SEO for YouTube: perfect videos to help you get found (even on Google)

If you still think of YouTube as a “social network for videos,” it’s time to reset your mindset. Every day, nearly 5 billion videos are viewed here and over 720,000 hours of new content are uploaded. But above all, it is the second largest search engine in the world, a platform that, according to the latest estimates, boasts over 2.7 billion monthly active users globally, who use it as a starting point to search for answers, tutorials, or reviews, without going through Google—or at least, not as much as before.

At a time when organic traffic from classic Google results to websites is declining sharply, partly due to the impact of AI Overview, the visibility of video content is exploding: about 26% of all Google SERPs contain at least one YouTube result, often in a privileged position.

In short: if you want to be found, you can’t just work on your website, you have to adopt a true Search Everywhere Optimization strategy and cover every touchpoint, from AI engines to social media, and especially YouTube. Here, we give you an operational and integrated approach to dominate YouTube search (on-platform SEO) and turn videos into assets that gain visibility on Google and in hybrid SERPs (off-platform SEO).

What YouTube is today: history, numbers, and the Short revolution

YouTube was founded in 2005 as a platform dedicated to uploading and sharing videos, almost a free and experimental space for sharing videos among friends.

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In the space of twenty years, it has become a comprehensive digital hub, visited by over 2.7 billion active users every month and with a daily average of almost 5 billion views. The pace of publication is astonishing: every minute, more than 720,000 hours of new content are uploaded by creators, companies, professionals, and users from every sector.

This growth has been both a cause and a consequence of the way people search for info, learn, compare products, make decisions, or simply seek entertainment. YouTube is the central engine for tutorials, reviews, technical guides, training, and market trends. Millions of users type in specific questions, watch videos to discover new brands, explore expert opinions, or seek inspiration for purchases. And the platform provides quick, authoritative, and accessible answers that are increasingly vertical and personalized.

A clear scenario emerges: the community produces increasingly specialized content, and searches become conversations between users and creators. The most attentive brands invest in videos designed to intercept every stage of the customer journey: tutorials, insights, answers to frequently asked questions, and service content. The demand for visibility no longer concerns only traditional web traffic: today, having a presence on YouTube means having a presence where opinions are formed, decisions are made, and trust is built in those who communicate with authority.

What are YouTube Shorts, who uses them, and how do they change visibility?

One piece of this evolution is YouTube Shorts, the platform’s vertical, fast-paced, and highly viral format—maximum length of 60 seconds, immediate access from the main feed and dedicated section. Launched in 2020 to respond to the habits of a generation that consumes content quickly, mobile-first, often in “snack” mode (and, more directly, to the success of Instagram Stories), Shorts now reach impressive numbers, with over 70 billion daily views.

They are produced by a diverse audience of creators, from young people to adults, and their distribution logic favors the sudden explosion of content, allowing even emerging channels to reach millions of impressions thanks to suggestions on the home page, the Shorts section, and targeted algorithmic pushes.

They function as a real reach accelerator: they are distributed in real time on the home page and in the dedicated section, pushing even emerging creators to get millions of impressions in just a few hours. Compared to long videos, Shorts content enjoys an algorithmic “second life”: they often explode days after publication thanks to the algorithmic playlist recommendation system, and are favored by both mobile and cross-social promotion.

This is why they are not just “disposable content,” but represent a key lever for channel growth and winning new audiences. The ability to master short, dynamic formats offers brands an effective tool for experimenting, promoting vertical messages, and driving audiences to long-form videos and in-depth channels.

YouTube as a search engine: why we talk about SEO for YouTube

Talking about “SEO for YouTube” reflects a concrete reality, because today the platform functions as a true internal search engine. Every month, over 5 billion searches are performed on YouTube alone.

The YouTube search bar functions as a real-time answer engine. Users type in questions, problems, product titles, and brand names, expecting visual and concrete answers. They formulate increasingly specific queries, often in the form of questions (“how to…”, “which to choose…”), looking for quick answers, practical demonstrations, or authoritative reviews. And 53% of Gen Z prefer to search for information on YouTube (and also Reddit or TikTok) rather than Google.

YouTube’s algorithm, now much closer to a search engine than a social network, works on a combination of relevance, authority, and engagement signals. In practice, doing SEO on YouTube means controlling all the levers that allow your video to be found both through internal search and personalized suggestions, with logic very similar to that of classic SEO—but with additional variables such as title, thumbnail, and actual retention.

