Optimizing YouTube Videos

YouTube is a very popular video platform and has been for as long as I can remember! I remember as a kid I would watch so many different creators all the time. It is a platform that hosts one-third of the entire internet and is only getting more popular with time. According to YouTube, their mission is "to give everyone a voice and show them the world." They do exactly that by letting each user post whatever content they would like to, which helps entertain many different audiences.

Today I specifically wanted to talk about how to optimize your YouTube videos. In order to use YouTube to its fullest capabilities, you have to be sure to optimize each video to get the most views possible. According to our textbook the first 24 hours are the most crucial to a video's success, so it must be fully optimized before being published. Some key things to help optimize your video are as follows; keywords, titles, descriptions, closed captions, tags, thumbnails, cards, end screens and chapters. 

When using keywords you want to think about what your target audience might search for videos like yours to appear on their search engine. You can add these keywords to your title or in the description of the video. The next tool you can use is creating a clever caption that will make your target audience want to click on your video. Make sure to use relevant keywords and keep your title short. 

Another method you can use to fully optimize your videos is by using a good description. In 5,000 characters or less, you can curate a description that clearly explains what your video is about. You can also put a call-to-action in the description. You also want to be sure to have closed captions and transcripts on for your videos. This helps ensure that all audiences will be able to know what you are saying. When posting your video, be sure to add tags. These are basically keywords that you can enter that will help your video be found easier. 

Make sure to have a thumbnail on all of your videos that is pleasant to the eye and shows what your video topic is. A thumbnail is one of the first things a person sees when looking through videos, so if you have an aesthetically pleasing one a person is more likely to click on it. Be sure to utilize an end screen at the end of your video to show off what other content you have created and get more views on your profile. 

There are many different ways to optimize your videos but these topics are key to a successful video! Be sure to have your YouTube account fully optimized as well. Keep your content consistent and be sure to stay authentic with your work. I hope you have a fun time creating awesome videos!