Discover high-performing keywords for your YouTube videos. Analyze search volume, competition, and find untapped opportunities in your niche.
Keywords are the foundation of YouTube SEO success.
Follow this framework to find winning keywords for your videos.
Know what to look for when evaluating keywords.
Start with a broad topic or keyword related to your content. Our tool expands it into dozens of related opportunities.
Review search volume, competition, and opportunity scores. Filter by competition level or sort by volume.
Copy keywords to use in your titles, descriptions, and tags. Export data for reference when planning content.
Keywords are the search terms viewers type to find content. They should appear in your title, description, and spoken content. Tags are metadata you add in YouTube Studio to help categorize your video. Keywords are primary for SEO; tags provide additional context.
It depends on your channel size. Small channels should prioritize low competition keywords - you can actually rank for these. Larger channels can target high volume keywords because they have the authority to compete. The "opportunity score" balances both factors.
Include your main keyword in: 1) Video title (near the beginning), 2) Description (first 2-3 sentences), 3) Tags (as first tag), 4) Spoken content (YouTube transcribes this), 5) Filename before uploading. This helps YouTube understand your video's topic.
This tool provides estimated relative search volumes to help you compare keywords. For exact YouTube search data, you'd need YouTube's internal analytics. However, relative comparisons (high vs. low volume) are reliable for decision-making and content planning.
Long-tail keywords are longer, more specific phrases (usually 3-6 words). Example: "video editing" is short-tail; "video editing tutorial for beginners on iPhone" is long-tail. Long-tail keywords have lower volume but much less competition and higher conversion rates.
Do keyword research before every video for title optimization. Conduct deeper research monthly or quarterly to identify new trends, content gaps, and opportunities in your niche. Search trends change - staying updated gives you an edge.
Yes, selectively. If a competitor ranks for a keyword with a mediocre video, you can outrank them with better content. But avoid keywords where top results have millions of views from major channels - you likely won't outcompete them. Focus on gaps they've missed.
Trending keywords spike temporarily (news, events, new products) - they bring quick views but fade. Evergreen keywords have consistent search volume year-round (tutorials, how-tos) - they bring steady, long-term traffic. A healthy channel targets both types.
Yes! Target one primary keyword in your title and 3-5 secondary keywords in your description and tags. Ensure they're all related to the same topic. A video about "iPhone 15 camera review" can also rank for "iPhone 15 photo quality" and "best smartphone camera 2024."
If search volume is very low, consider: 1) Is the topic too niche? Broaden it slightly. 2) Are you using the right terminology? Try synonyms. 3) Is this a new trend not yet searchable? Focus on hashtags and social sharing instead. Some great content finds audiences through suggested videos rather than search.
Use: 1) YouTube search autocomplete - type your topic and see suggestions. 2) Comments on your and competitors' videos. 3) Community posts to ask what viewers want. 4) Google Trends for related queries. 5) Reddit/forums in your niche to see how people phrase questions.
Yes. YouTube prioritizes engagement metrics (watch time, CTR) more heavily than Google. YouTube keywords are often more conversational and question-based. "How to" performs exceptionally well on YouTube. Also, YouTube Search shows more personalized results based on watch history.
Optimize your titles and generate tags.