Okay, seriously, you guys will not believe this. My latest YouTube video just blew up! In just 24 hours, it racked up 84,000 views. And guess what? It even made over $1,600in that short time! Now, for an educational channel like mine, 84,000 views is HUGE. Compared to channels about funny cat videos or celebrity gossip, education videos sometimes have to work harder for attention. So, yeah, I'm totally thrilled!
I wanted to share the top 10 things I These are the steps I really think made a difference, especially with videos that get tons of views. If you want your videos to actually get watched and not just disappear into the YouTube void, pay attention! These tips can help you get clicks, get views, and build a real following of people who love your stuff.
Want to get more views? Let me know in the comments - how many views are you aiming for each day? Let's put it out there!
Welcome back to Rockstar Academy! Seriously, thanks for being here and checking out my articles. I appreciate you! Let's dive into tip number one because we've got a lot to get through.
Tip #1: Get Your Metadata Right - It's Like a Secret Message to YouTube!
First things first, even before I hit that "upload" button, I double-check my metadata. Metadata? It's basically information about your video.Think of it like the label on a candy wrapper. It tells you what kind of candy it is, even before you taste it.
Your video is like that candy - it's full of info. By giving it a good title and name, you're telling YouTube what kind of "candy" it is! I even rename the actual video file itself.I usually use the video title as the file name, or I make sure to include important keywordsin the name.
Will this one thing make your video go viral? Probably not on its own. But it does give YouTube extra hintsabout what your video is about. And when YouTube understands your video, it can show it to the right people - the people who are actually interested in watching!
Tip #2: The "Big Four": Title, Description, Tags, and Thumbnail - Nail Them!
This is a MUST-DOstep. No skipping this one! You absolutely have to have a killer title, a great description, the right tags, and a thumbnail that pops.
After a lot of trial and error, I think I've found a super helpful way to create these using a special tool online. Let's test it out on one of my older videos that I thought deserved way more views. It's called "Rehire a Millionaire Using Money You Spend on Lunch Daily." (Yeah, the title wasn't the best, haha!)
Using this tool, you can get:
Awesome Titles: It gives you a bunch of title ideas that are designed to get clicks and help people find your video in search.Seriously, these titles are way better than what I'd come up with myself sometimes!
Thumbnail Text That Grabs Attention: It suggests words to put on your thumbnail image that make people curious and want to click right now.
Thumbnail Ideas: It even tells you what your thumbnail should look like. This is a lifesaver if you're not a super artistic person. You can use this as a guide to create your thumbnail using free online tools.
SEO-Boosted Description: You get a video description that's written to help people find your video when they searchon YouTube and Google. Just copy, paste, done!
Hashtags That Work: It gives you relevant hashtags to add to your description.Hashtags are like categories that help YouTube understand what your video is about and who to show it to.
Keywords for Search: You also get a list of keywords to add when you upload.These are more words that help people find your video when they're searching for stuff online.
All of this from just one prompt! Crazy helpful, right?
Tip #3: Go Multi-Platform - Share Your Videos Everywhere!
Want even more eyeballs on your videos? Take your YouTube videos and share them in different ways on other platforms.Think of it like turning one video into a bunch of mini-videos!
Secret weapon alert! To make those short, attention-grabbing clips for places like YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels, or TikTok, I use free video editing apps. These apps can magically grab the best parts of your longer video and turn them into short, shareable clips.
You can get a bunch of short videos from just one long one. Then, boom, you can post these shorts all over the internet- Instagram, TikTok, you name it. Don't forget to add a link back to your main YouTube videoso people can watch the full thing!
I even post these short clips on YouTube itself as Shorts. And sometimes, depending on what the video is about, I'll even share them on LinkedIn with a link to watch the whole YouTube video.
Sharing everywhere gets you more views on YouTube, and it helps you build a bigger audience in more places! Plus, some platforms even let you make money from your short videos or through sponsorships. Double win!
Tip #4: Blog It Out - Turn Your Videos Into Articles
Okay, this next tip is a game-changer. It not only boosts your YouTube views, but it can also bring in extra cash! For every video I put on YouTube, I also write a blog post or article about the same thing on my website.Then, I put a link in the blog post that goes right back to my YouTube video.
Think about it: some people love watching videos, and other people prefer reading. By doing both a video and a blog post, you reach both kinds of people!
If you're serious about being a content creator and making money online, you NEED a website. It's like having your own little corner of the internet.
And guess what? Making a website is way easier than you might think. Website builders with AI (artificial intelligence)can practically build a website for you in minutes. They make it look professional and cool. You just need to pick a website builder service and choose a plan that fits your needs. Lots of them have deals and even give you a free website address (domain name).
Once your website is set up, you can easily add a blog section. To make a blog post from your video, website builders often have tools for that! Some even use AI to help you write blog posts based on your video content.Seriously, you can often just copy and paste your video description, and the tool will write a whole blog post for you. Magic!
After your blog post is ready, don't forget to link it to your YouTube video.This sends people from your blog to your video, and back again, getting you even more views!
