Categories: Web

YouTube SEO: Make your videos more searchable by adding context

While the age-old metaphor of ‘content is king’ is more important than ever in today’s Internet of ubiquitous publishing, context must not be overlooked.

In this brief article we describe the importance of providing context to video published on YouTube. However, the principles applied here can be used and replicated on just about any other publishing platform.

In an article posted to YouTube’s blog this week, the video sharing site outlines the importance of adding context to videos, and specifically the role of context in assisting YouTube’s review team when assessing flagged content (content that break YouTube’s Community Guidelines – like graphic videos).

The main benefit of context from a user’s point-of-view is that video is more easily searchable and understandable, and garners more views, shares and YouTube channel subscriptions as a result.

Similar to other forms of search engine marketing, choosing an appropriate video title is hugely important. As described by YouTube, avoid vague titles like ‘Shocking deaths and fighting’, but instead choose a very specific and informative one, like ‘The Maspero Massacre | 9/10/11 | What Really Happened’. Think about how those that might be interested in your video would search for it, and perhaps add a date to disambiguate it with similar events.

Write two to three sentences about your video in its description field. Include the very obvious; who, what, where, when and why. As if narrating the video, provide a brief synopsis of its contents, and add video annotations where appropriate.

Categorise your video and add five to seven relevant, descriptive keywords. Choose an enticing video thumbnail to increase video click through rates within YouTube video search, but also on Google Search.

You’ve gone to the trouble of capturing a great video. Now contextualise it so that others can find it.

Albizu Garcia

Albizu Garcia is the Co-Founder and CEO of Gain -- a marketing technology company that automates the social media and content publishing workflow for agencies and social media managers, their clients and anyone working in teams.

View Comments

Recent Posts

Private Equity Firms, The Time To Invest in Manufacturing is Now

Article by John Haddox, COO at Decision Resources The manufacturing industry is ripe for a…

7 hours ago

The unintended consequences of AI: Are marketers relying too much on it? (Brains Byte Back podcast)

With the rise of AI-generated content, the term “authentic” has evolved. It’s now used to…

9 hours ago

These 10 Blockchain Companies Are Shaping Web3 Trends in 2025

In 2025, Web3 enters a new phase of transformation, being driven by elevated venture capital…

16 hours ago

The Power of Data Visualization: Transforming Data into Stunning Stories

Guess Author: Shashank Patel Associate Principal Information Designer, and Amritha Madam, Associate Lead Information Designer,…

17 hours ago

Ex-ICE agents call on Congress to ramp-up surveillance tech, data sharing for immigration enforcement

Former US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents call on lawmakers in Congress to ramp-up…

2 days ago

Javier Milei pushes aggressive agenda in Argentina, hopes to move past $300 million crypto scandal

Guest author: Facundo Falduto, Argentina Reports Javier Milei made international headlines in recent weeks, but…

3 days ago