You’ve spent hours creating a great YouTube video, finally clicked “Publish” – and then... nothing. Or at least not the result you were hoping for. We’ve all been there. To get YouTube views, it’s not enough to just upload content and hope for the best. It’s about smart planning and knowing what actually works on the platform.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to boost your YouTube views with proven strategies, whether it’s worth buying YouTube views – or not –, and how to create your own YouTube site. Plus, we’ll also show you how to use Adobe Express to convert your video to MP4 format – ready to share with the world on YouTube.

What are we waiting for?

15 proven strategies for more YouTube views.

A successful YouTube marketing strategy isn’t just about creating high-quality videos. It’s also about ensuring that your content stands out from the crowd and gets seen. With users uploading over 20 million videos on YouTube every day, you need a strategy to cut through the noise and boost your YouTube views. And what you’re looking for is long-term, sustainable visibility and not just a one-time hit.

Because if your videos regularly get views and interactions, YouTube’s algorithm will take notice and start to classify your content as valuable, showing it to more viewers. This creates exactly what we want: more views = more interactions = more visibility = channel growth. And that’s why you want to publish YouTube videos that people actually want to watch and interact with.

Now let’s talk straight. Here’s how to boost your YouTube views step by step:

1. Optimise your video title and thumbnail:

First impressions count. Your title should be clear, keyword-relevant, and a little intriguing. The thumbnail? Visually bold and relevant. Think of it as a mini billboard for your content. According to YouTube, over 90% of top-performing videos use custom thumbnails. With Adobe Express, you can create YouTube thumbnails that make people stop scrolling.

2. Nail your intro:

You’ve got about 15 seconds to convince people to keep watching. Get straight to the point, show value early, and avoid long intros. YouTube’s algorithm values watch time and retention – so hook your audience fast.

3. Use YouTube SEO:

Include your main keyword – like “Business Tips” – in your title, description, and tags. Also speak your keywords in the video itself – YouTube’s algorithm picks this up through auto-captions.

Pro tip: Another way to get more views on YouTube: optimise your YouTube video for Google. According to Searchmetrics, Google’s video carousel appears in 67% of searches on desktop computers and 54% on mobile devices. Of these searches, YouTube dominates the video search market share with over 90%!

4. Write searchable video descriptions:

Your video description isn’t just for links – it’s a place to include keywords, give context, and drive traffic. Aim for 150+ words with a clear summary, relevant hashtags, and a call to action. Treat it like micro-copywriting.

5. Use chapters and timestamps:

Dividing your video into chapters helps with both SEO and user retention. Viewers appreciate being able to jump to what interests them – and YouTube rewards clarity.

6. Add end screens and cards:

Promote related videos or encourage subscriptions using YouTube’s built-in tools. This helps with session time and boosts your chances of being recommended.

7. Create playlists:

Keep viewers watching by organising your videos into themed playlists. YouTube rewards longer watch times because it increases session duration. Playlists also encourage binge-watching.

8. Be consistent:

One-off uploads won’t cut it. Find a schedule you can maintain – weekly, biweekly, whatever works. YouTube prioritises consistent channels in its recommendations.

Pro tip: With the Adobe Express free content scheduler, you can create, plan, preview and schedule your content either on your desktop or via app.

9. Stay up to date:

Keeping an eye on various online trends can help you boost your YouTube views and expose your content to a wider audience, regardless of your industry. If you spend a few minutes browsing YouTube, you’ll probably notice a pattern of videos created in the same style or discover a popular topic that’s currently trending. This will give you an idea of which topics and formats are particularly popular right now.

But before you jump on every trend, check that you’re staying true to point 8: be consistent and make sure the trend fits with your other content and topics – and your audience!

10. Engage with your community:

Reply to comments, ask for feedback, encourage likes and shares. YouTube notices this engagement and gives your content a boost. Community signals are part of the ranking algorithm. Also pay attention to how you interact with your audience and how quickly you respond – because your audience will notice this too.

11. Use analytics:

Dig into your YouTube Analytics dashboard. Which videos perform best? Where do viewers drop off? Learn and improve – and cover topics your audience will love.

