Growing Your YouTube Channel: How to Get More Views, Subscribers and Visibility

With over 2 billion monthly active users, YouTube represents a massive opportunity for brands and creators to build an audience and drive business growth. But standing out on the crowded platform takes strategy and effort. This comprehensive guide covers proven tactics to increase YouTube views, subscribers and overall channel success.

Optimizing Your YouTube Channel & Videos for Maximum Visibility

The foundation of YouTube marketing is optimizing your channel and videos to maximize visibility and engagement. By directly appealing to viewer interests and satisfying YouTube’s algorithms, you can organically promote your brand.

Choose SEO-Friendly Keywords and Topics

Conduct thorough keyword research to identify topics and terms people are searching for on YouTube and Google related to your niche. This ensures you create content optimized for discovery. Use YouTube’s auto-fill predictions when typing in the search bar to reveal suggested keywords. Plug potential keywords into Google Keyword Planner or other tools to see search volume and competitiveness. Analyze videos ranking highly in YouTube and Google results for keywords to determine viable search terms.

Choose keywords with sufficient search volume that are relevant to your channel niche and video style. Naturally incorporate keywords in titles, descriptions, captions, and throughout the video so YouTube understands the content focus. This optimizes videos to rank for those valuable search terms. For example, a cooking channel could do a “quick easy weeknight dinner ideas” video targeted around that keyword phrase.

Craft Appealing and Clickable Titles

YouTube thrives on irresistible content, so create short but impactful titles that grab attention. Include your target keyword(s) naturally in the first half of an approximately 60 character title. Make the title exciting but clearly convey the core value/benefit provided by watching. Use power words like “best”, “secrets”, “review”, or “tutorial” to indicate its must-see content. Pose questions to spike curiosity. Add intrigue and specificity while remaining concise.

For example, MrBeast video titles like “Spending 50 Hours Buried Alive”, “Anything You Can Fit In The Circle I’ll Pay For”, and “Donating $100,000 If My Video Gets 1,000,000 Views” compel clicking while establishing the crazy premise. Big, bold and direct titles improve click-through-rates.

 Write Optimized Descriptions

Expand on your irresistible title by comprehensively describing the video content, value, and keywords in the description text box. Place important keywords, links, and the first 1-2 sentences near the top since descriptions get truncated under the “show more” button.

Briefly explain what the viewer will experience to entice them to watch. Add timestamps linking to sections so viewers can jump to parts they care about. Include relevant links to playlists, products, or other videos to encourage binging. Make sure descriptions are long enough to incorporate critical keywords, but tight enough to maintain reader attention. Close with a clear call to action, like asking viewers to subscribe.

For example, financial education channel Graham Stephan’s descriptions rapidly communicate video takeaways, highlight key lessons, and end with a subscribe CTA. Descriptions should compel viewers as much as titles do.

Design Custom Thumbnails

YouTube automatically selects a default thumbnail from your video, but creating custom thumbnails can significantly increase click-through rates. Design eye-catching thumbnails using Canva or other graphic tools. Incorporate branded colors, exciting imagery of recognizable faces and scenes, contrasting text pop-outs, and more to make it unmissable. Maintain some consistency by using templates, but ensure each thumbnail feels distinct.

Include strong text with keywords that establishes the topic and reason to watch. Prioritize images/text over clutter. Analyze thumbnails from top channels in your niche and absorb what compel clicks. Study your own channel analytics to identify which thumbnails and designs attract more views.

For example, MrBeast leverages his logo, consistent fonts, bright colors, his own face, and shocking expressions/imagery that made viewers do a double take. This clearly signals his stunt-filled content.

Leverage Metadata

Optimizing titles, descriptions, and tags provides valuable metadata about your videos to improve YouTube’s understanding of the content for sharing recommendations. Tag your videos with relevant keywords as if you were tagging a blog post for SEO.

Fill out the basics like title, description, tags, language, captions, playlist additions. Go beyond the defaults to further categorize your content using features like cards, end screens, watermarks – all which can be tagged. Avoid excessive keyword stuffing which may trigger spam filters. Use descriptors accurately and aimed at the viewer’s search intent. Group videos into relevant, SEO-optimized playlists around topics. Research tags that similar channels employ as well. Metadata gives YouTube insight on your ideal audience.

For example, a woodworking channel video could have tags like “cabinet making”, “woodshop tour”, “tools for beginners” etc. Leverage metadata strategically to improve SEO.

Create Playlists to Organize Your Content

Playlists allow you to organize published videos on your channel by themes, series, or other topics. This groups related content so viewers can easily binge. For example, a music channel could have playlists for genres, a sports channel for teams, a personality channel for different series.

Give playlists SEO-optimized titles using target keywords. Curate them with both your own videos as well as relevant videos from other creators. Add custom thumbnails and descriptions. Link between videos, cards, end screens and descriptions to promote your playlists. Feature key playlists on your channel homepage to increase visibility. Monitor which playlists over-index for engagement and views to double down on related content.

Encourage returning viewers to check playlists for new videos. Consistent creation of branded playlists packs a one-two punch: bolstering SEO authority while making your library digestible.

Promoting Your Content to Gain More YouTube Views and Subscribers

Driving viewership requires promotion beyond YouTube itself. Build audiences across platforms who are compelled to subscribe.

Publish Your Videos on Social Media

Distribute each new YouTube video across all your social media profiles including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest etc. Share the video natively if the platform allows, or post a compelling snippet that links back to YouTube. This exposes your video content to all your existing social media followers who may not subscribe on YouTube yet.

