How to Rank YouTube Videos: 10 Ways to Rank #1 in 2023

YouTube, the third-largest search engine in the world, provides a huge opportunity for businesses and individuals to reach a wide audience.

Hubspot reports that 45% of businesses are putting more money into YouTube this year.

But how do you make sure your videos stand out in the YouTube search engine?

Similar to any other sort of SEO, achieving a higher rating on YouTube takes both on-page optimization and an off-page plan.

In this article, we’ll share 10 powerful tips on optimizing your YouTube channel and videos for better ranking in YouTube search.

1) Optimize the Title and Description of Your Video

The title and description of your video are the first things potential viewers will see when they find your video in YouTube search.

Google states that a maximum of 1,000 characters may be used for a video’s description on YouTube.

It is acceptable to use all of that space; however, you should keep in mind that the audience came to your page to watch your video rather, not read an essay.

So it’s important to make sure these elements are optimized for both relevance and clickability.

Your title should be descriptive and keyword-rich. Try to include one or two of your target keywords in the title without going overboard with keyword stuffing.

The purpose of your description is to introduce your video’s topic quickly.

You can include a call to action or a link to your website, but keep your description under 300 words, so it doesn’t get cut off in YouTube search results.

2) Use Keywords in Your Tags

When it comes to YouTube video rankings, tags are a big deal.

They help YouTube’s algorithm understand what your video is about and determine which searches your video should appear for.

When adding tags to your videos, be sure to include a mix of general and specific keywords.

For example, if you have a video about the best golf clubs for beginners, you might use tags like the following:

• golf clubs
• best golf clubs
• golf clubs for beginners

3) Optimize Your Video Thumbnail

The thumbnail for your video is the main picture people see when they scroll through a list of video results.

Along with the video’s title, the thumbnail tells the viewer what the video is about, so it can influence how many people will click on it and watch it.

According to the Creator Academy, 90% of the most successful YouTube videos have custom thumbnails.

When choosing or creating a thumbnail, make sure it’s high quality and has a resolution of 1280×720 pixels.

Create personalized thumbnails that will stand out in YouTube search results with the help of free web tools like Canva.

4) Create Transcripts of Your Videos

Optimizing your YouTube videos using transcripts is a smart idea.

Additionally, they can be utilized to provide closed captions for the hearing impaired. This gives YouTube’s algorithms more information to work with when determining the context of your video.

If you have a long video, you don’t need to transcribe the entire thing.

Just transcribe the parts that are most important for understanding the video’s content.

5) Optimize Your Video File Name and Folder Structure

When you save your video file, use a descriptive and keyword-rich file name.

For example, if you have a video about the best golf clubs for beginners.

Your file name could be something like “best-golf-clubs-for-beginners.mp4.”

You can also optimize your video file for SEO by placing it in a folder named after your target keyword.

For example, if you have a video about the best golf clubs for beginners, you could place it in a folder called “/best-golf-clubs-for-beginners/.”

6) Optimize Your Video Loading Speed

Make sure your videos are optimized for fast loading speed, as no one likes to wait around while a video loads.

The faster your videos load, the more likely people are to watch them.

There are a few different ways to optimize your video loading speed, including using a content delivery network (CDN), compressing your videos, and using an optimized video player.

7) Promote Your Videos on Social Media

Social media is a great way to promote your YouTube videos and help them rank higher in search results.

When you share your videos on social media, be sure to include a call to action and a link back to your video.

You can also use social media ads to promote your videos to a wider audience.

For example, Facebook Ads allows you to target people based on their interests, demographics, and even behaviors.

8) Use YouTube Cards and End Screens

Using YouTube cards and end screens is a good method of generating interest in driving traffic to additional content.

They can get people to check out more of your content, subscribe to your channel, or check out your website.

To add a card or end screen to your video, open the Video Manager and select the “Edit” option next to the video to which you would like to add a card or end screen.

Then, click the “Cards” or “End Screens” tab and follow the instructions.

9) Collaborate with Other YouTubers

Collaborating with other YouTubers is a great way to get more views and subscribers.

When you collaborate with someone, you can promote each other’s videos to your respective audiences.

This can help you reach a larger audience and get more views.

To find collaborators, you can search for YouTubers in your niche using the YouTube search bar.

Once you find someone you’d like to collaborate with, send them a message and see if they’re interested.

10) Use YouTube Analytics

YouTube Analytics is a free tool that allows you to track the performance of your videos.

It can help you see how many people are watching your videos, where they’re coming from, and what they’re doing after watching your videos.

YouTube Analytics can be a valuable tool for understanding what’s working and what’s not.

Use it to experiment with different types of videos, titles, descriptions, and tags to see what gets the best results.

If you follow these suggestions, you can improve your YouTube channel’s search engine optimization and attract more viewers.

Optimizing your YouTube channel can be a lot of work, but it’s worth it if you want more views and subscribers.

Why would you put in the effort to rank Youtube videos?

There are a few reasons you might want to put in the effort to rank your YouTube videos.

First, ranking higher in YouTube search results can help you get more views. And getting more views can lead to more subscribers and more revenue.

Second, ranking higher in YouTube search results can also help you build trust and credibility with your audience.

People will have more trust in your expertise if your videos consistently rank well in search results.

Lastly, ranking higher in YouTube search results can also help you build relationships with other YouTubers.

When other YouTubers see your videos appearing in the top search results, they’ll be more likely to reach out and collaborate with you.

Do longer videos rank better on YouTube?

It is a common misconception that longer videos rank better on YouTube. The truth is, there is no ideal video length for ranking purposes.

YouTube ranks videos based on numerous factors, including relevance, engagement, and viewer retention.

So, whether your video is 2 minutes or 20 minutes long, it can still rank well if relevant and engaging.

What are the most crucial ranking factors for YouTube?

There are a number of ranking factors that YouTube takes into account when determining which videos to rank in search. Some of the most important factors include:

• Relevance: How relevant is your video to the keywords you’re targeting?
• Engagement: How many people are watching your video and interacting with it?
• Viewer Retention: How long are viewers watching your video?
• Shares and Embeds: How often is your video shared or embedded on other websites?
• Backlinks: How many other websites are pointing back to your video?

By optimizing your videos for these factors, you can improve your chances of ranking in YouTube search.

Top 3 Youtube SEO Tools

When it comes to search engine optimization (SEO), your YouTube videos can be improved in a variety of ways. The top three are as follows:

1) VidIQ

VidIQ is a free Chrome extension that provides insights into YouTube videos.

It shows you information like video views, likes, dislikes, comments, and more.

It also provides suggestions on how to optimize your videos for better results.

2) TubeBuddy

TubeBuddy is a paid Chrome extension that provides insights and tools for YouTube creators.

It shows you estimated video views, tags, keywords, and more.

It also provides tools for bulk processing videos and optimizing your channel.

3) Google Keyword Planner

Google Keyword Planner is a free tool that allows you to research keywords for your YouTube videos.

In addition to the average monthly searches for terms, it also displays the level of competitiveness in the market.

This information can help you choose the right keywords to target for your videos.

By using these tools, you can optimize your YouTube videos for better SEO results.

Conclusion

By using the tips in this guide, you can make your YouTube channel better for SEO and get more people to watch it.

Optimizing your YouTube channel can be a lot of work, but it’s worth it if you want to get more views and subscribers.

So, start by doing keyword research, optimizing your videos for SEO, and promoting your videos on social media.

Then, track your progress using YouTube Analytics and experiment to see what works best. Good luck!