Tag: seo

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SEO

How to Find Low-Competition Keywords With Real Traffic (2026 Method)

Low-competition keywords are how small sites beat big ones. You won’t outrank a national brand for “accountant”, but you can own “accountant for YouTubers UK” within months. Here’s how to find those keywords on purpose instead of by luck.

Last updated: 31 October 2026 · By Alan Spicer, YouTube Certified Expert

Part of the Website SEO series.

A low-competition keyword is a search with steady demand where the pages ranking now are weak: thin, old, off-topic, or from sites no stronger than yours. Tools give you a shortlist. Your own eyes on the search results decide.

Why listen to me? I’ve been a YouTube Certified Expert since 2017, self-employed for 20 years, and I build content plans for my own sites and for clients. I wrote the YouTube version of this method using vidIQ, and the website version below follows the same logic.

⚡ QUICK ANSWER: How do you find low-competition keywords?

Start with long-tail versions of your topic, filter a keyword tool for difficulty under 30, then Google each keyword and check what ranks. If the top results include forums, thin pages, old posts or small sites like yours, it’s low competition. Confirm demand with search volume or Search Console impressions.

What is a low-competition keyword?

A low-competition keyword is a search term that enough people type to be worth targeting, where the pages currently ranking are weak enough for your site to beat. Competition is about the pages and sites in the top 10, not just a score in a tool.

Keyword difficulty scores are a useful filter. Semrush, Ahrefs and Moz all grade keywords from 0 to 100 based mostly on the links pointing at the pages that rank. But each tool calculates it differently, and none of them knows how good the ranking content is. That’s why the final check is always the search results page itself.

Most low-competition keywords are long-tail: specific searches of three words or more. Ahrefs found that almost 93% of keywords in its US database get fewer than 10 searches a month. Individually they’re small. A site with 50 pages each winning a cluster of them is not.

What’s the fastest way to find low-competition keywords?

The fastest way is to combine a keyword tool’s filters with a manual check of the search results. Here’s the six-step method I use.

  1. Pick narrow seed topics. Start from specific angles of your topic, such as your audience, location, problem or product type, rather than the broad head term everyone targets.
  2. Pull long-tail variations. Put each seed into a keyword tool and pull question keywords and longer phrases. In Semrush’s Keyword Magic Tool, use the Questions filter and broad match.
  3. Filter by difficulty and volume. Filter keyword difficulty to under 30 and volume to at least 20 searches a month. For local or B2B niches, lower volume is fine if the searcher could become a customer.
  4. Check the search results by hand. Google each keyword and look at the top 10. You’re looking for weak spots: forums, social posts, thin pages, outdated articles, or pages that don’t answer the query.
  5. Compare site strength. Check the Authority Score or equivalent of the sites ranking. If several are similar to yours or weaker, you can compete.
  6. Confirm with your own data. Once live, watch Search Console. If the page climbs to positions 5 to 20 within a few weeks, improve it to push into the top three.

under 30

keyword difficulty to start with

20+

monthly searches as a floor

top 10

results to check by hand

~93%

of keywords are long-tail

How do you tell if a keyword is easy to rank for?

A keyword is easy to rank for when the current top results are weak. These signs on the search results page are worth more than any score.

Sign in the top 10 What it means Opportunity
Reddit, Quora or forum threads No good dedicated article exists High
Pages that don’t match the exact question Google is filling gaps with near-misses High
Articles more than three years old with outdated facts Content nobody is maintaining High
Thin pages of a few hundred words Low effort to beat on quality Medium to high
Sites with a similar or lower Authority Score than yours You’re in the same weight class Medium to high
Big brands with dedicated, up-to-date guides Strong competition Low

Forums ranking for a keyword are my favourite signal. They mean people are asking and Google can’t find a proper answer. Write the proper answer and you’re often on page one within weeks.

Where do you find low-competition keyword ideas?

The best low-competition ideas come from places your competitors don’t look. Tools find the obvious ones; these sources find the rest.

  • **Google’s People Also Ask and autocomplete:** real questions, often with no dedicated page answering them.
  • **Your own Search Console:** searches where you already appear on page two or three. Google has decided you’re relevant, so you’re halfway there.
  • **Customer questions:** emails, sales calls and reviews. If customers ask it, others are searching it.
  • **Competitor gaps:** Semrush’s Keyword Gap shows keywords smaller competitors rank for that you don’t.
  • **Forums and Reddit threads:** questions with long reply chains and no clear answer.
  • **YouTube search suggestions:** if a question has demand on YouTube, it usually has demand on Google too.

If you’re doing the same exercise for a YouTube channel, my guide to finding low-competition YouTube keywords with vidIQ uses the same thinking with YouTube’s own data.

Want me to find your easy wins?

I’ll look at your site and two competitors on a free call and point out keywords you can rank for in the next 90 days.

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How do you find low-competition keywords in Semrush?

In Semrush, open the Keyword Magic Tool, enter a seed keyword, then set the KD% filter to a maximum of 29 and the volume filter to a minimum that suits your niche. Add the Questions filter to see question-style long-tail keywords, and use the Intent filter to keep the ones that match what you sell.

Semrush groups results into topic folders on the left, which makes it easy to spot a cluster of related easy keywords you can cover with one strong page. Then run Keyword Gap against two or three smaller competitors, filter for keywords where they rank in the top 10 with KD under 30, and you’ve got proven, winnable targets.

The SEO plan includes all of this, and you can test it on the 7-day trial. My free trial guide has a day-by-day plan, and the free account gives you 10 lookups a day if you just want to try the filters.

Find low-competition keywords with a 7-day Semrush trial

Affiliate link: if you start a trial or subscribe through it, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. The trial lasts 7 days and you can cancel before it ends.

How long does it take to rank for a low-competition keyword?

Low-competition keywords can rank within weeks; harder ones take months or years. Ahrefs found that of the pages that reached Google’s top 10 within a year, 40.82% got there in the first month. That fast group is mostly low-competition, well-matched content.

New sites still face a trust gap. A brand-new domain may take a few months to rank for anything, even easy keywords. Publish consistently, link related posts together, and focus on a single topic so Google learns what your site is about. My guide on keyword research for SEO covers how to turn your list into a publishing plan.

What mistakes should you avoid?

The biggest mistake is trusting a difficulty score without looking at the results. A KD of 15 means little if the top three results are perfect, fresh guides from household names.

  • Chasing zero-volume keywords with no business value just because they’re easy.
  • Writing one page per tiny variation instead of one page that covers the cluster.
  • Ignoring intent: an easy keyword where people want a free tool won’t convert into enquiries for a service.
  • Picking keywords outside your topic just because they’re easy. Topical focus helps you rank.

People also ask

What is a good keyword difficulty for beginners?

Under 30 in Semrush is a good starting range for a new or small site. Treat it as a filter and check the actual search results before committing.

Are low-competition keywords worth it?

Yes. They rank faster, often convert better because they’re specific, and early wins build the authority you need for harder keywords later.

Can I find low-competition keywords for free?

Yes. Use Google’s autocomplete and People Also Ask, Search Console data, forums and Semrush’s free account with 10 lookups a day, then check each search results page by hand.

Frequently asked questions

What makes a keyword low competition?

A keyword is low competition when the pages ranking now are weak: thin, outdated, off-topic, forums, or from sites no stronger than yours. A low difficulty score is a starting point, not proof.

How much search volume is enough?

It depends on what a visitor is worth. Twenty searches a month from people ready to hire you can be worth more than thousands from casual browsers. Judge volume against intent.

Do low-competition keywords bring real traffic?

Each one brings modest traffic, but one good page often ranks for dozens of related long-tail searches. Fifty such pages add up to steady, compounding traffic.

Should I target zero-volume keywords?

Sometimes. Tools often show zero for niche or brand-new searches that do get traffic. If customers ask the question and it fits your business, it can be worth a page.

Is keyword difficulty the same in every tool?

No. Semrush, Ahrefs and Moz each calculate difficulty their own way, so a keyword might score 20 in one and 35 in another. Compare keywords within a single tool.

How many low-competition keywords should I target per page?

Target one main keyword and include the close variations and related questions on the same page. If two keywords need different answers, they need different pages.

What if a low-competition keyword has no ranking results that match it?

That’s often the best opportunity. If Google shows near-miss pages, a page that answers the exact question can rank quickly.

About the author

Alan Spicer has been a YouTube Certified Expert since 2017 and creating on YouTube since 2012. He holds six YouTube Silver Play Buttons, has coached 500+ creators and run 500+ channel audits, and spent 2020–2021 on the vidIQ customer success team. After 20 years self-employed, he runs his consultancy and his own content sites from Huddersfield, usually fuelled by tea. Read client results.

Want a list of keywords you can win?

Bring your website to a free call. I’ll find the low-competition keywords your competitors have missed and show you which to write first. I’m a YouTube Certified Expert with six Silver Play Buttons, 500+ channel audits and 20 years of running my own online businesses behind me.

Book your free discovery call →

View coaching services & packages · Read client results

Sources

Affiliate disclosure: Some links in this post are affiliate links. If you start a Semrush trial or subscription through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend tools I’d use myself, and programme terms and prices change, so check the current details on Semrush’s site before you buy.

Categories
SEO

How to Do Keyword Research for SEO (Free and Paid Methods, 2026)

Keyword research decides whether your content gets found or sits on page six forever. The good news: the method is simple, and you can do most of it for free. Here’s the process I use on every new site.

Last updated: 29 October 2026 · By Alan Spicer, YouTube Certified Expert

Part of the Website SEO series.

Keyword research means finding the exact searches your customers make, then choosing the ones you can realistically rank for. You need three things for each keyword: how many people search it, how hard it is to rank, and what the searcher wants. Everything below is about getting those three answers.

Why listen to me? I’ve been a YouTube Certified Expert since 2017 and self-employed for 20 years, building content plans for my own sites and for clients. I wrote the YouTube version of this guide too, so I’ve seen how website and video keyword research differ.

⚡ QUICK ANSWER: How do you do keyword research for SEO?

List the topics your customers care about, expand them into real searches using Google’s suggestions and a keyword tool, then check each keyword’s search volume, difficulty and intent. Pick low-difficulty keywords that match what you sell, group them by topic, and write one page per main keyword.

What is keyword research?

Keyword research is the process of finding the words and phrases people type into search engines, then choosing which ones your pages should target. Done well, it tells you what to write, what to call it, and which pages are worth your time.

It matters because most content never gets found. Ahrefs looked at around 14 billion pages and found that 96.55% get no traffic from Google at all. One of the biggest reasons is that the page targets a search nobody makes, or one the site has no chance of ranking for. Keyword research fixes both.

If you’re working on a YouTube channel rather than a website, the process is similar but the tools differ. My YouTube keyword research guide covers that side.

96.55%

of pages get no Google traffic

~93%

of keywords get under 10 searches a month

15%

of daily Google searches are new

3

numbers to check per keyword

What should you check for each keyword?

For every keyword, check three things: search volume, keyword difficulty and search intent. Volume tells you the size of the prize, difficulty tells you the size of the fight, and intent tells you what kind of page can win.

Check What it tells you Where to find it
Search volume Roughly how many people search it each month Semrush, Ahrefs, Google Keyword Planner (ranges)
Keyword difficulty How hard it is to reach page one, on a 0 to 100 scale Semrush, Ahrefs, Moz
Search intent Whether people want an answer, a comparison, a brand or to buy Semrush labels it; or look at what ranks now
Who ranks now Whether sites like yours can compete Google the keyword and look

Intent is the one people skip. If the top results for a keyword are all how-to guides, a sales page won’t rank there, however well you write it. Search the keyword yourself and copy the format of what’s winning, then make yours better.

How do you do keyword research for free?

You can do solid keyword research for free with Google itself, Google Search Console and a free keyword tool. It’s slower than paying, but it works.

  1. List your seed topics. Write down 5 to 10 broad topics your customers care about, using their words rather than your industry’s jargon.
  2. Expand with Google suggestions. Type each topic into Google and note the autocomplete suggestions, the People Also Ask questions and the related searches at the bottom of the page.
  3. Check search volume. Put your list into a keyword tool. Google Keyword Planner is free inside a Google Ads account and gives volume ranges; Semrush’s free account gives 10 lookups a day with exact estimates.
  4. Check difficulty and intent. Look up keyword difficulty in a tool, then Google each keyword and note what type of page ranks: guides, product pages, comparisons or local listings.
  5. Pick your targets. Keep keywords with low difficulty, intent that matches what you can offer, and enough volume to matter to your business. Long-tail keywords are usually the best place to start.
  6. Group keywords into pages. Put keywords that mean the same thing together so one page targets the whole group. Different intent means a different page.
  7. Mine Search Console. Once your site has data, check the Performance report for searches where you rank between positions 5 and 20 and improve those pages first.

Search Console becomes your best free keyword tool once your site is a few months old, because it shows the searches Google already associates with you. My Search Console guide explains how to find them.

Why start with long-tail keywords?

Start with long-tail keywords because they’re easier to rank for, closer to a buying decision, and there are far more of them. A long-tail keyword is a specific, lower-volume search such as “keyword research for physiotherapy clinics” rather than “keyword research”.

Ahrefs’ data shows how much of search lives in the long tail: almost 93% of the keywords in its US database get fewer than 10 searches a month, and Google says about 15% of daily searches have never been searched before. Each one is small, but a page that answers a specific question well often ranks for dozens of related long-tail searches at once.

**My rule for new sites:** target keywords with a difficulty under 30 for the first 20 posts. Wins build links and trust, and that trust helps you rank for harder keywords later. Going after the hardest keyword in your niche on day one is how sites end up in the 96.55% that get nothing.

Not sure which keywords to go after?

I’ll go through your niche with you on a free call and pick the first ten keywords you can realistically rank for.

  • You’ve written posts that never got traffic
  • You don’t know how hard a keyword is to rank for
  • You want your blog and YouTube channel targeting the same topics

Book your free discovery call →

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Use Google Keyword Planner and Search Console if your budget is zero, and a paid tool like Semrush or Ahrefs once SEO is bringing in money. Paid tools save hours because they show volume, difficulty, intent and competitors in one table.

Tool Price Volume data Difficulty score Best for
Google Keyword Planner Free with a Google Ads account Ranges unless you run ads No (ad competition only) Volume checks
Google Search Console Free Your own impressions No Keywords you already appear for
Semrush From $139/mo, free account with 10 reports a day Yes Yes, plus intent labels All-in-one keyword and competitor research
Ahrefs From $29/mo Starter, $129/mo Lite Yes Yes Keyword and backlink research

Sources: each provider’s official pages, checked 20 October 2026.

I like Semrush for keyword research because the Keyword Magic Tool groups thousands of related searches by topic and labels each one with intent, so you can filter to informational keywords with difficulty under 30 in two clicks. My Semrush review covers the rest of the tool, and the pricing guide explains the plans.

Try Semrush’s Keyword Magic Tool free for 7 days

Affiliate link: if you start a trial or subscribe through it, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. The trial lasts 7 days and you can cancel before it ends.

How do you find your competitors’ keywords?

Type a competitor’s website into a tool like Semrush’s Organic Research report and it lists the keywords that site ranks for, with positions and estimated traffic. Keyword Gap then compares several sites and shows the keywords they rank for that you don’t.

This is the fastest way to build a content plan for a new site. Pick two or three competitors that are a similar size to you, not the biggest brand in your industry, and look for keywords where they rank in the top 10 with a modest difficulty score. If they can rank there, so can you with a better page.

How do you turn keywords into a content plan?

Turn your keyword list into a plan by grouping keywords into topics, choosing one main keyword per page, and ordering pages by how easy and valuable they are. A simple spreadsheet works: keyword, volume, difficulty, intent, the page that will target it, and the date you’ll publish.

Group related pages into a cluster around one bigger guide and link them together. That structure helps search engines understand you cover the topic in depth, and helps readers find the next useful page. Check where each new page ranks after a month and improve the ones stuck between positions 5 and 20 before writing more.

People also ask

How many keywords should I target per page?

Target one main keyword per page, plus the close variations and questions that share the same intent. One page can rank for hundreds of related searches if it answers the topic well.

Is keyword research still important with AI search?

Yes. AI tools still draw on pages that rank and answer specific questions clearly. Keyword research tells you which questions people ask, which is exactly what AI answers are built from.

Can I do keyword research without paying?

Yes. Google’s autocomplete, People Also Ask, Keyword Planner, Search Console and Semrush’s free account with 10 reports a day will get you a good starter list.

Frequently asked questions

What is a good search volume for a keyword?

There’s no single number. For a small business, a keyword with 50 searches a month from people ready to buy can be worth more than one with 5,000 searches from people just browsing. Judge volume against intent and value.

What keyword difficulty should a new site target?

In Semrush, aim for keyword difficulty under 30 for a new or small site. Check the sites ranking now as well: if smaller sites like yours appear in the top 10, you have a chance.

How long does keyword research take?

A starter list for a small business takes two to four hours. Revisit it every few months, adding the searches Search Console shows you appearing for.

What’s the difference between short-tail and long-tail keywords?

Short-tail keywords are broad, high-volume searches like “running shoes”. Long-tail keywords are specific, lower-volume searches like “best running shoes for flat feet women”, which are easier to rank for and usually convert better.

Should I use keywords people misspell?

No. Google understands common misspellings and shows the same results, so write naturally and target the correctly spelled version.

Does Google Keyword Planner show exact search volumes?

Not usually. Without active ad spend, Keyword Planner shows broad ranges such as 100 to 1,000. Paid SEO tools give closer estimates.

How do I know what a keyword’s search intent is?

Google the keyword and look at what ranks. Guides mean informational intent, product and pricing pages mean transactional intent, and comparison posts mean commercial intent. Semrush also labels intent for each keyword.

About the author

Alan Spicer has been a YouTube Certified Expert since 2017 and creating on YouTube since 2012. He holds six YouTube Silver Play Buttons, has coached 500+ creators and run 500+ channel audits, and spent 2020–2021 on the vidIQ customer success team. After 20 years self-employed, he runs his consultancy and his own content sites from Huddersfield, usually fuelled by tea. Read client results.

Want a keyword plan built for your business?

On a free call I’ll show you the keywords your competitors win, the ones you can realistically take, and the order to write them in. I’m a YouTube Certified Expert with six Silver Play Buttons, 500+ channel audits and 20 years of running my own online businesses behind me.

