YouTube SEO Study: Factors That Correlate With Top Rankings via @sejournal, @MattGSouthern

A survey by the video hosting level Adilo revealed communal factors shared by high-ranking YouTube videos.

The probe analyzed implicit 1.6 cardinal videos, focusing connected 300 that ranked successful the apical 3 for competitory non-local keywords crossed 10 industries.

Authored by Chinasa Ferderick and Felix Johnson, the study offers insights for businesses aiming to amended their visibility connected YouTube.

YouTube SEO Study: Top Findings

Engagement Metrics Correlate With Rankings

Research shows that engagement metrics interaction YouTube’s ranking algorithm:

• Video Engagement Rate: Top videos averaged 2.65% engagement, compared to the level mean of 0.09%.
• Channel Engagement Rate: Channels with apical videos had an mean engagement complaint of 4.46%.
• View Count: Videos successful the apical presumption averaged 358,000 views, portion 2nd and 3rd ranked videos averaged 303,000 and 292,000 views, respectively.

Content Formats

The information challenges fashionable beliefs astir video optimization:

• Video length: Videos betwixt 8-9 minutes (median 536 seconds) appeared successful apical positions astir frequently, contrary to fashionable proposal favoring longer content
• Video resolution: 90% of top-ranking videos were successful HD oregon 4K solution (68% HD, 22% 4K)
• Description length: The mean statement connection number was 222 words

Technical Optimization Factors

The information revealed respective method factors with ranking correlation:

• Transcripts: 94% of top-ranking videos included afloat transcripts
• Closed captions: Nearly 94% featured closed captions
• Timestamps: 63% incorporated timestamps successful descriptions
• Custom thumbnails: 89% utilized customized thumbnails alternatively of auto-generated ones
• Hashtags: Only 37% of top-performing videos utilized hashtags
• External links: 78% included astatine slightest 1 outer nexus successful their descriptions

Keyword Strategy

The survey recovered the pursuing patterns successful keyword usage:

• Only 6% of top-ranking videos had titles with nonstop keyword matches
• 75% utilized related keywords that appeared to code hunt intent
• 12% utilized near-exact lucifer phrasing
• 7% included each keywords but successful a antithetic order

This information suggests that YouTube whitethorn prioritize contented relevance implicit exact-match keywords, akin to trends successful accepted hunt algorithms.

Channel Authority

The survey identified respective channel-level factors appearing successful top-ranked videos:

• Channel age: Top-ranking videos came from channels averaging 111 months (9+ years) successful age
• Subscriber count: A median of 520,000 subscribers for channels with top-ranking videos
• Channel type: 63% of top-ranking videos came from brand/organizational channels versus 37% from idiosyncratic channels
• Verification status: 54% of apical videos came from verified channels
• Channel description: 82% of channels included website links oregon societal media successful descriptions

Multiple Video Rankings

YouTube appears to let aggregate videos from the aforesaid transmission to fertile for identical keywords.

The researchers recovered that 19% of YouTube channels person much than 1 video ranking successful the apical 3 positions for the nonstop keywords.

This suggests that YouTube’s attack to keyword targeting whitethorn disagree from Google’s, which avoids keyword cannibalization.

Geographic & Age Factors

Two important patterns were noted :

• Video Age: The mean property of the top-ranking videos was 29 months. Only 9% of these videos were little than six months old.
• Geographic Patterns: 59% of the apical videos came from U.S.-based channels. Channels that didn’t notation their determination (15%) performed amended than channels intelligibly identified arsenic non-U.S. (26%).

This inclination whitethorn bespeak that the marketplace size oregon algorithm preferences favour contented from U.S. creators.

What Does This Mean?

Based connected the survey findings, video creators who privation to fertile amended connected YouTube should see these tips:

1. Track engagement metrics arsenic they tin power rankings.
2. Create videos that are 8 to 9 minutes agelong and successful precocious resolution.
3. Add transcripts and closed captions to your videos.
4. Use customized thumbnails and see timestamps.
5. Build your channel’s authorization by posting regularly.
6. Use a bid of videos to people important keywords.
7. Write titles that lucifer what viewers are searching for, not conscionable nonstop keywords.

Study Methodology & Limitations

The researchers looked astatine videos that ranked for competitive, non-local keywords successful 10 antithetic industries. Although the illustration size is large, the results whitethorn alteration for circumstantial industries.

According to the survey authors:

“YouTube SEO is perpetually evolving, and there’s nary warrant that what works contiguous volition enactment tomorrow. To enactment up of the curve, creators should enactment informed astir the latest trends and champion practices successful YouTube SEO.”

The afloat survey results are disposable connected the Adilo blog.

Featured Image: metamorworks/Shutterstock

SEJ STAFF Matt G. Southern Senior News Writer astatine Search Engine Journal

Matt G. Southern, Senior News Writer, has been with Search Engine Journal since 2013. With a bachelor’s grade successful communications, ...