How to increase YouTube Video Views

In the ever-evolving landscape of content creation, adaptability is key to staying relevant and engaging with your audience. As a content creator on platforms like YouTube, I've come to realize the importance of embracing various strategies to maximize viewer engagement and growth. In this blog post, I'll delve into five key tactics that have proven to be game-changers in my journey: Shorter Videos, Created Series, Thumbnail Learning, Shorts, and TubeBuddy Keywords.

1. Shorter Videos 

When I began my YouTube journey, I believed videos needed to be lengthy, around 30 to 40 minutes, to deliver value. However, the reality, especially on platforms like Instagram Reels and TikTok, proves the effectiveness of short-form videos. Viewers today prefer concise content, avoiding the commitment of spending 40 minutes on a single video.

For solo content creators, especially in scenarios where you're the sole speaker without any guests or co-hosts, keeping videos within the 10 to 15-minute range is often more engaging. Maintaining viewer interest becomes more challenging when it's a single-head talking video and the audience hears the same voice throughout.

Also, how consumers consume content, in general, has changed over the past couple of years, and it's going more and more towards "give me the information straight up without all the fluff". So, for instance, when people go to chat GPT to ask for an answer, it's straight to the point. When you watch short-form videos, it's straightforward to the point. So we're getting used to getting information straight to the point, which I do in my YouTube videos as well. 

In a 10-minute video, I get straight to the point. There is no long intro. There is no fluff around it. It's straight-up information that is easily digestible within 10 minutes, and if you can create your videos in a way where you can keep it to a 10 to 15-minute video filled with value, it will help to get the engagement and your subscribers count up.

2. Created Series

Series work wonders on social media, and their effectiveness extends seamlessly to YouTube content. Rather than filming a single 40-minute video, I prefer breaking it down into a series of 3 to 4 videos, each ranging from 10 to 15 minutes. Every video in the series is packed with standalone value, making sense even when viewed alone. However, when watched together, the series creates a comprehensive understanding of the strategy.

When introducing series to your social media or YouTube, the key is to ensure that each video remains coherent when viewed independently. Yet, as part of the series, they should collectively educate the viewer on a particular topic. The primary goal of creating a series is to maintain viewer excitement, encouraging them to subscribe and eagerly await the next episodes. The idea is to cultivate a sense of anticipation so that viewers return week after week to explore the unfolding content.

Video series effectively maintain viewer engagement without overwhelming them. By delivering information in easily digestible portions, viewers find it simpler to grasp the content and are more likely to return for more. The strategy is a win-win, keeping the audience hooked and informed.

3. Thumbnail learning

Thumbnail optimization is a crucial element when striving for success on YouTube. Think of thumbnails as the book covers of your videos—viewers judge whether to watch or not based on them. An engaging thumbnail should convey the video's essence, incorporate relevant keywords, and visually stand out in a sea of similar topics. Perfecting thumbnails involves a learning curve, testing, and experimentation.

Creating the right thumbnail is a learning curve. It involves a lot of testing and experimenting. For instance, MrBeast spends roughly 10,000 dollars on one thumbnail, so don't stress out too much if your thumbnail is not working right away. 

Tools such as TubeBuddy and Canva help in thumbnail analysis and generation. Heatmaps on thumbnails reveal where viewers focus, helping you craft visually compelling designs. Leveraging artificial intelligence can streamline thumbnail creation. 

Here's my strategy to refine your thumbnails: Start by creating one, and if the video doesn't perform as expected, update the thumbnail to see how it impacts viewership. Continuous refinement is key to finding the winning formula for your content.

4. Shorts

YouTube shorts should be an integral part of your YouTube strategy. Growing a YouTube account by simply uploading longer-form videos is not a strategy that will work moving forward if you want to grow your account and get eyeballs on your videos. The easiest way to get exposure is by utilizing YouTube shorts.

I always aim for a diversified content approach, incorporating trending content alongside my longer-form videos. It's important to ensure that the shorts can stand alone and make sense even without the context of the full video. I also upload mini vlogs, daily thoughts, and trends to extend my reach and engagement on the YouTube platform.

5. TubeBuddy Keywords

If you want to grow on YouTube, you have to understand that YouTube works differently than any other social media platform.YouTube is connected to Google and works like a search engine. Utilizing keywords in your videos is important to appear in search. So, using the correct keywords in your title and your description is essential. 

I am using a tool called TubeBuddy. This tool can help me identify keywords that make sense in the video. TubeBuddy also makes it easy to fully optimize the video. Since I started using this paid tool, I can see that my videos have gained more traction online, and my account has started growing.