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!
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.
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.
