Hey friend, have you been trying to boost your YouTube views and struggling? Don’t worry, we’ve all been there. Getting views and building an audience on YouTube takes time, consistency, and a fair bit of strategy. But the good news is, with the right techniques, you can start gaining more views and subscribers. In this article, we’re going to share 10 proven ways to increase your YouTube views so you can start building your audience and gaining more exposure. Whether you’re just starting a channel or looking to take an already established channel to the next level, these tips will help get you there. Time to stop watching the view count and start watching those views climb!
Optimize Your Titles and Descriptions
To get more views on YouTube, you have to hook viewers with a compelling title and thumbnail. Make your title an interesting question or include an attention-grabbing number, like “10 Ways to Get More Views on YouTube.” Keep titles under 65 characters so they show up fully in search results.
In your video description, include relevant keywords and phrases to rank higher in search. Explain clearly and concisely what the video covers. For example:
This video shares 10 tips to increase your YouTube views:
- Optimize your titles and descriptions
- Create custom thumbnails
- Engage your viewers
- Post new videos regularly
- Promote your videos on social media
- Collaborate with other YouTubers
- Engage with your viewers in the comments
- Run a contest or giveaway
- Use YouTube analytics to see what’s working
- Stay consistent and patient
Encourage viewers to like, subscribe and share. Thank them for watching and ask for feedback in the comments. Engaging with your audience leads to more loyal viewers and higher watch time.
There are no shortcuts to YouTube success. Consistently uploading useful, engaging content, optimizing for search, promoting on social media, and engaging with your viewers will increase your views over time through organic growth and word-of-mouth. Stay patient and keep at it!
Create Custom Thumbnails That Stand Out
If you want viewers flocking to your channel, you need eye-catching thumbnails. These little images are the first thing people see when browsing videos, so make them pop!
Choose vibrant colors that stand out
Bright colors like red, orange and yellow grab attention. Don’t be afraid to experiment with color contrasts and gradients. Just be sure the text is still readable against the background.
Focus on an interesting image or graphic
A close-up of someone’s face, an action shot from your video, or an intriguing graphic will spark curiosity. Stock photos of mundane objects won’t cut it. Get creative!
Use big, bold text
Your thumbnail text should be large, thick and easy to read. Include your video title, number in a series, or a catchy phrase. White or yellow text works well against most backgrounds.
Keep it simple
Don’t overload your thumbnail with effects, graphics and text. A clean, uncluttered design is most effective. One or two elements are enough.
Check how thumbnails appear on different devices
Your thumbnails will appear differently across platforms, so preview how they’ll look on computers, tablets and smartphones. Make sure all text is legible and your main message comes across on any screen.
With compelling thumbnails tailored for YouTube, you’ll grab more views and build your audience in no time. Keep experimenting to find what works for your content and channel style. Before you know it, your custom thumbnails will be driving views and subscribers galore!
Focus on Audience Retention
To get more views on YouTube, focus on keeping your audience engaged for longer. The longer viewers stick around, the more YouTube will promote your content to new viewers. Here are some tips to improve your audience retention:
Keep videos under 10 minutes
YouTube analytics show that audience attention starts dropping off drastically after 10 minutes. Keep your videos concise by sticking to one main topic or theme. If you have a lot of content, break it up into a series of shorter videos.
Use an attention-grabbing intro
The first 15 seconds of your video are critical. Start with an interesting intro, like a shocking statistic, story, or question to hook the viewer right away. Once their attention is caught, they’ll stick around to see what else you have to offer.
Edit tightly
Keep your pacing brisk by editing out any unnecessary pauses, silences or rambling. Viewers will click away from a slow, boring video in a heartbeat. Tight editing will make even a long video seem short.
Add graphics and visuals
Visuals like images, graphics, and video clips keep viewers engaged by giving them something interesting to look at. But don’t overcrowd your video or use visuals that distract from what you’re saying.
Ask for viewer interaction
Ask viewers questions or encourage them to comment to make them an active participant. Say things like “Have you ever experienced this?” or “Let me know in the comments if you have any other tips.” People engage more when they feel involved.
Review analytics to improve
See how long on average viewers are watching your videos. Look for spots where attention drops off and make improvements to your content and pacing in those areas for your next video. Continuously optimizing to increase audience retention will lead to more views and a larger following on YouTube.
Collaborate With Influencers
Collaborating with influencers on YouTube is one of the best ways to gain more views and subscribers. Influencers are content creators who have built up a large, loyal following. By collaborating with them, you can tap into their audience and gain exposure.
Look for influencers in your niche who have a similar style and content to you. Reach out and pitch them a collaboration idea. Some options include:
-Filming a collab video for their channel and having them appear on your channel. This cross-promotion exposes each other’s audiences to the other creator.
-Doing a “creator swap” where you each film a video for the other’s channel. This is an easy way to provide value to each other’s audiences.
-Interviewing each other. Sit down for a casual interview to allow each other’s audiences to get to know you.
-Shoutouts and channel promotions. If filming a whole video together isn’t possible, you can simply give each other shoutouts in your videos and promote each other’s channels.
Build a genuine connection with the influencers you want to collaborate with. Engage with them on social media, watch and comment on their videos, and show you’re a real fan of their work. When you do reach out, be authentic and humble. Explain why you think their audience would benefit from collaborating with you. If they say no, don’t take it personally. Politely ask if they have any feedback for you or if you can try again in the future.
Over time, as you gain more views and subscribers, you’ll become an influencer yourself. Pay it forward by collaborating with up and coming creators in your niche. Helping others grow their channels will continue the cycle of cross-promotion and benefit the community as a whole.
Collaborating with influencers is a win-win situation. Their audiences gain new content and exposure to your channel, while you tap into a new viewership. With consistency and by building real connections, collaborations can help boost your views and accelerate your growth on YouTube.
Promote Your Videos on Social Media
Promoting your videos on social media is one of the best ways to increase views and build your audience.
Share on YouTube
Don’t just upload your video and wait for the views to pour in. Engage with your viewers in the comments, like and reply to their comments, and share your video on YouTube’s community tab. This signals to the YouTube algorithm that your video is active and worth promoting.
Tweet it out
Share your new video on Twitter, using an eye-catching thumbnail and an intriguing caption to grab attention. Include relevant hashtags to make your tweet more discoverable. Engage with anyone who comments, likes or retweets your video.
Post on Facebook
Facebook is a major traffic source for many YouTubers. Create an exciting post with your video thumbnail, a brief description, and a call-to-action for people to watch and like your video. Join relevant Facebook groups and share your video there too. Respond to all comments and reactions on your posts.
Promote on Instagram
Instagram is very visual, so it’s perfect for promoting your videos. Post a short, captivating preview clip or trailer of your video. Use lots of hashtags, especially around trending topics related to your content. Engage with everyone who likes, comments or DMs you about your video.
Link on other platforms
Share your video on any other social networks you use, like LinkedIn, Pinterest or Reddit. Look for relevant communities and groups to join and promote your content in. The more people who see your video across the social web, the more views you’ll gain on YouTube.
Keep promoting your video for at least a week after uploading to maximize traffic and boost your rankings. Engage with viewers, build hype and encourage shares, likes and comments. With an active social strategy, you’ll gain more views and subscribers in no time.
