In today’s fast-moving digital world, video-sharing platforms like YouTube have become one of the primary ways people consume video content. Millions visit YouTube daily to discover new content that entertains, instructs, or inspires.
For business owners, YouTube provides a place to connect with a global audience and earn broader brand recognition. After creating a YouTube channel for your business, the next step is to focus on increasing the number of views your videos receive. There are several simple and effective ways to get more views on YouTube that don’t involve a tremendous amount of time commitment or money. Here's everything you need to know about YouTube and how to increase the YouTube views your business gets.
What Is YouTube?
YouTube is by far the most popular and widely used video-sharing platform online today. Setting up a YouTube channel for your business is a great way to generate interest in a product or service. Best of all, this platform is entirely free to use and easy to navigate once you understand the fundamentals.
Many businesses today now incorporate YouTube into their digital marketing strategies. Combined with social media, YouTube can be an effective tool for attracting new customers and spreading the word about your brand.
How Are YouTube Views Counted?
Any time someone clicks on one of your videos and watches it for at least 30 seconds, YouTube will count that as a legitimate page view. Views initiated from the autoplay feature do not count towards your video’s view count. YouTube will also adjust page views if users access your video from the same IP address across several devices or browser windows. Once a video receives at least 300 views, YouTube will verify the authenticity of the view count, freezing view estimates for a brief time.
It’s important to note that a qualifying page view doesn’t need to last for 30 consecutive seconds. For instance, a viewer can skip through the video several times so long as the total view time adds up to half a minute.
16 Tips to Garner More Views on YouTube
If you’re wondering how to get more views on YouTube but don’t know where to start, there’s no need to get discouraged. Although there's no secret formula for getting views, there are several ways you can start seeing the results you want. Here are 16 simple tips that will drive more traffic to your videos.
1. Pay Attention to Video Tags and Keywords
Keep search engine optimization (SEO) practices in mind when making your videos so YouTubers can easily find your content. Remember to include relevant keywords in your videos and make sure to select the appropriate tags to categorize what you publish. This will help YouTube’s algorithms to suggest your videos to the people who are most likely to watch them.
You may also want to use hashtags to associate your videos with other similar content on the platform. Hashtags will help users discover your channel through other related videos.
2. Organize Similar Videos Into Playlists
Assigning your videos to categorical playlists is another effective way to boost your views on YouTube. Creating a playlist encourages people to autoplay your videos, increasing the amount of time they spend on your channel. Playlists also make it easier for viewers to find the content they want so they won’t waste time searching through dozens of your videos.
For instance, create a playlist devoted to "how-to" videos. You can also make other playlists to archive live broadcasts, Q&A discussions, or promotions.
When organized properly, playlists can have a big impact on overall page views. Source: Half Price Books
3. Remind Viewers To Subscribe, Like, and Share Your Content
At the end of each video, devote a few moments to ask viewers for feedback and support. The more likes, comments, and shares your video receives, the more views it will accumulate. Don’t forget to invite people to subscribe to your channel as well before the video ends. Many YouTubers will also ask viewers to click on the bell icon for immediate notifications the moment you upload more content.
When you notice an increase in views, be sure to thank your subscribers to show your appreciation. You may find that your subscribers will start to do some of this work for you. If you build a good following and show gratitude for them they will bring more people to your channel.
4. Interact With Viewers in the Comments Section
When viewers comment on a video, take the time to respond with a like or thankful reply. You can also engage in the conversation through YouTube’s live chat feature if you’re broadcasting a video on the fly. Communicating with your audience makes them feel like a part of a community, contributing to more return viewers over the long term.
You may also want to comment first on each video you release, including relevant context about the video or news about upcoming content.
A few comments can go a long way to keep viewers coming back for more. Source: The Lawn Care Juggernaut
5. Publish New Content on a Consistent Schedule
Another way to attract more viewers to your channel is to constantly provide new content for them to enjoy.
If possible, try to release videos during predictable, high-traffic time slots like a Friday or Saturday afternoon. For more views during the week, consider publishing your videos after 5 p.m. when most people are off work for the day. If you publish too early in the day, your video may disappear in the background among all the other content available.
6. Promote Your Videos on Other Websites and Platforms
Take advantage of social media to share your latest videos with followers. You can also embed select videos onto your business homepage or blog to further increase views. Let your email subscribers know about any new video you release by including a link in a brief newsletter as well. Don’t be afraid to explore forums online where people discuss various topics related to your business. If you see an opportunity, reply to a question on a site like Quora with a link to one of your more instructive videos.
Promoting your YouTube channel on other platforms will also make your videos easy to find when people search on Google.
7. Use Compelling Video Titles
Try to come up with titles that can grab the attention of YouTubers at a glance. Be as specific as possible when describing the content of your videos in the description section as well. Look for ways to insert some humor or a sense of fun in video titles as well to pique the interest of visitors to your channel.