The presence of YouTube videos on Google: real opportunities

Before delving into the operational techniques, it is essential to understand the strategic “why.” Why, right now, has SEO for YouTube become so crucial? The answer lies in the profound transformation of Google search. The old model, based on getting a click to your site, is in crisis.

Another fact emerges: 26% of Google SERPs show at least one video result. And it’s easy to see which is the priority source. We are in the midst of a Google-YouTube symbiosis: the search engine does not treat YouTube like any other site, but gives it preferential treatment. Being its own property, YouTube videos dominate search results. And these are not just simple blue links: we are talking about dedicated carousels that occupy a huge visual space, large previews, “key moments,” snippets enriched with previews and chapters, elements that shift the dynamics of the page, attracting clicks and attention thanks to the visual impact of the thumbnail.

This symbiosis is our greatest opportunity: optimizing for YouTube’s algorithm means, to a large extent, also optimizing for visibility on Google. And it allows us to work with a dual objective: to be found both by the platform’s internal search and by Google users who are looking for solutions and view videos among the top results.

Video data on Google

For many queries—especially tutorials, how-tos, product comparisons, and reviews—Google prefers to show video content rather than a text article. This is for one simple reason: the user’s intent changes, and videos respond better to certain informational needs. For a brand today, being present with a video in the SERP means accessing a privileged space that is visible, clickable, and often positioned above text results.

YouTube content is not treated by Google as normal organic results, but is presented in highly visible visual formats:

• Video box (or Video Pack): the most common format, consisting of a horizontal gallery of three or more videos. It often appears in third or fourth position for informational searches.
• Featured video: a single video highlighted with a large preview, expanded description, and timestamp. It can occupy the top of the page, even above traditional results.
• Key Moment snippet: directly shows a portion of the video, with chapter title, exact minute, and direct link to the specific section. This format is only enabled if the video contains a well-defined time structure via timestamps.

These visually striking blocks allow YouTube content to capture attention and navigation even in highly competitive contexts, such as brand searches or keywords with high SEO competition.

And when a video enters SERP, it activates a click potential that depends on the format and quality of the content:

• Average CTR of video results: according to one study, videos achieve a click-through rate of 4%, which is higher than image boxes and Knowledge Panels, but lower than the top organic positions.
• Potential CTR with effective thumbnail: if the video is accompanied by an engaging thumbnail and an optimized title, the CTR can increase by up to 41% compared to a text link in the same position.
• Visual effect on the page: video carousels take up much more space than a traditional link, and this generates more attention, scrolling, and interaction, especially on mobile.

In short, for a brand, placing a YouTube video in SERP is a means of attracting users from the very first touchpoint, building familiarity and authority even without going through the website.

When websites are no longer enough: a barrier to AI Overview and zero-click SERPs

And then there is the other strategic aspect. Today, websites are facing an information “wall” raised by the spread of AI Overview, which is having a direct and measurable impact on organic traffic—we are talking about a halving of the average CTR to average websites when the AI box is present. This is an insurmountable obstacle for a blog article, but it offers opportunities for video content, which is an alternative to text alone and more appealing to users.

We need to think about how people behave: if they want to learn how to do something (“how do you prune an olive tree?”), compare products (“iPhone 16 vs. Pixel 10 review”) or understand a complex concept, watching a video may be the best solution.

So they can turn to Google—which will suggest relevant content in a prominent position—or directly to YouTube. In fact, 90% of users say they discover new brands and products on this platform, which 65% of users turn to when they want to solve a problem.

This gives us the opportunity to capture a huge slice of informational, comparative, and commercial search intent that no longer goes through traditional search. To do this, we need to start with the data we use to set our strategies.

How YouTube’s algorithm really works

YouTube does not reward those who publish the most, but those who are best at retaining attention. The ranking system is based on a set of signals that measure user behavior: viewing time, retention, click-through rate, and active engagement.

Each video enters an initial testing phase, where it is shown to a limited sample of users to gauge their response. If the signals are strong, the algorithm expands its distribution, placing the content in search results, suggested videos, or on the home page. Otherwise, the video is taken down within a few hours.

Unlike Google Search, it’s not just keywords that count here, but the ability of the content to generate performance from the very first minute. For this reason, every element of the video—title, thumbnail, description, chapters—must be thought of as part of a system that speaks to the algorithm and guides user behavior.

