The quick answer is that there are four and they all come directly from the source, YouTube and Google.
Jump below to see how to use each one.
YouTube is a search engine so use keywords that inform users and the search engine algorithm what the video is about, is the key first step. Optimizing your video content for the right keywords will help gain organic views.
“Keyword research for videos is completely different than for text-based blog posts… Most of your views come from YouTube suggesting your video to their users. The rest come from suggested videos and ‘browse features’.”
– Brian Dean, Backlinko.com
How to find the best keywords for YouTube video SEO.
1. Google keyword planner
Beginning your research you can use typical SEO methods like using Google keyword planner. Here’s how you do it:
- Start with the topic of the video you have created. If it is about ‘Video SEO’, that is your keyword
- Check keyword popularity on YouTube, go to Google keyword planner and select YouTube search on the far right. You are looking for the most searched for phrases around your keyword
- Select a range of short, medium and long-tail keywords
YouTube themselves came out recently on their Creator Insider channel and talked about three additional ways they recommend to do topic and keyword research.
Need all the ranking factors to get more views and subscribers on YouTube? Download the full guide below.
2. YouTube audience insights
Within YouTube analytics is the Audience Insights card that shows video creators other videos that their audience is watching.
This is a great way to find keywords that may not already be covered in your channel and discover new topics that your audience are interested in.
It also provides great insights into how competing videos are presenting themselves via thumbnail, titles and descriptions for ideas to make your own improvements.
3. Google trends
While obvious to many SEOs, YouTube recommends you research your keywords on Google Trends.
Enter multiple keywords you are considering and compare their popularity over time and in your region.
You can then focus on the keywords that will bring you the most traffic now. Then see which way the graphs are heading for the keywords that will bring you traffic in the future.
Do not forget to see trends for both Google web search and YouTube search.
Need all the ranking factors to get more views and subscribers on YouTube? Download the full guide below.
4. YouTube’s autocomplete
Not mentioned in the Creator Insider video is using YouTube’s own suggested search keywords in their search bar.
Start typing your product category or topic and take note of autocomplete suggestions from YouTube. These key phrases are based on the most common searches based on what you started typing.
These suggestions are usually fairly long key phrases (5+ words). And because they’re “long tail” keywords, these terms tend not to be particularly competitive Which means they will be easier to rank for. Also, this offers up great video title suggestions.
Of course, keywords are just one of the 9 factors you need to get right to get more views and subscribers on YouTube.
Download 9 ways to get more views, subscribers and action on your YouTube videos
Getting more views and subscribers on YouTube is all about understanding what the YouTube algorithm and what users are looking for. Thankfully, YouTube has a wide variety of factors in its algorithm to decide which videos are the best and to make visible in its search results.
Includes:
- The anatomy of a high performing YouTube video
- Finding the keywords that gets you traffic
- Creating a title that gets you clicks
- Helping your product video gets recommended to viewers
Download now >>