Book your free discovery call →

View coaching services & packages · Read client results

Sources

Affiliate disclosure: Some links in this post are affiliate links. If you start a Semrush trial or subscription through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend tools I’d use myself, and programme terms and prices change, so check the current details on Semrush’s site before you buy.

Categories
SEO

SEO Terms Explained: The Plain-English SEO Glossary (2026)

SEO is full of jargon, and most glossaries explain one confusing term with three more. This one doesn’t. Each term gets a one-line definition in plain English, then a sentence on why it matters to you.

Last updated: 27 October 2026 · By Alan Spicer, YouTube Certified Expert

Part of the Website SEO series.

I’ve grouped the terms by job: how Google finds your site, how keywords work, how links work, how pages get measured, and the newer AI search terms. Bookmark it and come back when a report throws a word at you that you don’t recognise.

Why listen to me? I’ve been a YouTube Certified Expert since 2017, self-employed for 20 years, and I run my own content sites alongside SEO content builds for clients. I also wrote the YouTube version of this glossary, so I’ve had a lot of practice translating jargon.

⚡ QUICK ANSWER: What are the basic SEO terms?

The basics are keywords (what people search), search intent (why they search), indexing (Google storing your page), ranking (where your page appears), backlinks (links from other sites), and click-through rate (the share of people who click). Learn those six and most SEO advice starts to make sense.

What does SEO mean?

SEO stands for search engine optimisation: the work of making your website show up higher in the free, unpaid results on Google and other search engines. It covers what you write, how your site is built, and how other websites link to you.

Organic results are the free listings on a search results page, as opposed to paid ads. SERP means search engine results page, the page you see after you search. Ranking or position is where your page appears on that page, with position one at the top. Search engine means any service that finds pages for a query; in the UK that’s mostly Google, with Bing behind it, and AI tools such as ChatGPT search increasingly in the mix.

On-page SEO is everything you control on the page itself: titles, headings, content and images. Off-page SEO is everything that happens elsewhere, mostly links and mentions. Technical SEO is how the site is built: speed, mobile layout, crawlability and structure.

Crawling and indexing terms

Google has to find, read and store your page before it can rank it. These terms describe that process.

Term Plain-English meaning Why it matters
Crawling Google’s bot visiting your pages to read them Pages Google can’t crawl can’t rank
Googlebot Google’s crawler Shows up in your server logs and Search Console
Indexing Google storing a copy of your page to show in results Not indexed means invisible
XML sitemap A file listing every page you want found Speeds up discovery of new pages
robots.txt A file telling bots which areas to skip One wrong line can hide your whole site
noindex A tag telling Google not to list a page Useful for thank-you pages, fatal on service pages
Canonical tag A tag naming the main version of duplicate pages Stops duplicates competing with each other
301 redirect A permanent forward from an old URL to a new one Keeps the old page’s value when you move content
404 The “page not found” error Redirect 404s that used to get traffic
Crawl budget How many pages Google will crawl on your site in a period Only an issue for very large sites

If you’re launching a new site, my guide to getting your website on Google puts these into a step-by-step order.

Keyword terms

A keyword is the word or phrase someone types into a search engine. Every page should be built around one main keyword and the questions around it.

Search volume is the estimated number of times a keyword is searched each month. Keyword difficulty, often shortened to KD, is a 0 to 100 score estimating how hard it is to reach page one; each tool calculates it differently. Long-tail keywords are specific, lower-volume searches such as “seo for physiotherapists in leeds” rather than “seo”. They’re easier to rank for and usually closer to a purchase. Ahrefs found that almost 93% of the keywords in its US database get fewer than 10 searches a month, which is why long-tail content adds up.

Search intent is the reason behind a search. SEO tools label it four ways: informational (wants an answer), navigational (wants a specific site), commercial (comparing options) and transactional (ready to buy). Match the page to the intent or it won’t rank, however good it is.

Keyword cannibalisation happens when two of your pages target the same keyword and compete with each other. Seed keyword is the broad starting word you feed into a keyword tool. Keyword gap is the list of keywords your competitors rank for and you don’t.

~93%

of US keywords get under 10 searches a month

0–100

keyword difficulty scale

4

types of search intent

15%

of daily Google searches are brand new

A backlink is a link from another website to yours. Search engines treat good backlinks as votes of confidence, so they’re one of the strongest ranking signals, especially for competitive keywords.

Referring domains count the unique websites linking to you; 50 links from one site count as one referring domain. Anchor text is the clickable text of a link. Internal links point from one page on your site to another and help Google understand how your content fits together. Dofollow links pass ranking value; nofollow, sponsored and ugc links are tagged so they pass little or none. Affiliate links should carry the sponsored tag.

Domain authority is a generic name for third-party scores that grade a whole website’s strength. Moz calls its version Domain Authority; Semrush calls its version Authority Score, a 0 to 100 grade built from link power, organic traffic and spam signals. Google doesn’t use any of these scores; they’re shortcuts for comparing sites. Link spam means buying links or using schemes to manipulate rankings, which breaks Google’s spam policies.

Reading reports but not sure what to act on?

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Measurement terms

Impressions count how often one of your pages appeared in search results. Clicks count how often someone clicked through. CTR, click-through rate, is clicks divided by impressions. Average position is your mean ranking across all the searches a page appeared for. You’ll find all four in Google Search Console’s Performance report, which my Search Console guide explains.

Organic traffic is the visitors who arrive from unpaid search results. Bounce rate and engagement rate describe whether visitors interact with your page or leave. Conversion is any action you want a visitor to take, such as an enquiry, a sale or a sign-up. Core Web Vitals are Google’s measures of loading speed, responsiveness and visual stability.

Rank tracking means checking where your pages rank for chosen keywords over time, usually with a tool such as Semrush’s Position Tracking. Traffic estimates are a tool’s guess at another website’s visitors, worked out from rankings and search volumes. Treat them as rough comparisons.

Content and SERP feature terms

Featured snippet is the answer box Google sometimes shows above the normal results, quoting a short passage from one page. People Also Ask is the box of related questions that expand into short answers. Rich results are listings with extras such as stars, prices or FAQs, usually triggered by structured data, also called schema markup: code that describes your page’s content to search engines.

Pillar page is a long, broad guide on a core topic. Topic cluster is a group of shorter posts on subtopics that all link back to the pillar. Together they show search engines you cover a subject in depth. Evergreen content stays useful for years; thin content offers little value and often doesn’t get indexed. E-E-A-T stands for experience, expertise, authoritativeness and trust, the qualities Google’s quality guidelines look for in content.

AI search terms

AI Overviews are the AI-written summaries Google shows at the top of some searches, with links to the pages used. AI Mode is Google’s conversational search mode built on the same idea. Google says there are no extra requirements to appear in either: normal SEO best practice applies.

GEO, generative engine optimisation, is the newer name for making your brand show up in AI answers from ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and Google’s AI features. AEO, answer engine optimisation, means much the same. AI visibility is how often AI tools mention or cite your brand for relevant prompts. A prompt is the question someone types into an AI tool, the AI equivalent of a keyword. LLM, large language model, is the type of AI behind these tools.

Tools now track this. Semrush’s AI Visibility toolkit and its Semrush One plans track brand mentions across ChatGPT, Google’s AI features, Gemini and Perplexity. My plain-English guide to Semrush explains how it fits alongside normal SEO data.

See these terms in action on a free Semrush trial

Affiliate link: if you start a trial or subscribe through it, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. The trial lasts 7 days and you can cancel before it ends.

People also ask

What are the three types of SEO?

The three types are on-page SEO (content, titles and headings), off-page SEO (backlinks and mentions) and technical SEO (speed, crawlability and site structure). Most sites need all three, in that order of effort.

What is a keyword in SEO?

A keyword is the word or phrase people type into a search engine. In SEO, it’s the search you build a page around so that page can rank when people search it.

What is a good keyword difficulty score?

For a new or small site, aim for keyword difficulty under 30 in Semrush. Each tool scores difficulty differently, so compare scores within one tool rather than across tools.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between SEO and SEM?

SEO is earning free rankings in organic results. SEM, search engine marketing, traditionally means paid search ads, though some people use it to cover both paid and organic search.

What is a SERP?

SERP stands for search engine results page: the page you see after typing a search, including organic results, ads, AI Overviews, maps and other features.

What does indexed mean in SEO?

Indexed means Google has stored a copy of your page in its index and can show it in search results. A page that isn’t indexed can’t rank for anything.

What is a backlink in simple words?

A backlink is a link from someone else’s website to yours. Search engines treat links from relevant, trusted sites as a sign your page is worth ranking.

What is search intent?

Search intent is the reason behind a search: wanting an answer, a specific website, a comparison or a purchase. Pages rank best when they match the intent of the keyword they target.

What is GEO in marketing?

GEO, generative engine optimisation, is the work of getting your brand mentioned and cited in answers from AI tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and Google’s AI features.

What is Authority Score in Semrush?

Authority Score is Semrush’s 0 to 100 grade of a website’s overall quality, based on its backlinks, organic traffic and signs of link spam. Google doesn’t use it, but it’s handy for comparing sites.

About the author

Alan Spicer has been a YouTube Certified Expert since 2017 and creating on YouTube since 2012. He holds six YouTube Silver Play Buttons, has coached 500+ creators and run 500+ channel audits, and spent 2020–2021 on the vidIQ customer success team. After 20 years self-employed, he runs his consultancy and his own content sites from Huddersfield, usually fuelled by tea. Read client results.

Jargon sorted, plan still missing?

Knowing the words is step one. On a free call I’ll turn them into a short, practical SEO plan for your site. I’m a YouTube Certified Expert with six Silver Play Buttons, 500+ channel audits and 20 years of running my own online businesses behind me.

Book your free discovery call →

View coaching services & packages · Read client results

Sources

Affiliate disclosure: Some links in this post are affiliate links. If you start a Semrush trial or subscription through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend tools I’d use myself, and programme terms and prices change, so check the current details on Semrush’s site before you buy.

Categories
SEO

How to Use Google Search Console: A Beginner’s Guide for 2026

Google Search Console is free, it’s Google’s own data about your site, and most small business owners set it up once and never open it again. That’s a waste, because it’s the quickest place to find pages that are nearly ranking.

Last updated: 25 October 2026 · By Alan Spicer, YouTube Certified Expert

Part of the Website SEO series.

You only need four reports in Search Console: Performance, Pages, URL Inspection and Sitemaps. This guide shows what each one tells you and the weekly ten-minute routine I use to turn them into more clicks.

Why listen to me? I’ve been a YouTube Certified Expert since 2017 and self-employed for 20 years, running my own websites and SEO content builds for clients. Search Console is the first thing I check on any site, before any paid tool.

⚡ QUICK ANSWER: How do I use Google Search Console?

Verify your website, submit your sitemap, then check four reports. Performance shows the searches, clicks and positions for your pages. Pages shows what’s indexed and why anything isn’t. URL Inspection checks a single page and requests indexing. Sitemaps confirms Google can read your page list.

What is Google Search Console?

Google Search Console is a free tool from Google that shows how your website performs in Google Search. It tells you which searches your pages appear for, how many people click, your average position, which pages are indexed, and any technical problems Google finds. Paid tools estimate this data; Search Console reports it directly from Google.

It doesn’t show other people’s websites. For competitor research you need a tool like Semrush (my Semrush review covers it). For your own site, Search Console is the source of truth, and the two work best side by side.

Google also counts clicks and impressions from its AI features, such as AI Overviews and AI Mode, inside the normal Performance report under the “Web” search type, so you don’t need a separate tool to see whether your pages are cited there.

How do I set up Google Search Console?

Set up Search Console by adding your site as a property and proving you own it. It takes about ten minutes if you can log in to your domain registrar or your website’s admin area.

  1. Sign in and add a property. Go to search.google.com/search-console, sign in with your Google account and click Add property.
  2. Choose Domain or URL prefix. A Domain property covers every version of your site and is verified with a DNS TXT record. A URL-prefix property covers one version and can be verified with an HTML tag or file.
  3. Verify ownership. Add the TXT record at your registrar, or paste the HTML tag into your SEO plugin, then click Verify. DNS changes can take a little while to show.
  4. Submit your sitemap. Open Sitemaps in the left menu, enter your sitemap address (for example sitemap_index.xml on WordPress with Yoast) and click Submit.
  5. Wait for data. The Performance report fills over the following days. Indexing data appears as Google crawls your site.

If you already set up the site but can’t remember the login, ask whoever built the site. They can add you as an owner from Settings, then Users and permissions.

How do I read the Performance report?

The Performance report shows four numbers for your site: total clicks, total impressions, average click-through rate (CTR) and average position. Underneath, tabs break those numbers down by query, page, country, device and date. It’s where you find out what people searched before they landed on your site.

Metric What it means What to look for
Clicks People who clicked through to your site from Google Rising over time
Impressions Times one of your pages appeared in results Pages with high impressions and few clicks
CTR Clicks divided by impressions Low CTR on page one usually means a weak title
Average position Your average ranking for that query or page Positions 5 to 20 are your best quick wins

Metric definitions from Search Console Help.

Click the Queries tab, tick all four metrics, and sort by impressions. Any query where you sit between positions 5 and 20 with decent impressions is a page that’s close. A better title, a clearer answer near the top, and a few internal links often push it up a page.

**My weekly ten-minute routine:** open Performance, set the date to the last 28 days compared with the previous 28, sort queries by impressions, and pick one page sitting in positions 5 to 20. Improve that page’s title and opening answer, add two internal links to it, and request indexing. One page a week adds up.

How do I check which pages are indexed?

The Pages report (under Indexing) shows how many of your pages are indexed and lists every page that isn’t, with the reason. Fix the reasons you can control and ignore the ones that are working as intended, like redirects or pages you’ve deliberately set to noindex.

Status What it means What to do
Crawled, currently not indexed Google visited and chose not to index Improve or merge thin pages
Discovered, currently not indexed Google knows the URL but hasn’t crawled it Add internal links and wait
Excluded by noindex tag A tag tells Google to skip the page Remove it if the page should rank
Page with redirect The URL redirects elsewhere Usually fine
Not found (404) The page doesn’t exist Redirect it if it used to get traffic
Duplicate without user-selected canonical Google sees it as a copy of another page Set a canonical or merge

How do I request indexing in Search Console?

Paste a page’s URL into the inspection bar at the top of Search Console, wait for the result, then click Request indexing. Google adds the page to its crawl queue. It’s the fastest way to get a new or updated page looked at, but it doesn’t guarantee indexing.

Google applies a quota to these requests and says asking repeatedly for the same URL won’t make it crawl faster. You also need to be an owner or full user of the property. Use it for new pages and important updates, and let the sitemap handle the rest. If you’re launching a brand-new site, my guide to getting your website on Google walks through the full order.

Search Console full of errors you don’t understand?

I’ll go through it with you on a free call, explain what matters and what doesn’t, and give you a short fix list.

  • Pages aren’t getting indexed
  • Clicks have dropped and you don’t know why
  • You want a content plan built from your own search data

Book your free discovery call →

View coaching services & packages · Read client results

How do I add a user to Search Console?

Go to Settings, then Users and permissions, click Add user, enter their Google account email and choose Full or Restricted access. Owners can add and remove users; full users can see all data and take most actions; restricted users can only view most data.

Give agencies and freelancers Full access rather than ownership. If they leave, you remove them and keep control of your site. If you only own a URL-prefix property, consider adding a Domain property too so you’re covered for every version of your address.

Search Console vs Semrush: which do you need?

You need Search Console for every website, because it’s free and it’s Google’s own data. Add a paid tool like Semrush when you want to research keywords you don’t rank for yet, look at competitors, track rankings daily or audit the site in depth.

Job Google Search Console Semrush
Your real clicks and queries Yes, exact Connects to Search Console
Keywords you don’t rank for yet No Yes
Competitor traffic and keywords No Yes
Daily rank tracking No Yes
Indexing problems Yes Partly, via Site Audit
AI visibility tracking Clicks only, mixed into Web Yes, on Semrush One
Price Free From $139 a month, 7-day free trial

Sources: Search Console Help and Semrush pricing page, checked 20 October 2026.

You can connect Search Console to Semrush so your real data sits next to the research. If you want to test that, my guide to the Semrush free trial includes a 7-day plan.

Connect Search Console to a free Semrush trial

Affiliate link: if you start a trial or subscribe through it, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. The trial lasts 7 days and you can cancel before it ends.

People also ask

Is Google Search Console free?

Yes. Google Search Console is completely free for any website owner. You only need a Google account and the ability to verify that you own the site.

How long does Search Console take to show data?

Performance data starts appearing within a few days of verifying your site. Indexing information builds up as Google crawls your pages, which can take a few days to a few weeks for a new site.

What’s the difference between Search Console and Google Analytics?

Search Console shows what happens on Google before someone clicks: searches, impressions, rankings and clicks. Google Analytics shows what people do after they arrive on your site.

Frequently asked questions

Why does Search Console show different numbers from Google Analytics?

They measure different things. Search Console counts clicks from Google Search, while Analytics counts sessions from every source and can miss visits blocked by cookie banners. Expect them to differ.

How far back does Search Console data go?

The Performance report shows up to 16 months of data. Export it regularly if you want a longer history for year-on-year comparisons.

What is a good CTR in Search Console?

It depends on position and the search. A page in position one usually earns far more clicks than a page in position eight. Compare CTR between your own pages at similar positions to find weak titles.

Can I see AI Overviews traffic in Search Console?

Google includes clicks and impressions from AI features such as AI Overviews and AI Mode in the Performance report under the Web search type. It doesn’t currently split them out as a separate line.

Should I verify www and non-www separately?

Not if you use a Domain property. A Domain property covers every subdomain and both http and https, so it’s the simplest setup.

What does average position mean?

Average position is the mean ranking of your page across every search it appeared for. A page can rank first for one query and fortieth for another, so look at positions query by query.

How do I remove a page from Google with Search Console?

Use the Removals tool for a fast, temporary removal, then delete the page, add a noindex tag or block it properly so it stays out of results permanently.

About the author

Alan Spicer has been a YouTube Certified Expert since 2017 and creating on YouTube since 2012. He holds six YouTube Silver Play Buttons, has coached 500+ creators and run 500+ channel audits, and spent 2020–2021 on the vidIQ customer success team. After 20 years self-employed, he runs his consultancy and his own content sites from Huddersfield, usually fuelled by tea. Read client results.

Want me to read your Search Console with you?

