Ultra.
Did you know, YouTube is the second-largest search engine in the world? As the platform continues to grow and evolve, creators are working hard to increase views on YouTube to stay competitive, relativent, and top of mind for viewers. Video content is growing increasingly popular and with that popularity comes more opportunity to get your content in the eyes of viewers and over time, increase revenue. If you have a passion for creating content, YouTube is a great platform that can help you build a community that values your videos and keeps coming back for more.
If you’re new to YouTube, you may be wondering how to get more views and increase your overall visibility. We’re here to help you learn how to boost YouTube views with just a few easy tips to help optimize your videos and provide the best user experience.
Let’s take a closer look.
Create content that people want to watch
According to Think with Google, 3 out of 5 Gen Z and millennial viewers are seeking purpose and meaning in the type of video content they choose to watch. When you create content, you need to think about your audience. What kind of content are they searching for? What are they looking to learn? How is your content providing an answer or solution? When you're prepping to record your video or build out a script, your audience’s wants and needs should always be top of your checklist.
If your content solves a problem, educates your viewers, or is made to meet the needs of the audience (entertaining counts!) , you’re on the right track to success.
Here are some examples of compelling, effective YouTube content:
- How-to videos
- Unboxing or shopping hauls
- Product reviews
- Parodies or pranks
- Vlogs
If you aren’t sure where to start, never be afraid to ask your audience! Their response is valuable data that can help build your content strategy and teach you how to boost your views on YouTube.
Promote Your YouTube Videos on Social Media
No matter the size of your following on other social media platforms, you can benefit from the exposure they can provide your video content. Whenever you create a new video, always remember to tweet out a link on Twitter, share it in a story on Instagram, or post it to your Facebook page. Taking the time to post your content is a great way to boost views, network, and increase your visibility.
Bonus: Ask your friends and family to reshare or retweet your posts (no pressure, of course)!
Take Advantage of End Screens and Cards
When strategizing how to increase views on YouTube, you should always consider some of the platform's unique channel features. When used correctly, they can promote your other content and help organically build your audience. To do this, go to the Creator Studio and click “Status and Features.” From there, you can view extra YouTube features such as end screens or cards.
End screens can be used to add CTAs, subscribe buttons, and encourage viewers to watch new videos to help wrap things up. Cards can pop up anytime during your video and can be used to direct users to another video to watch or ask questions throughout your content. Incorporating interactive content is a great way to keep viewers engaged and entertained throughout your video, which is great for your watch time.
Build Out Playlists
Playlists are a great way to gain authentic exposure from viewers who are already watching your videos. Why? The auto-play feature. With autoplay, viewers don’t have to search through your channel to find videos they want to watch. They can simply sit back, relax, and get ready for the next video to play.
This feature keeps the videos coming and if your followers like your content, hopefully, they keep watching! Be strategic when building out playlists. Try to keep the content similar, and think of what your viewer is looking to watch—this will increase your chances of them staying and engaging with your content.
Ask Viewers to Subscribe
Simply put, more subscribers means more views in the long run and it never hurts to ask viewers to “hit the subscribe button”. When you’re recording content, make an effort to ask reviewers to support and subscribe to your channel. If they love your video and want to come back for more, they’ll hit that subscribe button and start viewing your other videos.
We recommend reminding your viewers to subscribe at the beginning and the end of your video. It doesn’t need to be anything fancy or overwhelming! Just a push towards the subscribe button and a reminder that you appreciate their support. If you want to learn more ways to get subscribers on YouTube, you can check out this handy article that outlines everything you need to know.
Add a Watermark
One great tip for how to boost YouTube views is to add a subtle, consistent watermark to all of your video content. Watermarks are an easy reminder of your YouTube brand that encourages users to subscribe to your channel and view your other content. Plus, it makes your videos look more professional.
To add a watermark, go to the YouTube Creator Studio, scroll down to the channel, and click branding. From there, you can upload your watermark of choice. You’ll want to make sure the watermark you choose is under 50x50 pixels since YouTube will need to shrink the size to fit the corner of your video. Whatever you do, keep the watermark simple, professional, and unique to your YouTube channel.
Enable Embedding
If a viewer wants to embed your video on their website, let them! Your work deserves recognition. Embedding is a great way to build authentic exposure and expand your reach to new audiences and markets.
To turn this feature on, go to the YouTube Creator Studio and click on “Advanced Settings. From there, you can see if you’ve checked or unchecked the box that enables embedding for your videos. This is a must-have feature that will not only help you boost YouTube views but hopefully gain more subscribers.
Analyze Your Watch Data
Your watch time matters. This data helps your content become more discoverable and provides you with more opportunities to be featured on the homepage, search results, and more. To do this, you’ll want to compare your viewers and watch time data to help see how your content performs.
We recommend periodically checking your watch time in Youtube analytics. It takes time to build up your viewership and watch time analytics, so don’t panic if they aren’t too great just yet. They’ll get there. If you’re looking to better understand analytics and how they can help you grow (on any platform) check out this article.
Engage with your Audience and Build a Community
When learning how to increase views on YouTube, one of the most valuable techniques is aiming to build a community. When you engage with your audience, they are more likely to come back, view more of your content, and even promote your content on their social media channels or website.
Taking the time to nurture a connection can have a lifelong value that is sure to push you towards success. Consider starting a Discord server as a way to build community.
Capitalize on Trends
For starters, you’ll need to do your research, understand trends, and take a closer look at what’s currently trending. It may take some trial and error but if you’re able to effectively create content that is a must-see for YouTube viewers, the views will start flowing in! While going viral shouldn’t ever be your goal when creating content, it won’t hurt if it happens as a result of creating consistently good content that people can’t help but to share.
Create Unique Thumbnails
Taking the extra step to create a thumbnail image that fits your brand will provide your channel with a consistent, cohesive look. You’ll want to switch your video preview image out with something more captivating and engaging for your audience.
The perfect thumbnail size is 1280 x 720 pixels with a ratio of 16:9. We recommend keeping the look engaging, consistent, and similar to your other video thumbnails to stay on brand. If you’re not sure where to begin, check out this blog post that breaks down everything you need to know about creating a click-worthy thumbnail.
When it comes to learning how to boost your views on YouTube, always focus on creating valuable content and staying true to what you love doing. There is going to be a lot of trial and error until you find what works for you, your channel, and your audience.
Never forget: Everyone has to start somewhere! Don’t be discouraged if you don’t see the views you want right away. All you need is some patience, time, and dedication to see the results you’re looking for.