Also, take a look at what other content creators are posting on YouTube, especially your competitors. Investigate all channels that cover topics similar to yours.

12. Try YouTube Shorts:

Short-form videos are getting serious traction. Use them to tease long-form content, hop on trends, or show behind-the-scenes moments. Shorts are prioritised in the YouTube app, making them a powerful discovery tool.

13. Promote your YouTube video across platforms:

Don’t rely on YouTube alone. Share your content via newsletters, embed it in your blog, tease it on social media. Cross-promotion is key to sustainable growth.

14. Invest in YouTube ads:

You can’t go wrong by spending a little money to grow your YouTube channel. In fact, advertising on YouTube is common among video artists. With YouTube advertising, you can set a budget and select an audience that fits your product, service or business. As for the type of ad, you can choose whether it appears while someone is watching a video or when someone is searching for a new video.

15. Encourage your employees to create content:

If you run a business, a proven strategy is to involve employees in content creation. This gives the company a face, makes the content appear authentic and perhaps sometimes a little rough around the edges – which inevitably results in some kind of uniqueness – and allows you to offer an authentic glimpse behind the scenes. Shorter formats such as YouTube Shorts are also suitable for this.

Sounds like a lot of work? Yes, at first, you’ll need to do your homework and lay the groundwork for a successful YouTube strategy. But with time and practice, it gets easier.

And while you’re still fine-tuning your YouTube strategy, Adobe Express has lots of helpful templates for YouTube thumbnails, your YouTube profile picture, YouTube banner, YouTube animations, YouTube templates and, last but not least, of course to create impressive YouTube videos.

Why YouTube views are important.

Alright, we’ve looked at 15 strategies for boosting your YouTube views. Now let’s take a step back and look at why YouTube views are important.

1. Algorithm signals: YouTube’s recommendation system heavily relies on engagement signals, and views are one of the key inputs. Videos with strong initial views are more likely to be pushed into “Suggested Videos” and “Browse” features, giving them exponential reach.
2. Social proof: High view counts act as a form of credibility. If a video has been watched thousands of times, people are more likely to click and trust it. Research on digital behaviour shows that users often rely on popularity cues when deciding what to watch.
3. Brand awareness: For businesses, more views mean more exposure. Each view is a potential customer touchpoint. According to Google, 90% of people say they discover new brands or products on YouTube.
4. Monetisation: Creators who want to join the YouTube Partner Program need to meet watch-hour and subscriber thresholds. More views contribute directly to these requirements, moving creators closer to monetisation opportunities.
5. Community growth: More views mean more chances for likes, comments, and shares. This engagement builds a stronger community, which in turn helps your future videos perform better.

In short: YouTube views aren’t vanity metrics. They’re essential signals for the algorithm, proof of credibility, and stepping stones to both audience growth and monetisation.

Buy YouTube views – yes or no?

It’s one of the most common questions creators ask: should you buy YouTube views to kickstart growth? The answer isn’t black and white. Let’s break it down.

The case against buying YouTube views:

• Risk of fake engagement: Many providers sell views generated by bots or click farms. These inflate your numbers but don’t interact with your content – and YouTube’s algorithm detects that. Fake views can lead to lower reach or even account penalties. See our next point.
• Violation of YouTube policies: According to YouTube’s Fake Engagement Policy, it’s prohibited to artificially increase views or subscribers – for example, through bots or click farms. This falls under spam and “deceptive practices”.
• No real community: Views alone don’t translate into subscribers, comments, or brand trust. Without engagement, your channel won’t grow long-term.

The case for (careful) investment:

• Ad-based services: Some platforms sell views that come from real ads placed on YouTube or across the web. These views are legitimate and can help increase your reach – but they are costly.
• Awareness boost: A small push can sometimes make your video look more credible, which may encourage organic viewers to click. But this only works if the content itself is strong.

Our verdict: Buying YouTube views is generally not recommended. It may deliver short-term numbers, but it rarely builds sustainable growth. If you’re considering spending money, a better strategy is to invest in promoting your YouTube video through targeted ads. That way, you reach real viewers, gain authentic engagement, and stay fully within YouTube’s rules.

