2. Create high-quality video content
Create high-quality videos consistently and make sure that they can effectively capture and hold your audience’s attention.
Whenever you upload a video that is visually appealing, well-produced, and professionally executed, viewers are more inclined to watch the entire video, actively engage with it, and even subscribe to your channel.
High-quality videos are important in keeping viewers engaged and committed for longer durations. YouTube’s algorithm considers audience retention metrics, including watch time and average view duration, when determining the visibility and ranking of your videos.
So, try to invest in a video camera and in editing software that makes your content stand out from the rest. Keep an eye on popular videos and learn what they’re doing right so you can apply it in your own content.
NOTE: To ensure successful playback of your uploaded video on any device, YouTube will automatically process it at the highest available resolution once it’s uploaded.
3. Use custom thumbnails
Using a custom video thumbnail whenever you upload a video to YouTube can pique the interest of potential viewers. It can also convince them to choose your video over the multitude of content available on the platform.
It serves as a visual representation of your video’s essence and significantly influences the decision-making process of whether someone will watch it or not.
They’re also great for maintaining a consistent visual presence throughout your channel.
Elements such as brand colors, logos, or recognizable features in eye-catching thumbnails help you establish a unified visual identity that aids viewers in recognizing your videos amidst others. Consistent branding fosters trust and cultivates loyalty among your audience. To achieve this, use thumbnail design tools such as Canva or Microsoft Designer.
4. Add subtitles
Subtitles enable a broader audience to access and comprehend your videos, particularly individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. By incorporating captions, you ensure that those with hearing impairments can fully enjoy and understand the content you create.
Even individuals without hearing impairments often prefer watching videos with subtitles. By providing subtitles, viewers can follow the content without relying solely on audio, reducing the risk of losing interest or missing essential information.
Most YouTube users watch longer videos on YouTube than on any other platform, so it’s important to make the experience as easy and enjoyable as possible throughout.
5. Be mindful of video SEO
Effective video SEO techniques amplify the visibility of your videos in search engine results. This, in turn, increases the chances of your videos showing up in the results of relevant searches from potential viewers.
Furthermore, video SEO empowers you to target specific keywords and phrases that are relevant to your content. As a result, your titles, tags, and descriptions always contain relevant keywords. Align your video’s optimization with popular search queries, and you’ll end up attracting a focused audience that is genuinely interested in your topic.
Using good SEO techniques will also increase your chances of appearing on YouTube’s home page for many users, where the app recommends personalized content and ads based on their interests.
6. Add video elements and end screens
Video elements, such as promoting other channels, videos, or playlists, elevate the level of engagement in your videos. These elements also provide an opportunity to showcase and bring attention to content that might have otherwise been overlooked.
End screens, on the other hand, help you direct viewers to take action after watching your video. By using end screens, you can prompt viewers to subscribe to your channel, watch other related videos, or check out a playlist you have in store for them.
As for navigating longer videos with ease, adding chapters to videos should do the trick. That way, your viewers can easily select the exact part of the video they would like to watch or browse the others.
7. Upload YouTube videos at the best times
Optimizing the timing of your video uploads allows you to increase visibility and expand your audience reach. Posing at peak hours is key to catching the attention of viewers when they are actively engaged in browsing and consuming content.
By strategically building your posting schedule based on the best times to post, meaning when your target audience is most active online, you enhance the likelihood of your videos appearing in their feeds and search results. This, in turn, maximizes the number of views and potential engagement your videos can receive.
Here are the best times to post on YouTube:
- Friday: 6 PM, 7 PM, 8 PM. 9 PM
- Saturday: 3 PM, 4 PM, 5 PM, 6 PM
- Sunday: 12 PM, 1 PM, 2 PM, 3 PM
8. Leverage YouTube Studio
YouTube Studio offers comprehensive analytics and effective tools that allow you to directly communicate with your viewers through comments. It also allows you to optimize your existing content in a way that increases your chances of attracting new subscribers.
For creators eligible for monetization, YouTube Studio also provides specialized tools to manage and track your revenue. You can keep tabs on your earnings, assess ad performance, and gain valuable insights into your monetization strategy.
This enables you to grasp the financial aspects of your channel and make calculated choices to optimize your revenue generation, ensuring you are maximizing the potential of your content to generate income.
9. Promote your videos on your social media channels
When you distribute your latest videos across your social media channels, you expand your reach to a wider audience that extends beyond your YouTube subscriber base.
By leveraging platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or LinkedIn, you enable your existing followers to discover and engage with your videos, amplifying your content’s visibility and potential viewership.