Most sites have three or four quick wins hiding in the Performance report. On a free call I’ll find them with you and show you what to change. I’m a YouTube Certified Expert with six Silver Play Buttons, 500+ channel audits and 20 years of running my own online businesses behind me.

Book your free discovery call →

View coaching services & packages · Read client results

Sources

Affiliate disclosure: Some links in this post are affiliate links. If you start a Semrush trial or subscription through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend tools I’d use myself, and programme terms and prices change, so check the current details on Semrush’s site before you buy.

Categories
SEO

How to Get Your Website on Google (Step-by-Step for 2026)

If you search for your own website and it isn’t there, Google either hasn’t found it yet or something is stopping it. Both are fixable in an afternoon. Here’s the order I’d do it in.

Last updated: 23 October 2026 · By Alan Spicer, YouTube Certified Expert

Part of the Website SEO series.

Getting on Google and ranking on page one are two different jobs. This guide covers the first one: making sure Google can find, read and list every page you care about. Once that’s sorted, ranking is about content and links, which I cover in the rest of this series.

Why listen to me? I’ve been a YouTube Certified Expert since 2017 and I’ve been running my own websites for 20 years of self-employment, alongside SEO content builds for clients. Every site I launch goes through the checklist below before I write a single blog post.

⚡ QUICK ANSWER: How do I get my website on Google?

Verify your site in Google Search Console, submit your XML sitemap, then use the URL Inspection tool to request indexing for your homepage and key pages. Make sure nothing blocks Google, such as a noindex tag or robots.txt rule. Crawling can take a few days to a few weeks.

How do I check if my website is on Google?

Type site:yourdomain.co.uk into Google, using your own domain. If results appear, Google has indexed at least some of your pages. If nothing appears, Google hasn’t indexed the site yet, or something is blocking it.

The site: search is a rough check. It doesn’t show every indexed page, and the count it gives is an estimate. For an exact answer on a single page, use the URL Inspection tool in Google Search Console, which I cover below. It tells you whether that page is indexed, when Google last crawled it, and why it was left out if it was.

Indexing is the step where Google stores a copy of your page so it can show it in results. Crawling comes first: Googlebot visits the page and reads it. A page can be crawled and still not indexed if Google decides it’s a duplicate, too thin, or blocked.

Step 1: Set up Google Search Console

Google Search Console is Google’s free tool for website owners, and it’s the single most useful thing you can set up on day one. It shows which pages are indexed, which searches bring people to your site, how many clicks you get, and any problems Google finds.

To set it up:

  1. Create a Search Console property. Go to Google Search Console, sign in with a Google account and add your site. The Domain property covers every version of your site (www, non-www, http and https) and is the one I’d choose.
  2. Verify that you own the site. Domain properties are verified by adding a TXT record at your domain registrar. URL-prefix properties can be verified with an HTML tag, a file upload, or your Google Analytics account.
  3. Submit your XML sitemap. In Search Console, open Sitemaps and enter your sitemap address, usually /sitemap.xml or /sitemap_index.xml on WordPress with Yoast. This gives Google a list of every page you want indexed.
  4. Request indexing for key pages. Paste your homepage URL into the URL Inspection bar at the top, then click Request indexing. Repeat for your main service or product pages. There’s a daily quota, so prioritise the pages that matter.
  5. Fix anything blocking Google. Check that pages don’t carry a noindex tag, that robots.txt doesn’t block important folders, and that WordPress isn’t set to discourage search engines.
  6. Get a few links pointing at the site. Add your site to your Google Business Profile, social profiles and any directories in your industry. Links help Google discover new sites faster.
  7. Wait and monitor. Google’s own guidance says crawling can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. Check the Pages report in Search Console each week.

Verification is the step people get stuck on. If your site is on WordPress, the Yoast or Rank Math plugin has a box for the HTML verification tag, which is the easiest route if you can’t get into your domain settings.

Step 2: Submit an XML sitemap

An XML sitemap is a file that lists every page on your site you want search engines to find. Most website builders create one automatically: WordPress with Yoast publishes /sitemap_index.xml, Wix and Squarespace publish /sitemap.xml.

Submitting it in Search Console doesn’t force Google to index everything, but it speeds up discovery and gives you a report on how many of the listed pages made it into the index. When a page appears in your sitemap but shows as “Discovered, currently not indexed” in Search Console, that’s a quality or crawl-budget signal worth looking into.

Step 3: Request indexing for your most important pages

Use the URL Inspection tool to ask Google to crawl a specific page, and save it for pages that matter. Google limits how many requests you can make, and asking twice for the same page won’t speed it up.

I request indexing for the homepage, the main service or product pages, and any new post I want picked up quickly. Everything else can wait for Google to find it through the sitemap and internal links. Requesting indexing doesn’t guarantee a page gets indexed. It only puts it in the queue.

**Owner access needed:** you must be an owner or full user of the Search Console property to request indexing. If a developer or agency set up your site, ask them to add you as an owner so you’re not locked out of your own data.

What stops a website from appearing on Google?

Five problems account for almost every “my site isn’t on Google” message I see. Check these before you assume Google is ignoring you.

Problem How to spot it Fix
WordPress “Discourage search engines” ticked Settings, Reading in WordPress Untick it and save
noindex tag on pages URL Inspection says “Excluded by noindex tag” Remove it in your SEO plugin’s page settings
robots.txt blocking folders Visit yourdomain/robots.txt and look for Disallow: / Delete the line blocking the whole site
Site is brand new with no links Search Console shows no data after a week Add your site to Google Business Profile, socials and directories
Thin or duplicate pages “Crawled, currently not indexed” in Search Console Merge thin pages and add useful, original content

Fixes based on Google Search Central documentation and my own site launches.

The “Discourage search engines” box catches more people than anything else. Developers tick it while building a site so half-finished pages don’t get indexed, then forget to untick it at launch.

Stuck on step one?

If you’ve followed these steps and Google still can’t see your site, a 30-minute call usually finds the cause. I’ll go through Search Console with you and leave you with a fix list.

  • Your site has been live for weeks with no Google traffic
  • Search Console shows pages excluded and you don’t know why
  • You want a plan to go from indexed to ranking

Book your free discovery call →

View coaching services & packages · Read client results

How long does it take for a new website to appear on Google?

A new website usually appears on Google within a few days to a few weeks of being submitted through Search Console, which matches Google’s own guidance on crawling times. Appearing is the easy part. Ranking on page one takes far longer.

Ahrefs studied two million new English-language pages and found that 6.11% reached Google’s top 10 within a year. Of the pages that did make the top 10, 40.82% got there within a month of being published. In other words, most pages never rank on page one, and the ones that do often move quickly because they target the right keyword with the right content.

That’s why the next steps after indexing are keyword research and content. Pick searches you can realistically win. My Semrush review covers the tool I’d use to find them, and the free version of Semrush lets you run 10 reports a day while you get started.

few days to weeks

for Google to crawl a new page

6.11%

of new pages reach the top 10 within a year

40.82%

of those that rank got there within a month

10

free Semrush reports a day

What should I do after my site is indexed?

Once Google has indexed your site, your job switches from “be found” to “be chosen”. Three things move rankings for a new site: pages that target searches people make, a site that’s fast and easy to use on a phone, and links from other sites.

Start with the searches. A tool like Semrush shows you what people type, how many people type it, and how hard it is to rank. Filter for low keyword difficulty, write the best page on the internet for that search, and link it from your homepage. Then track where it ranks.

If you run a YouTube channel alongside your site, embed your videos on relevant pages. It gives Google another reason to show your page, and my guide to ranking YouTube videos on Google shows how the two work together.

Find keywords your site can rank for (7-day free Semrush trial)

Affiliate link: if you start a trial or subscribe through it, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. The trial lasts 7 days and you can cancel before it ends.

People also ask

Is it free to put my website on Google?

Yes. Getting indexed costs nothing. Google Search Console is free, submitting a sitemap is free, and Google doesn’t charge to list your site in organic results. You only pay if you want ads at the top of the page.

Why is my website not showing up on Google?

The most common reasons are a noindex tag, a robots.txt rule, WordPress’s “Discourage search engines” setting, or a brand-new site with no links pointing to it. Check the Pages report in Search Console for the exact reason.

How do I get my website on Google Maps?

Create a free Google Business Profile, verify your business address, and add your website link. That gets you on Maps and in local results, separate from the normal organic listings.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need Google Search Console to get on Google?

No, Google can find your site without it, but Search Console makes it faster and tells you if something’s wrong. It’s free, so there’s no reason to skip it.

How often can I request indexing?

Google applies a daily quota to the Request indexing button and doesn’t publish the exact number. Requesting the same URL more than once won’t make Google crawl it faster, so save requests for important new or updated pages.

What does “Discovered, currently not indexed” mean?

Google knows the page exists but hasn’t crawled it yet, often because the site is new or Google has decided other pages are a higher priority. Improve internal links to the page and make sure it’s worth indexing.

What does “Crawled, currently not indexed” mean?

Google visited the page and chose not to index it. This usually points to thin, duplicate or low-value content. Improve the page or merge it with a similar one.

Will a sitemap get every page indexed?

No. A sitemap helps Google discover your pages, but Google still decides which to index based on quality and usefulness. The sitemap report shows how many listed pages were indexed.

Does paying for Google Ads help my site rank?

No. Google keeps ads and organic results separate. Paying for ads gets you into the ad slots only and has no effect on where your site ranks organically.

How do I get Google to show my new blog post faster?

Link to the new post from your homepage or a popular page, make sure it’s in your sitemap, and request indexing in URL Inspection. Sharing it on social media can also help Google find it sooner.

About the author

Alan Spicer has been a YouTube Certified Expert since 2017 and creating on YouTube since 2012. He holds six YouTube Silver Play Buttons, has coached 500+ creators and run 500+ channel audits, and spent 2020–2021 on the vidIQ customer success team. After 20 years self-employed, he runs his consultancy and his own content sites from Huddersfield, usually fuelled by tea. Read client results.

Site live but still invisible?

Send me the URL on a free discovery call. I’ll check what’s blocking Google and give you the fix list in plain English. I’m a YouTube Certified Expert with six Silver Play Buttons, 500+ channel audits and 20 years of running my own online businesses behind me.

Book your free discovery call →

View coaching services & packages · Read client results

Sources

Affiliate disclosure: Some links in this post are affiliate links. If you start a Semrush trial or subscription through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend tools I’d use myself, and programme terms and prices change, so check the current details on Semrush’s site before you buy.

Categories
YOUTUBE TUTORIALS

The Ultimate YouTube SEO Checklist (2026)

This checklist is the result of 10+ years consulting on YouTube channels at every scale. I have applied these steps to channels from zero to 500,000+ subscribers, across niches from personal finance to business services to entertainment. Every item on this list has a measurable, documented impact — nothing is filler.

Use this as a pre-publish workflow for every video. Once these steps become habit, your baseline SEO performance improves permanently.

⚡ Quick answer: YouTube SEO in 2026 depends on three things working together: putting your content in front of people searching for it (keyword research), compelling them to click (title + thumbnail), and keeping them watching long enough to signal quality to the algorithm (retention). This checklist covers every optimisation step in the correct order, from topic research before you film to 30-day performance review.

Before you film — keyword and topic research

The single most impactful SEO decision happens before the camera is switched on. Most channels that plateau are publishing content with insufficient search demand. The fix is not better editing or more frequent uploads — it is choosing topics that people are already searching for.

# Task Tool Why it matters
☐ 1 Check search demand for your topic VidIQ Keyword Tool No demand = no search traffic regardless of quality
☐ 2 Confirm keyword score 60+ (or best available) VidIQ Score balances volume against competition for your channel size
☐ 3 Note 2–3 secondary related keywords VidIQ / YouTube autocomplete Natural variations improve topical coverage without stuffing
☐ 4 Watch top 3 ranking videos for this keyword YouTube search Understand what format is winning — inform your differentiation
☐ 5 Confirm your angle adds something different Manual assessment Near-identical content cannibalises rankings — find your specific angle

VidIQ

Best Tool for Pre-Production Keyword ResearchFree plan · From ~£8/month

Best for: Keyword scoring, search volume estimates, competition assessment

✅ Pros

  • Real-time keyword score before you commit to filming
  • Competition level shows whether your channel can realistically rank
  • Related keyword suggestions surface long-tail opportunities
  • Free plan sufficient to start keyword research immediately

⚠️ Cons

  • Volume estimates are approximations — treat as directional
  • Full competitor analysis requires paid plan

Try VidIQ Free →

vidiq.com/alanspicer

Title optimisation — the most-read SEO element

Your title is the primary ranking signal and the primary click driver simultaneously. It must satisfy search intent (to rank) and be compelling (to earn the click). Both are required — a title that ranks but does not get clicked delivers no traffic.

# Task Target Why
☐ 6 Primary keyword in first 50 characters Essential Most critical title position for search ranking signal
☐ 7 Total title under 60 characters Under 60 chars Longer titles truncate in search results with “…”
☐ 8 Title reads naturally for humans CTR focus Keyword-stuffed titles are penalised and perform poorly
☐ 9 Question or number format considered Optional but effective “How to” and numbered list formats historically outperform plain statements
☐ 10 Year included if time-sensitive “(2026)” suffix Signals freshness; increases CTR for informational search queries

Description — the underutilised SEO asset

# Task Notes
☐ 11 Primary keyword in first sentence YouTube indexes first 150 characters most heavily
☐ 12 First 150 characters compelling standalone Shown before “Show more” — write it for the viewer scanning before clicking
☐ 13 300–500 words covering topic naturally More comprehensive descriptions improve topical understanding
☐ 14 Timestamps / chapters included Enables chapter markers in Google search results
☐ 15 Relevant links included Related videos, tools mentioned, subscribe link — drives traffic and affiliate clicks
☐ 16 No keyword stuffing Reads unnaturally, is penalised, and reduces click intent from viewers reading it

Tags — simplified for 2026

# Task Notes
☐ 17 Exact primary keyword as first tag Most important tag position — highest weighting
☐ 18 2–3 keyword variations as subsequent tags Covers related search query variations naturally
☐ 19 Channel name as final tag Associates video with your brand in recommendations
☐ 20 Total tags: 5–8 specific terms only More tags does not mean more discovery — specificity over quantity

Thumbnail — the highest-leverage visual decision

Thumbnails drive CTR, and CTR is the primary mechanism through which YouTube decides whether to show your video to more people. A video with a 7% CTR gets approximately 3.5x more impressions than the same video with a 2% CTR, all else being equal.

# Task Notes
☐ 21 Custom thumbnail uploaded Never use auto-generated still — custom thumbnails consistently outperform
☐ 22 Readable at 120px wide (mobile scale) Most impressions served at small size on mobile — test readability at small size
☐ 23 Maximum 4 words of text overlay More text becomes unreadable at small display sizes
☐ 24 Clear face expression if on camera Human faces with visible emotion measurably increase CTR
☐ 25 Consistent brand colour scheme Channel recognition increases return visitor CTR over time

Alan Spicer — YouTube Certified Expert

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I publish YouTube SEO tutorials and live channel audits every week — subscribe to see this checklist in action.

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Post-publish — the first 24 hours

# Task Timing
☐ 26 Add chapters / timestamps Within 30 minutes of publishing
☐ 27 Add end screens (2 video recs + subscribe) Within 30 minutes of publishing
☐ 28 Add card at 70% point to related video Within 30 minutes of publishing
☐ 29 Pin a comment with CTA or key takeaway Immediately on publish
☐ 30 Reply to every comment First 60 minutes — engagement velocity is a ranking signal
☐ 31 Share in one relevant community Within first 2 hours — initial traffic spike signals quality
☐ 32 Review auto-captions for accuracy Within 24 hours — errors compound if left uncorrected

30-day performance review

# Check Target Action if underperforming
☐ 33 Click-through rate 4–8% for established channels Below 3%: test a new thumbnail immediately
☐ 34 Average view duration 40–60% of video length Below 35%: audit first 30 seconds for stronger hook
☐ 35 Traffic source breakdown Growing search traffic share No search traffic: review title keyword alignment with actual search queries in Studio
☐ 36 Subscriber conversion rate 0.5–2% of views convert to subscriptions Low rate: strengthen subscribe CTA and channel value proposition

Understanding YouTube SEO: how the algorithm actually works in 2026

YouTube SEO is frequently misunderstood. Many creators believe it is primarily about tags — this was partially true in 2012. In 2026, tags are one of the least important ranking signals. Understanding what actually drives YouTube search and discovery ranking helps you focus effort where it matters.

YouTube’s ranking algorithm considers two broad categories of signals: relevance signals (does this video match what the viewer searched for?) and quality signals (will this viewer watch, enjoy, and engage with this video?). Most SEO advice focuses on relevance signals — titles, descriptions, tags. But quality signals — click-through rate, average view duration, watch time, likes and comments — are weighted more heavily by the algorithm.

This means the most important YouTube SEO work you can do is make great videos that viewers actually want to watch. No amount of keyword optimisation rescues a video with poor retention. But keyword optimisation does ensure your great video appears in front of the right viewers in the first place. Both matter — the checklist below covers both.

The three-phase model. I think about YouTube SEO in three phases: pre-production research (finding keywords and topics with real demand), production optimisation (thumbnail and title decisions made before filming), and post-upload optimisation (metadata, cards, end screens, community posts). Most creators only work on the post-upload phase. The highest leverage is in the pre-production phase.

Pre-upload: the keyword research process

Keyword research for YouTube is different from keyword research for Google in one important way: YouTube search volume is generally much lower, and browse and suggested traffic often exceeds search traffic for established channels. This means you are optimising for two different distribution mechanisms simultaneously.

For search-optimised content, the process is: identify a specific question your audience is asking, verify there is search volume using VidIQ or TubeBuddy keyword tools, assess whether the top-ranking videos for that keyword are from channels much larger than yours, and if the competition is manageable, build a video specifically designed to rank for that term.

For browse and suggested content, the process is different: identify topics your existing audience is interested in, look at what your channel’s viewers also watch, and create videos that satisfy similar curiosity. These videos often have more modest search rankings but perform better in suggested video feeds because YouTube shows them to viewers with demonstrated interest in related content.

The practical approach: aim for roughly 60% search-optimised content (specific keyword targets) and 40% browse-optimised content (broader topic interest) in your upload mix. This balance feeds both algorithms simultaneously and reduces over-dependence on any single traffic source.