And if you don’t have much money to spend anyways, then it’s better to invest in good equipment for consistently good content to boost your YouTube views.

How to create a YouTube site.

If you want to grow on YouTube, the first step is to set up your own channel. Your channel is the central hub where all your videos can be found, where users can subscribe to you, and where you build your brand presence.

Here’s how to create a YouTube channel in five steps:

Bonus tip: Verify your channel. Verification unlocks additional features such as custom thumbnails and longer video uploads. To do this, you must link a phone number to your account.

How to convert a video to MP4 format for YouTube with Adobe Express.

Sometimes the content is already there, just waiting to be used – but unfortunately in the wrong format. YouTube recommends MP4 for best results. But don’t worry, Adobe Express has your back.

To convert your YouTube video to MP4 with Adobe Express follow these easy steps:

• Open Adobe Express.
• Upload your video file: Drag and drop your video or browse to upload. Videos can be up to 1 hour long. Supported formats include MOV, AVI, WMV, and more.
• Convert: Select MP4 as your output format. Adobe Express will automatically optimise the video quality.
• Edit your video: If your video still needs a bit of refinement, you can trim or mute your video.
• Click “Download”: In a few seconds, your video is ready to upload to YouTube.

But even if you’re still in the content creation phase, Adobe Express can help. Create a YouTube video with professional video templates and design assets, and publish it with the Adobe Express content scheduler.

Try Adobe Express for free now

Good to know.

How do I boost YouTube views?

To boost YouTube views, use strong titles and thumbnails, catch users with an intriguing intro, post consistently, and promote your YouTube video across multiple platforms. YouTube Shorts and community engagement can also drive YouTube views. You’ll find more actionable tips and strategies to get more YouTube views in this article.

How do I promote my YouTube video?

There are several effective ways to promote your YouTube video beyond simply uploading it. Here are a few:

• Use social media: Share your clips or teasers on social media platforms such as Instagram, LinkedIn, or Twitter to drive traffic to your YouTube channel.
• Optimise for SEO: Use keywords in your video title, description, and tags so that your video appears in both YouTube and Google search results.
• Embed videos in websites and blogs: Adding videos to your own website or blogs increases visibility and engagement.
• Collaborate with other creators: Partnering with other YouTubers exposes your content to their audience, allowing you to reach new viewers.
• Use newsletters: Include your latest videos in your newsletter to reach your existing community directly.

Advertising works best when it’s done across multiple channels. The more touchpoints your video has, the more YouTube views you’ll generate organically.

How do I get more YouTube subscribers?

To get more YouTube subscribers, focus on delivering consistent, high-quality content that speaks to your audience’s needs. Make sure your videos are optimised with clear titles, engaging thumbnails, and relevant keywords so they’re easier to discover. At the end of each video, remind viewers to subscribe and explain what they’ll gain by joining your community. Building genuine engagement through comments, collaborations, and social sharing also helps convert casual viewers into loyal subscribers. Over time, consistency and authenticity are the most reliable ways to grow your YouTube subscriber base.

Adobe Express extensive tool set can support you with thousands of professional templates for YouTube videos, banners and thumbnails.

How do I create a YouTube site for my channel?

Creating a YouTube channel is quick and easy:

1. Sign in with a Google account: Go to YouTube and sign in.
2. Create your channel: Click on your profile icon, click “Create channel” and follow the instructions.
3. Customise your channel: Add a profile picture, banner and description with relevant keywords.
4. Upload your first video: Use a meaningful title, a description with lots of keywords and an eye-catching thumbnail.
5. Organise your content: Add playlists and a channel trailer, for example with the Adobe Express YouTube intro maker, and verify your channel to gain access to additional features.

A well-structured channel will help you promote your YouTube videos, gain subscribers, and increase your brand’s visibility.

Can I use Adobe Express for free?

Yes, our free plan offers many important features, including thousands of professional templates, photo editing and effects, animations and some generative AI credits and assets. You can find more information and compare plans on our pricing page.