Search traffic is evergreen — videos rank for YEARS. Here's how to win it.
Keyword Research for YouTube
- Type topics into YouTube search — autocomplete shows real queries
- Target "how to", "best", "review", "vs", "tutorial" formats
- Check competitors' top videos — replicate their topics, better
- Free tools: TubeBuddy/VidIQ free tiers show search volume
On-Video SEO Checklist
- Title: keyword near the front + curiosity ("How to Download TikTok Videos Without Watermark (2026)")
- Description: first 2 lines = keyword-rich summary (visible in search). 200+ words total.
- Tags: 5-8 relevant tags, minor factor but harmless.
- Chapters: timestamped chapters rank in Google too.
- Say the keyword in the first 30 seconds — YouTube transcribes everything.
- Subtitles: upload SRT files for accuracy.
Ranking Factors (In Order)
Watch time → CTR → keyword relevance → engagement → session time. Nail the first two and you outrank almost anyone.