How to Get More YouTube Views

YouTube brings many opportunities, even for small businesses, but it is also highly competitive. Millions of videos compete for attention every day. Simply uploading good content is no longer enough if you want to reach many views and grow significantly.

You need more than creativity to ensure that your videos don’t perish but get the reach they deserve: you need a smart strategy.

In this article, we’ll show you step by step how to optimize your YouTube channel, plan better content, make your videos visible and generate more YouTube views in the long term.

Optimizing your channel for more YouTube views

Before we talk about individual videos, it’s worth taking a look at the big picture: your channel. This is because it often creates the first impression and therefore plays a part in deciding whether users watch a clip of yours or not.

Pay particular attention to the following elements:

Trailer

Your channel trailer is like an advertisement for your entire offering. Use it to show new visitors in 30-60 seconds why they should watch your videos and subscribe to your channel. Make sure that the trailer appeals emotionally, arouses curiosity and reflects your personality or brand. Alternatively, you can post a new or particularly important video here.

Channel description

Your channel description should also be clear, appealing and to the point. Explain what topics you cover, what added value your video content offers and when new videos will be released. Bonus points if you include relevant keywords that help you to be found.

Channel banner and design

The eye clicks too! Your channel banner should be professionally designed and immediately make it clear what your channel stands for. Use consistent colors and fonts that reflect the character of your brand and evoke appropriate (positive) feelings.

Take a look at the channel banner for the meditation app Calm: Doesn’t it automatically make you want to take a deep breath?

The structure of your channel homepage also plays a role: organize your content in clear playlists so that new visitors can find their way around quickly. If your channel looks like a digital junk room, there is a high risk that users will quickly leave.

Topic research: Find relevant YouTube content

Even the best video is of little use if no one is interested in the topic. That’s why every successful YouTube strategy starts with well thought-out topic research. This involves finding out what content your target group really wants to see, what questions they are asking and what problems they have.

Rely on search intent instead of gut feeling

Many brands and creators tend to choose topics based on their gut feeling. But your videos will only get clicks if they address real needs. So ask yourself: What questions is my target group asking? What problems does it want to solve? Which topics are currently hotly debated?

Ideally, you should have already carried out target group analyses and perhaps even created personas that provide you with a basis for the answers to these questions. It is also advisable to carry out regular topic research.

Tools for topic research

You don’t have to guess to find the right topics – you can work based on data. Here are a few tools to help you:

• YouTube search: enter keywords and pay attention to the auto-completions. These will tell you what people are really looking for.

• Keyword research tools: YouTube may not be Google, but the interests of your target audience remain the same. That’s why the results of keyword research can be at least partially transferred.
• Google Trends: Shows you how interest in certain topics develops over time.
• AnswerThePublic: Here you get a visual presentation of questions that users ask about a keyword.
• Comments & Community tab: Take a look at what your viewers are commenting on under your own or similar videos. This often results in exciting new topic ideas.
• YouTube Analytics: Analyze which of your videos are performing well and which are not. Where could you add new content?

Also take a close look at content on other channels. Perhaps you have a successful blog post that would be suitable for a video.

Pick up on trending topics – but with caution

Trending topics can generate a lot of views in the short term. But be careful: not every hype suits your channel or your target group. Stick to topics that also fit your brand and your long-term goals. Otherwise, in the worst case scenario, you could lose your community before you’ve built it up properly.

YouTube SEO made easy

If you want to be found on YouTube, there’s no getting around YouTube SEO. But don’t worry: you don’t have to be a tech nerd to make your videos search engine friendly. Just a few simple measures can significantly increase your visibility.

Optimize title, description and tags

Your video title should make it clear what it’s about – and contain keywords that are as relevant as possible. Think about it: what would people type into the search to find your video?

The description also offers space for important keywords and additional information. Include your keywords organically, but make sure the text looks natural. Don’t forget tags either. However, these play a much smaller role today than they did a few years ago.

Don’t forget the file name

Even before you upload your video, you can give YouTube important instructions. Don’t just name the file “Video_final.mp4”, but rather give it a descriptive title. This will immediately show YouTube what the content is about.