Use VidIQ’s keyword research tool or TubeBuddy’s Keyword Explorer to find keywords with a minimum search volume of 500–1,000 monthly searches and a competition score below 50 (on a 100-point scale) for your current channel size. Channels with under 10,000 subscribers should aim for competition scores below 35.

Thumbnail strategy: why it is your most important SEO decision

Click-through rate is one of the most powerful signals in YouTube’s algorithm. A video with excellent thumbnails and titles that generates 8–10% CTR will outrank a video with poor thumbnails and a 3–4% CTR even if the content is identical, because YouTube interprets high CTR as viewer interest validation and distributes the content more broadly.

The elements of a high-CTR thumbnail: a single clear focal point that works at small sizes, a human face with strong emotion when appropriate (faces drive clicks in most niches), text that is readable at 100 pixels wide on a mobile screen, and strong colour contrast between the subject and background. Crucially: the thumbnail should create curiosity or signal value — it should make the viewer feel they will miss something if they do not click.

Thumbnail testing is how you move from intuition-based thumbnail decisions to data-driven ones. TubeBuddy’s A/B testing serves two thumbnail versions to real impressions and measures which performs better over 30 days. After running 20–30 A/B tests, most creators identify clear patterns in what works for their specific audience — patterns they could not have predicted in advance. This data is genuinely irreplaceable.

Common thumbnail mistakes that suppress CTR: too much text (viewers process images before text — the image needs to do most of the work), low contrast (thumbnails are viewed at small sizes on mobile — if the subject blends into the background, the thumbnail fails), inconsistent branding (your thumbnail should be instantly recognisable as yours in a busy feed), and promising something the video does not deliver (high CTR with poor retention is a negative signal — YouTube will stop distributing the video).

Post-upload optimisation: the 48-hour window

The first 48 hours after uploading are disproportionately important for a video’s long-term performance. YouTube uses early engagement signals — watch time, CTR, likes, comments — to decide how broadly to distribute the video beyond your existing subscribers. Strong early performance leads to wider distribution. Poor early performance often limits a video to a fraction of its potential reach.

Actions that maximise the 48-hour window: notify your email list or community immediately after publishing (not just relying on YouTube notifications), share the video in relevant communities where it adds genuine value (not as spam), respond personally to every comment in the first 24 hours (this signals high engagement to the algorithm and builds the community signal), and use a community post on your channel to drive existing subscribers to the new video.

Cards and end screens are not just engagement tools — they reduce the chance YouTube ends the viewing session after your video finishes, which is a negative signal. End screen CTR matters. Build end screens toward your most-viewed videos and most-relevant playlist rather than just your most recent content. The goal is to keep viewers watching your content, not to send them to your most recent upload if that is not the most relevant next step.

Description optimisation: the first 125 characters of your description appear in search results before the “show more” truncation. Write these as a genuine hook that includes your target keyword naturally. The full description should contain your keyword phrase two to three times (including in the first paragraph), timestamps for longer videos, relevant links with context, and a call to subscribe. Descriptions do not significantly affect ranking but they improve viewer confidence and click-through from search results.

Frequently asked questions

❓ What is YouTube SEO?
The process of optimising videos to appear higher in YouTube search results and get recommended more often. Covers keyword research, titles, descriptions, tags, thumbnails, chapters, and engagement signals.
❓ How do I optimise a YouTube video for SEO?
Research keyword before filming, include it in first 50 title characters, write description with keyword in first sentence, add 5–8 relevant tags, upload custom thumbnail, add chapters, enable captions, add end screens and cards.
❓ Do YouTube tags still matter in 2026?
Yes but less than before. 5–8 specific relevant tags are sufficient. Tags help disambiguation and related content association. Keyword stuffing is counterproductive.
❓ How long should a YouTube description be?
First 150 characters most critical. Full description: 300–500 words with keyword in first sentence, natural secondary mentions, timestamps, and relevant links.
❓ How important are YouTube chapters?
Very — videos with chapters qualify for chapter markers in Google search results, increasing SERP real estate and CTR. Add to any video over 5 minutes.
❓ What is the best free keyword research tool for YouTube?
YouTube’s autocomplete is the most underrated free tool. VidIQ free plan provides keyword scores and competition data. Both are sufficient for a starting SEO strategy.
❓ How do I get a video to rank faster?
Verified keyword demand, high-CTR thumbnail and title, strong retention in first 30 seconds, comment replies in first hour, share in one community immediately after publishing.
❓ Does upload consistency affect YouTube SEO?
Yes. Consistent channels are rewarded by the algorithm. One well-optimised video per week consistently beats five poorly-optimised videos inconsistently. Choose a sustainable frequency.

YouTube Consulting

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Best TubeBuddy Alternatives for YouTube Creators (2026)

TubeBuddy is a tool I have used on client channels for years. It does specific things exceptionally well — particularly A/B thumbnail testing and bulk editing. But it is not the right tool for every creator, and several alternatives genuinely outperform it in specific areas.

This guide is written from hands-on experience with both TubeBuddy and its competitors in real YouTube consulting work. The best option for your specific situation comes first, regardless of commission structure.

⚡ Quick answer: The best TubeBuddy alternative for most creators is VidIQ — it covers the same core YouTube SEO features plus stronger competitor analysis and AI-driven channel coaching. If you specifically need A/B thumbnail testing, no alternative fully replaces TubeBuddy — it is the only tool with native YouTube thumbnail split testing.

What TubeBuddy does well — and where alternatives win

TubeBuddy’s genuine strengths: A/B thumbnail and title testing (unique in the category), bulk editing across a video library (updating end screens, descriptions, tags across dozens of videos at once), SEO Studio integration inside YouTube Studio, and the Keyword Explorer with trend line data.

Where TubeBuddy falls behind its alternatives:

  • Competitor analysis: VidIQ provides significantly deeper competitor tracking — monitoring thumbnail changes, title updates, and performance trends on rival channels. TubeBuddy’s competitor features are more limited.
  • AI coaching: VidIQ’s personalised AI coach, which analyses your specific channel data and recommends concrete next steps, is more actionable than TubeBuddy’s equivalent recommendations.
  • Daily ideas: VidIQ’s daily video idea generation, calibrated to your channel’s history and category, is a feature TubeBuddy does not match.
  • Niche discovery: Neither TubeBuddy nor VidIQ matches TubeLab for pre-channel niche analysis — CPM estimates, saturation metrics, and niche-level competitive data.

The 6 best TubeBuddy alternatives

Tool Primary strength Free option Price Best for
VidIQ Competitor analysis + AI coaching ✅ Free plan ~£8/month Growth strategy, competitor monitoring
Morningfame Guided small-channel optimisation Invite only £3.90/month Channels under 10K wanting simple guidance
Social Blade Free cross-platform statistics ✅ Fully free Free Free competitor benchmarking
TubeLab Niche discovery + CPM data ❌ £149/year Pre-channel niche decisions
Keywords Everywhere Lightweight keyword data ❌ Credits ~£8/year Budget keyword research add-on
Spotter Studio Video concept brainstorming ❌ ~£25/month Ideation and content research

VidIQ

⭐ #1 TubeBuddy AlternativeFree plan · Paid from ~£8/month

Best for: Growth strategy, competitor analysis, AI coaching, daily ideas

✅ Pros

  • AI coach gives specific recommendations based on your actual analytics
  • Competitor tracking monitors rivals’ thumbnail and title changes over time
  • Daily ideas feature generates topics tailored to your channel history
  • Keyword research shows search volume and competition scoring
  • Used by 20M+ creators with large community and regular updates

⚠️ Cons

  • No A/B thumbnail testing — TubeBuddy’s main advantage
  • No bulk editing tools for updating existing video library
  • Dashboard can be complex for creators new to analytics

Try VidIQ Free →

vidiq.com/alanspicer

VidIQ in depth — the key differences from TubeBuddy

The most meaningful difference between VidIQ and TubeBuddy is where each tool directs your attention. TubeBuddy is primarily a content optimisation tool — it helps you make each video perform as well as possible through SEO, thumbnail testing, and bulk improvements. VidIQ is primarily a channel strategy tool — it helps you understand what to make next, who to compete with, and how your channel compares to its competitive set.

In practice, the VidIQ AI coach is the feature that most often surprises creators who switch from TubeBuddy. Instead of generic optimisation checklists, VidIQ’s coach analyses your specific analytics and tells you the concrete actions that would most improve your channel given its current performance profile. For channels that have plateaued, this diagnosis is often more valuable than any individual SEO improvement.

Morningfame

Best Budget Alternative£3.90–4.90/month

Best for: Small channels wanting guided, jargon-free optimisation without data overwhelm

✅ Pros

  • Cheapest paid YouTube analytics tool available
  • Guided workflow tells you exactly what to do next
  • Keyword suggestions calibrated to your channel’s actual reach
  • Clean, visual interface designed for non-technical creators

⚠️ Cons

  • Invite-only access — need existing user referral
  • No A/B thumbnail testing
  • Competitor features limited compared to VidIQ and TubeBuddy

Get Morningfame →

Morningfame in depth — why it works for small channels

Morningfame solves a problem that VidIQ and TubeBuddy both create inadvertently: data paralysis. Both tools give you a lot of numbers. For creators with 200–2,000 subscribers, the volume of metrics in VidIQ or TubeBuddy can be genuinely overwhelming — it is not always clear which metric to act on first.

Morningfame simplifies this by asking one question at a time: what should you focus on for your next video? It gives you keyword suggestions that are realistic for your channel’s current reach (not suggesting you target keywords that 500,000-subscriber channels are competing for), and it walks you through video optimisation step by step. For a creator in the first year of YouTube, this guided approach is often more effective than a tool with 40 features you do not know how to prioritise.

Social Blade

Best Free OptionFree

Best for: Free competitor benchmarking and channel statistics across multiple platforms

✅ Pros

  • Completely free with no subscription required
  • Tracks YouTube, Twitch, Instagram in one dashboard
  • Historical subscriber and view data with trend charts
  • Estimated earnings range useful for competitive research

⚠️ Cons

  • No SEO or keyword research tools
  • No video-level optimisation features
  • Data less precise than YouTube Studio first-party analytics

Use Social Blade Free →

The one TubeBuddy feature no alternative matches

This deserves direct emphasis: if A/B thumbnail testing is what you actually need, stay with TubeBuddy. No other tool in the YouTube creator ecosystem replicates its native split testing capability with comparable depth.

YouTube has introduced its own basic thumbnail test feature in YouTube Studio, but it provides less control and less data than TubeBuddy’s implementation. For creators who want to test thumbnail variations systematically and use data to improve CTR over time, TubeBuddy is the specific, irreplaceable tool for this purpose.

Everything else in TubeBuddy’s feature set has alternatives. The A/B testing does not.

TubeBuddy

Best for A/B Testing — No AlternativeFree plan · Paid from ~£8/month

Best for: A/B thumbnail testing, bulk editing, SEO Studio

✅ Pros

  • Only tool with native A/B thumbnail and title testing
  • Bulk editing saves hours updating large video libraries
  • SEO Studio grades videos before publishing
  • Deep keyword trend data

⚠️ Cons

  • Weaker on competitor analysis than VidIQ
  • AI coaching less personalised than VidIQ

Try TubeBuddy →

alanspicer.com/tubebuddy

Which tool is right for you — a decision framework

Your situation Best tool Why
Brand new channel, under 500 subscribers VidIQ free or Morningfame Need keyword research and guidance, not bulk editing
Growing channel, 1K–10K subscribers VidIQ paid + TubeBuddy free VidIQ for strategy; TubeBuddy free for A/B testing (when eligible)
Established channel with 50+ videos TubeBuddy paid Bulk editing and A/B testing deliver ROI at this library size
Choosing a niche before launching TubeLab CPM data and saturation metrics at niche level
Budget under £5/month Morningfame Best value analytics for small channels
No budget at all VidIQ free + YouTube Studio Both free, both genuinely useful

Understanding TubeBuddy’s specific strengths — and what gaps alternatives fill

Before comparing alternatives, it is worth being precise about what TubeBuddy actually does well versus where it falls short. Most “alternatives” guides treat tools as interchangeable — they are not. Different tools solve different problems, and knowing which problem you are trying to solve makes the decision much clearer.

TubeBuddy’s genuine strengths are: A/B thumbnail and title testing (genuinely unique in the category), bulk editing across a large video library, SEO grading integrated into YouTube Studio’s publish workflow, and keyword trend data that shows whether a keyword is growing or declining in search demand. These features together make TubeBuddy the best tool for optimising an existing library of videos systematically.

TubeBuddy’s genuine weaknesses are: competitor analysis (shallower than VidIQ), AI coaching (VidIQ’s personalised channel coach is better), niche discovery (TubeLab is significantly more capable), and the interface for newer users (can feel overwhelming compared to Morningfame’s guided approach).

The right alternative depends on which of TubeBuddy’s weaknesses is most relevant to you. If you want competitor analysis, VidIQ is the answer. If you want niche discovery, TubeLab is the answer. If you want a simpler guided experience, Morningfame is the answer. If you want free stats, YouTube Studio and Social Blade cover the basics.

VidIQ vs TubeBuddy — a detailed feature comparison

The VidIQ versus TubeBuddy question is the most common one I am asked in consulting calls. Here is the honest breakdown by feature area:

Keyword research. Both tools provide keyword volume estimates, competition scores, and related keyword suggestions. VidIQ’s keyword data tends to be slightly more accurate in my experience. TubeBuddy adds trend data (is this keyword growing or declining?) which VidIQ does not provide in the same visual format. Advantage: roughly even, slight edge to TubeBuddy for trend visibility.

Competitor analysis. VidIQ wins clearly here. VidIQ tracks competitor thumbnail and title changes over time, lets you add competitor channels to a watchlist with alerts, and provides a channel score comparison dashboard. TubeBuddy’s competitor tools are more basic. If competitor intelligence drives your content strategy, VidIQ is the better choice.

A/B testing. TubeBuddy wins unambiguously. VidIQ does not offer A/B thumbnail or title testing. TubeBuddy’s implementation serves real impressions to each variant and measures CTR difference over a defined test period. This is one of the most valuable features in the entire YouTube tools category and TubeBuddy has it exclusively.

Bulk editing. TubeBuddy wins. Bulk editing end screens, cards, descriptions, and tags across an entire video library is a TubeBuddy speciality. VidIQ has no equivalent functionality. For creators with 100+ videos, this alone justifies TubeBuddy.

AI coaching. VidIQ wins. VidIQ’s personalised channel coach analyses your specific channel metrics — your CTR, average view duration, topic performance — and provides recommendations calibrated to your situation. TubeBuddy has some AI features but the coaching depth is not comparable.

Daily ideas feed. VidIQ wins. VidIQ generates daily topic ideas based on your channel’s category and historical performance, surfacing trending topics matched to your niche. TubeBuddy does not offer a comparable proactive ideas feature.

Price. Roughly equivalent at the entry paid tier — both around £8/month. TubeBuddy’s Legend plan (needed for unlimited A/B testing) is significantly more expensive at around £40/month.

Do you actually need a third-party YouTube tool at all?

This is a question I ask every client before recommending any tool purchase: what specific outcome do you need that you are not getting from YouTube Studio right now?

YouTube Studio’s native analytics have improved significantly over the past three years. You now get impression-level data, click-through rate by traffic source, audience retention curves with moment-by-moment data, search terms that drove traffic to each video, and revenue reporting that is more accurate than any third-party estimate. For many creators — especially those under 10,000 subscribers — YouTube Studio alone is sufficient analytics infrastructure.

What YouTube Studio cannot do: keyword research before you publish (it only shows you keywords after a video has been live), competitor analysis, A/B thumbnail testing, and bulk editing. These are the genuine gaps that third-party tools fill. If none of these gaps are currently your bottleneck, you may not need a paid tool yet.

The honest benchmark: if you are not uploading at least one video per week and actively optimising titles and thumbnails based on CTR data, you will not get enough value from a paid YouTube SEO tool to justify the cost. Build the habit first, then add the tooling.

How I set up a client’s TubeBuddy alternative stack

When I work with a new consulting client, the tool setup I recommend varies by their situation. Here is the framework I use:

For a brand new channel: VidIQ free plan only. No paid tools until they have 10 videos published and a consistent upload cadence. The free tier is more than adequate for building keyword research habits, and paying for tools before you have a consistent process is putting the cart before the horse.

For a channel with 1,000–5,000 subscribers that is stuck: Morningfame (if they can get an invite) plus YouTube Studio. Morningfame’s algorithm matches keyword difficulty to the channel’s actual reach, which prevents the very common mistake of chasing keywords the channel cannot currently rank for. This targeted keyword approach typically unlocks growth that had stalled.

For a channel actively producing multiple videos per week: VidIQ paid for competitor intelligence and content strategy plus TubeBuddy paid for A/B testing and bulk editing. These tools genuinely complement each other — there is almost no feature overlap between what makes each one valuable. The combined monthly cost of around £16–18 is justified at this production level.

For a channel preparing to monetise or already monetised: add TubeLab for one month to audit the niche CPM landscape and identify content angles with better revenue potential. Then cancel and continue with the main stack. TubeLab is best used periodically for strategic niche analysis rather than as a permanent monthly subscription.

Frequently asked questions

❓ What is the best TubeBuddy alternative?
VidIQ for full-featured YouTube SEO plus stronger competitor analysis. Morningfame for guided small-channel optimisation at £3.90/month. Social Blade for free cross-platform stats.
❓ Is VidIQ better than TubeBuddy?
Different strengths: VidIQ leads on competitor analysis and AI coaching; TubeBuddy leads on A/B testing and bulk editing. Many creators use both simultaneously.
❓ Is there a free TubeBuddy alternative?
VidIQ free plan (keyword research + SEO scoring), Social Blade (channel stats), and YouTube Studio native analytics — all free and genuinely useful.
❓ What does TubeBuddy do that VidIQ does not?
Native A/B thumbnail and title testing is TubeBuddy’s unique feature. Also: stronger bulk editing tools for updating multiple videos simultaneously.
❓ Is TubeBuddy worth it for small channels?
Free plan: yes, install immediately. Paid plan: worth it when publishing consistently. A/B testing requires 1,000+ subscribers for meaningful results.
❓ Can I switch from TubeBuddy to VidIQ easily?
Yes — both are browser extensions. Install VidIQ alongside or instead of TubeBuddy. No migration needed.
❓ What is the cheapest TubeBuddy alternative?
Morningfame at £3.90/month is the cheapest meaningful paid option. For free: VidIQ free plan or YouTube Studio analytics.
❓ Does TubeBuddy work in 2026?
Yes — TubeBuddy remains active, updated, and YouTube-certified in 2026. Its A/B testing and bulk editing capabilities remain genuinely useful.

