What is YouTube SEO?

I know the key to winning the video game is not just having great content, but telling the search algorithms exactly what your video is about.

I will explain What is YouTube SEO? and show you how to use a few simple tricks to make your videos rank, bringing you more views and subscribers.

What is YouTube SEO?

What is YouTube SEO? is the practice of optimizing your videos and your channel to increase your visibility in YouTube’s search results and suggested videos.

It involves using the right keywords in your video titles, descriptions, and tags, as well as focusing on user engagement metrics.

I focus on getting high click-through rates (CTR) and long watch times, as these are YouTube’s most important ranking factors.

Impact on CMS Platforms

I use my website (CMS) to support my YouTube SEO by creating related content, embedding videos, and driving traffic to my channel.

WordPress

In WordPress, I embed my YouTube videos on relevant blog posts using clear headings and contextual text around the embed.

I always make sure the page title and the video title use similar keywords to tell Google and YouTube the content is related.

This cross-promotion helps my video rank better while increasing the dwell time on my WordPress site.

Shopify

For Shopify, I embed product demonstration videos on the specific product pages to increase shopper engagement.

A high-quality video helps explain the product, leading to higher conversion rates and lower returns.

I make sure the video is tagged correctly to appear for relevant product searches on YouTube.

Wix and Webflow

These builders allow me to create beautiful landing pages where I feature my best-performing YouTube videos prominently.

I use clear, large text to create a simple title and description next to the video embed, reinforcing the keywords.

This focus on clean presentation helps guide users to click and watch the video.

Custom CMS

With a custom system, I ensure that my embedded videos use responsive code so they look perfect on every device.

I also implement schema markup for the video object to provide structured data about the title, duration, and description to Google.

This technical optimization helps my videos appear as rich results directly in Google search.

YouTube SEO in Various Industries

The type of video content I promote changes, but the core optimization principles remain the same for every niche.

Ecommerce

I focus on ranking videos for “product review” and “how to use” keywords related to my inventory.

I ensure the video description includes a clear link to the exact product page on my Shopify store.

This drives direct, high-intent traffic from YouTube viewers who are ready to buy.

Local Businesses

I create videos about “best [service] in [city]” and ensure the video title includes the specific location keyword.

I include my full business address and phone number in the video description and on the channel’s About page.

This helps my videos rank for local searches and builds trust with the local community.

SaaS (Software as a Service)

I create tutorial and feature demonstration videos that answer specific customer pain points and questions.

I organize these videos into playlists that serve as a comprehensive, indexed training academy for my users.

I use the video title to target keywords like “how to set up [feature name]” for high search intent.

Blogs

I create video summaries or visual explainers for my longest, most authoritative blog posts.

I ensure the video title is nearly identical to the article title for strong topical relevance.

This cross-platform content helps my website and my YouTube channel rank simultaneously for the same topic.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the two most important YouTube ranking factors?

The two most important factors are Watch Time (how long people watch) and Click-Through Rate (CTR) of your thumbnail.

I focus on creating engaging videos that people do not click away from and designing thumbnails that are impossible to ignore.

These two things tell YouTube that users love your content.

Do I need to put keywords in my video tags?

Yes, tags are still an important part of YouTube SEO, but they are not as powerful as the video title and description.

I use tags for misspellings, synonyms, and to identify the main category of the video.

I never keyword stuff the tags; I keep them relevant and focused.

Can YouTube videos rank on Google?

Yes, YouTube videos often rank very high on Google search results, especially for “how to” or visual search queries.

I ensure my video’s description is long and detailed, giving Google more text to read and index.

This allows me to capture traffic from both the YouTube platform and the main Google search engine.