How to get more views on YouTube: 10 top tips
YouTube is the world’s second biggest website and search engine. Let’s learn why it’s so hard to grow your channel, what you can do about it, and how to get more views.
YouTube is the world’s second biggest website and search engine. Let’s learn why it’s so hard to grow your channel, what you can do about it, and how to get more views.
Why is it so hard to get views on YouTube?
Increasing views on YouTube is so darn difficult for one main reason: there are so many videos. Five hundred hours of content is uploaded to the platform every minute – you don’t need us to do the math there. Unless you’re lucky, gaining enough views to monetize your channel will require a lot of time and effort.
Does rewatching a video count as a view?
While YouTube doesn’t reveal specific details, it’s generally accepted that replays contribute to your total view count. The theory is: provided that you watch a video for at least 30 seconds, refresh, then watch it for another 30 seconds or more, you’ll have racked up two views. This means that, in theory, you can sit at home all night and artificially inflate your own views.
However, that’s not going to be the best use of your time – you’ll have amassed 44 views in the same time it takes to watch an episode of Friends. YouTube might also catch onto your little trick and mark your views as spam. Again, not the best use of your time. It’s also worth noting that views for YouTube Shorts are also added to your total view count.
Can I increase YouTube views by myself?
There are plenty of ways to increase your YouTube views by yourself – you don’t have to spend a cent. Whether you’re a beginner or have been in the game for years, if you want to learn how to get more views on YouTube for free, all on your own, check out our top 10 tips.
1. Write the best title you can, but don’t be spammy
Titles draw people in. They make you want to click. They’re exciting. A good video title shows what the video’s about, why people should click, and maybe something else sprinkled on top – all without resorting to clickbait. Here are a few tips if you want to increase views on YouTube with a knockout title.
- Title length: Keep it between 55 and 70 characters if possible. That’s the sweet spot. It’s neither too brief nor too long – cram everything of worth in there and you’re all set.
- Stick to a formula when applicable: Listicles and how-tos work a treat.
- Don’t forget your keywords: Make sure your main keywords are prominent within the title – perhaps even IN ALL CAPS. Learn a little more about keywords and YouTube SEO here.
But most of all, your title should be engaging. Don’t stick with the first thing that pops into your head. Use that as a springboard, consider other factors like those mentioned above, and see if you can craft something even better than you initially thought.
2. Become a master of YouTube SEO
YouTube SEO goes beyond just the video title. Videos on YouTube make up 70 of every 100 Google search results – if you optimize for search, your video might start pulling in views from outside YouTube. Pay attention to your descriptions, tags, keywords and more. Again, if you need a walkthrough for all things YouTube SEO, head over here.
3. Get that thumbnail right
A thumbnail is a window into your content. It’s what people see when they scroll, when they search, and when the YouTube algorithm suggests something. If it looks a little crummy or doesn’t quite ladder up with your title, it’s going to be a tough sell.
A strong thumbnail will be relevant, engaging, and informative. It sounds difficult, but you can make professional-looking, creative thumbnails in programs like Canva. Check out our guide to thumbnails here.
4. Engage with your audience as you would on other social media
Sure, YouTube is a video-sharing platform. It’s also a place where communities are fostered and grown – a good comments section can do wonders for a video. The YouTube algorithm favors videos with high engagement rates, which means any likes, shares and comments can potentially increase your YouTube views. Liking and responding to comments doesn’t take long. Build a genuine, meaningful relationship with your viewers and they’ll keep coming back.
5. Run a giveaway
People love free stuff. Host a giveaway on your channel that requires entrants to like, subscribe, leave a comment and/or share. This will naturally increase your YouTube views over a short period, but if your content’s up to scratch, some new subscribers should stick around.
It’s worth noting that your giveaway should chime with your channel’s overall vibe. For example, Learn Online Video’s gear giveaway focused on swag viewers could use to improve their video content. Put some time into thinking about your prize so you don’t come across as inauthentic!
When it comes to authenticity, music plays a significant role. The right track can make the difference between someone scrolling or staying – after all, bad music kills good video. At Epidemic Sound, we have 50,000 tracks and 200,000 unique sound effects and variations to ensure you nail the soundtrack every single time. Check out the catalog below.
