The shelf-life of videos posted on social is frustratingly short — hours-long or, at most, days. Algorithmically-speaking, platforms like Instagram and TikTok will distribute your videos through their feeds immediately after you publish—and then, after that—it’s over.

But YouTube is different! Like I’ve said before: it’s not a social network; it’s a search engine. Properly optimized videos can be discovered in viewer searches or as a recommended next video for literally years into the future.

Fact is, video needs to be a (big) part of your marketing mix in 2022: short-form or long-form, vertical or horizontal, low-grade or pro-grade. The point is, just make videos!

However, doing so won’t be easy. Thus, IMO, you owe it to yourself to position them on YouTube for long-term success. So here are THREE easy ways to get more views on your YouTube videos:

1. Conduct keyword research using a tool like TubeBuddy (visit tubebuddy.com/jasonpantana to sign-up) to analyze the phrasing prospective viewers are conducting in their YouTube searches related to your video’s topic in order to help that video rank higher in the search results.
2. Once you’ve identified your keyword (i.e., your key “phrase”), make sure to include it (verbatim) in your video’s title, as one of its tags, and somewhere in the video description. Drive the point home to YouTube that your video should show up in applicable searches and/or as the watch-next recommendation of comparable videos.
3. Attach a super-clickable thumbnail image. Ideally, it should feature a frame out of your subject video (**so don’t just use some random photo that’s not part of your video**) with superimposed, headline-esk text, icons, and/or graphics that entice viewers click and watch.

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