What are Tags for YouTube?
YouTube tags are keywords or phrases added to your videos, serving as pivotal indicators for YouTube’s algorithm. They help categorize your content and make it discoverable to the right audience. Imagine YouTube tags as beacons, guiding viewers to your content when they search for topics related to your tags. This function is vital in a platform flooded with millions of videos, as it helps to differentiate and recommend your content to interested viewers.
For example, if you’re uploading a tutorial on “How to Bake Chocolate Chip Cookies,” you might use tags like “baking,” “chocolate chip cookies,” “cookie recipe,“ and “how to bake.“ These tags help YouTube determine which viewers might be interested in your video. You’ll want to do light keyword research to find other relevant keyword variations. For instance, in addition to “cookie recipe,“ you might also add “chocolate chip cookie recipe.”
Why Are YouTube Tags Important?
YouTube tags play an important role in search optimization. While YouTube’s algorithm has evolved to prioritize other factors, like video titles, descriptions, and watch time, tags still contribute to how your content is categorized and recommended.
Here are a few reasons why YouTube tags are still relevant:
- Improved Search Visibility: When someone searches for a video on YouTube, the platform uses tags as one of the many factors in deciding which videos to show. Proper tagging can help your video appear in relevant searches, which means more people might find and watch it.
- Clarifying Video Topics: Sometimes, the title or description might not fully explain the content of the video. Tags provide additional context, helping YouTube understand the video’s main topics more clearly.
- Reaching a Broader Audience: YouTube tags can help your video appear in searches for related topics. For example, if your video is about fitness tips, using tags like “exercise,” “workout routine,“ and “fitness motivation“ can help your video reach viewers searching for similar content.
- Supporting Video SEO: YouTube is a search engine, and tags are a form of SEO (Search Engine Optimization). Using the right tags helps ensure your content gets found by people looking for similar videos.
How to Use YouTube Tags Effectively
Now that we understand what YouTube tags are and why they’re important, let’s look at some best practices for using them. While there’s no magic formula, following these guidelines can help your tags work better for you.
1. Start with Your Focus Keyword
Your primary keyword, or the main topic of your video, should be the first tag you add. This “tag” will tell YouTube the main topic of your video. For example, if your video is titled “How to Train for a Marathon,“ the first tag should be “marathon training.”
Starting with your focus keyword also signals to YouTube that this is the most important term you want your video associated with.
2. Broad and Specific Tags
Using a mix of general and niche tags is a good idea. General tags cover broad topics, while specific tags drill down into more detailed aspects of your content.
For example, if your video is about “Vegan Breakfast Recipes.“ Your general tags could be “vegan recipes“ and “breakfast ideas,“ while specific tags might include “vegan smoothie,” “vegan pancakes,“ or “easy vegan breakfast.”
Mixing broad and specific tags can really help your video get noticed on YouTube, making it easier to show up in searches for both general and more specific topics.
3. Include Long-Tail Keywords
Long-tail keywords are more specific and tend to have lower search volume, but they can help you attract highly targeted viewers. If you’re making a video about “How to Edit Videos on a Budget,” your long-tail keywords could be “edit videos with free software” or “budget-friendly video editing tools.”
These longer phrases might not bring in a massive audience, but they will attract viewers who are specifically interested in what your video covers. Long-tail keywords usually have less competition, making it easier for your video to rank higher in search results.
4. Think About Related Topics
Tags don’t have to be limited to the exact topic of your video. Think about other topics your audience might be interested in that relate to your content. For example, if your video is about “Yoga for Beginners,“ you could also add tags like “stress relief,” “meditation,“ or “mindfulness.“ These related tags can help your video get recommended to viewers watching content in similar categories. You can use tools like Google Ad Words or semrush to do research.
5. Avoid Overstuffing Tags
Adding as many tags as possible may be tempting, but focusing on relevance is better than quantity. While YouTube allows up to 500 characters for tags, you should use only some of them. Adding too many irrelevant or loosely related tags can confuse the algorithm and make it more difficult for your video to reach the right audience.
Instead of using every possible tag, choose the ones that best represent your video’s content. Quality over quantity is the goal when it comes to YouTube tags.
6. Research Competitors’ Tags
A great way to level up your tagging game is by checking out what your competitors are using with tools like TubeBuddy or VidIQ. These tools let you see the tags on popular videos that are similar to yours. Now, you don’t want to copy their tags exactly, but taking a peek at what’s working for others in your niche can definitely inspire some fresh ideas for your own tags.
7. Update Tags Over Time
As your video ages, it might attract a different audience or get found through new search terms. Periodically updating your tags can help keep your video relevant and improve its performance in the long run.
For example, if your video is about a new tech product, adding tags related to product reviews or updates after a few months could help it stay visible.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
While tags are a valuable tool, there are a few common mistakes to watch out for:
- Using Irrelevant Tags: Adding tags that don’t accurately describe your video to get more views can backfire. YouTube’s algorithm is smart, and if your tags don’t match your content, it can hurt your video’s performance.
- Repeating Tags: There’s no need to repeat the same keyword in different variations. For example, using “how to bake cookies“ and “baking cookies“ might seem like a good idea, but YouTube’s algorithm already recognizes these as similar terms. Keep your tags diverse.
- Ignoring Tags Altogether: While YouTube tags aren’t the only factor that determines how well your video performs, neglecting them can result in missed opportunities for your video to be found.
Final Thoughts on YouTube Tags
YouTube tags are essential to optimizing your videos for search and discovery. They help YouTube’s algorithm categorize your content, making it easier for your target audience to find your videos. Using a mix of broad, specific, and long-tail keywords, along with keeping your tags relevant and updated, can increase your chances of success on the platform.
Remember, while tags are important, they’re just one part of the equation. Ensure you’re also paying attention to your video titles and descriptions and, most importantly, creating content that engages and delights your audience.
How Menerva Digital Can Help
Ready to elevate your YouTube SEO strategy and drive real results? Our experts at Menerva Digital are here to help you maximize your video’s visibility, reach your target audience, and outperform the competition. Get in touch with us today, and let’s unlock the full potential of your YouTube channel!
