Optimizing YouTube descriptions for discoverability

There’s a lot that goes into YouTube success and after you’ve chosen a killer title and eye-catching thumbnail, the YouTube description field is your next priority and what you choose to put in your YouTube description is important.

How important?

Think of your video description as the bridge that connects your content to the viewer searching for the right content. The best YouTube description not only tells YouTube what your video is about but also invites viewers to click, watch, and engage.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the essential strategies to create YouTube descriptions that boost discoverability and improve video rankings.

YouTube descriptions a major SEO opportunity 

Your video’s description is much more than a text blurb below your video. Descriptions are a major video SEO opportunity. Search engines like Google and YouTube itself use this section to understand what your content is about and how (if) it’s relevant. Do YouTube descriptions well and you make it much more likely that your video will appear in search results. Follow the age-old advice: write for humans, optimize for algorithms. By including YouTube keywords strategically and crafting meaningful descriptions, you provide context to both viewers and the YouTube algorithm. This context increases your chances of reaching the right audience and climbing up the ranks in search results.

Moreover, a thoughtful description enhances your credibility, giving potential viewers a reason to click. Your description can explain your video’s purpose, highlight key takeaways, offer detail on YouTube chapters (another great SEO opportunity), resources, and more.

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Crafting SEO-optimized YouTube descriptions

Effective YouTube descriptions combine SEO techniques with a friendly, engaging tone. Here’s how to strike the perfect balance:

Use primary keywords in the first 150 characters

If YouTube descriptions are an SEO gold mine (and they are) then the first 150 characters is where you’ll find the mother lode. The first 150 characters or so are also what viewers see without having to click “Show More.”

Use this valuable real estate wisely. Incorporate your primary keywords naturally while summarizing the video’s core message. For instance, if your video is targeting “travel tips for beginners,” you might start with something like:

Essential travel tips for beginners; these beginner travel tips make trip planning a breeze.

This approach immediately tells viewers and algorithms what your video is about.

Use secondary keywords for broader reach

Secondary keywords support your main topic and help capture a broader audience. Let’s say your primary keyword is “travel tips.” Secondary keywords like “budget travel” or “packing hacks” can expand your reach. Sprinkle these throughout your description to maintain relevance without overstuffing. For example:

Essential tips for budget travel beginners; these beginner budget travel tips and packing hacks will make your first budget trip a breeze.

Enhancing viewer engagement with descriptions

YouTube descriptions are important for SEO, but never forget that your viewer is a human, not an algorithm. Engage the viewer with your description. Make it easy to navigate your video and include more information for viewers in your description:

Add time stamps, links, and calls to action

Time stamps turn into YouTube chapters that make it easy for viewers to navigate your video. Chapters aren’t just good for viewers, they’re another opportunity to target your keywords, including long-tail keywords. For example: 

• 00:00 Intro to budget travel
• 02:11 Budget travel packing tips
• 04:33 Budget travel hacks

Adding links to related videos, external resources, or your social channels in your description (not in the first 150 characters) also enriches the viewer experience. Don’t forget a clear call to action (CTA), like asking viewers to subscribe, comment, or visit your website. A simple line like “Enjoyed this video? Subscribe for more weekly travel tips!” can significantly boost engagement.

Encourage cross-promotion with social links

Use your description to promote your other platforms. Include links to your Instagram presence, your blog, and/or a link to sign up for your email list. This not only grows your audience across channels but also strengthens your connection with viewers. Ensure the links are relevant and presented with enticing CTAs, such as: “Follow me on Instagram for daily travel inspiration!”

Improve video rankings with optimized descriptions

Optimized YouTube descriptions are a powerful tool to improve video rankings. Let’s explore some effective strategies to make the most of them:

Find the right keywords

Keywords are the backbone of YouTube video SEO. Research high-performing keywords that align with your content. Tools like TubeBuddy Keyword Explorer can help identify terms that your target audience is searching for. 

Go longtail and get specific

The best keywords are those with higher search volume and lower competition. Continuing with our travel example, the chances that your video will rank for the keyword “travel” or “travel tips” are vanishingly low. They’re too broad. Dig deeper. Choosing something like “budget family travel tips” is better.

Conclusion: maximize discoverability with effective descriptions

Optimizing your YouTube descriptions is one of the easiest yet most impactful ways to improve discoverability and boost engagement. By focusing on video SEO with strategic keywords and writing descriptions with viewers in mind, you set your videos for success.

So take the time to craft thoughtful descriptions for each upload. When you write with viewers and algorithms in mind, the result will be clear to see.

Get an unfair advantage on YouTube

Give your YouTube channel the upper hand and easily optimize for more views, more subs, and more of every metric that matters.

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