And here's the money part:when your website gets popular, you can show ads on it and make money!So, you can earn money from your YouTube videos and from your website. That's two ways to earn!
Tip #5: End Screens: The "Watch More!" Button at the End
End screens are those little pop-ups you see at the very end of a video. They are super important for keeping people watching more of your videos! Always use end screens to suggest another videofor people to watch next, especially one that's related to the video they just watched.
Adding end screens is a piece of cake when you upload your video. Just click the "End screen" option and pick a template you like. Then, choose a video from your channel that you think viewers will enjoy based on what they just watched.
I usually just show one video on my end screen. Sometimes you can show two, but I've found that focusing on one really good suggestion often gets more clicks and more views.
Tip #6: YouTube Basics: Get These Settings Right!
There are a few basic YouTube settings that are really important for getting more views. You set these when you upload your video. Don't skip these!
"Is it for kids?" Setting: If your video isn't made for kids, make sure to choose "No, it's not for kids."This helps YouTube show your video to the right audience - adults or teens who are interested in your topic.
Chapters Automatically: Turn on "Allow automatic chapters."This creates little sections in your video so people can jump to different parts easily. It makes it easier for people to watch and find what they want, which can help with views in the long run.
Pick the Right Category: If you have an educational channel, choose "Education" as your category.Sometimes, videos in the "Education" category can actually earn more money from ads.
"Academic System" - Set it to "None": In the advanced settings, you might see something about "Academic System." If it's there, delete whatever country is listed and choose "None."Also, for "Level," keep it at "None." You don't want YouTube to only show your video to people with a specific education level. "None" means everyone is welcome to watch!
Tip #7: Playlists = Organized Views!
Playlists are your secret weapon for getting people to watch more videos. Think of them like organizing your videos into folders by topic.
On my channel, for example, I have a playlist for all my videos about YouTube success. So, if someone wants to learn everything about that, they can just watch the whole playlist one after another, without having to search all over my channel.
Playlists organize your videos by topic, making it super easy for viewers to binge-watch! Creating a playlist is simple. Find a video you want to add, click the three dots (menu button), and choose "Save to playlist." Then, click "Create new playlist" if it's a new topic. Give your playlist a catchy name and choose if you want it to be public, unlisted, or private. Then, hit "Create"!
Tip #8: Schedule for Success - Post When Your Audience is Online!
Scheduling your videos is key! You want to upload them when your viewers are most likely to be on YouTube. Posting a video when everyone is asleep? Not the best strategy!
To figure out the best time to post for your audience, go to your YouTube Studio. In YouTube Studio, click on "Analytics" and then "Audience." Look for the graph that says "When your viewers are on YouTube." The darkest purple color shows the times when most of your viewers are online and active.
Schedule your videos to go live during those peak times on different days of the week. Experiment and see what works best!
When you upload a video, just click "Schedule" instead of "Publish." Pick the date and time you want your video to go live.
Scheduling also helps you make more money, especially if your channel is monetized (you earn money from ads). Schedule your videos to go public at least 30 minutes ahead of time.This gives YouTube time to process your video and put ads on it. That way, when the first person clicks to watch, the ads are already there, and you get paid right away! If you just post instantly, the ads might not be ready, and you could miss out on money from those initial views.
Tip #9: Jump Into the Comments - Build a Community!
Comments are gold! They are a super powerful way to build a communityaround your channel. Try your best to respond to comments. Showing people you care about what they say makes them feel valued and encourages them to comment more. And guess what? More comments tell YouTube that your video is interesting and engaging, which can make YouTube promote it to even more people!Good comments, bad comments - any comments can help boost your video!
You can also "pin" a commentto the top of the comment section. You can use this to say thanks, ask a question, or share something important. Pinned comments are great for sparking even more conversation.
Try to reply to as many comments as you can, especially in the first 24 hours after you post a video.
Tip #10: Analytics Are Your Friend - Use Them to Level Up!
Analytics are like your secret report card for your videos. After 24 hours (or maybe 3-4 days), check how your video is doing in YouTube Analytics. Pay attention to your "click-through rate" (CTR) and "watch time."
Click-Through Rate (CTR): This is how often people click on your video after they see your thumbnail and title. Low CTR? Your title and thumbnail might not be catchy enough.
Watch Time: This is how long people are actually watching your video. Low watch time? People might be clicking, but they're not sticking around.
If your CTR or watch time is low, try changing your video title or thumbnail. These are the first things people see, so they have to grab their attention!
There are also tools out there that can give you even more detailed info to help you make smart changes to your videos. These tools can help you see how your title and thumbnail are performing and give you ideas to make them even better.
Making a YouTube video is just the beginning! But by using these 10 tips, you can really make the most of your videos, get more views, grow your channel, and maybe even start making some real money. YouTube success takes time and effort, but with these strategies, you're way more likely to see awesome results!
Okay, tell me in the comments - which of these 10 tips was your favorite? And keep learning and creating awesome videos!