Getting found on YouTube: A smarter way to do keyword research

Getting found on YouTube: A smarter way to do keyword research

Reading Time: 4 minutes

You’ve put time into your YouTube content. You’ve edited it, uploaded it, maybe even added a polished thumbnail. And then… nothing. No views. No traction. Just silence.

That’s not a content problem — it’s a discovery problem.

If your videos aren’t being found, they won’t be watched. This is where YouTube keyword research earns its keep – not as an SEO box ticking exercise – but as a practical way to get more from every video you create.

Here’s how to find the keywords real people are actually searching for, so your content gets seen, not shelved.

Why YouTube keyword research is worth the effort

YouTube isn’t just a video platform – it’s the world’s second-largest search engine. Every day, millions of users type in specific questions, ideas, and needs. When your video matches those queries, you show up. It’s not about chasing trends – it’s about aligning with intent.

Keyword research helps you:

– Find the questions your audience is already asking.
– Create more relevant, high-performing content.
– Stop guessing what will work – and start knowing.

This isn’t a hack. It’s a smart way to make sure the right people find the right videos at the right time.

STEP 1: Use YouTube’s own search suggestions

Open YouTube and type in a term like “plant care,” “BMW i4,” or “email marketing strategy.” As you type, you’ll see auto-suggestions appear – these are based on actual search activity. This is YouTube gently whispering, “Here’s what people want.”

Examples:

– “plant care” → plant care tips for beginners.
– “BMW i4” → BMW i4 M50 review.
– “email marketing” → email marketing tutorial for beginners.

💡 Pro tip: The higher up a suggestion is, the more likely it’s a common search. These are golden keywords for content planning.

STEP 2: Analyse what’s already working

Take a detour into competitor research. Look at:

– Video titles with high views.
– Keywords in descriptions.
– Themes in tags.
– Topics in popular thumbnails.

Use tools like VidIQ or TubeBuddy to surface what others are ranking for. This isn’t about copying – it’s about understanding what resonates with audiences (and the algorithm).

Think of it as learning the chords before writing your own hit song.

STEP 3: Use YouTube keyword tools to do the heavy lifting

If you want to skip the guesswork and go straight to the strategy, let the tools do their thing.

Here are three worth bookmarking:

– Keyword Tool Dominator – