Hi! If you’re seriously attempting to develop your channel, by this time you already understand that inserting the right tags is still extremely important. They assist YouTube in understanding what your video is about and displaying it to individuals who are really searching for that subject matter.
Truthfully, I used to disregard tags because I figured, “Meh, no one pays attention to them.” Wow, was I wrong. The moment I began utilizing tags that were actually pertinent to my video content, I saw a real increase in my views. I was somewhat amazed at how much of a difference that one little step made.
Why Tags Are Important for YouTube SEO
Consider tags as a short-cut for the algorithm of YouTube. When your tags are similar to what individuals are entering into the search box, your video is more likely to show up. Of course, however, this will be most effective when your title and description are equally as precise.
I recall sitting with a client who had one of the most catchy titles imaginable and then went and picked tags that had very little to do with his video whatsoever. Once we swapped them out for more precise keywords, his channel experienced a noticeable spike in views—something much greater than either of us had anticipated.
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How to Determine the Best Keywords
We all have our own styles, but this has worked for me. Search for a keyword in the YouTube search bar and look at the suggestions—typically you’ll find what is being searched for in reality. You can also go to other channels within your niche and see what they’re up to. TubeBuddy, VidIQ, and Google Trends are tools that can identify for you which words are trending.
Honestly, just thinking about what your own readers would type into the search box is generally enough to create excellent tags.
Best Practices for Length and Number of Tags
You do not require a gigantic list of tags. Five to fifteen is a great sweet spot. Getting them under 30 characters can be useful, but do not freak out if some are slightly longer. Throwing in broad terms, ultra-specific keywords, and perhaps even your channel name can provide a good mix. The important thing is to remain relevant.
Adding in a hundred random tags that don’t even correspond to your video isn’t going to cut it—YouTube’s pretty good at recognizing that.
Branding and Consistency
If you’re creating your own brand or business, it’s fine to include your channel name or a short tagline for the tags. I used to do that a long time ago when I simply included my channel name in all of my tags and I saw that my videos were recommended with each other more. It’s essentially saying to YouTube that all of these videos are from the same creator.
If you’re aiming to increase your engagement with Views4You, choosing the right tags can significantly help with visibility.
Tag Stuffing Prevention
I tried once adding a whole list of trending tags to a workout video, despite the tags not being related to exercise. I thought it would get some random additional views. What a fail. Not only did it not gain new viewers, but my watch time tanked. People clicked in and immediately realized the video wasn’t what they came for. Lesson learned: stay relevant or get punished.
Examples of Tagging Strategies
- If you’re doing tech reviews, you can say iPhone 15 review, best phone 2024, iOS 17 update, Apple vs Samsung.
- If you have a fitness vlog, you can say home workout, weight loss tips, 10-minute cardio, no equipment workout.
- If you’re doing gaming, perhaps Fortnite guides, best FPS games, gaming computer setup, beginner guide.
- And if you’re producing educational material, keywords such as learn Spanish fast, language learning tips, Spanish survival phrases can be used.
The key is to get in your viewers’ shoes and ask yourself what they would search in the search box.
Measuring Results and Making Changes
Once you’ve established your tags, monitor your analytics. Are more people coming to you through search? Are viewers who are discovering your video through those tags watching all the way to the end? If a video isn’t doing well, experiment with changing the tags. Trends evolve, and refreshing older videos periodically injects new life into them.
It is incredible how minor changes can completely bring a video back to life.
Tools and Resources for Tagging
TubeBuddy and VidIQ have been wonderful for me as far as discovering what keywords are trending and what keywords the competition is using. Google Trends is also super cool to look at spikes in search. And YouTube Studio itself provides so much insight into how people are landing on your videos and which tags are working.
What’s Next for YouTube Tagging?
YouTube’s algorithm is becoming more intelligent and more so with AI. Captions, engagement, and watch time are becoming increasingly important each passing year. That does not necessarily make tags irrelevant, however. They are still a factor. Your best bet is to ensure your title, description, tags, and video content all match and support one another.
The more consistent you are, the better YouTube understands your video—which can give you a nice boost in search and recommendations.
FAQ
1. Do YouTube tags matter in 2024?
They’re not the strongest ranking signal, but they certainly assist with visibility and organizing your video. Still worth doing!
2. How many tags do I use for each video?
Somewhere between 5 and 15 is generally optimal. Just be certain that each one is really relevant.
3. Can I update tags after uploading?
Definitely! If you see new trends or the current tags aren’t catching on, don’t be afraid to switch it up.
**’The opinions expressed in the article are solely the author’s and don’t reflect the opinions or beliefs of the portal’**
