What if you could rank your YouTube videos INSTANTLY? Would that be useful for your YouTube channel? I hear ya say “YES”. Let’s get right in to it, and learn what others can’t, or won’t teach you.
How Not to Rank YouTube Videos Quickly
If others confused you about YouTube video ranking by advising you to focus your attention towards things like:
- Social Bookmarking for the sake of higher video rankings
- Using YouTube Video Ranking Software
- Keyword stuff video description and tags
- Get many backlinks for your videos
Make sure that you use none of the above video ranking techniques when you want to master how to rank YouTube videos fast. Because most of the above methods are against YouTube metadata guidelines. Furthermore, why would you want to spam YouTube when you don’t need it to achieve quick video ranking results. Instead, let us now learn what truly matters for your YouTube success.
Do This Before Creating YouTube Videos
I see many of RankYa subscribers still not targeting keywords properly. Meaning, although you can create a video about any topic (including rant and rave) doesn’t mean you should begin video creation first before identifying what your ideal audience is looking for.
Because its smart to begin building your YouTube channel and subscriber base by learning to select keywords first and then create videos according to those keywords. This will ensure that your channel gets consistent visitors through YouTube search.
Search YouTube Search Box to Identify Keywords
YouTube Search Terms with Lots of Keywords
The longer the keyword patterns people on YouTube are searching for, easier they are to target and rank fast.
YouTube Search Terms with Date Based Intent
Search queries with date based patterns are usually easy to rank as well, because, either not many YouTube Creators are targeting them, or, those who were ranking for previous date ranges haven’t updated their videos allowing you to out-rank them quickly and easily.
In this example, I’ve targeted ranking YouTube videos fast in 2017 because my researched showed that I could easily get top rankings instantly, and that’s exactly what I’ve done to achieve this.
Forth position ranking achieved instantly (although the example in the above image shows ranking results for a video published an hour ago).
What Else Can We Learn from These YouTube Results?
Its clearly evident that the YouTube video view count isn’t as important as other video optimization and ranking factors. Because instant rankings mean that the YouTube algorithms can rank your videos that have no views as confirmed in the above image.
Mind you, although not as competitive was these sample target keywords, they are still competitive compared to other industries on YouTube.
Naming Video Files Before Uploading to YouTube
Honestly, I don’t know to what extent does Raw File name of your videos help influence YouTube video rankings. But if the raw file name is kept by YouTube platform, then by all means, use your target keywords when naming your videos before you upload them to your YouTube channel.
YouTube Video Thumbnail Optimization
Although the option to include custom video thumbnail images won’t be available for new YouTube Creators without account verification. But when they are available for you to include on your videos, then make sure that you use keywords in the Video Thumbnail image file name as well. Because that’s only natural.
Another important factor that I found was that video thumbnails that have gradient colors that standout in search results works better for higher click through rates. Especially when you use large text headings. Because a visit starts with a searcher pausing and looking at the Thumbnail to get an idea as to what to expect when they click on the search results. You can use these YouTube video thumbnail templates as they work great.
Video Title Including Keywords
Video titles are searchable, which means that a video that is optimized will tell people about the video as its prominently displayed in YouTube search results. Also, from RankYa tests and experience, each word placed on the video title affects ranking results. Unlike creating Titles for web page search engine optimization, I would encourage you to include keywords precisely as you are targeting them for your videos.
Here’s How to Better Optimize YouTube Video Description
Think of video descriptions having two distinct parts. First one being what is shown by default. First 150 character space. The second part is hidden unless the viewer pressed on the “Show More” button.
YouTube is one of the largest search engines in the world. And writing descriptions with keywords can help viewers find your videos more easily through search. Source: YouTube Creator Academy
That’s what YouTube Creator Academy help section suggests about writing video descriptions. And although most people believe that the technology and algorithms Google uses when matching search queries are advanced, the reality is, computer algorithms still need to rely on the very technology that they are evaluating.
All this simply means that context including keywords must be thoroughly analyzed and matched by YouTube search engine and ranking calculations. Therefore
- Describe the video context using keywords intelligently
- Do not spam YouTube video descriptions with keyword stuffing
- Include keywords you are targeting in a natural writing manner (you can also use related words, variations of the words and even synonyms)
- Sample Only: rank, ranking, rankings, fast, quick, instant, fastest, quickly, how to, ways for, YouTube, videos, 2017 (any or all of which can be blended within the video description text). But I would need to make these keywords flow within sentences in a natural human readable manner.
- Include hyperlinks (with http or https: so they are clickable links) within the first 150 character space to related and complimentary videos on your channel. Also, deep within the description, include at least another hyperlink to other relevant videos or websites (doesn’t have to be your own video or website)
- Use #Hashtags for branding purposes if you are working towards branding your name or business name online. For example, I use #RankYa within some of the video descriptions for RankYa videos
Video Tags
Think of these as keywords that are specific to your video, as these tags help search engines and people searching YouTube get a better idea as to what the video content is about, and to what other keywords the subject matter of the video is related to.
Separated by comma’s you can include a single word, or multiple keywords. Be specific when using them, however, do use synonyms within tags e.g. training, tutorial, lesson (if the video was about SEO tutorials)
Linking to Newly Uploaded Videos from Related Videos
Unless the video you are wanting to rank in YouTube is your first ever video upload, you can find related videos on your channel. If you do have related videos grouped in playlists, then you can go ahead and update the video description of previously uploaded video to include a hyperlink pointing to the video you are wanting to now rank higher. But make sure to provide textual information (usually the Video Title) around that hyperlink.
Video Tutorial Explaining How to Rank YouTube Videos Instantly
Following the insights so far will definitely allow you to get top rankings fast. Having said that, depending on the competitiveness of your chosen keywords, your newly uploaded videos may linger below the first position of YouTube ranking results. If that’s the case, begin sharing your creation.
Sharing of Your Videos
YouTube is a community for visual people who are accustomed to sharing videos they find useful and interesting. New YouTube user interface makes sharing and embedding of videos an easy process. That means, you do not need to wait for your viewers to start sharing your videos (especially if you are starting out on YouTube). After all, its your videos, so get the word out on your social profiles by sharing your own videos.
Encourage your friends (or even ask your friends for shout-outs) and get your family members to share your videos on their social profiles. If you are operating a website, then consider embedding your videos if you aren’t doing that already.
These are what I learnt over the years mastering YouTube video rankings. When I began on YouTube, it used to take me hours to create just a single video, and they were not rendered in High Definition. But now in 2017 I can rank videos almost instantly and with less effort. Simply by following the very video ranking techniques you now know. Use these insights when you want to grow your YouTube channel and see the results for yourself