Use chapters and timecodes

By creating chapters (timecodes) in your description, you not only improve the user experience, but also give YouTube additional information about the content of your video. This can help you rank better for specific search queries.

Thumbnails and titles: How to make people want to click

On YouTube, titles and thumbnails are your most important tools for attracting attention. They decide within seconds whether someone becomes curious or scrolls on. That’s why it pays to work particularly carefully here.

Title: Clear, exciting and search-friendly

Ideally, your title achieves two goals: It makes people want to watch your video and contains relevant search terms.

Avoid overly general phrases such as “My new vlog” or “Tips for beginners”. The following strategies are better.

• How-to and instructional titles: “How to learn a new language in 30 days – without apps” or “SEO for beginners: How to get your website to number 1”

• Listicles: “7 tips to make your home office instantly more productive” or “5 quick recipes for stressful days”
• Storytelling: “Why I gave up my start-up after 2 years” or “From couch potato to half-marathon runner: my journey in 6 months”
• Problem-solving titles: “No ideas for content? How to find topics for your social media editorial plan” or ‘How to prevent burnout from stress at work’.
• Emotional titles: “Put an end to self-doubt: 3 techniques that work”.

Make sure to arouse curiosity without drifting into clickbait. Viewers appreciate honest, clear promises – and YouTube rewards it when people stick around after clicking.

Thumbnails: eye-catchers instead of uniformity

A strong thumbnail immediately catches the eye, arouses emotions and gets to the heart of what your video is about.

Tips for better thumbnails:

• Clear motifs: Show a strong, easily recognizable image – e.g. a steaming pasta dish instead of a cluttered kitchen scene.
• Large font: Use text in the image, but limit it to a few words like “Blitz recipe!” or “Workout guide” to keep the message clear on small screens.
• Recognizable design: Keep colors, fonts and stylistic elements consistent across channels – this strengthens your brand perception.
• Show emotion: A beaming face, a surprised look or a satisfied thumbs-up often attract more attention than a photo of a product alone. As a general rule: whenever possible, show people.

The effect is greatest when the thumbnail and title complement each other.

Tips for videos themselves

You have an exciting topic, an optimized title and a click-worthy thumbnail – now the video itself has to be convincing. After all, what good is the best first impression if viewers leave after a few seconds? With these tips, you can ensure that your videos are not only clicked on, but also watched to the end.

Start strong and get to the point quickly

On YouTube, the first 5-10 seconds often decide whether someone stays on or clicks through. Avoid long intros where you first introduce yourself or explain why you are making the video.
Start directly with a strong statement, an exciting question or a clear promise. For example:

• “In this video, I’ll show you how you can improve your running times with one small change.”
• “You finally want to become more productive? Here are three simple techniques that work immediately.”

Equipment doesn’t have to be high-end – but it does have to be right

You don’t have to have professional equipment to make good videos. Nevertheless, the sound and image quality should be on point:

• Sound is everything: an inexpensive clip-on microphone can make all the difference.
• Light is more important than camera quality: Use natural light or a simple softbox.
• Keep the image steady: A small tripod or gimbal prevents blurred shots and instantly looks more professional.

Of course, it also depends on the intended use. If you want to create a detailed image video, it is worth investing in a professional camera team.

Structure provides an overview

Structure your video clearly and visibly. A short overview at the beginning (“In this video you will learn …”) helps to manage expectations. For longer videos, also use visual overlays or chapters so that viewers can quickly find the sections that are relevant to them.

Authenticity beats perfection

People want to see real personalities, especially on YouTube. Perfectly scripted speeches or staged scenes often come across as stiff. Have the courage to speak naturally and even leave in little slips of the tongue if you’re filming a tutorial, for example.

Create playlists: More structure, more YouTube views

Playlists on YouTube are much more than just practical collections of your videos. Used correctly, they help you keep viewers on your channel for longer, increase the visibility of your content and even attract the YouTube algorithm to your page.

Why playlists are important

YouTube treats playlists almost like your own content. This means: Playlists can appear in search results, be recommended and bring additional video views and views. Well-organized playlists also lead to users watching more videos in a row – and that’s exactly what the algorithm loves.

