You may not be fully aware that your familiarity with Search Engine Optimization can actually assist you in your triumph with Social Media.

How does Search Engine Optimization (SEO) play a role in Social Media?

Many optimizing social networking sites such as StumbleUpon, Digg, and yes, YouTube, use keywords or tags to help people find your searched out content, and the better equipped you are with SEO knowledge the more victorious you can become in Social Media.

However, even if you are new to the Internet or are branching out unto ventures untaken, you can still optimize your content without having a background in SEO.

How can you Optimize Video Content without SEO knowledge?

Easily, it is in the video you have recorded. Like any story, there is a theme or plot (a purpose) and that is your main targeted goal to use when adding tags and keywords. People and places can play a huge role as well and keeping unnecessary keywords or tags out can take you further into the search engine world.

In other words, you do not have to be a skilled Social Media Specialist or an SEO expert to have your content seen.

Here are 12 YouTube tips that can better your chances of having your hard work optimized.

First, Social Media Optimization (SMO) is not only in the allotted keyword/tag area. It is throughout your YouTube Account, so cautiously and mindfully use words that make sense and can help people find your channel or specific video.

1. Fill Out Your Information

When creating a YouTube Account, fill out all the appropriate information that suits your accounts purpose. (Ex. If you are a business, you do not need to post book and movies you like). Focus on relevant information. Always think of your purpose prior to adding information, if you are using it for business use, ensure you include your toll free number, address and appropriate name of business, even if the name length is not the same as the URL.

2. Customize Your YouTube Channel

Customize your YouTube channel with a look and style that can help you get notice, images are just as important as words when people surf YouTube.

3. Choose Categories Wisely

When choosing a category for your uploaded video, be aware that only 4 categories are actually listed in YouTube’s advanced search function. They are:

1.       News and Politics

2.       Science and Tech

3.       How-To and Style

4.       Gaming

Your best bet is to try to make videos that can fall into one of these categories to aid in them getting more views, since the other available YouTube Categories do not come up when a person does a category search.

4. Titling Videos are Important

Title your video appropriately according to the content within the video, keep it short, simple and to the point.

5. Descriptions are Keywords Too

Always add a relevant description to your video. Do not just add rambles of words or addresses ensure that you explain what the video is about coherently. Be advised that YouTube’s description area is best for approximately 22 words; you can add more but be sure to have your targeted keywords at the beginning of your description for better results. Just keep it relevant to the video itself, never too short or too lengthy.

6. Add Annotations

Use Annotations, but do not over do it. Annotations are great to hyperlink an area to another YouTube source or to add-in humor or forgotten words.

7. Transcribe Your Videos

Create a video transcript of your videos to aid in search engine indexing. It will also benefit the hearing impairer’s YouTube experience as well.

8. Communicate with the YouTube Community

Engage in the YouTube community by subscribing to channels you actually like, commenting and unsubscribing to channels you do not like. Make the most out of your YouTube experience by increasing value and decreasing wasted time.

9. Choose Music Carefully

Add music to your videos with caution of its volume in comparison to the videos audio (instrumental is usually best) but if you do not have audio, use full songs to liven up the content and lesson the time for the viewer (music can do wonders, just watch a non-audio video with no music, ugh). With that said, make sure you use your own music, YouTube’s audio tracks or freeware music sites (look for the creative commons agreement) like Josh Woodwards and Kevin Macleod’s to not compromise your YouTube account.

10. Short Videos are Better

Keep your video’s short, three minutes or less can have you gaining more viewers.

11. Embed Your Videos

Embed you videos on relevant sites such as your blog or website with a description of the video.

12. Edit Your Videos

Presentation is important to the eye and the better the quality of video, the better your chances of people sharing it, liking it and commenting.

What YouTube Tips do you have?

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Erin Ryan is a writer for various blogs and a Social Media Specialist who has a keen understanding of the power of Social Media for business and fervently stays up-to-date with the Social Media Industry. Erin enjoys teaching and helping people and businesses on how to use and connect through Social Media. You can connect with Erin on Twitter.

Read More articles like this one on The Erin Ryan Blog.