YouTube videos can add value to your customers’ experiences, promote products and services, and position your brand as an industry leader. Before you can reap all of these benefits, you must first increase the number of people who view your content. Here’s a step-by-step guide to increasing YouTube video views.
What Constitutes a YouTube View?
Views on YouTube are defined as any instance in which a video is played for at least 30 seconds and the user-initiated the video’s playback. This includes videos played on YouTube as well as those embedded on other websites, as long as the viewer actively presses the play button or clicks on a link to the video. And once you’ve amassed a sufficient number of views, you can begin to consider other YouTube channel business ideas.
How Many Views Does a YouTube Video Need?
The number of YouTube views considered successful varies depending on your goals and the size of your following. Many new YouTube videos receive only a few hundred views, whereas the most popular videos receive billions of views. So, the next obvious question is, how much do YouTubers make? To make money from your content, you may need 20,000 views or more, but there are other requirements. But, at the end of the day, you must broaden your perspectives. Views can be increased using the methods listed below if you want to increase engagement on YouTube.
20 Ways to Increase YouTube Views and Expand Your Channel
If you want to add a YouTube channel to your small business marketing mix, increasing your subscriber and view count can help you succeed. Use these tips to increase the number of people who see your YouTube content.
1. Optimize Video Titles
The first thing your YouTube audience notices about your video content is the title. A good title should accurately describe the content while also attracting potential viewers’ attention.
2. Share Videos on Social Media
If you already have a social media presence, link to your videos and build a following to increase YouTube engagement. Some social media platforms, such as Facebook, place a premium on native video content. Create native videos that tease and link to your YouTube content to capitalize on these social media channels.
3. Optimize the Description of Your YouTube Videos
Each YouTube video has a description that should accurately describe the content to YouTube users. Include relevant keywords to guide viewers to your video via the YouTube search engine. Target keywords can also assist your content in appearing as the next video after other popular content.
4. List Related Videos in Descriptions
Encourage viewers to stick around and watch more videos once they’ve seen one. Choose titles that are similar to the topic of the original video and include links in the description.
5. Learn YouTube SEO
YouTube is one of the world’s most popular search engines. Research keywords and include them in titles, tags, categories, and descriptions to appear higher in search results. You should also look into the YouTube algorithm, which changes regularly to prioritize specific types of content.
6. Create a Custom Thumbnail for Your YouTube Channel
When viewers search for a topic on YouTube or scroll through their home page, they typically see only the title and thumbnail of each video. Create unique thumbnails to catch the eye and entice users to choose your content over others.
7. Build Views Organically
Some services sell YouTube views to artificially inflate numbers. High-quality views from real users, on the other hand, benefit YouTube channels more because they foster actual engagement, which improves search visibility over time.
8. Utilize YouTube Analytics
YouTube analytics show which videos are the most popular and when you receive the most comments. Use this information to help you create better content in the future.
9. Create a ‘Most Viewed’ Section
When someone watches a popular video on your channel, they are more likely to watch additional content. To attract even more views, include all of your popular videos in the almost viewed’ section.
10. Embed Videos on Your Website
Embedded videos count toward your views as well, so include them on your site to capitalize on that traffic. Make videos embeddable so that others can use them in blog posts and other online content.
11. Research Popular Videos in Your Niche
When you watch a video, YouTube will suggest other videos that are similar to it. Don’t make the same video, but looking at other video creators can provide you with general ideas that are likely to appear in search results.
12. Create Playlists
Playlists are groups of videos that play back-to-back. Sort your content to entice people to watch more videos after they’ve finished watching one full video.
13. Add Relevant Cards in Videos
Cards are pop-up windows that appear during video playback. Include links to related videos so that viewers can easily find additional content.
14. Create Custom End Screens
After the videos, an end screen appears with multiple links. This is an excellent place to include your most popular videos or other relevant content.
15. Respond to Comments
Respond to Comments YouTube prioritizes videos by content creators who have a high level of engagement. Responding to comments makes users feel like they are a part of a community, which can lead to increased engagement.
16. Encourage Users to Engage with Your Content
Include a call to action at the end of each video to promote your YouTube channel and encourage other people to participate. Just remind them to “like,” “subscribe,” “comment,” or “thumbs up.” Subscribing to your channel or enabling notifications can help you get more views on each new video you post.
17. Include Other People’s Content in Videos
Some videos may include photos, video content, or user commentary. First, obtain their permission. Then notify them when your content is published so that they can promote it on their own social networks.
18. Partner with Popular Influencers or Brands
You can also broaden your audience by promoting products or creating video series with other creators. These content creators and brands are more likely to share your work.
19. Draw Viewers in Right Away
YouTube does not require viewers to watch an entire video for it to be counted as a view. They must, however, remain for at least 30 seconds. So use that time to explain what’s in the rest of the video and to entice viewers.
20. Create a Contest
When you give people a reason to watch your first video, they’re more likely to subscribe and watch more. Promote your YouTube channel by offering a prize to anyone who watches or interacts with your content.