Top YouTubers earn millions of dollars a year. It’s not only ad revenue that comes rolling in when you have a successful YouTube Channel. You can also make money from product placements, reviews, and becoming a brand ambassador.
It’s no wonder, then, that so many people dream of hitting the big time on YouTube. However, there are around 40 million active YouTube channels. Only a tiny percentage of those channels make decent money because all the others don’t attract enough views. If you want to make money on YouTube, you must get the views. If you have started a YouTube channel and have been disappointed with the results, read on. Here are 10 tips to help you get way more YouTube views.
1. Compelling Content Is a Prerequisite
Reading YouTube tips and hacks will not bring you more views if you don’t first focus on your content. Step one is finding your niche and creating videos that entertain, inform, and make compulsive viewing. If you are unsure how to do this, check out the more successful channels. Consider the topics, presentation style, production quality, and video length. There is no single format that works on YouTube. Nevertheless, quality and entertainment value are two critical components of a great YouTube video.
2. Create Compelling Thumbnails
YouTube is adept at recommending videos its user may enjoy. However, users are presented with an entire page of videos when browsing the platform. And the only things people have to go on when reviewing their choices are title and thumbnail. Consequently, your thumbnails must stand out and grab the attention of users. Therefore, it is advisable not to let the thumbnail be an afterthought. Instead, create an image with bright colors, close-up shots, and text overlays that are eye-catching and explain what the user can expect in the video.
3. Optimize Titles and Descriptions
YouTube operates as a search engine for videos. People use the platform to search for video content. Optimizing titles and descriptions for relevant keywords will increase the chances of your content being discovered. However, as with website search engine optimization (SEO), keyword stuffing should be avoided, and titles and descriptions should be written for the user first and SEO second.
4. Optimize the Channel
To maximize views, you must create a brand on YouTube. That branding will be achieved through the styles and content of your videos. You can strengthen the brand and further optimize your channel for search by making full use of the channel customization options. For example, use all the characters available in the channel’s description. In that description, use relevant keywords and make the subscription an appealing prospect. Upload a branded profile picture and banner. Add the appropriate words and phrases to the channel’s keywords.
5. Encourage Subscriptions
Every person who views one of your videos for the first time is a potential viewer of your future videos. However, they may not stumble across your content a second time. But if they subscribe to your channel and turn on notifications, they will be prompted when you publish fresh content. Asking users to subscribe at the beginning and end of each video will increase the views of subsequent videos.
6. Use End Screens and Cards
End screens and cards can be used as calls to action (CTAs) to prompt users to view more of your content. End screens appear at the end of a video. Cards can pop up at any point. Using these tools to promote other related videos is a powerful way to keep viewers visiting your content and discourage them from browsing other people’s content.
7. Create Playlists
Cards and end screens will encourage people to watch more of your content. However, these tools require positive action by the user, namely clicking a box. On the other hand, playlists need no action; the content keeps rolling, making it more likely that a user will watch the following video. Grouping related videos in playlists is an excellent way to increase total views.
8. Cross-Promote Videos
YouTube is not the only potential source of viewers. You could also attract views by sharing videos on other social media platforms and your website if you have one. If you don’t want to duplicate content across channels, post teasers with a link to the YouTube video instead
9. Enable Embedding
When you create amazing videos, your users may want to share your content on their blogs or websites. Sharing videos in this way will broaden your audience and increase views. However, if you don’t enable the embedding option on your videos, users will not be able to do this. The embedding option is under the advanced settings of a video.
10. Engage with Viewers
Never forget that YouTube is essentially a social media channel. And as such, engaging with your users and the wider YouTube community will win you more views. For example, ask your users what type of content they would like to see and respond to comments. Subscribe to other YouTubers’ channels and comment on their videos. Share other people’s content or give shoutouts to other YouTubers in your niche. Being an active community member will get you noticed and gain more subscribers and views.
Conclusion
The above tips will help increase YouTube views. However, optimization and sharing will not help if you fail to produce great content. And it takes time to build a loyal following. So try the above tips, but make your primary focus improving your videos. And don’t forget to engage with the community and listen to your viewers.