In short, YouTube ranking is the result of a dynamic balance between what users like and what is convenient for the platform. Every click, every second of viewing, every interaction is a signal, but not all signals have the same weight, and above all, they do not maintain it over time. YouTube evaluates the actual behavior of the audience to determine whether a video deserves to be proposed, suggested, or promoted. And the criteria that matter are now clear: total watch time, video retention, level of interaction, and ability to engage the audience in the long term.

What signals reward a video: the metrics that really matter

YouTube decides what to show based on user behavior. The algorithm analyzes every interaction to understand whether content deserves more visibility. It’s not just what we publish that counts, but how people react to it.

1. Retention and display time: the heart of the ranking

An important metric is total viewing time (Watch Time), while retention tells us at what point viewers abandon the video. Videos that manage to retain the user, even if they are not long, are more likely to be recommended.

• An average retention rate of over 50% in the first minute is an excellent indicator.
• The combination of total duration and viewing depth signals quality and relevance.
• Videos with a sharp drop-off in the first 15 seconds lose momentum and visibility.

A long video watched for a short time performs worse than a short video watched until the end. The goal is to maximize total viewing time. Most successful videos on YouTube maintain a retention rate of over 50%, at least for the first minute of viewing. Falling below this threshold is a sign that the content is not capturing attention as it should.

To improve retention, you need to work on the narrative structure: open with a strong hook, provide immediate value, and avoid slow or self-referential introductions. Halfway through the video, it is useful to insert a reward (a surprise, a change of pace, a revelation) to keep attention high. The closing should push towards action: comment, watch more, subscribe.

Virality, on the other hand, arises when the video stimulates spontaneous sharing, generates emotion, surprise, and identification. Videos that become “suggested videos” on a large scale are not just optimized: they are designed to trigger reactions. And the only way to achieve this is to know your audience deeply and continuously test what really engages them.

2. CTR (Click-Through Rate)

CTR measures the percentage of users who click on the video after seeing it in the results.

• A CTR higher than 6-7% is considered good in the first few days.
• CTR is directly influenced by the title, thumbnail, and first visual impact.
• If the CTR is low, the algorithm shows the video to an increasingly narrow audience.

YouTube considers a CTR between 2% and 10% to be “normal.” This is the reference range that most channels experience. A high CTR in the first few minutes/hours after publication tells YouTube that the “title+thumbnail” package is effective, prompting it to show the video to a wider audience.

The section where the video is located has a strong impact on CTR, which is not an absolute value but changes dramatically depending on where the user viewed the video thumbnail. This is the most important metric to analyze. On the homepage (“Browse features”), the figure is typically lower (e.g., 2%-5%), because the user is “exploring” and does not have a specific search intent—the video is competing with dozens of other visual stimuli. In YouTube Search, the CTR is generally higher (e.g., 4%-10% or more), because the user has actively searched for a topic and the video appears as a relevant response. Finally, the value in the Suggested Videos section is highly variable (between 3%-8%): if your video is suggested after very similar content, it can be high.

Then there is the question of context. A new channel that is proposed to a large audience that is not yet loyal will naturally see a lower CTR. The algorithm is still trying to figure out who to show the content to. When an established channel publishes a new video, it shows it first to its subscribers (who receive notifications), generating a very high initial CTR (often above 15-20% in the first few hours), which then tends to stabilize towards an average of 2-10% as the video is shown to a wider audience.

3. Engagement: likes, comments, shares

Interactions generate positive signals and strengthen distribution. YouTube evaluates:

• Likes (and dislikes)
• Number and frequency of comments, especially in the first few hours
• Shares on other social networks
• Saves to playlists, a strong signal of real interest
• Ratio between views and likes (engagement rate)

Videos that stimulate responses, questions, or discussions show greater vitality and tend to be promoted in suggested videos. A high interaction rate, especially comments, signals that the content is generating discussion and interest that goes beyond simple passive viewing.

Not all social signals have the same impact, but each interaction contributes to creating a valuable profile for the algorithm. Likes confirm immediate appreciation, but it is comments that activate a real relationship. YouTube “rewards” videos that stimulate articulate responses and discussions: not only because they indicate interest, but because they increase the time spent on the platform.

Shares are even more relevant: they are an external signal, an invitation to other users to engage with the content. And they are often associated with sudden spikes in visibility. Finally, subscribing to a channel is a vote of confidence that strengthens the creator’s reputation, especially when it comes after watching a specific video. The algorithm considers it a true conversion.

4. Occurrence and consistency of publications

Regularity is another important factor: YouTube favors active channels that publish content with a certain frequency.

