (like your mom) generally
like you. So when you add a link to your latest
video in your email signature, that means you get
high-retention views like they’re going out of style.
BONUS
1 Use Competitor’s Channel Name
as a Tag

If you notice the same channel showing up in Just use their channel name as a tag in one
YouTube search again and again, you’re probably of your videos. For example, if you noticed
wondering: “how can I get a piece of that?”. this channel dominating your niche:

Well there’s a sneaky way to get listed as


a “related video” for their videos.

You’d want to add a tag to your video called


WatchMojo.com.
O M P E TITOR
C
This trick will cause your video to you show up TAGS
more often in the “related videos” sidebar when
people watch videos from that channel. That
means more views for you.
BONUS
2 Use Suggested Video to Get More Views

YouTube has a powerful feature


called “Featured Video”. And it’s
a dead-simple ways to get more
views to your high-priority videos.
What is it?
It’s a simple little graphic that shows
up when people watch one of your
videos. The graphic encourages
people to watch a different video:

I don’t see ANYONE utilizing this feature. That’s probably because YouTube buries it.

Here’s how to set it up.



1  irst, head over to your
F
YouTube Dashboard.
 lick on Channel Settings
C
2 In-Video Programming From
The Left hand Sidebar:
 nder “Featured Video,”
U
3 choose a video, the start
time and hit “update”

HERE’S WHAT TO DO NEXT


1 2 3
Send me a message to my Follow me on Twitter
personal email address where I share helpful Pat yourself on the back.
brian@backlinko.com content on SEO, conversion You just read a
to let me know what rate optimization and 5-page checklist ; )
you think of this guide. inbound marketing.

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