Alan Spicer — YouTube Certified Expert

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7 Best VidIQ Alternatives in 2026 (Honest Comparison)

I spent time on the VidIQ customer success team and have used VidIQ on hundreds of client channels. It is the tool I recommend most often. But it is not perfect for every situation — and if you are looking for an alternative, you deserve an honest comparison from someone who knows the product from the inside.

This guide covers 7 genuine VidIQ alternatives, organised by what they are best at, with transparent assessments of where each one falls short. I have used all of them in real consulting work.

⚡ Quick answer: The best VidIQ alternative for most creators is TubeBuddy — same core YouTube SEO functionality plus A/B thumbnail testing that VidIQ lacks. For budget-conscious small channels, Morningfame at £3.90/month is excellent. For free stats, Social Blade covers the basics.

Why creators look for VidIQ alternatives

VidIQ has been the dominant YouTube growth tool for years, but four specific gaps drive creators to look elsewhere:

1. No A/B thumbnail testing. This is the most common frustration. TubeBuddy’s A/B testing lets you serve two thumbnails to real impressions and let data decide the winner. VidIQ does not offer this. For creators who want data-driven thumbnail decisions, there is no VidIQ workaround — TubeBuddy is the answer.

2. Paid plan pricing. VidIQ’s free plan is useful but limited. The jump to a paid plan (from ~£8/month) is reasonable, but some creators feel the free tier is deliberately restricted to push upgrades. If you need more than basic keyword scores but cannot justify a monthly subscription yet, Morningfame is worth considering.

3. Feature direction. In recent years VidIQ has added AI script generators, thumbnail makers, and content creation tools. Some long-term users feel the product has moved away from its analytics roots. If you want pure SEO and analytics without content generation features, tools like TubeLab or Morningfame are more focused.

4. Niche discovery depth. VidIQ’s keyword tools are strong for video-level optimisation, but for pre-channel decisions — which niche to enter, which niches have high CPM, which are oversaturated — TubeLab’s niche-level analysis goes significantly deeper.

The 7 best VidIQ alternatives — compared

Tool Best for Free option Starting price VidIQ comparison
TubeBuddy SEO + A/B testing + bulk editing ✅ Free plan ~£8/month Stronger on A/B testing; weaker on competitor tracking
TubeLab Niche discovery + CPM data ❌ £149/year Stronger pre-channel; weaker post-channel
Morningfame Guided small-channel optimisation Invite only £3.90/month Simpler interface; weaker competitor features
Social Blade Free cross-platform stats ✅ Fully free Free No SEO tools — stats only
Spotter Studio Video brainstorming and research ❌ ~£25/month Better for ideation; no keyword SEO
Keywords Everywhere Lightweight keyword data ❌ Credit-based ~£8/year Keyword data only; very cheap
YouTube Studio First-party analytics (built-in) ✅ Free Free More accurate data; no competitor features

TubeBuddy

⭐ Best Overall VidIQ AlternativeFree plan · Paid from ~£8/month

Best for: Creators who want the full VidIQ feature set plus A/B thumbnail testing

✅ Pros

  • A/B thumbnail and title testing — unique capability VidIQ lacks
  • SEO Studio grades videos before publishing inside YouTube Studio
  • Bulk editing tools update descriptions, cards, end screens across many videos at once
  • Keyword Explorer with trend data shows whether a keyword is growing or declining
  • Browser extension integrates directly into YouTube Studio workflow

⚠️ Cons

  • Competitor analysis is less capable than VidIQ
  • AI coaching less personalised than VidIQ’s channel coach feature
  • Some bulk tool features feel dated compared to newer interfaces

Try TubeBuddy Free →

alanspicer.com/tubebuddy — use this link to support the channel

TubeBuddy in depth — what it does differently

TubeBuddy’s strongest feature and the primary reason to choose it over VidIQ: native A/B thumbnail testing. The tool serves version A of your thumbnail to some impressions and version B to others, then measures which generates more clicks over time. At the end of the test, TubeBuddy tells you which thumbnail won and by how much.

This sounds simple but it is genuinely powerful. Most creator thumbnail decisions are based on intuition. Data-driven thumbnail decisions based on real performance are consistently more accurate than intuition, and the improvement in CTR compounds across every future video.

TubeBuddy also excels at bulk editing — updating end screens, cards, descriptions, and tags across an entire video library in one action. If you have 100+ videos and want to add a consistent end screen template to all of them, TubeBuddy does this in minutes. VidIQ does not offer equivalent bulk editing functionality.

TubeLab

Best for Niche Discovery£149/year (~£12/month)

Best for: Creators still deciding which YouTube niche to pursue

✅ Pros

  • CPM estimates by niche — find high-revenue niches before committing
  • Saturation metrics show how crowded a niche is
  • 400,000+ channel database for competitive research
  • Real-time channel tracking across the platform
  • Data that VidIQ simply does not provide at niche level

⚠️ Cons

  • No keyword-level SEO tools for individual videos
  • No browser extension integration with YouTube Studio
  • Less useful once you have committed to a niche

Explore TubeLab →

TubeLab in depth — why it fills a different gap

TubeLab solves the problem that comes before VidIQ: choosing the right niche. VidIQ helps you optimise a video within a chosen topic — TubeLab helps you decide which topics and niches are worth pursuing in the first place.

The CPM estimate feature is particularly valuable for creators thinking about monetisation. Different niches have dramatically different CPMs — finance content might earn £15–30 CPM while gaming content earns £2–5. Knowing this before you invest months of content creation into a niche changes the ROI calculation fundamentally.

Morningfame

Best Budget Option£3.90–4.90/month

Best for: Small channels (under 10,000 subscribers) wanting guided step-by-step optimisation

✅ Pros

  • Cheapest paid YouTube analytics tool available
  • Guided workflow removes data overwhelm for beginners
  • Keyword recommendations scaled appropriately for small channel reach
  • Clear visual dashboard with actionable next steps

⚠️ Cons

  • Invite-only — need an existing user referral to access
  • No A/B thumbnail testing
  • Competitor analysis limited compared to VidIQ or TubeBuddy

Get Morningfame →

Social Blade

Best Free OptionFully free basic plan

Best for: Creators wanting free cross-platform channel statistics without paying for a tool

✅ Pros

  • Completely free for basic features
  • Tracks YouTube, Twitch, Instagram, Twitter in one dashboard
  • Historical subscriber and view data with charts
  • Estimated earnings range useful for competitor benchmarking

⚠️ Cons

  • No keyword research or SEO tools
  • No video-level optimisation features
  • Data less accurate than first-party YouTube Studio analytics

Use Social Blade Free →

When to stay with VidIQ

Despite building an honest case for alternatives, there are clear situations where VidIQ remains the right choice:

  • You rely on the AI channel coach. VidIQ’s personalised coaching feature — which analyses your specific channel data and gives recommendations calibrated to your actual performance — is the best in the category. No alternative replicates it with the same depth.
  • Competitor monitoring matters to your strategy. VidIQ tracks changes to competitor thumbnails and titles over time — useful for understanding how rivals are testing and optimising. TubeBuddy does not offer equivalent monitoring.
  • You want daily video ideas. VidIQ’s ideas feed generates topic suggestions tailored to your channel’s category and performance history every day. For creators who struggle with consistent content ideas, this feature alone justifies the cost.
  • You manage multiple channels. VidIQ’s multi-channel management dashboard is well-suited to agencies and consultants managing several channels simultaneously.

VidIQ

Still the Standard — Free TrialFree plan · Paid from ~£8/month

Best for: Competitor tracking, AI coaching, daily ideas, channel analytics

✅ Pros

  • Best AI channel coach in the category
  • Competitor thumbnail and title monitoring
  • Daily ideas tailored to your channel history
  • 20M+ creator community

⚠️ Cons

  • No A/B thumbnail testing
  • Paid plans needed for competitor analysis depth

Try VidIQ Free →

vidiq.com/alanspicer

The two-tool strategy most professionals use

The honest recommendation for a creator who is serious about YouTube growth: run VidIQ and TubeBuddy simultaneously. VidIQ handles competitor intelligence, channel coaching, and daily idea generation. TubeBuddy handles A/B thumbnail testing and bulk optimisation of your existing library. The monthly cost of both together (around £16) is justified by the differentiated capabilities each brings.

If budget allows only one: VidIQ for channels focused on growing through new content discovery, TubeBuddy for channels with an existing library that needs systematic optimisation.

How to choose: which VidIQ alternative is right for your situation?

The right tool depends on where you are in your YouTube journey and what problem you are actually trying to solve. A creator with 200 subscribers has different needs to a creator with 200,000 — and the tool that helped you grow from zero to 10,000 subscribers is not necessarily the right tool for growing from 10,000 to 100,000.

Here is how I match creators to tools in my consulting practice:

You are just starting out (0–1,000 subscribers). Start with VidIQ’s free plan. It gives you keyword scores, basic competitor data, and the ideas feed — enough to build smart habits without paying. TubeBuddy’s free plan is a good complement for SEO grading before you publish. Do not pay for anything until you are uploading consistently and have validated your niche.

You are growing but stuck (1,000–10,000 subscribers). This is where Morningfame earns its keep. At £3.90/month it is absurdly cheap for what you get — guided keyword matching calibrated specifically to your channel’s current reach rather than aspirational reach. Most creators at this stage are targeting keywords that are too competitive for where they are right now. Morningfame fixes that problem directly.

You are scaling content production (10,000–100,000 subscribers). This is the VidIQ plus TubeBuddy sweet spot. VidIQ for competitor intelligence and strategic channel coaching, TubeBuddy for systematic A/B thumbnail testing and bulk editing your growing video library. The combined cost of around £16–18/month is negligible relative to the time it saves and the performance improvements from data-driven thumbnail decisions.

You are deciding whether to start a channel at all. TubeLab first. Spend £12 on a month of TubeLab, research three to five potential niches, understand their CPM ranges, competition levels, and saturation scores, then make a data-informed niche decision. Start VidIQ after you have committed to a direction. This sequencing saves months of effort in the wrong direction.

You manage multiple channels. VidIQ’s multi-channel dashboard is the strongest option here. TubeBuddy can manage multiple channels but the workflow is less streamlined. If you are an agency or consultant running five or more channels, VidIQ’s organisation features are worth the paid plan cost on their own.

The real cost of YouTube SEO tools — what you actually spend

One of the most common questions I get from newer creators is whether YouTube SEO tools are worth the money. The honest answer is: it depends entirely on how you use them.

A £8/month VidIQ plan is genuinely worthless if you only use it to check keyword scores and ignore the competitor data. It is genuinely valuable if you are actively using the ideas feed, running searches before every video, and letting the channel coaching change how you make decisions. The tool does not do the work — it informs the work. If you are not going to engage with the data, save the money.

The calculation that matters: if VidIQ helps one video rank better per month — getting 500 more views than it would have without the keyword insight — and your channel’s CPM is £3, that is £1.50 in additional revenue per video, or £18/year. The tool pays for itself at that level. But the real return is not the direct revenue from those 500 views — it is the compound subscriber growth from a video that ranks rather than one that disappears.

My recommendation: treat YouTube SEO tools as a business investment rather than a monthly subscription to manage. The question is not “am I getting value this month” — it is “is this tool helping me build a channel that is worth significantly more than what I am paying for it?”

Setting up your YouTube tool stack — a practical checklist

If you are starting from scratch or reassessing your current setup, work through this checklist:

Step 1: Connect your YouTube Studio to your chosen tool. Whether VidIQ or TubeBuddy, the browser extension needs to be installed and your channel connected. This takes five minutes and immediately gives you keyword scores overlaid on YouTube search results.

Step 2: Audit your existing videos with the SEO grader. TubeBuddy’s SEO Studio grades each video on title, description, tags, cards, and end screens. Run this on your 10 best-performing videos and your 10 worst-performing videos. The gap between them often tells you exactly what to fix.

Step 3: Set up competitor tracking. Add three to five competitors to your VidIQ or TubeBuddy watchlist — creators in your niche who are consistently outperforming you. Review what they publish weekly. Look for topics and formats they return to repeatedly. That repetition indicates audience demand.

Step 4: Build a keyword research habit before every upload. Before writing your next video title, search your topic in VidIQ or TubeBuddy and sort by search volume and competition score. Aim for keywords with moderate search volume and low competition — exactly the same principle as blog SEO, applied to YouTube.

Step 5: Start A/B thumbnail testing (TubeBuddy). Once you are uploading consistently and getting meaningful impressions (2,000+ per video), set up A/B tests for every thumbnail. The data from 30 days of A/B tests will tell you more about your audience’s click behaviour than any amount of intuition.

Frequently asked questions

❓ What is the best alternative to VidIQ?
TubeBuddy for full-featured SEO plus A/B thumbnail testing. Morningfame for small channels on a tight budget. Social Blade for free competitor stats. TubeLab for niche discovery before committing to a content area.
❓ Is TubeBuddy better than VidIQ?
Different strengths. VidIQ wins on competitor analysis and AI coaching. TubeBuddy wins on A/B testing and bulk editing. Many creators use both — they complement rather than duplicate.
❓ Are there free VidIQ alternatives?
Yes: Social Blade (free stats), TubeBuddy free plan (limited keyword data), YouTube Studio native analytics (most accurate first-party data, completely free).
❓ Why do people look for VidIQ alternatives?
Price, the lack of A/B thumbnail testing, feature direction toward AI content generation, and niche discovery limitations. Specific needs drive specific alternatives.
❓ Can I use multiple YouTube SEO tools together?
Yes — VidIQ plus TubeBuddy is the most common professional stack. Competitor intelligence from VidIQ combined with A/B testing and bulk editing from TubeBuddy.
❓ What is Morningfame?
Invite-only YouTube analytics at £3.90–4.90/month. Excellent for small channels wanting guided optimisation. Requires an existing user referral to access.
❓ Is Social Blade a good VidIQ alternative?
For free channel statistics: yes. As a VidIQ replacement: no — it has no SEO or keyword tools. Good for benchmarking competitor subscriber counts and estimating earnings.
❓ What VidIQ features do competitors not replicate?
The personalised AI coach calibrated to your specific analytics, competitor thumbnail change monitoring over time, and the daily ideas feed tailored to your channel’s history are relatively unique to VidIQ.

Alan Spicer — YouTube Certified Expert

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HOW TO MAKE MONEY ONLINE

How to Make Money on YouTube in India: A Comprehensive Guide

How to Make Money on YouTube in India: A Comprehensive Guide 1

In recent years, YouTube has become more than just a platform for entertainment; it has evolved into a lucrative career opportunity for many.

With the internet boom and the increasing accessibility of digital devices, YouTube’s popularity in India has soared.

As of 2021, India has the second-largest online market, making YouTube an appealing platform for content creators to explore.

I use VidIQ to maximise my channel growth. It has helped me grow from 12K subscriber to over 50K since 2021!

This guide outlines the steps, strategies, and insights for making money on YouTube in India.

1. Understanding YouTube Monetization

YouTube offers multiple avenues to monetize content, including:

  • Ad Revenue: Through the YouTube Partner Program (YPP), creators can earn money from display ads, overlay ads, skippable and non-skippable video ads, and more.
  • Channel Memberships: Offer exclusive content and perks to subscribers for a monthly fee.
  • Super Chat and Super Stickers: Engage with your live stream audience by offering paid comments and stickers.
  • YouTube Premium Revenue: Share in the revenue generated from YouTube Premium subscribers watching your content.

2. Joining the YouTube Partner Program in India

The YPP is central to making money on YouTube. To be eligible, Indian creators must:

3. Identifying a Niche

Understanding the target audience and identifying a niche can set a channel apart in India’s diverse market. Some popular niches include:

Bollywood and Entertainment: Reviewing Movies, Music, and Celebrities

Overview

India’s love affair with Bollywood and entertainment is well-known. As a YouTuber, tapping into this passion can lead to substantial engagement.

Content Ideas

  • Movie Reviews: Provide insights into the latest movies, their storylines, performances, and overall ratings.
  • Music Analysis: Analyze music videos, lyrics, and musical compositions.
  • Celebrity Interviews: Engage with celebrities or share insights about their lives, careers, and upcoming projects.
  • Entertainment News: Cover latest happenings, scandals, and trends in the entertainment industry.

Challenges and Opportunities

  • Competition: This field may be saturated, so uniqueness and creativity are essential.
  • Engagement: An enthusiastic audience is ready to engage with this content, making it a promising niche.

Education and Tutorials: Providing Guidance on Academics, Software, or Hobbies

Overview

Educational content and tutorials are in high demand in India. With a young and tech-savvy population seeking to upskill, this niche has great potential.

Content Ideas

  • Academic Lessons: Teach subjects such as mathematics, science, or languages.
  • Software Tutorials: Provide guidance on software like Photoshop, coding languages, or web development.
  • Hobby Classes: Teach skills like painting, dancing, or cooking.

Challenges and Opportunities

  • Diverse Audience: Catering to various age groups and interests requires adaptability.
  • Demand: The ongoing need for educational content creates sustainable opportunities.

Food and Cooking: Sharing Recipes and Culinary Techniques

Overview

India’s diverse culinary landscape offers endless content possibilities. From traditional recipes to fusion cooking, this niche resonates with a wide audience.

Content Ideas

  • Regional Recipes: Showcase unique dishes from different Indian states.
  • Cooking Techniques: Teach specific culinary skills or kitchen hacks.
  • Food Reviews: Review restaurants or street food.

Challenges and Opportunities

  • Diverse Taste Preferences: Catering to the varied taste preferences across India is both challenging and rewarding.
  • Community Engagement: Food often sparks community discussions and participation.

Travel and Vlogging: Exploring Different Places Within India and Beyond

Overview

Travel vlogging is about sharing journeys, experiences, and insights into different cultures and places.

Content Ideas

  • Destination Guides: Share travel guides, tips, and experiences for different locations.
  • Cultural Insights: Showcase cultural festivals, traditions, and lifestyles.
  • Travel Tips: Offer practical advice on budgeting, planning, and packing.

Challenges and Opportunities

  • Investment: Travel may require significant time and money.
  • Uniqueness: Offering fresh perspectives can set a channel apart.