6. Create a series
If the rise of streaming culture has told us anything, it’s that people love to binge content. Ten years ago, you’d have been laughed out of the room if you’d said you spent hours watching videos of a guy crafting bespoke chairs by hand. Nowadays, that’s just a Tuesday night on TikTok.
Create a series of videos on your channel. Stick them in a playlist. Link them within your YouTube cards. Keep people interested with cliffhangers: ‘We’ll find out in the next video.’ If you release weekly videos within the series, it’ll give people a reason to tune in regularly and increase your YouTube views.
7. Enable embedding
Make your videos easier to share by enabling embedding. This means viewers can easily copy and paste your video code onto websites, blogs and more with a handy piece of HTML code. To activate embedding, just head to YouTube Studio and click ‘Content.’ Select the video you want to enable embedding for, hit ‘Edit,’ then toggle the ‘Embedding’ slider so it’s turned on. That’s it!
8. Share your YouTube videos on other social channels
If your aim is to get more YouTube views fast, stop uploading your content to other channels separately. That can wait. For places like Twitter and Facebook, embed your video in your post and urge them to follow the link. If people open it and watch, the view is attributed to YouTube.
If you’re posting somewhere like Instagram or TikTok, you can always post a snippet of your YouTube content on those platforms. Then, when that portion is about to end, pull the old ‘Head to my YouTube to find out what happened next!’ card. Link in the description, in your bio, flash your details up on-screen – make it crystal clear that your YouTube channel is the place to be.
How do I find my YouTube handle?
Introduced in October 2022, YouTube handles make it easier than ever for viewers to connect with creators. Each channel has a unique and recognizable handle preceded by an ‘@’ symbol, just like you’d have on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and so on. The handle makes it simple for users to find you, appearing on your channel homepage, search results, the Shorts feed, comments, community posts and more. You can also use your handle to big up your channel outside of YouTube.
If you haven’t created your handle, it’s likely that YouTube automatically made one for you. This means your handle will be the same as your channel URL – if you don’t have a customized URL, YouTube will generate a handle for you. Changing your handle is super easy, though. Just head to youtube.com/handle, click ‘Change handle,’ type in your new handle idea to check it’s available, then hit ‘Confirm selection.’
Changing your handle will create a matching channel URL, but don’t worry. YouTube redirects traffic from your old URL to the new one, meaning viewers can find all your stuff in one place.
Now, let’s move on to the final two tips!
9. Transcribe your videos
For those who are hard of hearing, the 60% of YouTube viewers who don’t list English as their first language, or the 69% of folks who simply watch video with the sound off, subtitles are a no-brainer when it comes to increasing YouTube views. Read our YouTube subtitles guide and make it part of your routine. After all, subtitles have been proven to give videos a boost in views during the first couple of weeks. Make your content more accessible, enjoyable, and honestly, more viewable with subtitles.
10. Give people a reason to visit your channel
If you want to get more views on YouTube, there are a bunch of actions you can take. We’ve just listed nine. Arguably, the most important thing is housekeeping. Keep your channel’s tone consistent, from the fonts you use to the channel icon, your titles’ formatting to the graphics. Keep your ‘About’ section updated. Offer up-to-date contact details. If people come to your channel and it looks a bit empty or outdated, they’re not going to stick around and view any more videos. Give them something that makes you proud.
When you’re looking to increase viewers on YouTube, you need to offer consistency. One thing that often stops creators from snagging more views is interruptions in their content, usually due to misusing music. So, let us help you out.
Our catalog is high-quality, affordable, and safe. An Epidemic Sound subscription goes beyond royalty-free music, removing the headache of licensing and freeing you up to do what you do best. You can enjoy the safety of our license hand-in-hand with our massive catalog of 50,000 tracks, covering just about every genre you can think of. You’ll also gain unlimited access to our advanced search functions — finding the right sound’s never been easier.
It’s better than royalty-free. It’s worry-free. Get started with Epidemic Sound below.
Are you a YouTuber? Whether you’re an editing master or just a beginner, discover what Epidemic Sound has to offer in our Epidemic Sound for YouTube page. And, if you’re looking for some music for YouTube, we got you covered.
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