YouTube SEO.

YouTube SEO focuses specifically on optimising content for visibility within YouTube's platform—the world's second-largest search engine with over 3 billion searches per month. YouTube ranks videos based on relevance, engagement, and watch time signals, with the algorithm optimising to keep viewers watching as long as possible.

YouTube Ranking Factors

Primary YouTube ranking factors: Click-Through Rate (CTR) from search results and suggested videos—determined by thumbnail quality and title; Watch Time (total minutes watched, not just percentage); Audience Retention (percentage of video watched—higher is better); Engagement Rate (likes, comments, shares as a percentage of views); Keywords (in title, description, and tags—for discoverability); and Channel Authority (history of consistently performing videos).

YouTube SEO Optimisation Tactics

Practical YouTube SEO tactics: conduct keyword research using YouTube's autocomplete, TubeBuddy, or vidIQ; include the target keyword in the video title (front-loaded); write detailed descriptions (at least 250 words) with the target keyword in the first two lines; add relevant tags; create custom thumbnails with faces and text; add chapters (timestamps) to improve session time and satisfaction; publish video transcripts in the description; and use YouTube Cards and End Screens to drive related video viewing.