• Posting on fixed days and times helps the algorithm predict user behavior.
• Channels that alternate between Shorts and long-form content without a strategy often see a drop in visibility.
• The time of publication also has an impact: videos posted when the audience is active receive more clicks and initial impressions.

According to the latest data, the best global times for long-form videos are between 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. (local time), while Shorts perform best between 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. and between 9:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m.

Ranking of YouTube search results

YouTube is committed to providing users with the most relevant results for their searches, using a ranking system based on several key factors. Here’s how the algorithm decides which videos to show:

• Relevance: YouTube evaluates how closely the title, description, and content of the video relate to the user’s query. Choosing the right keywords and integrating them into the metadata is key to ensuring relevance.
• Performance: The algorithm considers the performance of videos that other users have chosen to watch after searching for similar queries. Videos that prove popular and well-liked for specific searches are more likely to be suggested.
• Engagement: Metrics such as viewing duration (how long users watch the video) and the number of additional videos they choose to watch after the first one indicate a high level of engagement, which is rewarded by the algorithm.

It is important to note that search results are not simply a list of the most viewed videos. Instead, YouTube selects content that is most likely to meet the user’s needs based on their query, balancing relevance and quality of the viewing experience.

YouTube discovery and classification systems

The system then uses several systems to connect users to content, each with specific features designed to optimize the user experience and maximize engagement. These include the Search System, Shorts, and the Trends System, each with a different focus:

1. Search System

It works similarly to Google Search, analyzing users’ search terms to provide relevant results. It does not prioritize personal history, but responds directly to the query. It uses three key metrics:

• Relevance: when the title, description, and content of the video match the query.
• Engagement: measured by viewing time and interactions.
• Quality: based on E-E-A-T signals (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness).  

2. Shorts System

Dedicated to short videos, it has a classification system that is independent from long-form videos.

• Independent timelines: Shorts personalization signals do not affect those of other content.
• Accessible via a dedicated tab, but also integrated into other sections such as the homepage and search.

3. Trends System

Unlike other systems, the Trends feed is not personalized, which is why it shows the same videos to all users in a given country.

Key guidelines:

• Broad appeal to a wide range of viewers.
• Avoid sensational or misleading content.
• Promote a balance between creators, topics, and news.

Factors considered:

• Number and speed of views.
• Source of views (including traffic from outside YouTube).
• Age of the video and comparison with other recent content on the channel.

How to do SEO for YouTube: on-platform strategies

The first step to a successful strategy is to build a solid foundation within the platform, and then be able to stand out and win on YouTube.

YouTube’s algorithm has one primary goal: to maximize user satisfaction in order to keep them on the site for as long as possible. To do this, it tries to show the most relevant and engaging videos for each search. Our job, as marketers and creators, is to send the algorithm all the right signals to convince it that our content is the best answer it can offer.

Optimization decisions must start from here: maximizing the initial CTR, reducing drop-off in the first few seconds, making the title and structure readable for Google, and respecting the most effective publication times. It is precision work that requires method, strategy, and continuous updating.

Keyword research for videos: thinking in terms of questions and problems

Understanding what users are really looking for is the basis of any successful video strategy, and analyzing the real language of users and discovering the most searched queries allows you to produce videos with a high probability of visibility, both on YouTube and Google.

The combination of internal data, automatic suggestions, and monitoring tools offers a decisive advantage over those who rely solely on intuition.

Be careful, though: keyword research on YouTube is different. It is more conversational, more human. Users don’t search for “cold juice extractor,” but “best cold juice extractor for fruit and vegetables” or “how to clean a juice extractor.”

We use a three-tiered approach. The process starts with analyzing YouTube’s autocomplete feature to discover real queries, internal search trends on the platform, and mapping content that already covers a topic. Second, we analyze the titles of the most successful competitors‘ videos for those queries. Third, we use tools that allow us to monitor the competitiveness and potential of keywords in relation to visual results in order to plan a data-driven editorial calendar. For example, video analysis tools such as TubeBuddy or VidIQ help map tags used by the strongest channels and estimate the volume of internal queries.

Integrated keyword research on Google and social media

Today, video search takes place on multiple levels. Queries that work on YouTube often also appear in Google searches, video boxes, and social media carousels. A comprehensive strategy combines “vertical” keywords (typical of YouTube) with data taken from Google Trends, related searches, and hybrid SERP analysis.

Informative queries, product comparisons, purchase questions, and practical guides are the keys that often trigger video results in Google: monitoring these trends means anticipating the market and investing in content that has double the opportunity for visibility.