Technology and Gadgets: Reviewing and Explaining Tech Products

Overview

With the tech industry booming in India, reviewing and explaining gadgets and technology appeals to a wide audience.

Content Ideas

  • Product Reviews: Review the latest gadgets, including smartphones, laptops, and cameras.
  • How-to Guides: Provide how-to guides for using different technologies.
  • Trends and Analysis: Analyze tech trends and future predictions.

Challenges and Opportunities

  • Keeping Up: Constantly evolving technology requires ongoing learning.
  • High Engagement: Tech enthusiasts actively seek out reviews and tutorials, offering strong engagement potential.

Each of these niches provides unique opportunities to connect with Indian audiences, and aligning content with local interests, culture, and needs can pave the way to YouTube success in India.

How to Make Money on YouTube in India: A Comprehensive Guide

4. Content Creation and Optimization

Quality content is crucial to success on YouTube. Utilizing SEO, maintaining a consistent posting schedule, and creating engaging thumbnails can boost a channel’s visibility.

5. Leveraging Social Media

Promoting content through other social media channels like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram can help in reaching a wider audience in India.

6. Understanding Legal and Tax Implications

Indian YouTubers must be aware of tax regulations related to their income. GST might apply to various revenue streams, and creators must comply with copyright laws.

7. Collaborations and Brand Partnerships

Partnering with brands or collaborating with other creators can enhance a channel’s appeal and revenue.

nternet and YouTube Usage in India

Metric Value
Total Internet Users 700 million
YouTube Users 450 million
Average Time Spent on YouTube 27 minutes/day

Popular YouTube Content Categories in India (Views in Millions)

Category Views (Millions)
Music & Entertainment 160,000
Education & Tutorials 75,000
Food & Cooking 35,000
Travel & Vlogging 25,000
Technology & Gadgets 45,000

Top 5 Most Subscribed Independent YouTubers in India

YouTuber Subscribers (Millions)
T-Series 176
SET India 124
5-Minute Crafts 73
Cocomelon – Nursery Rhymes 127
WWE 75

Earnings and Monetization Opportunities

Revenue Stream Average Earning
YouTube Ad Revenue (per 1000 views) $3 – $5
Sponsorships $500 – $5,000/video
Affiliate Marketing Variable

Challenges for YouTubers in India

Challenge Description
Competition High number of YouTubers in popular categories
Internet Connectivity Inconsistent in rural areas
Content Regulation Strict content guidelines and censorship

These tables collectively provide insights into YouTube consumption in India, popular content categories, top YouTubers, potential earning streams, and challenges. Understanding these factors can help aspiring YouTubers to strategize their content creation, monetization, and audience engagement in India.

Conclusion

Making money on YouTube in India is an exciting and viable opportunity. With dedication, creativity, an understanding of the local market, and adherence to platform regulations, Indian content creators can transform their passion into a full-fledged career.

This article offers a foundational overview of the intricacies of YouTube monetization in India. Like any business venture, success on YouTube requires a mix of hard work, strategic planning, and a bit of luck. Keep experimenting, learning, and evolving, and you might find yourself among India’s YouTube success stories.

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TIPS & TRICKS YOUTUBE YOUTUBE TUTORIALS

Unlocking Your YouTube Channel’s Full Potential: Why Your Channel Isn’t Growing and How to Fix It

Unlocking Your YouTube Channel's Full Potential: Why Your Channel Isn't Growing and How to Fix It 1

Are you struggling to grow your YouTube channel despite your best efforts?

Frustrated with low view counts and minimal subscriber gains?

You’re not alone.

Many creators face the same challenges, but the key to success lies in understanding the crucial YouTube analytics and metrics that can help you identify areas for improvement. In this blog post, we’ll dive deep into the world of YouTube analytics, provide actionable tips, and share proven strategies to help you unlock your channel’s full potential.

How To Track Success on YouTube? – Track YouTube success by monitoring key metrics: watch time, audience retention, CTR, unique viewers, traffic sources, and engagement metrics (likes, dislikes, comments, shares). Optimize content with SEO, compelling titles/thumbnails, and audience-focused topics. Engage viewers and analyze data for growth.

Essential YouTube Metrics for Growth

There are handful of metrics that aspiring youtubers need to get to know in-depth if they are to understand how to grow and WHY they are growing.

Watch Time and Audience Retention

Watch time is the total amount of time viewers spend watching your videos, and it’s one of the most critical factors in YouTube’s algorithm. In fact, YouTube prioritizes videos with higher watch times in search results and recommendations. According to a study by Tubular Insights, the top 1% of YouTube channels have an average watch time of 3 minutes and 19 seconds, while the bottom 50% only manage 1 minute and 21 seconds.

To improve your watch time, focus on audience retention – the percentage of a video that viewers watch before leaving. Aim for a retention rate of at least 50%, as videos with higher retention rates tend to perform better.

Actionable Tips:

  • Hook viewers in the first 15 seconds with a compelling intro.
  • Structure your content with clear, engaging segments.
  • Use annotations, cards, and end screens to promote related content.

Unlocking Your YouTube Channel's Full Potential: Why Your Channel Isn't Growing and How to Fix It

Click-Through Rate (CTR)

CTR is the percentage of viewers who click on your video after seeing its thumbnail and title. A higher CTR indicates that your video is enticing and relevant to your target audience. According to YouTube, the average CTR for most channels falls between 2% and 10%.

Actionable Tips:

  • Design eye-catching thumbnails that accurately represent your content.
  • Write compelling titles with relevant keywords.
  • A/B test different thumbnail and title combinations to optimize performance.

Advanced Metrics for a Deeper Analysis

Ok, now its time to dive into the harder metrics of the handful to understand.

Unique Viewers and Traffic Sources

Unique viewers play a significant role in understanding your YouTube channel’s performance. As an estimate of the total number of individuals who watch your content, this metric sheds light on the size of your audience, which is essential for assessing your channel’s reach and potential for growth.

By tracking unique viewers, you can identify which content resonates most with your target audience. This information can guide your content creation strategy, helping you produce more of the videos that attract and retain viewers.

For example, if you notice a surge in unique viewers for a specific video or video series, it’s a strong indication that your audience enjoys that particular content.

Capitalizing on this insight, you can create similar videos or expand on the topic to maintain and grow your viewership.

Furthermore, analyzing traffic sources can unveil valuable information about where your viewers are discovering your content. YouTube provides a breakdown of traffic sources, such as:

  1. YouTube search: Viewers who find your content through the platform’s search feature.
  2. Suggested videos: Viewers who click on your content when it appears as a suggested video alongside or after other videos.
  3. Browse features: Viewers who discover your content through the home page, subscription feed, or trending section.
  4. External sources: Viewers who arrive at your content via external websites, social media platforms, or direct links.

Understanding your traffic sources enables you to optimize your content and promotion strategies. For example, if a large portion of your traffic comes from YouTube search, it’s crucial to focus on search engine optimization (SEO) by using relevant keywords in your titles, descriptions, and tags. On the other hand, if most of your viewers come from external sources like social media, investing time in promoting your content on those platforms and engaging with your audience can further boost your channel’s growth.

In summary, unique viewers and traffic sources are vital metrics for assessing your YouTube channel’s performance. By examining these analytics, you can refine your content and promotion strategies to better connect with your target audience and accelerate your channel’s growth.

Engagement Metrics

Engagement metrics serve as valuable indicators of how well your content resonates with your audience and the extent to which it encourages interaction. Tracking likes, dislikes, comments, and shares can provide you with actionable insights that can be used to refine your content strategy and foster a stronger connection with your viewers. Let’s delve deeper into each of these engagement metrics and their implications:

  1. Likes: A high number of likes is a clear sign that viewers appreciate and enjoy your content. This positive feedback not only boosts your channel’s credibility but also increases the likelihood of YouTube recommending your videos to others. To maintain a high like count, consistently produce content that appeals to your audience, and consider asking viewers to like your videos as a call-to-action.
  2. Dislikes: While dislikes can be disheartening, they also serve as constructive feedback, indicating that there may be areas in your content that need improvement. Analyzing videos with higher dislike counts can help you identify potential issues, such as controversial topics, misleading titles, or poor production quality. By addressing these concerns, you can enhance your content and reduce the number of dislikes on future videos.
  3. Comments: A high number of comments typically suggests that your content sparks conversation and encourages viewers to share their thoughts, opinions, or questions. Engaging with commenters can further strengthen your connection with your audience and create a sense of community around your channel. Additionally, responding to comments can provide you with valuable feedback and ideas for future content.
  4. Shares: Shares play a crucial role in increasing your content’s visibility and expanding your audience. When viewers share your videos on social media platforms or other online channels, they effectively endorse your content and introduce it to new viewers who may not have otherwise discovered your channel. Encourage sharing by creating share-worthy content, including engaging stories, helpful tips, or unique insights, and using a call-to-action to remind viewers to share your videos with their networks.

Fostering Community Engagement

You are growing the channel but you need to keep them engaged and coming back to the channel to help the snowball roll.

Responding to Comments

Engaging with your audience is crucial for building a loyal community. Make an effort to respond to comments on your videos, as this can foster a sense of connection and encourage viewers to return for future content.

Leveraging Social Media

Promote your content on social media platforms and engage with your audience to extend your reach and drive traffic to your YouTube channel.

Finally…

By understanding and tracking the right metrics, you can make data-driven decisions and unlock your YouTube channel’s full potential. Start implementing these strategies today, and watch your channel grow!

Key YouTube Metrics for Channel Growth

Metric Importance Actionable Tips
Watch Time Crucial for YouTube’s algorithm; higher watch times improve visibility. Hook viewers in the first 15 seconds.
Audience Retention Higher retention rates lead to better video performance. Structure content with engaging segments.
Click-Through Rate A higher CTR indicates enticing and relevant content for viewers. Design eye-catching thumbnails and compelling titles.
Unique Viewers Provides insight into audience size and content resonance. Analyze which content resonates with your audience.
Traffic Sources Reveals where viewers are coming from, allowing for content optimization. Tailor promotion strategies based on top traffic sources.
Engagement Metrics Offers insight into audience interaction with your content. Encourage likes, comments, and shares to boost visibility.
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HOW TO GET MORE VIEWS ON YOUTUBE LISTS VIDEO YOUTUBE YOUTUBE TUTORIALS

A Deep Dive into the YouTube Category List: Relevance and Importance in Today’s Meta Landscape

A Deep Dive into the YouTube Category List: Relevance and Importance in Today's Meta Landscape

YouTube is home to a diverse range of content, spanning across numerous subjects and genres. To help viewers find videos that align with their interests, YouTube organizes its content into categories.

But, do these categories still hold significance as metadata in today’s YouTube landscape?

The YouTube category list remains relevant, albeit less prominent in today’s metadata-driven landscape. Although categories may not be the primary factor influencing discoverability or search rankings, they still offer value to creators, advertisers, and viewers alike.

In this deep dive, we’ll explore the YouTube category list, discussing each category and analysing their importance in the current meta landscape.

YouTube Categories

Category Description
Film & Animation Contains animated films, live-action films, and other film-related content.
Autos & Vehicles Features content related to cars, motorcycles, boats, and other motorized vehicles.
Music Showcases music videos, concerts, and other music-related content.
Pets & Animals Offers videos featuring pets, wildlife, and other animal-related content.
Sports Highlights sports events, interviews, and content related to various sports and activities.
Travel & Events Showcases travel vlogs, destination guides, and event-related content.
Gaming Dedicated to video game content, including gameplay, reviews, and live streams.
People & Blogs Contains personal vlogs, lifestyle content, and opinion pieces from various creators.
Comedy Features stand-up comedy, sketches, and other humorous content.
Entertainment Showcases a variety of entertaining content, such as TV shows, interviews, and performances.
News & Politics Contains news broadcasts, political discussions, and content related to current events.
Howto & Style Offers tutorials, DIY projects, and style-related content.
Education Features educational content, including lectures, documentaries, and instructional videos.
Science & Technology Contains content related to scientific discoveries, technological advancements, and innovations.
Nonprofits & Activism Showcases content related to nonprofit organizations, social issues, and activism.

The Reason for YouTube Categories

Categories serve several purposes in organizing and classifying YouTube’s vast content library. They help viewers find videos that match their interests and preferences, making it easier to navigate the platform. Additionally, categories can help creators target specific audiences and tailor their content to resonate with viewers in that category.

The Importance of Categories as Metadata

In the early days of YouTube, categories played a vital role in metadata and content discovery. However, over time, the platform has shifted its focus to other metadata elements, such as keywords, tags, and video descriptions, to better serve its recommendation algorithm.

Today, categories still hold some significance but are no longer the primary factor in determining video discoverability or search rankings.

Instead, YouTube’s algorithm places more weight on factors like watch time, engagement, and relevance, using metadata such as titles, descriptions, and tags to better understand the video content.

Does Changing YouTube Titles Affect Views? The Surprising Impact on Your Videos

Metadata Importance in YouTube’s Algorithm

Metadata Element Importance
Category Low
Title High
Description High
Tags Medium
Watch Time High
Engagement High

Relevance of Categories in Today’s Meta Landscape

While categories may not be as influential as they once were, they still serve a purpose in the broader YouTube ecosystem. For creators, selecting the appropriate category can help provide context for their videos and signal to potential viewers what type of content they can expect.

Moreover, categories can assist advertisers in targeting specific niches, enabling them to reach their desired audience more effectively.

For viewers, categories can be useful for discovering new channels and content, particularly when exploring niche interests. Although the YouTube algorithm may not rely heavily on categories for recommendations, viewers can still use them as a starting point to navigate through the vast array of content available on the platform.

Conclusion

By understanding the role of categories in the current meta landscape, creators can better tailor their content and metadata to maximize visibility, reach their target audience, and ultimately succeed on the platform.

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HOW TO GET MORE VIEWS ON YOUTUBE YOUTUBE YOUTUBE TUTORIALS

Does Changing YouTube Titles Affect Views? The Surprising Impact on Your Videos

Does Changing YouTube Titles Affect Views? The Surprising Impact on Your Videos

As a YouTuber, you may often find yourself asking, “Does changing YouTube titles affect views?”

The simple answer is yes, it can. Titles and descriptions are crucial components of your videos’ metadata and play a significant role in the overall success of your channel.

In this article, we’ll dive into the importance of titles and descriptions and explore how changing them can impact your views.

The Importance of Titles and Descriptions on YouTube

Titles and descriptions are not just labels for your videos; they help viewers understand what your content is about and determine if it’s relevant to their interests. They also play a significant role in YouTube’s search algorithm, affecting your video’s discoverability and ranking.

Why Titles and Descriptions Matter

Factor Importance
Relevance Viewers use titles and descriptions to decide if a video is worth watching.
SEO YouTube’s search algorithm relies on titles and descriptions to index and rank videos.
CTR Compelling titles and descriptions can increase your click-through rate and overall views.

Changing YouTube Titles: The Impact on Views

When you change a video’s title, you can potentially improve its discoverability and ranking in search results. A well-optimized title with relevant keywords can lead to increased views, as viewers are more likely to find and click on your video.

However, changing titles frequently or without proper research can have negative consequences. A poorly optimized title can result in decreased views and engagement.

Changing YouTube Descriptions: The Impact on Views

Similar to titles, modifying video descriptions can also affect your views. A well-crafted description with relevant keywords can improve your video’s search ranking, leading to increased views.

However, it’s essential to maintain a balance between keyword usage and readability. An overly optimized description that doesn’t provide value to the viewer can lead to a lower click-through rate and decreased views.

The Impact of Changing Titles and Descriptions

Change Positive Impact Negative Impact
Title Improved discoverability, increased views Decreased views, lower engagement
Description Improved search ranking, increased views Lower click-through rate, decreased views

Changing YouTube titles and descriptions can indeed affect your views. If done correctly, optimized titles and descriptions can lead to increased views, better engagement, and improved search rankings. However, it’s crucial to conduct thorough keyword research and maintain a balance between optimization and providing value to your viewers.

Remember that consistency is key, and making changes based on informed decisions and proper research will help you create a successful YouTube channel with a loyal following.

Don’t be afraid to experiment with your titles and descriptions, but always keep your audience and their needs in mind. Happy YouTubing!

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DEEP DIVE ARTICLE HOW TO GET MORE VIEWS ON YOUTUBE TIPS & TRICKS YOUTUBE

10 Reasons Why VidIQ Is a Must-Have Tool for YouTube Creators

10 Reasons Why VidIQ Is a Must-Have Tool for YouTube Creators

If you’re a content creator on YouTube, you know that getting your videos seen by the right people can be a challenge.

That’s where VidIQ comes in.

VidIQ is a powerful YouTube SEO tool that can help you optimize your videos for search, improve your channel’s performance, and grow your audience.

I have used VidIQ for the last 5 years and grew my YouTube channel from 7K subscribers to over 45K! You can try it for FREE here.

Here are 10 reasons why you might want to use VidIQ:

Keyword Research

VidIQ offers a suite of powerful keyword research tools that can help you identify the best keywords to use in your video titles, descriptions, and tags.

By using the right keywords, you can increase your videos’ visibility in YouTube search results and attract more views.

Video Optimization Tips

VidIQ provides detailed optimization tips that can help you make the most of your video content.

From title and description recommendations to tag suggestions, VidIQ can help you optimize every aspect of your videos to improve their visibility and performance.

Analytics and Insights

VidIQ offers a range of analytics and insights that can help you understand how your videos are performing on YouTube.

From engagement metrics to audience demographics, VidIQ can help you track your progress and make data-driven decisions about your content strategy.

10 Reasons Why VidIQ Is a Must-Have Tool for YouTube Creators 1

Competitor Analysis

With VidIQ, you can also keep an eye on your competitors and learn from their success. VidIQ’s competitor analysis tools can help you identify what’s working for other channels in your niche and apply those strategies to your own content.

10 Reasons Why VidIQ Is a Must-Have Tool for YouTube Creators 2

Trend Alerts

VidIQ’s trend alerts feature can help you stay up-to-date with the latest trends in your niche. By identifying popular topics and keywords, you can create content that’s timely and relevant, and attract more views and engagement.

Thumbnail Generator

VidIQ’s thumbnail generator tool can help you create eye-catching and engaging thumbnails for your videos. By using VidIQ’s customizable templates and design tools, you can create thumbnails that stand out in search results and attract more clicks.

Best Time to Post

VidIQ can also help you determine the best time to post your videos for maximum engagement.

