How to Rank Your Videos Higher on YouTube in 2023

With over 2 billion monthly active users, YouTube is the second-largest search engine in the world. If you want to grow your online presence and reach more potential customers, you need to rank your videos higher on YouTube.

But how do you do that? How do you optimize your videos for YouTube SEO and get more views, subscribers, and revenue from your channel?

In this blog post, we will share with you 8 simple tips that can help you rank your videos higher on YouTube in 2023. By following these tips, you will be able to create engaging and relevant videos that attract more attention from both YouTube and your audience.

Tip #1: Pick your keywords wisely

The first step to rank your videos higher on YouTube is to pick the right keywords for your niche. Keywords are the words or phrases that people use to search for content on YouTube. By targeting the right keywords, you can increase your chances of appearing in front of your ideal audience.

To find the best keywords for your videos, you can use tools like Google Keyword Planner[^1^][2], Ubersuggest[^2^][1], or AnswerThePublic[^2^][1]. These tools can help you generate keyword ideas based on your topic or domain. You can also see the monthly search volume, competition level, and suggested bid for each keyword.

You should aim for keywords that have high search volume but low competition. These are called long tail keywords[^3^][4]. Long tail keywords are longer and more specific keyword phrases that have lower competition and higher conversion rates. For example, instead of using a broad keyword like "yoga", you can use a long tail keyword like "yoga for beginners at home".

Tip #2: Use keywords in your video title

The title of your video is one of the most important factors for YouTube SEO. It tells both YouTube and your viewers what your video is about and why they should watch it. You should use your main keyword in your video title as close to the beginning as possible. This will help you rank higher for that keyword and attract more clicks. You should also make your title catchy and relevant by adding modifiers, numbers, or questions. For example, instead of using a generic title like "Yoga for Beginners", you can use a more specific title like "10-Minute Yoga Routine for Beginners at Home".

Tip #3: Include the keyword in your video file

Another factor that affects your YouTube SEO is the name of your video file. Before you upload your video to YouTube, you should rename it to include your main keyword. This will aid YouTube in comprehending the subject matter of your video and appropriately indexing it.

For example, if your main keyword is "yoga for beginners at home", you should rename your video file to something like "yoga-for-beginners-at-home.mp4". This will give you an edge over other videos that have generic file names like "video1.mp4" or "IMG_1234.mov".

Tip #4: Optimize your YouTube video description

The description of your video is another important element for YouTube SEO. It helps YouTube and your viewers get more information about your video and its content. It also helps you rank for more keywords and drive more traffic to your website or other social media platforms.

You should write a detailed and engaging description that includes your main keyword and some LSI keywords. LSI keywords are words or phrases that are semantically related to your main keyword. They help YouTube understand your content better and match it with user intent. For example, if your main keyword is "yoga for beginners at home", some LSI keywords could be "yoga poses", "yoga benefits", "yoga mat", etc.

You should also use your description to add calls to action (CTAs) that encourage your viewers to subscribe to your channel, like your video, comment, or visit your website. This will help you grow your audience and send positive engagement signals to YouTube.

Tip #5: Use video hashtags to drive YouTube search results

Hashtags are another way to optimize your videos for YouTube SEO. Hashtags are words or phrases that start with a # sign and are used to categorize or label content on social media platforms. By using hashtags in your videos, you can help YouTube display them in relevant search results and suggestions.

You can add up to 15 hashtags in your video description or title. You should use hashtags that are relevant to your niche, topic, or audience. You can also use branded hashtags that represent your channel name, logo, or slogan. For example, if you have a yoga channel called "Yoga with Jane", you can use hashtags like #YogawithJane, #JaneYoga, or #YJYoga.

Tip #6: Select a video category

Another simple tip to rank higher on YouTube is to select a video category that matches your content. A video category is a broad topic that describes what kind of content you create on YouTube. By choosing a category, you help YouTube show your videos to people who are interested in similar topics.

You can select a category from a list of 15 options when you upload or edit your video. Some of the categories are:

- Film & Animation
- Autos & Vehicles
- Music
- Pets & Animals
- Sports
- Travel & Events
- Gaming
- People & Blogs
- Comedy
- Entertainment
- News & Politics
- Howto & Style
- Education
- Science & Technology
- Nonprofits & Activism

You should choose a category that best describes your video and your niche. For example, if you make yoga videos, you can choose the category "Howto & Style" or "Sports".

Tip #7: Customize your thumbnail image

The thumbnail image of your video is the first thing that people see when they browse YouTube. It can make or break your click-through rate (CTR) and your views. A good thumbnail image can entice people to click on your video and watch it. A bad thumbnail image can make them ignore or skip your video.

You should customize your thumbnail image to make it eye-catching and relevant to your content. You can use tools like Canva, PicMonkey, or Photoshop to create and edit your thumbnail images. You should use high-quality images that are clear and bright. You should also add text overlays that highlight your main keyword or value proposition. For example, if you make a yoga video for beginners at home, you can use a thumbnail image that shows you doing a yoga pose with text that says "10-Minute Yoga Routine for Beginners at Home".

Tip #8: Add and closed captions

The last tip to rank higher on YouTube is to add subtitles and closed captions to your videos. Subtitles and closed captions are text versions of the audio in your videos. They help YouTube understand what your videos are about and index them accordingly. They also help you reach more viewers who speak different languages or have hearing impairments.

You can add subtitles and closed captions manually or automatically using YouTube's tools. You can also use third-party services like Rev, GoTranscript, or Fiverr to get professional subtitles and closed captions for your videos.

Conclusion

YouTube SEO is not rocket science, but it does require some planning and optimization. By following these 8 simple tips, you can rank higher on YouTube in 2023 and get more views, subscribers, and revenue from your channel.

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