Listening to social media helps you understand what people are really talking about: TikTok, Instagram, Reddit, and thematic forums often anticipate trends that explode on YouTube weeks later. Integrating these signals into your editorial plan ensures you never fall behind.

The anatomy of a perfectly optimized video

Creating a good video (and focusing it on the trending needs of the audience) is only the first step, which must be followed by general optimization of every textual element present, which are valuable opportunities to communicate with the algorithm (thanks in part to the implemented interpretation capabilities provided by AI) and with the user.

Title, description, thumbnails, tags, and timestamps are strategic levers, and each part contributes to performance, visibility, and indexing. We must treat them with the same care we would devote to a landing page. The goal is to maximize engagement and make it immediately clear what the video is about and why it is worth clicking on.

1. The title

It is the first promise, the calling card. It must be a perfect mix of persuasion and SEO—it is also the first piece of text that the algorithm reads to understand the theme of the video. For this reason, the ideal title combines semantic clarity and visual appeal. The best performance is achieved when the keyword is at the beginning, followed by an element of value (e.g., “how to,” “complete guide,” “mistakes to avoid”) or a clear promise (“in 5 minutes,” “without spending too much”).

Titles between 60 and 80 characters are ideal for ensuring full visibility on all previews.

2. The description

This is one of the most underrated elements, because it is actually very relevant for indexing. It serves to provide context to the algorithm and useful information to the user. One sentence is not enough: we recommend writing detailed descriptions of at least 200-300 words, structured like a mini-article.

A good description contains an introductory text with the main keyword and related keywords, the distinctive value of the video, useful links to our site or products, and, above all, timestamps (chapters), which are essential for modern SEO.

3. The thumbnail

This is the billboard for our video, the element that determines whether the user will click on our result or that of a competitor. A personalized, clear thumbnail with a human face expressing emotion and large, legible text can make all the difference. While the average CTR of a video appearing in Google search results is around 4%, within YouTube, an excellent thumbnail can push this value well beyond 10%, sending a powerful signal to the algorithm.

It is the variable most subject to A/B testing on successful channels. Effective images use strong contrasts, human faces, marked expressions, and short, legible text. Graphic consistency with other videos on the channel reinforces the visual brand identity.

Please note: thumbnails are not just for getting clicks. If the image promises something that is not delivered in the video (the classic bait), there is a risk of a drop in retention in the first few seconds. This is a negative signal that penalizes distribution. The goal is to generate consistent curiosity: hint, don’t reveal everything; stimulate openness, don’t deceive.

4. Tags and hashtags

Until a few years ago, tags were considered useful in helping YouTube categorize videos. However, according to YouTube’s official documentation, tags no longer have any significant impact on the ranking algorithm or recommendations. As a result, their use has become irrelevant for video positioning. It is more important to focus on other aspects such as titles, descriptions, thumbnails, and quality content.

Hashtags, on the other hand, are useful for grouping content and improving discoverability for specific topics.

5. Timestamp chapters, playlists, and end cards

There are other secondary signals that help guide the algorithm (and the user). Adding timestamps to the description, for example, allows YouTube to segment the video into thematic sections and increases the likelihood of appearing in Google’s Key Moments, those “chaptered” video previews that directly answer a question. For example, a breakdown of this type

• 00:00 Introduction
• 01:12 What are the right keywords
• 03:45 How to write an effective description
• 07:10 Examples of titles that work

is read and used not only by YouTube, but also by Google’s algorithm to select portions to display in search results, including AI Overview.

YouTube automatically transcribes the audio of videos, and this transcription is read by both its algorithm and Google. Speaking clearly, using precise terminology, and structuring your passages well improves the quality of the transcription and increases the likelihood of being shown in AI-based results.

The central concept is that every element that improves internal navigation also increases the time spent on the channel. Playlists thus become the basic tool for building viewing paths: they organize content into thematic series and help the algorithm understand the structure of the channel. But above all, they encourage users to stay on the channel and promote binge-watching. Videos included in playlists get more repeat views and higher average retention.

Cards (the boxes that appear while watching) are ideal for offering insights or related content at key moments. They should be used with care: too early and they distract, too late and they are ignored. End screens, on the other hand, function as a visual call to action: they suggest new videos, playlists, or channel subscriptions. If placed well in the last 15-20 seconds, they can double the post-viewing engagement rate.