By analyzing your audience’s viewing habits and engagement patterns, VidIQ can help you schedule your content to reach the right people at the right time.

Comment Management

VidIQ’s comment management tools can help you keep track of comments on your videos and respond to your audience in a timely and efficient manner.

By staying on top of your comments, you can build stronger relationships with your audience and improve your channel’s overall performance.

Channel Audit

VidIQ’s channel audit feature can help you identify areas for improvement on your channel.

By analyzing your channel’s performance and suggesting ways to optimize your content, VidIQ can help you take your channel to the next level.

Or if you want a more personal hands on channel review I offer my own 1-on-1 consulting service and video calls.

Customer Support

Finally, VidIQ offers excellent customer support to its users. Whether you have a question about a feature or need help troubleshooting an issue, VidIQ’s support team is always ready to help.

In conclusion, VidIQ is a powerful tool for YouTube creators looking to optimize their content and grow their audience.

With its suite of keyword research tools, video optimization tips, analytics and insights, competitor analysis tools, and more, VidIQ can help you take your channel to the next level.

So if you’re serious about growing your channel and attracting more views and engagement, consider giving VidIQ a try.

Q: What is VidIQ?

A: VidIQ is a YouTube SEO and analytics tool that helps creators optimize their videos for search and grow their channel’s audience. It offers a range of features and insights that can help creators improve their content strategy, increase engagement, and attract more views.

Q: What features does VidIQ offer?

A: VidIQ offers a suite of features and tools, including:

  • Keyword research tools
  • Video optimization tips
  • Analytics and insights
  • Competitor analysis tools
  • Trend alerts
  • Thumbnail generator
  • Best time to post
  • Comment management tools
  • Channel audit
  • Customer support

Q: How does VidIQ help with keyword research?

A: VidIQ’s keyword research tools can help you identify the best keywords to use in your video titles, descriptions, and tags. By using the right keywords, you can increase your videos’ visibility in YouTube search results and attract more views.

Q: How can VidIQ help me optimize my videos?

A: VidIQ provides detailed optimization tips that can help you make the most of your video content. From title and description recommendations to tag suggestions, VidIQ can help you optimize every aspect of your videos to improve their visibility and performance.

Q: Can VidIQ help me analyze my audience and track my progress?

A: Yes, VidIQ offers a range of analytics and insights that can help you understand how your videos are performing on YouTube. From engagement metrics to audience demographics, VidIQ can help you track your progress and make data-driven decisions about your content strategy.

Q: How can VidIQ help me stay up-to-date with trends in my niche?

A: VidIQ’s trend alerts feature can help you stay up-to-date with the latest trends in your niche. By identifying popular topics and keywords, you can create content that’s timely and relevant, and attract more views and engagement.

Q: Can VidIQ help me create eye-catching thumbnails?

A: Yes, VidIQ’s thumbnail generator tool can help you create eye-catching and engaging thumbnails for your videos. By using VidIQ’s customizable templates and design tools, you can create thumbnails that stand out in search results and attract more clicks.

Q: How can VidIQ help me determine the best time to post my videos?

A: VidIQ can help you determine the best time to post your videos for maximum engagement. By analyzing your audience’s viewing habits and engagement patterns, VidIQ can help you schedule your content to reach the right people at the right time.

Q: Does VidIQ offer comment management tools?

A: Yes, VidIQ’s comment management tools can help you keep track of comments on your videos and respond to your audience in a timely and efficient manner. By staying on top of your comments, you can build stronger relationships with your audience and improve your channel’s overall performance.

Q: What is VidIQ’s channel audit feature?

A: VidIQ’s channel audit feature can help you identify areas for improvement on your channel. By analyzing your channel’s performance and suggesting ways to optimize your content, VidIQ can help you take your channel to the next level.

Q: How can I get support from VidIQ?

A: VidIQ offers excellent customer support to its users. You can reach out to VidIQ’s support team via email or social media for assistance with any questions or issues you may have.

Q: How much does VidIQ cost?

A: VidIQ offers both a free version and a paid version with additional features. The paid version starts at $7.50 per month and offers more advanced tools and analytics.

Categories
LISTS SEO SOCIAL MEDIA TIPS & TRICKS

Maximizing Your Instagram Presence: A Guide to Optimizing Your Account

Maximizing Your Instagram Presence: A Guide to Optimizing Your Account

Are you looking to boost your Instagram presence and get more followers? Follow these tips to optimize your account and make it more visible to your target audience:

  1. Use a clear, eye-catching profile picture: Your profile picture is the first thing that people see when they visit your account, so make sure to use a clear, high-quality image that represents your brand or personal identity.
  2. Write a compelling bio: Your bio is a brief summary of who you are and what you do, so make sure to include relevant keywords and information about your niche. Use emojis and line breaks to add some personality and make it more visually appealing.
  3. Use relevant hashtags: Hashtags are a great way to increase the visibility of your posts and reach a larger audience. Use a mix of broad and specific hashtags that are relevant to your content, and consider using popular hashtags in your niche.
  4. Post consistently: Consistency is key when it comes to growing your Instagram presence. Make sure to post regularly and stick to a specific posting schedule so that your followers know when to expect new content.
  5. Engage with your audience: Building a community on Instagram is crucial for success. Make sure to respond to comments, follow accounts in your niche, and engage with other users to build relationships and increase your visibility.
  6. Use Instagram stories: Instagram stories are a great way to connect with your audience and share behind-the-scenes content. Use a mix of photos, videos, and interactive features like polls and quizzes to keep things interesting.
  7. Utilize Instagram’s paid features: If you want to reach a larger audience, consider using Instagram’s paid features such as promoted posts and sponsored content. These can help increase the visibility of your posts and reach a targeted audience.

Maximizing Your Instagram Presence: A Guide to Optimizing Your Account 1

By following these tips, you can optimize your Instagram account and increase your presence on the platform. Remember to be authentic and have fun – the more you enjoy what you’re doing, the more likely you are to succeed on Instagram!

Here are some tips for picking Instagram tags:

  1. Use relevant tags: Make sure to use tags that are relevant to your content and your niche. This will help your posts show up in relevant search results and reach a more targeted audience.
  2. Use a mix of broad and specific tags: Using a mix of broad and specific tags can help you reach a wider audience while still being relevant to your content. For example, if you’re a travel blogger, you might use tags like #travel, #adventure, and #wanderlust, as well as more specific tags like #bali or #tokyo.
  3. Use popular hashtags: Including popular hashtags in your posts can help increase their visibility and reach a larger audience. Just make sure to use them sparingly and in a way that’s relevant to your content.
  4. Avoid using irrelevant or spammy tags: Using irrelevant or spammy tags can actually hurt your visibility on Instagram. Avoid using tags that have nothing to do with your content, or tags that are commonly used by spam accounts.
  5. Research hashtags in your niche: Take some time to research popular hashtags in your niche and see which ones are being used by other accounts. This can help you get a sense of what’s working for others and give you some ideas for your own posts.

By following these tips, you can choose Instagram tags that will help increase the visibility of your posts and reach a more targeted audience. Good luck!

Here are some ways to make money on Instagram:

  1. Sponsored content: One way to make money on Instagram is by partnering with brands and creating sponsored content. This can include creating sponsored posts, hosting giveaways, or creating sponsored stories. Make sure to disclose any sponsored content as required by law.
  2. Affiliate marketing: Another way to make money on Instagram is by using affiliate marketing. This involves promoting products from other brands and earning a commission for each sale that’s made through your unique affiliate link.
  3. Selling products: If you have a product or service to sell, you can use Instagram to promote it and make sales. This can include physical products, digital products, or services. You can use Instagram’s shopping feature to make it easier for users to purchase directly from your account.

Maximizing Your Instagram Presence: A Guide to Optimizing Your Account 2

  1. Offering services: If you have a skill or talent that you can offer as a service, you can use Instagram to promote it and find clients. This could include things like photography, graphic design, or social media management.
  2. Monetizing your Instagram account: If you have a large following on Instagram, you may be able to monetize your account by working with brands or offering sponsored content. You can also monetize your account through ads or by selling merchandise.

By following these tips, you can find ways to make money on Instagram and turn your passion into a profitable business. Just make sure to follow all necessary laws and guidelines, and be transparent about any sponsored content or partnerships.

Categories
TIPS & TRICKS YOUTUBE

YouTube SEO in a knutshell

YouTube SEO in a knutshell

Are you looking to improve the visibility of your YouTube channel and get more views on your videos? Look no further, because today we’re going to be talking about YouTube SEO!

First things first, let’s define what SEO stands for:

Search Engine Optimization. In the context of YouTube, this means optimizing your channel and videos so that they show up higher in search results and suggested videos, ultimately leading to more views and subscribers.

Now, let’s dive into some key areas that you can focus on to improve your YouTube SEO:

  1. Keywords: Just like with any other type of SEO, using relevant keywords in your title, description, and tags can help your videos rank higher in search results. Make sure to do some keyword research to find out what terms people are using to search for content related to your channel.
  2. Video titles: Your video title is one of the first things that viewers will see, so it’s important to make it catchy and descriptive. Try to include your target keywords at the beginning of the title, as this can help improve your ranking.
  3. Video descriptions: Your video description should provide more context about what the video is about and should also include your target keywords. Make sure to use a mix of short and long-tail keywords, and include a call-to-action to encourage viewers to subscribe to your channel or watch more of your videos.
  4. Tags: In addition to including your target keywords in your title and description, you can also use tags to help your videos rank higher in search results. Make sure to use a mix of broad and specific tags, and consider using relevant hashtags as well.

  1. Thumbnail images: Your thumbnail image is another key factor that can influence whether or not someone clicks on your video. Make sure to use a high-quality image that accurately represents the content of your video.
  2. Engagement: YouTube’s algorithm takes into account the engagement that your videos receive, such as likes, comments, and shares. Encourage your viewers to interact with your content by asking for their opinions, responding to comments, and promoting your videos on social media.
  3. Consistency: Consistency is key when it comes to YouTube SEO. Make sure to upload new videos on a regular basis and stick to a specific content schedule to keep your audience coming back for more.

  1. Playlists: Creating playlists on your channel can help improve your ranking, as it keeps viewers on your channel for longer periods of time. Make sure to include a mix of your own videos as well as relevant external content.
  2. Collaborations: Collaborating with other creators can help expose your channel to a new audience and improve your ranking. Make sure to choose partners who have a similar target audience to your own.
  3. Annotations and end screens: Annotations and end screens are a great way to encourage viewers to interact with your content and subscribe to your channel. Make sure to use these features to promote your other videos and playlists.

By focusing on these key areas, you can improve the visibility of your YouTube channel and get more views on your videos.

Don’t be afraid to experiment and see what works best for your channel – the more you practice, the better you’ll become at YouTube SEO!

Key factors for YouTube SEO and Ranking #1 on YouTube

Video Metadata and Optimization

Factor Tips Examples
Title Use target keywords, keep it clear and concise. “Easy Vegan Pasta Recipe in 15 Minutes!”
Description Add keywords, links, and a summary of the video. “Learn how to make a delicious and easy…
Tags Use relevant tags related to your video content. “vegan pasta, quick recipes, easy cooking”
Thumbnails Use eye-catching, high-quality images. A colourful image of the finished pasta dish

Engagement Metrics and Optimization

Factor Tips Examples
Likes Encourage viewers to like the video if they found it helpful. “If you enjoyed this video, please…
Comments Ask viewers to comment with their thoughts or questions. “Let me know your favourite pasta…
Subscribers Remind viewers to subscribe and turn on notifications. “Subscribe and hit the bell icon…
Shares Make it easy for viewers to share your video on social media. “Share this video with your friends…

Watch Time and Audience Retention

Factor Tips Examples
Watch Time Create engaging content to keep viewers watching till the end. Use interesting visuals, animations, …
Audience Retention Monitor audience retention to identify drop-off points in your video. “At 2:30, 60% of viewers stopped…

Playlists and Series

Factor Tips Examples
Playlists Organize videos by topic or theme. “Vegan Recipes”, “Quick Meal Ideas”
Series Create a series of videos to encourage binge-watching. “Pasta Lovers: Episode 1 – Vegan Pesto”

I hope this article has been helpful in your journey to improve your YouTube SEO. If you have any questions or want to share your own tips, feel free to leave a comment below!

Q1: How important are keywords in YouTube SEO?

A1: Keywords play a crucial role in YouTube SEO as they help your video appear in search results when users search for related content. Using relevant keywords in your video title, description, and tags can significantly improve your video’s visibility. According to a study by Backlinko, videos with an exact keyword match in the title have a slight advantage over those that don’t.

Q2: How does the length of a video affect its performance on YouTube?

A2: While there’s no strict rule on video length, longer videos tend to rank better on YouTube because they generate more watch time. Backlinko’s study found that the average video on the first page of YouTube search results is 14 minutes and 50 seconds long. However, it’s essential to maintain audience engagement throughout the video, as a high audience retention rate also contributes to better ranking.

Q3: What is the impact of user engagement (likes, comments, shares) on video rankings?

A3: User engagement plays a significant role in video rankings on YouTube. YouTube’s algorithm takes into account factors such as likes, comments, shares, and subscribers to determine the popularity and relevance of a video. Backlinko’s study revealed that videos with higher engagement levels (likes and comments) tend to rank higher on YouTube search results.

Q4: How important is audience retention in YouTube SEO?

A4: Audience retention, or the percentage of your video that viewers watch, is a crucial factor in YouTube SEO. YouTube favors videos with high audience retention, as it indicates that viewers find the content valuable and engaging. High audience retention can lead to better search rankings and more visibility. Aim to keep viewers engaged throughout the video by providing valuable information, maintaining a good pace, and avoiding long intros or unnecessary content.

Q5: How can I optimize my videos for YouTube search and suggested videos?

A5: To optimize your videos for YouTube search and suggested videos, focus on the following factors:

  • Video metadata: Use relevant keywords in your title, description, and tags. Make your title engaging and descriptive. Write detailed video descriptions with keywords and timestamps (if applicable).
  • User engagement: Encourage likes, comments, shares, and new subscribers by interacting with your audience and creating high-quality content.
  • Watch time and audience retention: Create engaging content that keeps viewers watching until the end of the video. Monitor audience retention to identify areas for improvement.
  • Thumbnail: Use high-quality, eye-catching images that accurately represent your video content.

Q6: How can playlists improve my video’s performance?

A6: Playlists help organize your content and increase overall watch time by encouraging viewers to watch more videos from your channel. When you group related videos into a playlist, it’s more likely that viewers will watch multiple videos in a sequence, leading to higher watch time and improved SEO. Additionally, playlists themselves can appear in search results, potentially driving more traffic to your channel.

Q7: Does backlinks help gain views?

A7: Growing backlinks can show authority. You can get those organically or use a service like LinkLifting.

Categories
SEO TIPS & TRICKS YOUTUBE

How to Write a YouTube Bio

How to Write a YouTube Bio 2

So you’ve decided to start a YouTube channel? Perhaps you’ve had one for a while and just never got around to writing a bio. Regardless of the reason you’re here right now, the important thing is that you are here.

The YouTube bio—or “about” page—is often overlooked, and not without good reason. Think about it; how often do you check out a YouTuber’s about page? It’s a few clicks off the beaten path, and the chances are you already know what you need to know about them from the video. And, of course, the fact that so many people neglect their YouTube bio is another reason why so many other people never bother to look at them.

A good YouTube bio about us page summarises in the first 170 characters the core premise of the channel. WHY they would watch your content, what value they will get from you. Do not lead with who you are, you can add that later in the bio. Your bio is there to hook people – make them curious.

These are perfectly valid reasons for thinking a YouTube bio is unnecessary. However, they are built on a flawed premised. You see, the YouTube bio isn’t for viewers.

Of course, it should be there if they want it, but the reason to have a well written bio has more to do with Google than it does the person clicking on your videos.

Why a YouTube Bio is Important

One word. Or, rather, one acronym; SEO. Search engine optimisation is the reason you should put some effort into your YouTube bio. And your video descriptions, for that matter, but that deserves a post of its own.

The YouTube recommendation algorithm is not the be-all and end-all of video discovery. Sure, getting favoured by the algorithm will see mountains of traffic flowing your way, but Google’s regular old search engine shouldn’t be neglected.

Many people come across YouTubers, not through searching YouTube itself, but through searching Google and having a few video recommendations thrown their way. But Google needs to know that the videos—and the YouTuber making them—are relevant to the search term in question, which is where you bio comes in.

How to Write a YouTube Bio 1

How to Write a YouTube Bio

So, hopefully we’ve impressed upon you how important your bio is for comprehensive growth, but how do you go about making sure it is up to the task of bringing in those organic search results? Why, with our handy list of tips, that’s how!

Tell Viewers What to Expect From Your Channel

This one isn’t as important from an SEO point of view—though search engines are getting smarter all the time—but it is important for those few intrepid users who do find their way to your about page.

Remember, even if the only reason a page exists is for SEO purposes, you should always aim to write it so that it reads naturally and contains useful information. If for no other reason than search engines are always improving, and they could well come up with a way to detect whether your bio reads naturally before long. It’s better to write good content from the start than have to go back and change things because of a search engine update.

Put the Important Stuff First

Humans, sadly, have a remarkably short attention span. And its getting shorter all the time. If you have something important, something that you want viewers to know if they read your about page, put it at the top.

More than that, make it compelling. In an ideal world, someone reading your bio would take in the whole thing before moving on, but in the absence of that ideal world, you should aim to make sure they take in the vital stuff before they click away.

Use Keywords

This is where we start getting into that SEO we talked about. You’re going to want to squeeze a few keywords in there. Again, your priority should be to write useful, natural-sounding copy, so you might need to put your thinking cap on for some of the more awkward keywords.

As for what those keywords are, this is where you’ll need to do a little research. There are many ways—both free and paid—to find keywords, including just using Google auto-suggest. The trick is to find keywords that are as underserved as possible while still being in demand enough to bring an audience. A plumbing company in Toronto would be foolish to try and target “plumbing” for their keyword because there would be far too much competition, but “emergency plumbers Toronto” would be a good fit with a smaller audience.

If you focus on a specific type of content, highlight that. If you primarily do Photoshop tutorials, don’t just target “image editing”, mention Photoshop.

Treat it Like a Business Page

This part is important because, SEO aside, a lot of people who seek out your about page will be looking to contact you for some reason or other. In the best cases, that reason will be something like a brand deal offer, or to talk about a collaboration.

