YouTube is one of the greatest platforms for exposure nowadays. People are spending most of their free time on YouTube. Marketing their video on YouTube will be easy if an individual follows this checklist.

1. Use the keyword multiple times in the video

Whenever you prepare the video try to use the exact keywords three to four times or more. People searching for a video with this exact keyword will find your video relevant if you use them. 

2. Use the keywords in caption

If you want to receive a worldwide view of your video then you should put the captions. People with impaired hearing can read the captions to understand the video. Keywords in the captions will increase the engagement widely.

3. Rename your video file with a target keyword

Whenever people search about that particular trending keyword they will receive a search result of something contextual if you rename your video file with a targeted keyword. Also, it will increase the visibility of the video if that targeted keyword is in trend.

4. Use the keyword in the video title

If you want to reach your video to the right audience then use the keywords naturally in the title. Keep the title short, catchy, and exact so that viewers watch it.  You can use up to 60 characters to describe your video in the Title.

5. Optimize your video description

Try to be specific and touch the keywords while writing the description. The description can give you a better search result. You can use up to 5000 characters to describe your video in the description.

6. Tag your video with popular keywords relating to your topic

Whenever we watch a particular video, YouTube suggests more videos on the same topic. If you don’t tag your video with popular keywords then it will be difficult for YouTube to arrange your video in the suggestion tray. Do not use unrelated tags to your videos it can land you in trouble.  

7. Categorize your video

The category of a video can be decided with the similarity of the content topic with other videos. After categorizing the video gets piled up with many other same kinds of videos and receives more views. 

8. Reasons for preferring to upload a custom thumbnail image for your video’s result link

It is recommended to upload a custom thumbnail for the video’s result link as it attracts the people most. Thumbnail depicts the whole story of the content in one picture and creates interest in the viewer’s mind to watch the video. Thumbnails images should be unique and catchy.

We recommend these simple “rules of thumb” for best results:

• Resolution: 1280 x 720 px (but any 16:9 aspect ratio should work)
• Format: .JPG, .GIF, .BMP, or .PNG
• Size: respect the 2MB limit
• Use high contrast images
• Add text and colors to encourage clicks
• Choose a close-up image, if you can
• Use a stock photo when in doubt
• Be consistent with other branding

9. Use Cards

At the time of watching a video have you ever seen a bar popping up at the top center of the screen? Also, have you noticed an “i” inside a sphere on the top right corner? This bar and the “i” are known as cards that are used to send notifications to the viewers. Now let us take a look at the detailed objectives of using the cards:-

1. Popularise the content of other channels by using channel cards.
2. You can ask for the subscription to the viewers.
3. If you want your viewers to donate to a non-profit organization then you can use this donation cards.
4. Redirect viewers to your website where you have launched your merchandise.
5. You can engage your viewers in some kind of polls by using poll cards.

10. Create End Screens

Most of the people may have noticed that when a particular video ends some suggestions of other videos pops up. Those suggestion video tiles are very much appealing to the audience and are the previous videos of the creator. Use the end screens availing proper guidelines for more views.

• Your video has to be at least 25 seconds long to have an end screen.
• Other interactive elements, like card teasers and branding watermarks, are suppressed during the end screen.
• End screens aren’t available for videos set as made for kids.

How to Add End Screen:

• Open the Videos page in YouTube Studio and select a video.
• From the left menu, select Editor.
• Select Add an end screen.
• You can also add and customize end screens while uploading a new video.

11. Promote a Marquee Video

A popular video appears very often in the suggestion list of the viewers for its popularity. These popular marquee videos can help to provide popularity to your other non-popular videos. A video should cross a mark of 5000 views on YouTube to become a marquee video. 

12. Create Playlists 

In a playlist whenever a video ends another video plays automatically. You can create a playlist of all your content so viewers can give a binge-watch to it.

13. Offer your advice or feedback by commenting on other videos

It is a kind of advertising when you comment on other videos and refer your videos to the viewers of another popular video of the same topic. Try offering your advice or feedback to gain more popularity.

14. Embeds Code help to add a video

An embedded video is nothing but a modification in the YouTube link of your video. If you want to add this video on your website you have to add the modified version in HTML which will direct anyone to the YouTube video improving the SEO ranking.

15. Share your video in social media platforms

To gather more viewers share your videos on the other social media platforms. That can be Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.

16. Create the backlinks for the particular videos

Backlinks can bring your viewers to your website or any other blogs from YouTube. Backlinks redirect the viewers to a particular page of which the link has been made.

17. Embed Video Subscription Plugins Widgets on Your Blog

You have to decide where you want to place your subscription button after embedding your video subscription plugins widget on your blog. If you set subscription boxes on every pages of the blog it will get more attention. 

18. Use Video Schema for personal Websites

Search engines can refer your website if you use video schema for your websites. Video schema provides more information to search engines about the content of a website consisting of an embedded video.

19. Use Customize Playlist Channel

Customize your YouTube playlist channel and make the viewers see what you want them to see. Customized playlists differ the videos from the uploaded videos, created playlists and subscriptions. It provides the viewers with proper videos in an alternate between vertical list and a horizontal row for each playlist.

If you only use one playlist layout, your playlists don’t stand out from one another:

But when you alternate layouts, each playlist really stands out:

To change layouts, head over to your channel page. And hit “Customize Channel”.

Then, click on the little pencil icon next to one of your playlists:

And choose the layout:

Then, alternate between “vertical lists” and “horizontal row” for each playlist.

20. Utilize popular tags

Use the tags which are very popular and used before by your competitors. Videos with popular tags have a high chance of showing up to a great extent to the public.

Whenever you upload a video, use this tool vidiq.com for a better experience. It helps you maximize your organic reach and get more views on YouTube within hours. 

Follow all of these points to reach one step ahead in YouTube marketing. Many videos don’t get proper exposure to the lack of knowledge about these points.