What are the best practices for YouTube from an SEO perspective?

[ytranker]

Here are a few tips that you can use to optimize your YouTube videos for SEO:

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• Use a keyword-rich video file name: Renaming your video file with a target keyword can help signal to search engines what the content of your video is about.

• Include your keyword in the video title: Make sure to include your target keyword naturally in the title of your video. This will help search engines understand what your video is about and may help it rank higher in search results.

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• Optimize your video description: The description of your video is another important factor for SEO. Be sure to include a brief overview of what your video is about, and include any relevant keywords.

• Tag your video with relevant keywords: Adding tags to your video can help it show up in search results for those keywords. Be sure to use popular, relevant keywords that are related to the topic of your video.

• Choose the right category for your video: Categorizing your video correctly can help it show up in the right search results and reach the right audience.

• Use a custom thumbnail image: A custom thumbnail image can help your video stand out in search results and entice people to click on it.

• Use SRT files to add subtitles and closed captions: Adding subtitles and closed captions can help make your videos more accessible to a wider audience, including people who are deaf or hard of hearing, and those who speak languages other than the one your video is in.

• Use Cards and End Screens to increase viewership: Cards and End Screens can help increase the watch time of your videos, which can improve their ranking in search results.

• Use hashtags to increase reach: Adding relevant hashtags to your video's description and title can help expose it to a larger audience and increase its visibility.

• Create a playlist: Creating a playlist about the general topic of your video can help expose it to a new audience and increase its visibility.

• Leave a pinned comment: Optional, but leaving a pinned comment on your own video can help draw attention to it and encourage more views.