For best results, write a video title that leaves people in suspense. For example, consider including phrases like “watch what happens next” or “you won’t believe this” to get your viewers intrigued to learn more.
8. Familiarize Yourself With YouTube’s Advanced Features
From your homepage, navigate to YouTube Studio and click on the settings icon on the left of the screen. Here, you can adjust the keywords associated with your channel and the type of currency you’d prefer for payouts. You can also create a pre-populated description for all your future uploads, saving you time on typing the same information every time.
Other features include the ability to edit permissions to your channel, assign moderators, or create a list of banned words.
Don't overlook the many useful advanced settings and features on YouTube. Source: Creator Fundamentals
9. Create Engaging Thumbnail Images
A picture can say a thousand words, and this is especially true when it comes to YouTube videos. Take a screenshot of a key moment in your video, or create a custom image that sums up what your content is about. You may also want to check to ensure you have video preview enabled so that users can catch a brief glimpse of what’s in your video before they click on it.
10. Collaborate or Partner With Other Businesses
Consider teaming up with another business that has a YouTube channel. You can agree to promote one another’s content. Collaborative content can help draw a new base of subscribers to your channel while boosting views for the other party. Working with another channel can also increase the credibility of your brand, especially if you’re new to YouTube.
11. Track Your Analytics
YouTube has insightful analytics detailing the most relevant data about your channel’s performance. Here, you can review the source of your channel’s traffic and which videos receive the most attention. You can also check information like estimated audience retention rate or viewer demographics.
YouTube's analytics offers helpful insights into how your channel performs. Source: YouTube Creators
12. Insert Cards To Other Related Content
Direct viewers to other content on your channel by inserting cards when appropriate.
If you find yourself discussing a topic you’ve covered in greater detail on another video, invite viewers to click on the card to learn more. You may also want to conclude some of your content with one or two cards directing viewers to another similar subject.
13. Study What Your Competitors Do
If you’re having trouble increasing views on your channel, look at other content producers for fresh ideas.
Study how they structure their videos, the approximate length of each, and how viewers respond in the comment section. It may also help to reach out to other YouTube personalities for advice on what your channel may be missing.
14. Include Transcriptions of Your Videos
Adding subtitles to your videos is a great way to ensure your content reaches the widest possible audience.
While some viewers may have a visual impairment or disability, others may simply prefer to watch your content with the sound turned off. Just make sure to carefully review the transcript before uploading to verify the accuracy and timing of the subtitles.
15. Boost Your Channel’s Session Time
When viewers close out your video before it’s finished, you’ll see this reflected in your channel’s session time. Track down which videos are to blame and consider trimming unneeded material in areas where you notice viewers lose interest. Another potential reason for low session time could be that viewers can find what they need early in the video. If possible, try to save the most crucial information for later on so viewers will stick around until the end.
16. Include Links To Other Content in the Description of Your Video
The description section beneath your videos is an excellent place to direct viewers to other relevant content.
As mentioned before, you can set up default information for each upload such as links to your most popular videos in the settings tab. Doing this will ensure viewers stick around for longer before moving on to another channel.
Examples of YouTube Channels Getting Views
Setting up a successful YouTube channel can take time, but many YouTubers have found a lot of success by following the tips provided. Reviewing their approach to video production can offer many useful insights that can help your channel grow. Here are three YouTube channels turning heads right now.
Lawn Care Juggernaut: With over 380k subscribers, this YouTube channel focuses on entertaining lawn care videos. Sorted into simple playlists, the content from this YouTuber often attracts millions of viewers. The Lawn Care Juggernaut also engages with people in the comments all the time, earning him a loyal following.
Legal Eagle: This YouTube channel is a shining example of what engaging content creation looks like. Legal Eagle has gathered over two million subscribers in only four years, thanks in large part to his entertaining clips. Customized and often humorous thumbnails are a big drawing point, but so is the professional production value of the videos. Viewers will find colorful graphics throughout each video to make even the most mundane legal topics exciting to watch. The description section of each video is also organized in an intuitive, user-friendly way that many channels lack.
Doctor Mike: This YouTuber’s charisma and personality shine through in every video, earning him over 8.4 million subscribers to date. Content ranges from funny reaction videos to helpful nutrition tips for healthier living. Like the other channels discussed so far, Doctor Mike knows how to create thumbnails that stand out from the crowd. Not one of his videos has less than two million views.
Need Help With Marketing and Increasing YouTube Views?
If you need expert help increasing views on YouTube, our team of experienced professionals at Scorpion can help. We can handle everything from crafting landing pages to producing engaging video content. Let us help you with all aspects of marketing so you can focus on watching your business grow.
Get started on discussing your marketing goals and increasing your YouTube views by contacting Scorpion today. Our team will work with you to build a great website and video content about your business that will showcase who you are and why someone should use you. Get started with Scorpion today.
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