How to use playlists correctly

• Create topic bundles: Combine videos that logically belong together. For example:
  • „Social Media Basics for Beginners“
  • „Advanced SEO Strategies“
  • „Quick Recipes for Stressful Days“
• Choose a deliberate order: Think about which order makes the most sense for viewers. Beginners should not watch an expert video first.
• Optimize the description: Playlists also have their own description – use it! Briefly explain what it’s about and include relevant keywords to make the playlist easier to find.
• Present playlists on the channel: Place important playlists prominently on your homepage. This makes your channel clearer – and visitors can find what interests them more quickly.

Video promotion outside of YouTube

YouTube is your main stage – but if you only promote your videos there, you’re wasting potential. To generate more views, you should also cleverly distribute your content outside of the platform. The more people who become aware of your video, the better the chances that YouTube will give it an extra push.

Use social media – but with a plan

Share your videos on channels such as Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook or X. Important: Don’t just post the link, but provide context. Tell your followers why the video is worthwhile – and what they can take away from it.

Example:

“You want to get started with LinkedIn but don’t know what to post? In my new YouTube video, I show you 5 specific ideas that work straight away 👉 [link]”

Use platform-specific formats such as reels, stories or carousels to draw attention to your video.
A short, snappy excerpt or a teaser with subtitles can work wonders.

Newsletter: activate your loyal base

If you have a newsletter, use it! Here you can reach people who are actively interested in your content. For example, include your video as an “extra tip of the week” or explain in one or two sentences why it is particularly relevant at the moment.

Blog article and website: More than just an embed

Don’t just embed your videos, integrate them into your content in a meaningful way. For example, write a suitable blog post and add the video as a supplementary explanation or visual guide. This not only increases view numbers, but also improves your SEO ranking.

Cooperate with others

Why do it all by yourself? If you are active in a network or community, take the opportunity to share your video as a guest post, for example, or link to it in a forum – with added value for the target group, of course.

Co-creation with other creators can also be worthwhile: Mutual mentions bring fresh reach.

Analyze and optimize: How to improve your videos in the long term

YouTube success is the result of constant learning and adaptation. Those who regularly analyze their numbers not only understand what works, but also why. This is where YouTube analytics and a bit of strategic fine-tuning come into play.

Keeping an eye on the most important key figures

You don’t have to be a data nerd, but you should look at these metrics regularly:

• Click-through rate (CTR): Shows how many times your video was clicked on after it was displayed. Low CTR? Then you should work on the title and thumbnail.
• Viewer retention: How long do people stick with it? If many jump off early, it may be due to the entry point or the structure of your video.
• Playback time: One of the most important key figures for the algorithm. The longer people watch your video (or several videos in a row), the better for your ranking.
• Traffic sources: Where do your viewers come from? From YouTube searches, external links or suggested videos? This will help you target your promotion strategy.

Use feedback from the comments

Sometimes your viewers tell you directly what they like – or don’t like. Read the comments carefully, thank them for their feedback and observe whether certain wishes or points of criticism accumulate.

Test, learn, adapt

Not every video has to be a hit. But every video is an opportunity to improve. Think about it after every release:

• What went well?
• Where were there weaknesses?
• What can I do differently next time?

A/B testing is also worthwhile, especially for thumbnails and titles: YouTube now offers native tools called “Experiments” that you can use to test different variants (e.g. for thumbnails or video titles).

A strategy for more YouTube views

YouTube success doesn’t happen overnight. But with a clear strategy, a dose of creativity and the right attention to detail, you can increase your views step by step.

The key is to set up your channel professionally and make a convincing first impression. Find topics that really interest your target group and make sure that your content can be found with a clever YouTube SEO strategy. Create titles and thumbnails that leave people wanting more – and make sure your videos are structured, technically sound and authentic.

Link your content with playlists to keep viewers on your channel for longer and use social media, newsletters or collaborations to draw attention to your videos outside of YouTube. At least as important: analyze your numbers regularly, listen to your community’s feedback and develop your content step by step.

In the end, it’s not just about reaching as many people as possible, but the right people. If you deliver real added value and inspire your viewers, your community will grow automatically.