Tags are an essential part of optimizing your YouTube videos for search engines. They help YouTube’s algorithm understand the content of your video and show it to the right audience. While tags aren’t as crucial as your video title or thumbnail, they can still impact your video’s discoverability. So, how many tags should I use on YouTube to ensure maximum visibility without overdoing it? Let’s dive into the details.
The Importance of Tags on YouTube
Tags on YouTube serve as keywords that describe your video content. While YouTube has evolved its algorithm to focus more on factors like video titles, descriptions, and engagement, tags still play a role in how your video is categorized. They help YouTube suggest your video to viewers searching for related topics and can increase the likelihood of your video appearing in recommended feeds.
Why Use Tags?
- Improves discoverability: Tags help your video show up in more searches, especially when users are looking for niche content.
- Better video categorization: YouTube uses tags to understand the context of your video and categorize it accordingly.
- Increased recommendations: The right tags can make your video more likely to appear as a recommended video to users watching similar content.
How Many Tags Should You Use?
One of the most common questions content creators ask is “how many tags should I use on YouTube?” The simple answer is: as many as necessary but within YouTube’s limits.
YouTube allows you to add up to 500 characters worth of tags per video. While this might sound like a lot, it doesn’t mean you should fill every character. A good strategy is to focus on relevance and avoid overloading your video with unnecessary tags.
Recommended Number of Tags:
- 5-8 Tags for Simplicity: This range is ideal for ensuring that your video stays focused on a few key topics. It prevents overcrowding while allowing room for essential keywords.
- 10-15 Tags for Broader Reach: If your video covers multiple related topics, you might want to use more tags. However, make sure all the tags are highly relevant.
Using too few tags can limit your video’s reach, while using too many irrelevant tags can confuse the algorithm, leading to less exposure.
Choosing the Right Tags
Tags should reflect the content of your video, the language your audience is likely to use, and even the terms your competitors might be targeting. Follow these best practices for choosing effective tags:
1. Use Specific and General Tags
Include both broad and specific keywords. Broad tags help your video appear in general searches, while specific ones target niche audiences. For example, if your video is about “how to bake chocolate chip cookies,” broad tags could be “baking” or “cookies,” while specific tags could be “chocolate chip cookie recipe” or “baking tips for beginners.”
2. Include Keywords from the Title and Description
Your title and description should already contain your main keywords. Adding them as tags will reinforce these keywords and help YouTube better understand your content. For instance, if your video title is “How to Play Guitar for Beginners,” the tag “guitar for beginners” should be included.
3. Analyze Competitors’ Tags
Use tools like TubeBuddy or VidIQ to analyze the tags used by popular videos in your niche. These tools can help you discover which tags are working well for competitors and how you can apply them to your content.
4. Avoid Irrelevant Tags
YouTube penalizes videos that use irrelevant or misleading tags. Always ensure your tags are directly related to your video’s content. Misleading tags can not only hurt your visibility but also damage your channel’s credibility.
How Tags Fit into Your Overall SEO Strategy
Tags are just one component of YouTube SEO. While they help categorize and suggest your video, other factors like your video title, description, thumbnail, and engagement (views, likes, comments) also play significant roles in your video’s performance.
To optimize your YouTube SEO:
- Write compelling titles that include target keywords.
- Craft detailed descriptions with relevant keywords and timestamps.
- Create engaging thumbnails to boost click-through rates.
- Encourage viewer engagement by asking for likes, comments, and shares, as these actions signal to YouTube that your content is valuable.
Conclusion
When asking “how many tags should I use on YouTube,” the key takeaway is balance. While you can use up to 500 characters for tags, aim for quality over quantity. Stick to 5-15 relevant, well-researched tags that closely match your video’s content. Remember, tags are just one part of a broader YouTube SEO strategy, so focus on creating engaging, high-quality content that resonates with your audience.
By using the right tags and optimizing your video holistically, you’ll increase your chances of getting discovered by the right viewers and growing your channel.
