Do you want to get noticed on YouTube?

Wondering how you can use the YouTube algorithm to your advantage?

In this video, I share details about how the algorithm works and how you can set yourself up for success.

Background Info

YouTube is the #2 search engine
YouTube is the #2 search engine in the world

YouTube is the #2 search engine in the world (I feel like all my YouTube content starts with that phrase).

It's true, and like every search engine, an algorithm defines its functionality.

The algorithm determines what you rank for and how high you rank.

If you can understand exactly how the algorithm works, you have the secret of success.

But to understand how it works, you need to understand YouTube's goals.

Follow the Money

YouTube is a video-sharing site. One of their main goals is to have you watch a lot of videos.

The more time you spend watching videos, the more ads you see.

The more ads you see, the more MONEY they make. It's that simple.

YouTube the Search Engine

YouTube Search Engine
YouTube Search Engine

Any quality search engine will want to give the searcher exactly what they want.

If they get exactly what they want, they will use the platform more.

In YouTube's case, that means they will watch for longer period of time.

And as already covered, that means more ads and more money. That makes YouTube happy.

Here's the key, you want to do whatever you can to make their job easier.

As a search engine, they have two goals:

  • Show people exactly what they want
  • Have them watch more content

How to Give YouTube what YouTube Wants

Tip 1 – Optimize your Titles, descriptions and tags

Optimize your Titles, descriptions and tags
Optimize your Titles, descriptions and tags

These are the meta data of your videos and they are VERY important.

Your meta data does more to tell YouTube exactly what your video is about than any other factors.

Make sure to include all relevant keyword phrases in your meta data.

If your video is about “How blood flows through the heart”, don't call the video “First heart video”.

That's too vague. Get specific with your titles. Get detailed in your description.

And then include all relevant tags you can think of.

A great tool to help with this is TubeBuddy.

Tip 2 – Use Custom Thumbnails

90% of the best-performing videos on YouTube use custom thumbnails.

Why? Think about it.

When you do a YouTube search, you get a bunch of results. As you scroll through those results, some of the thumbnails stand out.

Custom thumbnails
Create custom thumbnails

You want to be one of those thumbnails that stand out (in a good way).

That increases the chances that people will actually click on your video.

Tip 3 – Deliver value

deliver value
Deliver value.

Do I have to say that? Maybe not, but I will.

If someone clicks to watch your video and it sucks, they will click away.

If it takes too long for you to get to the point, they're gone.

By creating an engaging, value-filled video, you will get more people watching till the end.

In other words, you will increase the watch time.

Tip 4 – Give them EASY access to the next video

Doing this results in an increased session time. That's the amount of time they spend watching videos in one sitting.

Here's how you do this:

  • Create series of videos or related videos. This will make it easier for them to move from one video to the next.
  • use YouTube cards to get people from one video to other related videos.

Combine cards with verbal cues and you'll get more people watching more videos.

Let's Wrap This Up

Give YouTube what they want and you'll increase your chances of success.

As you create more content, YouTube will test you out and start showing you in the search results.

Once they see that people stick around when they watch your videos, they will rank you higher.

Over time, your channel will grow in authority, and that's exactly what you want.

So go ahead, start making videos and use those four tips. Then come back and let me know how it goes.

Resources Mentioned

  • TubeBuddy – a great tool to help with optimizing titles, descriptions, and tags.

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About the Author Leslie Samuel


Leslie Samuel a business coach for high-performing entrepreneurs. As the host of the Leslie Samuel Show, he teaches how to build an online business. "Changing the world one post at a time” is the mission he strives towards. As a former university professor, he has a passion for education. He's the founder of Interactive Biology, a blog and YouTube channel dedicated to making biology fun for students and teachers. As the head of training for the Social Media Marketing Society, he helps social media marketers get the training they need to stay on the leading edge of social media.

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