Unless you know exactly where to start when it comes to YouTube channel optimization, setting up your channel for your business can be a hefty task.
YouTube is the second-largest search engine in the world, which means bringing your business to the platform will invoke more engagement while finding you new customers and grand opportunities.
Let’s talk about where to start, and how to get setup properly.
The Importance of Keywords on YouTube
Keywords are your best friend when it comes to finding your audience, not only on YouTube but everywhere. They are especially crucial for YouTube channel optimization. Using them in your video titles might be a no-brainer, but make sure to include them in your channel name for maximum SEO potential.
Keywords will also help YouTube’s algorithm categorize your channel and videos to suggest your content to suitable viewers. Remember, uniqueness is a crucial asset to you; what is a video or channel name that will make customers remember who you are and what you can provide?
Filling Out Your Channel Description and Tags
While we’re on the topic of keywords, your description and video tags are just as important. A helpful tip is to make sure your description is keyword-heavy, especially at the beginning. The first 150 characters appear in YouTube Search, so use this front section for advertising your unique value proposition.
Make sure to include who you are, and why your channel is the one people should be watching. End with a strong CTA (call to action) so they know where to go next!
The tags section is a little more straightforward. In this case, only use relevant words to your channel’s topic. It’s highly beneficial to check your competitors’ tagged keywords and only use a handful of them to ensure that your channel’s purpose is clear.
Be careful not to use unrelated terms or too many vague tags, or YouTube might flag you for keyword stuffing.
Create Eye-Catching Branded Graphics and Designs
Moving on from words, visuals are just as crucial. Having consistent branding across all platforms, such as colors and fonts, is a must! The banner on your YouTube channel should include a human face, a clear mission statement, and your chosen CTA. Most importantly, ensure that everything is visible on all device types.
Make sure all fonts are readable and cohesive with the rest of your channel — this includes your thumbnails and making sure they align with your brand and design. Paste your logo everywhere, whether it’s your channel icon, a watermark or used throughout your videos.
Direct Your Viewers with Links
Your banner is for more than just graphics; it also holds the media link bar. The first link should be your CTA, whether it’s a landing page, product page or business website. Use this section to also link your other social media like Twitter, Instagram and anywhere else you’re active.
On the subject of links, be sure to create a custom URL if it’s available to you (youtube.com/yourbusinessname). You can learn more about the requirements to do that here. Also, make note of your unique subscription link and copy that for use when promoting your channel and asking for subscriptions.
Advertise Yourself with a Strong Channel Trailer
A channel trailer is exactly what it sounds like — an opportunity to highlight your brand and convince a curious user to become a viewer. Just like a movie trailer!
Introduce yourself and your mission statement right away to make a strong impression. Make sure you highlight your channel’s unique and valuable points to persuade them to hang around. Show, don’t tell! Your video should be about two minutes long with a strong hook and as much branding as possible!
Organize Your Content with Playlists
Organization is attractive, and the playlist function on YouTube is for precisely that. Place videos of similar topics into their own playlists to help users find what they’re looking for. This is also useful for content series.
Keywords are also important in both the title and description of the playlist, as the first 196 characters appear on channel sections. Playlists have quite a few benefits, such as associating your videos with highly searched terms, ranked playlists on Google, and the autoplay feature will assist with longer watch times.
Create an Attractive & User-Friendly Channel Layout
A good layout is essential to catch a viewer’s eye. So organize, organize, organize for better YouTube channel optimization! Create a categorized library to search through to make sure your videos are easy to find and access. Remember those playlist descriptions from earlier – they’re going to be important for organizing and promoting these channel sections, as they appear under each.
Lastly, you’ll want to include related channels in your layout. This will help YouTube categorize your content with similar topics and interests.
Congratulations!
Just like that, your YouTube channel is optimized! Now it’s time to promote it and keep an eye on your analytics. If you’re looking for professional help to bring that extra bang to your channel, our mission here at Vireo Video is to help businesses like yours improve their funnel and increase return on investment (ROI).
We have several case studies that showcase how we’ve helped businesses grow channels like yours. Get started with Vireo Video today by booking your free consultation!
Author: Mikayla Boudreau, Vireo Video blog contributor
