YouTube is a powerhouse with over 2 billion users per month and it is the number two search engine right behind Google. But it’s not enough to just add your video, an important part of optimization on YouTube is your description.
A YouTube description is your chance to provide additional context for your video content. It’s not just about describing the video; it’s an opportunity to engage your audience and boost your video’s searchability.
Channel Descriptions Versus Video Descriptions
And there are two types of descriptions to consider: channel descriptions and video descriptions. Your channel description is like your website’s “About” page. It tells viewers what your content is all about and should include keywords relevant to your audience.
Keywords are crucial for attracting viewers and turning them into subscribers. You want to use the words that your target audience would use when searching for content like yours.
When it comes to video descriptions, they’re like a teaser for your content. Each video needs a unique description to increase its chances of showing up in search results. You can’t just copy-paste the same description for all your videos, or worse not include a description at all! So what makes a good description?
Create Clear and Concise Video Descriptions
When you write descriptions, be clear and concise. Make sure the essential information about your video is in the first 200 characters of your description. That’s what viewers see before clicking “Show more.”
Write clear and concise descriptions. Make sure the essential information about your video is in the first 200 characters of your description, so that viewers can see it before clicking “Show more.”
Hook Them In
But don’t think of the description like a short meta description, you have 5,000 characters so you want to hook them in and have them read more. Beyond that first hook, what should you include in the description?
Hook your viewers in. Use your description to tell viewers what they can expect from your video, and why they should watch it. Be sure to use relevant keywords, but don’t overuse them.
Connect with Your Target Audience
To connect with your subscribers, use your descriptions to promote your other channels and social media platforms. Cross-promotion can boost engagement and discoverability. Also, include who you serve and what you promise. This helps your target audience find you.
SEO is Key
Make it search-friendly. But when you use keywords, incorporate them naturally. Don’t overuse keywords; make them sound natural within your descriptions. Write for people, not bots. Link to related content in your descriptions to provide context and drive more traffic to your website.
Make your descriptions SEO-friendly. Include relevant keywords throughout your description, but make sure to use them naturally. Write for people, not bots.
Give Your Viewers a Sense of What’s Included
Also include timestamps and key moments as chapters in your videos to give viewers a sense of what is included. This is especially important for longer videos.
When you come up with a formula for a description, make a template so that you will save time and include relevant information each time you publish a new video. Take advantage of all the YouTube platform has to offer.
Links in this episode: 13 YouTube Description Templates That Have Helped Our Videos Go Viral
