So you have a YouTube channel and are uploading regular videos. You’re getting some followers and views, but you want to improve and grow your viewer base. Lucky for you the folks at Cyber PR came out with this great 8-step guide for improving your YouTube presence. Even if you’re just starting out on YouTube this guide will help you get going.

1. Your TITLE is important!

Believe it or not, your title can make or break your video– when people are searching for things to watch, you want your video to come up for them to view!

Keep it focused! Try this format (as applicable):
[Song Title] [Short Description] [Original Artist Name] [Your Band Name]

For example, if you have done a cover song of “We Are Never Getting Back Together”, a great title would be:

We Are Never Getting Back Together Taylor Swift Cover by Corie

Think of what people might ask when searching for something. Questions begin with Who, What, When, Where and Why – so when applicable, answer these questions right in the title!

On August 28th, when I YouTubed We Are Never Getting Back Together in the search bar this is what I saw:

First you see Taylor Swift’s official video, followed by two other videos before her official lyric video!

FUN FACT: There are times when official artist videos are not licensed to view in other countries. Where the official video is not available for viewing, yours may be the first (or only) option for a fan in that area to listen to the song!

2. Write a description to your video with RELEVANT INFORMATION!

You want your description to have keywords that improve your ability to show up in fan (and potential fan) searches and it should be thorough– but you don’t need to include the entire kitchen sink! Make a description that describes the video and who you are.

FUN FACT: There’s a tool that helps you come up with relevant keywords; available straigh from the source! CLICK HERE TO USE YOUTUBE’S KEYWORD SUGGESTION TOOL

Only a portion of the description shows to your audience before requiring them to use the drop down to continue reading so keep the important items at the top, like your website url, for example.

3. Tag and Categorize your video!

Choose a category that best fits your video for most of you. I’d imagine this will end up being Music, but MAYBE you have a niche-focused video that fits into a different category like Comedy, just make sure whatever you choose what BEST fits the videos content.

Tags further support your search rank and are a part of the equation to better visibility. Use short phrases and descriptive keywords here– YouTube will auto-generate some from the way you titled your video. Add and remove as you feel necessary. Make sure your brand or artist name is a tag, also.

How Did YOU Optimize The First Video on Your New Youtube Channel?

Let us know what worked (or didn’t work!) for you in the  comment section below!

To see the other five tips visit the Cyber PR Blog.