How to do keyword research for YouTube

Keyword research for YouTube is distinctly different from traditional SEO, focusing on video search intent and viewer behavior.

It’s about understanding what people type into YouTube’s search bar, the language they use, and the problems they’re trying to solve through video content.

The goal is to identify keywords that not only have significant search volume but also align with the type of video content you can create and the audience you want to attract.

This process involves looking at what already ranks, understanding trending topics, and leveraging YouTube-specific features to uncover valuable insights.

Understanding YouTube Search Intent

Paragraphs: When people search on YouTube, their intent is often informational, navigational, or transactional, but specifically geared towards visual content. They might be looking for “how-to” guides, product reviews, entertainment, vlogs, tutorials, or demonstrations. Understanding this intent is crucial because it dictates the type of video you should create. For instance, if a user searches for “how to bake sourdough bread,” they’re looking for a step-by-step video, not just a recipe text. Recognizing this visual intent allows you to tailor your content precisely, increasing engagement and watch time. It’s about anticipating the user’s journey from query to video consumption.
Real Examples:

• A search for “best smartphone 2024 review” indicates a user is looking for video comparisons and detailed demonstrations, not just a list of specs.
• “Learn Arabic quickly” suggests a desire for video lessons, pronunciation guides, and interactive teaching.
• “Yoga for beginners” points to a need for guided practice sessions and visual demonstrations of poses.
  Data/Stats: Videos with clear, specific titles and descriptions that incorporate relevant keywords tend to have higher click-through rates. Studies show that a significant portion of YouTube searches are for “how-to” content, highlighting the importance of understanding problem-solving intent. Video retention rates are also influenced by how well the content delivers on the promise of the keyword.

Leveraging YouTube Autocomplete and Suggested Searches

Paragraphs: YouTube’s autocomplete feature is an incredibly valuable, free resource for uncovering popular and relevant keywords. As you type a broad topic into the search bar, YouTube suggests common queries related to that topic. These suggestions are based on actual user searches and indicate popular demand. Similarly, after you perform a search, YouTube displays “related searches” or “searches related to” at the bottom of the results page. These are long-tail variations and related topics that users frequently explore. Both features provide direct insights into what your audience is looking for, often revealing phrases you might not have considered.

• Type “keto diet” into YouTube. Autocomplete might suggest “keto diet meal prep,” “keto diet for beginners,” “keto diet results,” or “keto diet recipes.” These are all potential video topics.
• Search for “beginner guitar lessons.” Scroll down, and you might see “acoustic guitar lessons for beginners,” “electric guitar lessons for beginners,” “guitar chords for beginners,” or “fingerpicking guitar lessons.”
  Lists:
• YouTube Autocomplete: Start typing your primary topic and note down all the suggestions.
• Related Searches: Perform a search, then scroll to the bottom of the results page to find further suggestions.
• “People also watched”: While not direct keyword suggestions, this section can hint at related topics and niches.
• “Up Next” queue: Observe what YouTube suggests after watching a relevant video. these are often related queries or next steps in a user’s journey.
  Bold Text: Focus on long-tail keywords generated by these features, as they often have less competition and higher conversion intent.

Analyzing Competitor Channels

Paragraphs: Studying successful competitor channels is a powerful way to identify what’s working in your niche. Look at their most popular videos – the ones with high view counts, engagement, and consistent comments. Analyze their video titles, descriptions, and even the tags they use (though tags are less visible now, tools can help uncover them). Pay attention to the language they employ and the specific problems their videos solve. This isn’t about copying, but about identifying successful keyword patterns and content strategies that resonate with your shared audience. It helps you find gaps in the market or areas where you can create better, more comprehensive content.

