How to Get More Views on YouTube (Even With 0 Subscribers)

Summary

In this video, Sam Oh from Ahrefs shares essential strategies for gaining more views on YouTube, even with no subscribers. He emphasizes the importance of optimizing titles and thumbnails, engaging audiences through valuable content, and focusing on niche topics. Sam provides actionable tips such as leveraging series playlists, targeting relevant keywords, embedding videos in forums, utilizing existing audiences, and experimenting with YouTube ads. Additionally, he suggests using end screens and cards to promote more of your content. By implementing these tactics, creators can enhance their visibility and grow their channels effectively.

Takeaways

• 😀 Focus on creating compelling titles and thumbnails to increase clickthrough rates (CTR). Avoid clickbait titles that don't deliver on promises.
• 😀 Engage your audience by delivering valuable content, scripting your videos, asking questions, and encouraging likes and shares.
• 😀 Narrow down your niche topic to build a dedicated audience that is more likely to watch multiple related videos.
• 😀 Use series playlists to claim the 'Up next' spot on your own videos, encouraging viewers to watch related content sequentially.
• 😀 Target keywords with actual search demand instead of 'me-centered' topics to attract more viewers interested in specific queries.
• 😀 Embed videos on traffic-generating forums or platforms like Quora to reach audiences actively seeking answers related to your content.
• 😀 Leverage existing audiences by sharing videos through email newsletters, social media, or embedding them in relevant blog posts.
• 😀 Experiment with YouTube search ads to target high-performing keywords, focusing on engaging content that generates viewer retention.
• 😀 Use retargeting ads to reach viewers who have previously engaged with your content, enhancing conversion rates and subscriber growth.
• 😀 Incorporate end screens and cards in your videos to promote additional content, keeping viewers on YouTube for longer sessions.

Q & A

What are the three core principles for getting more views on YouTube?

The three core principles are focusing on your title and thumbnail to boost click-through rates (CTR), creating engaging content that retains viewers, and producing relevant videos on a niche topic.

Why is the title and thumbnail important for a YouTube video?

The title and thumbnail are crucial because they directly affect the video's click-through rate. If viewers are not compelled to click on the video, it won't receive views, regardless of its content.

What is meant by 'engaging your audience'?

Engaging your audience means creating videos that provide value, keep viewers interested, and encourage interaction through likes, comments, and shares.

How can creators ensure their videos are engaging?

Creators can script or outline their videos to stay on topic, ask questions throughout to prompt comments, and directly encourage viewers to like and share.

What is a series playlist and why is it beneficial?

A series playlist is a set of videos marked to be viewed together. It is beneficial because it can lead to increased suggested views in the 'Up next' section, enhancing viewer retention.

How should creators choose keywords for their videos?

Creators should target keywords with search demand, ideally focusing on long-tail keywords with lower competition. Tools like Ahrefs' Keywords Explorer can help identify these keywords.

What strategy can be used to share videos on forums?

Creators should find relevant forums where people are asking questions that their videos can answer. They can then provide helpful answers along with links to their videos.

How can existing audiences be leveraged to increase views?

Existing audiences can be leveraged by sharing videos through email newsletters, social media, and embedding videos in relevant blog posts to drive traffic.

What role do YouTube ads play in increasing views?

YouTube ads can be used to promote videos, particularly those with high engagement metrics. Targeting effective keywords and using retargeting ads can significantly increase views and subscribers.

What are endscreens and cards, and how do they help?

Endscreens are thumbnails added at the end of videos, while cards are interactive pop-ups that can be added during the video. Both features encourage viewers to watch additional content on the channel, enhancing overall engagement.