Crafting compelling YouTube descriptions is crucial for capturing your audience’s attention, leading to increased watch times, views, and likes.
Moreover, a well-crafted description contributes to enhanced YouTube SEO, aiding the algorithm in comprehending your content and recommending it to a broader audience, thereby elevating your YouTube statistics.
To excel in writing these descriptions, consider the following tips as key elements of your overall YouTube strategy.
What is Description on YouTube?
On YouTube, there are two essential types of descriptions that every marketer should be aware of:
· YouTube Channel Descriptions
These are the details provided on your channel’s About page. This text serves to give viewers insight into what they can anticipate from your brand and can be effectively utilized to articulate reasons for subscribing to your channel.
· YouTube Video Descriptions
Found beneath each video, this text is instrumental in aiding viewers in discovering your video content and persuading them to engage with it. Additionally, it offers the opportunity to include links and other pertinent information related to the video.
8 Tips for Writing YouTube Descriptions
If you want to write catchy YouTube descriptions, follow these tips:
1. Strategic Keyword Selection
Carefully choose keywords for both YouTube channels and video descriptions. Opt for specific keywords to help YouTube’s algorithm accurately understand and categorize your content.
Don’t overlook the importance of selecting the right keywords for your channel name, and if you need ideas for a YouTube username, explore our free, AI-powered YouTube name generator.
2. Conduct Keyword Research
Not sure what keywords to use? To begin your investigation, make use of resources like Google Trends and the Keyword Planner in Google AdWords. Google Trends helps determine which terms have larger search volumes and offers insights into trending keywords.
3. Utilize Searchable Keywords
Combine keywords that are in line with Google and YouTube search trends to improve your video’s discoverability, as more and more people are finding YouTube videos through Google searches.
To determine a keyword’s potential, perform a basic Google search and pay attention to whether YouTube videos show up first in the search results.
4. Effective Keyword Usage
Once you’ve identified keywords, strategically incorporate them into your descriptions. Aim for two or three related keywords in each channel and video description, with the main keyword also present in the video title. Repeat each keyword two to three times in the description without overdoing it to avoid penalties for keyword stuffing.
5. Optimal Placement of Keywords
Ensure that your primary keywords appear within the first three sentences of your description or above the fold (before the “SHOW MORE” button). This section garners the most attention from YouTube’s algorithm and viewers, so convey the essence of your video or channel early on.
6. Track Keyword Performance
Leverage YouTube Analytics to monitor the performance of your chosen keywords. Identify the keywords driving the most traffic and adjust your strategy accordingly.
7. Understand Audience Viewing Habits
Acknowledge that, as of 2021, suggested videos account for a larger portion of YouTube traffic than direct searches. Utilize YouTube analytics to find out what other videos your target audience is viewing, and use terminology that is similar to your descriptions to build relationships and boost the likelihood that your content will be recommended.
8. Provide Clear Value
Always include a clear value proposition in your descriptions. Answer why someone should subscribe to your channel or how your video will benefit them. Aim to address at least one of these questions in straightforward terms.
Conclusion
Creating compelling descriptions for YouTube videos is essential to increasing their exposure and interaction. Choose specific keywords, conduct research, and strategically use them in your descriptions. Optimize your content for both YouTube and Google searches, focusing on the first few sentences.
Track keyword performance using analytics and understand your audience’s viewing habits. Offer clear value propositions, place key information above the fold, and avoid clickbait for lasting success in YouTube content creation.