• If you’re starting a cooking channel, analyze popular channels like “Tasty” or “Binging with Babish.” See which recipes or cooking techniques consistently get millions of views. Note down common phrases in their titles like “easy,” “quick,” “beginner,” or “healthy.”
• For a tech review channel, observe how channels like “MKBHD” or “Linus Tech Tips” title their videos for new product launches, comparisons, or troubleshooting guides. They often use model numbers, brand names, and comparison terms.
• Identify 3-5 top competitor channels in your niche.
• Sort their videos by “Most Popular” to see their evergreen hits.
• Note down common keywords in their titles and descriptions.
• Look at their playlists – these often group videos by topic, indicating strong keyword clusters.
• Read comments on their videos to understand what questions viewers are asking or what additional information they desire.
  Data/Stats: Channels that consistently rank for highly searched keywords often have well-optimized titles and descriptions. Competitor analysis can reveal content gaps: areas where popular channels haven’t fully addressed a specific sub-topic, presenting an opportunity for you.

Utilizing YouTube Analytics and Creator Studio

Paragraphs: Once you have some content published, your own YouTube Analytics becomes an invaluable keyword research tool. The “Reach” tab, specifically the “Traffic source: YouTube search” report, shows you the exact queries people used to find your videos. This is first-party data, direct from your audience, telling you what they actually searched for. It can reveal unexpected keywords or confirm the effectiveness of your current targeting. Furthermore, looking at audience retention graphs helps you understand if your content is truly meeting the search intent for those keywords. High retention for a specific keyword indicates good alignment.

• You publish a video titled “Easy Vegan Recipes.” Your analytics might show that people are also finding it by searching for “quick plant-based meals,” “beginner vegan cooking,” or “healthy vegan dinner ideas.” These insights can inform your future video titles and descriptions.
• A gaming channel might find that a video about “Minecraft Redstone contraptions” is being found via searches like “automatic farm Minecraft” or “simple Redstone builds.”
• Go to YouTube Studio > Analytics > Research (new feature) or Reach.
• Under “Traffic source: YouTube search,” review the actual search terms.
• Filter by specific videos to see what keywords are driving traffic to them.
• Look for search terms with high impressions but low click-through rates (CTR). this might indicate your title or thumbnail isn’t compelling enough, or the keyword intent is slightly off.
• Identify high-performing keywords and consider creating more in-depth videos around those specific topics.
  Bold Text: Your own YouTube Analytics provides the most accurate and relevant keyword data for your specific audience.

Integrating Keywords into YouTube Content Strategy

Paragraphs: Finding keywords is only half the battle. the real magic happens when you strategically integrate them into your YouTube content strategy. This means not just stuffing keywords into your titles and descriptions, but naturally weaving them into your video script, spoken dialogue, and even visual cues. YouTube’s algorithms are increasingly sophisticated, capable of understanding spoken words (via automatic captions) and recognizing objects in videos. Therefore, saying your target keywords naturally in your video can reinforce its relevance. The goal is to provide a comprehensive and valuable answer to the user’s query, making your video the definitive resource for that keyword. How to learn social media marketing reddit

• For a video on “how to fix a leaky faucet,” explicitly say “Today, we’re going to show you how to fix a leaky faucet step-by-step” at the beginning of the video. Mention tools needed and the process, using variations like “repairing a dripping tap” or “faucet leak repair” in the description and spoken content.
• If your video is “Best Budget Laptops for Students,” ensure you mention specific laptop models, features important to students (battery life, portability), and comparison points, both visually and audibly.
• Video Title: Include your primary keyword as close to the beginning as possible.
• Video Description: Write a detailed, keyword-rich description (200-500 words is often good) that summarizes the video, includes relevant keywords and synonyms, and provides timestamps.
• Video Script/Spoken Content: Naturally use your target keywords and related terms throughout your narration.
• Tags (less emphasis now, but still useful): Use a mix of broad and specific tags relevant to your video.
• Thumbnails: While not directly keyword research, compelling thumbnails complement keyword-optimized titles to increase CTR.
• End Screens and Cards: Link to other relevant videos on your channel, creating a pathway for viewers to consume more of your content and signal topical authority.
  Data/Stats: Videos that clearly articulate their topic through both text and spoken word often have higher watch times and better engagement, signaling to YouTube that they are highly relevant to a search query.