Tailor copy and captions for each platform but remain consistent. Track engagement metrics on each platform to see which social channels respond best to video content. Ideally develop a recurring posting cadence, such as sharing your latest YouTube videos on Facebook and Twitter every Monday. This trains audiences to expect new videos regularly. Time posts when your audiences are most active on each platform using social media analytics.

Cross-promoting videos amplifies potential viewership beyond just YouTube subscribers. It also strengthens your social media content strategy.

Run Paid YouTube Ads

Organic growth takes significant time. If you want to speed up viewership and subscribers, use YouTube advertising. With video, display, and TV formats, you can target placements, demographics, interests, similar channels, and more. Run ads on existing top performing videos or create dedicated promotional content. Ideal for:

1. Reaching new audiences outside your current sphere of influence.
2. Bringing lapsed viewers back into the fold.
3. Rapidly amplifying visibility with the megaphone of paid distribution. Just ensure your channel content merits the traffic. Budget accordingly based on your business goals, monitoring ROI. But give campaigns time to optimize and gather data.

Embed Videos In Blogs and Website

Add YouTube videos to your site and blogs through embedding. This improves engagement metrics and funnels website visitors to your channel.

Email Your Subscribers New Uploads

Build an email list of channel subscribers. Email them when you publish new videos to get quick views and momentum. Link to your channel in your signature.

Promote Your Channel Itself

Talk up your channel as a whole on your website and other platforms. Add a channel icon and description. Getting subscriptions directly is just as important as views.

Collaborate with Influencers and Brands

Work with relevant creators to tap into their audience and increase your own exposure. Choose partners that align with your brand authentically.

Interact with the YouTube Community

Don’t just publish and peace out. Actively engage with your budding community on YouTube to increase loyalty. Respond to viewer comments expressing appreciation, answering questions or acknowledging humor. Pin insightful or funny comments fans will like. Give hearts to comments you enjoy. Post open-ended questions on your Community tab for followers to answer. Ask for video topic suggestions. Running polls and surveys lets viewers shape content. Beyond just analytics data, you gain more human insights into your audience. This fosters a personal connection beyond just consuming content. Dedicating time to interact demonstrates you care about more than just views. And stronger bonds between creator and community pays dividends in more engaged, invested subscribers.

Creating Compelling YouTube Content That Gets Views

Consistently producing fresh, high-quality content that resonates with your audience is how channels grow and thrive on YouTube.

Analyze Performance Data

Use YouTube Analytics to see which videos perform best and understand your viewership demographics. Identify preferences to create optimal content.

Learn From Top Channels In Your Niche

The best teacher for YouTube success is studying channels in your niche that are dominating in views and subs. Thoroughly analyze their content styles, formats, production value and promotion tactics. Pay attention to what topics get the most traction and types of videos fans respond to. This market research gives you insider intel on creating videos optimized for your specific audience versus guessing. Emulate the broader strategies of leading channels in your industry, but put your unique personality and spin on it. Learning from competitors helps you determine untapped topics to cover and gaps to fill. Seeing what works for the top channels in your sector provides a blueprint for your own content plans and growth. Just don’t completely copy – the goal is adapting their big picture strategies with your unique style.

Post Videos on a Regular Schedule

Consistency is key for building a loyal viewership on YouTube. Establish a regular upload schedule, such as publishing one video per week or twice per month. This gives fans a sense of when to expect new content rather than wondering if you still post. Aim to stick to your predetermined schedule as much as possible so subscribers can rely on you. Promote your new uploads across other platforms to maximize visibility. Scheduling videos in advance helps maintain regularity if you go on vacation or have limited time. Just ensure you don’t overcommit to an unrealistic frequency that burns you out. Find a sustainable cadence that works for your bandwidth and keeps viewers engaged.

Find the Right Video Length

Aim for videos between 2-10 minutes for maximum engagement. Test different lengths – shorter for casual viewers, longer for avid fans.

Try Different Types of Videos

Avoid a content rut by experimenting with different video styles beyond your usual vlogs, tutorials or reviews. Surprise and delight viewers with fresh formats like day in the life videos, roundup compilations, 360 product tours, experiments, commentary responses, expose videos, time lapses, listicles, comparisons between old and new, following a trend, etc. TEST different lengths too – from 60 second tips to 20 minute let’s plays. Variety in your uploads keeps things exciting for subscribers. See what resonates best with your audience in terms of engagement and retention based on the analytics. Expanding your content horizons may reveal unexpected successes and showcase new aspects of your brand personality.

Incorporate Trends and Challenges

Capitalizing on popular YouTube trends, challenges, and timely topics can help promote your channel. Identify viral sensations like hashtag challenges, meme formats, or prompter tags gaining views in your niche. Put your unique spin on bandwagon content that aligns with your brand. This allows you to tap into existing buzz and enthusiasm around certain subject matter. Refresh trending ideas with your distinct style and perspective. Just ensure the content still appeals to your core audience rather than chasing views. Tastefully timed content demonstrates you have your finger on the pulse of current interests.

Ask Viewers What They Want

Go straight to the source and ask what your audience wants to see. Run polls on Community tab. Have fans submit questions for a Q&A video.

Offer Valuable Takeaways

Focus on useful, educational, or entertaining content. Align videos with viewers’ needs and intent. Help or inspire them in some way.

Produce Professional Quality Videos

Invest in decent equipment and production value. Poor video/audio will cause viewers to click away regardless of content.

By optimizing visibility, actively promoting your channel, analyzing performance, and crafting compelling content, you can build a thriving audience on YouTube organically. Paid ads and collaborations can further supplement an effective strategy. Consistency and top-notch videos that capture viewer interests are key to increasing views over time.