Shorts vs. long videos: rules and differences

YouTube Shorts videos follow completely different dynamics. They are not discovered through search, but through vertical feeds and continuous scrolling. The key metric is retention in the first 5 seconds: if the user does not scroll away immediately, the video has a chance to expand its reach. For this reason, no intro, no waiting, maximum impact right away.

Long-form videos, on the other hand, live in the logic of search and navigation. They can focus on narrative construction, segmentation into chapters, and a rhythm that accompanies the user. The two formats have different objectives, and the ideal channel integrates both. But they should not be published simultaneously: each piece of content has its own moment and distribution cycle.

When to publish? The time factor (schedules, timing, and algorithms)

YouTube’s algorithm evaluates initial performance within the first 2-4 hours of publication. That’s when CTR, views, and retention influence the decision to expand or limit distribution. Publishing when your audience is online makes all the difference.

The most recent data indicates that:

• For long videos, the best times are 12:00–3:00 p.m. on weekdays, with peaks on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
• For Shorts, on the other hand, the best times are 9:00–10:00 a.m. and 9:00–11:00 p.m.
• Sunday morning is the ideal time for lifestyle and entertainment content.

However, each channel has a different audience. The “When your viewers are on YouTube” section in Analytics reports shows the exact times of peak activity. This is where informed, data-driven scheduling begins.

Off-platform SEO: how to rank YouTube videos on Google

Let’s now move on to the other practical aspect, namely dominating Google with YouTube. After building a solid foundation on the platform, we can move on to the next level and use our videos as brand ambassadors on organic SERPs.

This requires a change in mindset. We need to stop thinking of our videos as just audiovisual content and start thinking of them as multi-format digital assets that Google can read, transcribe, understand, and reuse.

YouTube is not just a container for video content: it is also one of the most prominent sources in Google’s SERP. According to the latest data, 26% of Google searches show at least one result from YouTube, often in carousel format or in video boxes rich in visual elements. It is a massive, strategic presence that is constantly expanding. One study estimated that a video result with a preview in SERP can achieve a CTR up to 41% higher than a text result in the same position.

How Google interprets and ranks a video

Google’s artificial intelligence does not “watch” a video like a human being. It analyzes every component: the title, the text description, the comments, and, above all, the audio transcript. A video with clear audio, a speaker who speaks clearly, articulately, and with precise terminology is a perfect source of data.

Audio quality and clarity of presentation have become, to all intents and purposes, indirect ranking factors, because they make the content easy for the machine to transcribe and summarize.

As we have said, the most important technical aspect of SEO for YouTube in 2025 concerns the superpower of transcripts and chapters. Google automatically transcribes the audio of each video and uses the timestamps that we strategically insert in the description (e.g., “00:00 Introduction”) to break the video down into thematic sections.

Video and AI Overview: how to be cited

Google also uses YouTube as a source to generate AI Overview. According to the Pew Research report from July 2025, the platform is one of the three most frequently cited sites (along with Wikipedia and Reddit) in AI summaries.

To enter this circuit, three things are needed:

• A video with clear audio, well structured, free of noise or lexical ambiguity.
• A semantic transcript consistent with the topic of the query.
• An explicit timestamp that allows Google to recognize and isolate a piece of information.

Videos with a clear structure and complete metadata are more likely to be indexed as partial answers or citable content in the new synthetic SERPs.

Integration with the site: embeds and textual signals

All this tells us that the video must be “connected” and not isolated.

In concrete terms, integrating a YouTube video into a text page increases the user’s average dwell time (up to 100% more according to Wistia) and sends Google a combined signal of quality and relevance. On the other hand, including links to in-depth content on your site in the video description helps build semantic connections, improve the user experience, and generate qualified referral traffic.

Visibility on Google can also be achieved in this way: by transforming each video into a multi-channel asset that lives on the platform but extends into your digital ecosystem.

Using SEOZoom for off-platform YouTube SEO

Understanding if and how YouTube videos appear in Google results is one of the keys to transforming every piece of content into a strategic resource. With the new SEOZoom, you can do this in a concrete and operational way, thanks to a series of tools designed to accurately map the organic visibility of social content, including YouTube.

Social Opportunities allows you to discover which keywords already have video results in Google’s SERP and, above all, which YouTube channels occupy those spaces. It is an indispensable starting point for identifying topics already dominated by videos, but also for intercepting queries that are still open, where well-designed content can gain visibility. This is not an estimate, but a real snapshot of the SERP: useful for understanding whether a particular topic is already dominated by video content, whether there are open spaces to occupy, and whether our channel has already achieved visibility on Google. In this way, it is possible to orient the video strategy not only in terms of YouTube positioning, but also for cross-platform exposure.

