Optimize your video for YouTube

Business Benefits

Rank higher in YouTube search and increase your outreach.


Choose a keyword that will be the search term you would like to rank for, and insert it at the start of your video title.

For example, if you are a dog groomer, you could lead with Grooming a dog, as this is something your target audience might be searching for advice on.

If you need ideas for keywords, a good place to start is Google’s free keyword planner.

Rename your video file to include your chosen keyword, for example, DogGrooming.mp4

Place your call to action and links at the start of your description, not the end.

YouTube only shows the first few lines before a viewer has to click show more. For example, your first line could be Read the step by step for dog grooming here: [link].

Populate your tags with popular keywords that relate to your topic.

You can use a free tool like TubeBuddy for ideas on which terms are performing well.

Create and upload a custom thumbnail on YouTube using TubeBuddy, or create one in the right dimensions using a tool like Canva.

High-performing thumbnails tend to be bright in color and include a picture of the speaker along with the title of the video.

Upload captions to your video for greater accessibility.

If relevant to your business, upload captions in other languages to extend your geographical reach. You can upload a .srt file directly or transcribe and auto-sync.

Use the Key Moments feature to help your viewers quickly find the relevant portion of the video.

Write your timestamps in your description. The times will become hyperlinks that allow the viewer to jump to the relevant portion of your video. For example, 0:02:19 - How to record a podcast.

Add a call to action at the end of your video, using Cards and End Screens.

Depending on your video, you can direct your viewers to a number of places such as your next video, or an external link to your website.

Last edited by @hesh_fekry 2023-11-14T12:20:27Z