Make sure your contact details are up-to-date. Google hides your contact details, so you don’t just get inundated with spam from bots scraping the page, but you want legitimate enquiries to be able to reach you. You can also take this opportunity to politely mention any kind of correspondence you are not interested in. For example, tutorial channels often get inundated with requests for direct help, which, for larger channels, is not feasible. In these cases, a little note asking people not to use these contact details for that reason might save you a lot of time in the long run.

Final Thoughts

In truth, your bio is not the most important thing you will craft for your YouTube channel. Organic Google search traffic is important, but, for most YouTubers, it is far from the largest source of traffic. And most of the organic search traffic ends up going directly to a video page.

Still, if you are looking to get noticed on YouTube, there is no denying that SEO is a factor, so there is no sense in neglecting your bio for the sake of half an hour’s work. Just remember to research keywords, put the important information up top, and give an accurate account of what your channel is for.

Top 5 Tools To Get You Started on YouTube

Very quickly before you go here are 5 amazing tools I have used every day to grow my YouTube channel from 0 to 30K subscribers in the last 12 months that I could not live without.

1. VidIQ helps boost my views and get found in search

I almost exclusively switched to VidIQ from a rival in 2020.

Within 12 months I tripled the size of my channel and very quickly learnt the power of thumbnails, click through rate and proper search optimization. Best of all, they are FREE!

2. Adobe Creative Suite helps me craft amazing looking thumbnails and eye-catching videos

I have been making youtube videos on and off since 2013.

When I first started I threw things together in Window Movie Maker, cringed at how it looked but thought “that’s the best I can do so it’ll have to do”.

Big mistake!

I soon realized the move time you put into your editing and the more engaging your thumbnails are the more views you will get and the more people will trust you enough to subscribe.

That is why I took the plunge and invested in my editing and design process with Adobe Creative Suite. They offer a WIDE range of tools to help make amazing videos, simple to use tools for overlays, graphics, one click tools to fix your audio and the very powerful Photoshop graphics program to make eye-catching thumbnails.

Best of all you can get a free trial for 30 days on their website, a discount if you are a student and if you are a regular human being it starts from as little as £9 per month if you want to commit to a plan.

3. Rev.com helps people read my videos

You can’t always listen to a video.

Maybe you’re on a bus, a train or sat in a living room with a 5 year old singing baby shark on loop… for HOURS. Or, you are trying to make as little noise as possible while your new born is FINALLY sleeping.

This is where Rev can help you or your audience consume your content on the go, in silence or in a language not native to the video.

Rev.com can help you translate your videos, transcribe your videos, add subtitles and even convert those subtitles into other languages – all from just $1.50 per minute.

A GREAT way to find an audience and keep them hooked no matter where they are watching your content.

4. PlaceIT can help you STAND OUT on YouTube

I SUCK at making anything flashy or arty.

I have every intention in the world to make something that looks cool but im about as artistic as a dropped ice-cream cone on the web windy day.

That is why I could not live on YouTube without someone like PlaceIT. They offer custom YouTube Banners, Avatars, YouTube Video Intros and YouTube End Screen Templates that are easy to edit with simple click, upload wizard to help you make amazing professional graphics in minutes.

Best of all, some of their templates are FREE! or you can pay a small fee if you want to go for their slightly more premium designs (pst – I always used the free ones).

5. StoryBlocks helps me add amazing video b-roll cutaways

I mainly make tutorials and talking head videos.

And in this modern world this can be a little boring if you don’t see something funky every once in a while.

I try with overlays, jump cuts and being funny but my secret weapon is b-roll overlay content.

I can talk about skydiving, food, money, kids, cats – ANYTHING I WANT – with a quick search on the StoryBlocks website I can find a great looking clip to overlay on my videos, keeping them entertained and watching for longer.

They have a wide library of videos, graphics, images and even a video maker tool and it wont break the bank with plans starting from as little as £8.25 ($9) per month.

Categories
TIPS & TRICKS YOUTUBE

How to Write a YouTube Description

Do You Need A YouTube Intro and Outro? 2

YouTube video descriptions are perhaps one of the most criminally under-used tools available to YouTubers, so if you are one of the YouTubers who doesn’t take full advantage of their video descriptions—don’t worry, you’ve got a lot of company.

However, we do need to fix this.

YouTube video descriptions are important for a range of reasons, from searchability to usability. From information to promotion. In this post, we’re going to cover all of the things you can—and in some cases, should—do with your YouTube description. So, whether you’ve been wondering how to write a YouTube description, or you’ve never much cared before, this article is for you. Let’s get into it.

Be Descriptive

Let’s start with the basics. When you write your description for a YouTube video, you should make sure it is actually descriptive of what the video is about. If a viewer takes the time to look at the description, you don’t want to leave a sour taste in their mouth by not giving them what they want out of it.

Or worse; giving them a description that is not accurate.

See More

Be sure to make smart use of the fold. When your description is displayed, by default there will be a couple of lines and then a “see more” link. You want to make intelligent use of those first couple of lines, because viewers aren’t always going to click that “see more” link.

Get the basics of your description across as quickly and succinctly as possible. If the viewer is hoping for something specific from your video and is checking the description to save time, you should make sure they get the required information. If they don’t, they might just leave. And, if you are promoting something in your description, try and entice the viewer to click that “see more” link.

Write Searchable Descriptions

Descriptions are not just for the viewers, of course, they are also for the search engines. At the moment, search engines can’t (or don’t) search the actual content of videos when delivering their results, so you are forced to rely on well-written titles and descriptions to drive that organic search traffic to your content.

Do a little keyword research on your video’s topic, and try to find keywords that are low-competition while not being completely dead. The idea is to avoid competing with the biggest players in the niche while still using keywords that people will be searching for.

Be sure not to overstuff your descriptions with keywords, though. They should still read naturally and be of value to the person reading it.

Use Hashtags

It’s not as commonly known as it probably should be, but YouTube allows users to search by hashtag, just like all the other social media platforms. Likewise, YouTubers can use hashtags in their descriptions to ensure that their videos become part of those hashtag searches.

There is no hard rule on picking hashtags. It is not like keywords—where lower competition is better—because almost by definition, a low competition hashtag is worthless. Hashtags are a function of trend, and if it’s not trending, it almost doesn’t exist.

Instead, focus on finding the most relevant hashtags to your content. You may also be using hashtags to coincide with an event of some kind.

Promote Things

If you have things to promote—another channel, a book, a course, etc—be sure to put all the links in your description. There are only so many plugs you can squeeze into a video before your viewers start to get annoyed about it. And it’s really not that many.

Your description is a different kettle of fish altogether, however. If a viewer is looking at your description, it’s because they’ve made a special effort to come down there and view it. As long as you’ve covered the basics and provided an accurate and informative description of the content, they won’t mind seeing a few links to things you’re promoting.

If you are linking out to things under an affiliate referral system, such as linking to a product you featured through an Amazon Affiliates link, make sure you disclose that in your description. Viewers often don’t mind affiliate links, but they don’t like you being sneaky about it.

On a related note, you should also try and slide some links out to any YouTubers you might have collaborated with, or perhaps clipped in your video. It’s good to maintain positive relationships with other YouTubers where possible.

Implement Chapters

Chapters are a relatively recent feature on YouTube, but an incredibly useful one. If your video can be broken up into distinct sections in any meaningful way, we would strongly suggest adding chapters.

Adding chapters is easy enough. Note that you must have at least three chapters, and your video needs to be at least 10 seconds long. You add chapters by heading to your video description, and creating a list of timestamps, with the first one being 0:00. So it could look something like this;

0:00 Intro

1:23 Chapter One

3:45 Chapter Two

When implemented, the play progress bar of your video will be broken up into sections corresponding with your timestamps, and when the viewer hovers over a section, it will show a label saying the name you have given it.

Make it Entertaining

Last—but certainly not least—make it entertaining. Always remember that the content you put here is ultimately designed for human eyeballs, and humans get bored very easily.

This becomes even more important if there are promotional things in your description. It would be a shame to miss out on an affiliate referral because a viewer gave up before getting to the part where your referral links are.

What You Need to Know About Buying and Selling YouTube Channels

Final Thoughts

Descriptions are far more important than many YouTubers give them credit for, and that importance goes beyond just having something that a potential viewer can read. For evergreen content, a well-written description can ensure that organic views keep rolling in long after the algorithm has moved on. Descriptions can generate significant additional revenue with promotional links.

Now go, and write your descriptions well!

Top 5 Tools To Get You Started on YouTube

Very quickly before you go here are 5 amazing tools I have used every day to grow my YouTube channel from 0 to 30K subscribers in the last 12 months that I could not live without.

1. VidIQ helps boost my views and get found in search

I almost exclusively switched to VidIQ from a rival in 2020.

Within 12 months I tripled the size of my channel and very quickly learnt the power of thumbnails, click through rate and proper search optimization. Best of all, they are FREE!

2. Adobe Creative Suite helps me craft amazing looking thumbnails and eye-catching videos

I have been making youtube videos on and off since 2013.

When I first started I threw things together in Window Movie Maker, cringed at how it looked but thought “that’s the best I can do so it’ll have to do”.

Big mistake!

I soon realized the move time you put into your editing and the more engaging your thumbnails are the more views you will get and the more people will trust you enough to subscribe.

That is why I took the plunge and invested in my editing and design process with Adobe Creative Suite. They offer a WIDE range of tools to help make amazing videos, simple to use tools for overlays, graphics, one click tools to fix your audio and the very powerful Photoshop graphics program to make eye-catching thumbnails.

Best of all you can get a free trial for 30 days on their website, a discount if you are a student and if you are a regular human being it starts from as little as £9 per month if you want to commit to a plan.

3. Rev.com helps people read my videos

You can’t always listen to a video.

Maybe you’re on a bus, a train or sat in a living room with a 5 year old singing baby shark on loop… for HOURS. Or, you are trying to make as little noise as possible while your new born is FINALLY sleeping.

This is where Rev can help you or your audience consume your content on the go, in silence or in a language not native to the video.

Rev.com can help you translate your videos, transcribe your videos, add subtitles and even convert those subtitles into other languages – all from just $1.50 per minute.

A GREAT way to find an audience and keep them hooked no matter where they are watching your content.

4. PlaceIT can help you STAND OUT on YouTube

I SUCK at making anything flashy or arty.

I have every intention in the world to make something that looks cool but im about as artistic as a dropped ice-cream cone on the web windy day.

That is why I could not live on YouTube without someone like PlaceIT. They offer custom YouTube Banners, Avatars, YouTube Video Intros and YouTube End Screen Templates that are easy to edit with simple click, upload wizard to help you make amazing professional graphics in minutes.

Best of all, some of their templates are FREE! or you can pay a small fee if you want to go for their slightly more premium designs (pst – I always used the free ones).

5. StoryBlocks helps me add amazing video b-roll cutaways

I mainly make tutorials and talking head videos.

And in this modern world this can be a little boring if you don’t see something funky every once in a while.

I try with overlays, jump cuts and being funny but my secret weapon is b-roll overlay content.

I can talk about skydiving, food, money, kids, cats – ANYTHING I WANT – with a quick search on the StoryBlocks website I can find a great looking clip to overlay on my videos, keeping them entertained and watching for longer.

They have a wide library of videos, graphics, images and even a video maker tool and it wont break the bank with plans starting from as little as £8.25 ($9) per month.

Categories
TIPS & TRICKS

Do Dislikes Matter on YouTube?

Do Dislikes Matter on YouTube? 2

Do dislikes matter on YouTube? In 2026, far less than you’d think — and less than ever before.

Since YouTube hid the public dislike count in 2021, dislikes no longer shame you publicly, they’re only a weak signal to the algorithm, and they don’t touch your monetisation. Their real job now is quiet feedback for you. Here’s the full picture.

Why trust this? I’m Alan Spicer — a YouTube Certified Expert with two decades on the platform and six Silver Play Buttons. I’ve watched dislikes go from a public scoreboard to a private metric, and I’ve helped hundreds of creators stop worrying about the wrong numbers.

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⚡ QUICK ANSWER: Do dislikes matter on YouTube?
Not much. Since YouTube hid the public dislike count in November 2021, dislikes create no public social proof against you. They’re only a weak signal to the algorithm — watch time, click-through rate and retention matter far more — and they have no direct effect on monetisation. Only you, the creator, can still see your dislike count in YouTube Studio, where it’s really useful as feedback.

The Big Change: YouTube Hid the Dislike Count

Any answer to this question has to start with what changed. In November 2021, YouTube made the public dislike count private across the platform. The dislike button still exists and still works — viewers can hit thumbs down — but nobody except the creator can see the total anymore.

Why? To curb “dislike attacks” — coordinated campaigns to mass-dislike a video and hurt a creator, which YouTube’s own research found disproportionately targeted smaller channels. The knock-on effect for everyone else is huge: the old fear of a visible dislike ratio damaging your reputation is simply gone. That single change makes most of the old advice about dislikes obsolete.

Do Dislikes Actually Affect…?

Does a dislike affect… Verdict Why
The algorithm / your reach ⚠️ Very little A weak signal; watch time & CTR dominate
What other viewers think ❌ No longer The public count is hidden
Your monetisation ❌ No Revenue tracks watch time & ads, not dislikes
Your understanding of the video ✅ Yes Useful private feedback in Studio

Dislikes and the YouTube Algorithm

This is where the myths live. A dislike does register as a form of engagement, and it does feed YouTube’s recommendation systems — mainly as a hint to show that particular viewer fewer videos like it. But as a ranking factor for your video overall, it’s weak. YouTube’s systems care overwhelmingly about watch time, click-through rate and audience retention. A video with strong watch time and a handful of dislikes will keep getting recommended; a video nobody finishes won’t, no matter how many likes it has. Dislikes are not a death sentence — for a fuller picture, see how the algorithm actually works.

Dislikes and Your Viewers

This is the part the 2021 change rewrote entirely. In the old days, a visible dislike count acted as social proof — a high ratio could warn viewers off before they even watched. That effect is gone. With the count hidden, a new viewer landing on your video has no idea whether it has ten dislikes or ten thousand. The judgement now comes from your title, thumbnail and the first few seconds — not a public thumbs-down tally. In practice, that protects creators, especially smaller ones, from being pre-judged.

Dislikes and Monetisation

Straightforward: dislikes have no direct effect on your monetisation. Ad revenue is driven by views, watch time, ad formats and advertiser demand — not by your like-to-dislike ratio. A heavily disliked video that still pulls strong watch time can earn perfectly well. If you want to understand what really moves your income, that’s a different conversation entirely.

Dislikes as Feedback — Their Real Value Now

Here’s the reframe: since only you can see them, dislikes have become a private feedback tool rather than a public verdict. A dislike means someone reacted — and a spike in dislikes on a particular video is a signal worth investigating. The smart move is to open that video in YouTube Studio analytics, look at the dislike count alongside your retention graph and comments, and work out what viewers objected to. Did a title overpromise? Did people drop off at a certain point? That’s far more useful than the raw number.

🔍 How to see your dislikes: open YouTube Studio, select a video, and check the engagement section in Analytics. You’ll see your exact like and dislike counts and the ratio over time — visible to you, hidden from the public.

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Common Causes of Dislikes

If your dislikes climb, the reason is usually one of these:

  • A title or thumbnail that overpromised. Nothing earns a thumbs down faster than clickbait the video doesn’t deliver — tighten your titles to match the content.
  • A weak or slow opening. Losing people early frustrates them; strong retention reduces dislikes.
  • Production or audio issues. Poor quality reads as “not worth my time.”
  • Controversial or divisive topics. Some dislikes are just disagreement — and that’s fine.
  • Dislike attacks. Coordinated brigading — now largely defanged, since the count is hidden anyway.

So, Should You Worry About Dislikes?

Honestly? No — not on their own. In 2026 a dislike is a quiet, private data point, not a public black mark. Use them as one input among many, focus your energy on watch time, retention and giving viewers what your title promised, and let the thumbs-down look after itself. If your channel’s growth has stalled, dislikes almost certainly aren’t the cause — run it through the growth diagnostic and build from a real growth strategy instead.

Dislikes on YouTube: FAQ

Do dislikes matter on YouTube?

Less than most people think — and less than ever since YouTube hid the public dislike count in 2021. Dislikes are a weak signal to the algorithm compared with watch time, click-through rate and audience retention, they no longer create public social proof against you, and they don’t directly affect monetisation. Their real value now is as private feedback for you as the creator.

Can people still dislike YouTube videos?

Yes. The dislike button still works — viewers can still hit thumbs down. What changed in November 2021 is that the dislike count became private. Viewers can dislike a video, but nobody except the creator can see the total anymore.

Can creators still see their dislikes?

Yes. Creators can see their exact dislike count for their own videos inside YouTube Studio analytics. YouTube hid dislikes from the public, not from creators — though it has never shown creators who specifically disliked a video, only the total number.

Do dislikes hurt your YouTube ranking?

Not much. Dislikes feed into YouTube’s systems as a weak engagement signal, but watch time, click-through rate and audience retention carry far more weight. A few dislikes on a video with strong watch time rarely dent its reach. Dislikes are not a death sentence for a video.

Why did YouTube hide the dislike count?

To reduce ‘dislike attacks’ — coordinated campaigns where users mass-dislike a video to harm a creator. YouTube’s research found smaller channels were disproportionately targeted, so in November 2021 it made dislike counts private across the platform while keeping the button itself.

What should I do if a video gets a lot of dislikes?

Treat it as feedback, not a crisis. Check the video in YouTube Studio alongside audience retention and comments to work out what viewers objected to — often a title or thumbnail that overpromised, or a section where people dropped off. Fix that pattern in your next video rather than panicking over the number.

Final Thoughts

So, do dislikes matter on YouTube? A little, quietly, and mostly to you. The public scoreboard is gone, the algorithm barely weights them, and your revenue doesn’t feel them. What’s left is a small, private feedback signal — useful when you read it next to your retention and comments, worthless as a source of panic. Point your attention at the metrics that actually move a channel — watch time, retention, click-through — and treat the thumbs-down for what it now is: one quiet opinion among many.

Focus on the metrics that grow you.

A free discovery call gets you a two-decade head start on reading your real data — and ignoring the noise like dislikes.

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A note on this guide: the November 2021 dislike-count change is documented on YouTube’s official blog. Algorithm behaviour reflects YouTube’s stated guidance and creator experience current at the time of writing (July 2026); the platform updates its systems periodically.