Through the Social URL Analysis function, you can analyze a YouTube channel as if it were a website: SEOZoom shows all the keywords for which that channel is present in Google results, with details on the type of positioning (video box, snippet, carousel, etc.) and the performance of each piece of content.

Furthermore, with the Social Profile Monitoring system, you can monitor the organic evolution of a channel, check the frequency of publication, measure engagement, and understand which content is really emerging in searches. This is concrete support for those who want to build a stable presence on Google starting from video content, with the aim of generating multi-channel visibility and consolidating brand authority.

Advanced strategies and tools for SEO on YouTube

To move from “good” to “excellent” management of our channel, we need refined strategies and the right tools to implement them. The market is competitive, and data analysis is what allows us to make informed decisions rather than navigating by sight and relying on feelings.

Video, AI, visibility: a single platform for better decision-making

With SEOZoom, you can measure, improve, and climb up both YouTube and Google.

Find out more

In summary, you need to know how to read data, interpret it, and adapt your choices in real time to respond to algorithms and anticipate user behavior.

We don’t have to reinvent the wheel every time: competitive social analysis is a gold mine of information, allowing us to verify what works for successful channels in our industry.

There is no shame in systematically studying the videos of competitors who rank best for our target keywords: we check the structure of their titles and thumbnails, the average length of their videos, the keyword density in their descriptions, and the type of interactions they generate in the comments. This allows us to understand industry standards and find untapped angles to differentiate ourselves.

Measuring success: beyond views and subscribers

Vanity metrics such as the number of subscribers are important for social proof, but they don’t tell the whole story about the health of the channel. The metrics we monitor most closely to evaluate the success of an SEO strategy are:

• The growth in total channel watch time.
• The average retention rate across all videos.
• The number of top positions achieved on YouTube for strategic keywords.
• And, above all, the referral traffic that videos bring to our website and its conversion rate, which can be monitored via Google Analytics.

Only by cross-referencing this information can we understand what content really works and why.

Tools for analysis, testing, and continuous optimization

Basically, the correct approach is to set up an optimization process based on objective analysis, not feelings.

YouTube already provides a solid foundation for content analysis. Within YouTube Studio, you can monitor the performance of each video: views, CTR, average viewing time, retention per chapter, peaks and drops in attention. The Audience panel allows you to understand when your audience is online, which videos bring in the most subscribers, and which ones generate real interactions.

Third-party tools such as vidIQ, TubeBuddy, and Social Blade add more advanced features, especially in terms of benchmarking and competitive analysis. They allow you to compare similar channels, identify patterns in high-performing content, and analyze publication frequency. But one thing is still missing: the direct relationship with Google and visibility outside of YouTube—which is where SEOZoom comes in.

How to adapt your strategy based on data

Once you have collected your data, you need a method. The first step is to classify videos based on their performance: which ones drive traffic? Which ones rank on Google? Which ones generate interactions but not conversions?

At this point, you can take action on three levels:

• Post-publication optimization: update titles, descriptions, and thumbnails on already published videos to improve their performance (CTR, retention, ranking).
• Redefinition of the editorial agenda: produce new content based on keywords that are emerging in SERPs or questions left uncovered by competitors.
• Structured A/B testing: vary the length of videos, test different opening styles, compare the performance of similar titles with different tones.

Each video thus becomes a useful experiment for improving future ones. Video strategy is not a fixed plan, but a constantly evolving system, fueled by real data and quick decisions. And today, with the right tools, every creator can work like a media company.

YouTube and SEO, FAQs and questions to be answered

A practical guide is not complete without quick answers to the most common questions, the uncertainties of those approaching video SEO for the first time, and concepts that deserve a clear summary, providing some additional and concise insights for those who navigate search engines, videos, and organic traffic.

1. What is SEO on YouTube?

It is the set of actions taken to optimize videos, channels, and related content so that they are more easily found on both YouTube and Google. It includes narrative and textual structure (titles, descriptions, thumbnails) but also relevance, metrics analysis, publishing strategies, and audience behavior studies.

2. How do you index a video on YouTube?

YouTube automatically indexes uploaded content, but to gain visibility, you need to optimize every field: title, description, tags, chapters, thumbnails, and interaction. In addition, you need to ensure the thematic consistency of your channel, integrate content into your website, use tracked links, stimulate interaction, and monitor visibility.

3. How do you make a video visible?

Work on three aspects: technical structure (text, tags, thumbnails), content quality (retention, structure, usefulness), and engagement (likes, comments, shares). Post at the best times for your audience and analyze what works in the videos that YouTube promotes. Each element interacts with the algorithm and contributes to positioning.

4. What does on-platform SEO mean on YouTube?

It is the set of all the optimizations you do within YouTube to help your videos rank in the platform’s search and be suggested to other users. It includes titles, descriptions, tags, thumbnails, chapters, publication times, playlists, end screens, and everything that affects the algorithm’s behavior. It is the basis for building organic visibility and retaining audience attention.

5. What is off-platform SEO?

It is the strategy that transforms your YouTube videos into assets that are visible outside of YouTube, especially on Google. It means positioning your videos in SERPs, leveraging transcripts to be read by AI systems, obtaining links or embeds on other sites, and integrating videos into your site’s content to increase dwell time. It is the bridge between your channel and your brand’s entire digital ecosystem.

6. How does YouTube’s algorithm work today?

YouTube rewards user satisfaction and pushes content that gets real attention. It looks at initial CTR, retention, total watch time, and audience behavior in the short term. The first 60 minutes make all the difference. If the video keeps attention high, gets clicks, and generates interactions, it gets recommended more often.

Key factors are initial CTR, retention, cumulative watch time, and audience behavior in the first 24 hours.

7. How can I increase the visibility of my YouTube channel?

Create consistent content that is optimized for the right queries and has a professional structure. Build an active community and leverage each video to bring real value. Today’s algorithm looks for quality, not quantity.

8. When should I publish a video to gain visibility?

2025 data indicates that long videos perform best between 12 and 3 p.m. (local time), while Shorts peak between 9–10 a.m. and 9–11 p.m. But the decisive factor is matching your audience’s peak activity times. Always check YouTube Studio → “When your viewers are online.”

9. How important are tags on YouTube?

They are no longer as decisive as they once were, but they help YouTube understand the context of the video. They should be used judiciously, without keyword stuffing. Tags are mainly used for thematic association between similar videos.

10. How can I tell if I’m doing SEO on YouTube the right way?

If CTR, retention, and average viewing time are growing, you’re on the right track. Analytics tools, together with the advanced features of SEOZoom, help you monitor these metrics and continuously improve.

11. Can YouTube really drive more traffic than a web page?

Yes, it’s already happening in many industries. For “how to” queries, tutorials, reviews, and practical guides, videos often outperform text content in terms of visibility and CTR. According to one study, videos ranked on Google have an average CTR of 4%, but within YouTube—with an effective thumbnail and a well-written description—they can exceed 10%. In addition, 26% of searches on Google show at least one video result (almost always from YouTube), and video boxes tend to take up more visual space than traditional links.

12. Can you index a YouTube video on Google?

Yes. Google indexes videos that have good SEO structure, a solid text description, well-defined chapters, and appear relevant to informational queries. Including them in articles on your site, using UTM links, and getting interactions increases the likelihood of appearing in video boxes or snippets.

13. How do I get a video to appear on Google?

You need a well-structured video with a description and informative chapters, possibly embedded in textual content and consistent with a real informational query. Google mainly shows videos for tutorials, how-to guides, reviews, and visual insights. Use real and specific keywords in the title and description. Insert chapters, optimize the thumbnail, publish at the right times, and encourage interaction. The more signals you give YouTube and Google, the more likely you are to rank.

14. Why don’t my videos appear on Google?

You are probably missing complete optimization (description, chapters, transcription), or your videos are not considered relevant for informational purposes. Sometimes it’s just a matter of signals accumulated over time: shares, embeds, mentions.

15. SEO for Google or SEO for YouTube?

It’s not a choice, but an integration. SEO for Google works on the page, keywords, and links. SEO for YouTube works on the content itself, user behavior, and narrative structure. But today, thanks to the presence of YouTube videos in SERPs, the two strategies overlap: optimizing a video means having an extra chance to rank on Google, intercept organic traffic, and generate branded searches. This is Search Everywhere Optimization: monitoring every point of access to information, even if it no longer passes through the website.

16. How can I analyze my channel’s SEO?

Use YouTube Studio to monitor performance video by video. Then combine it with tools such as SEOZoom, which shows you which of your video content is visible on Google and for which keywords. This allows you to assess your actual ranking and act accordingly.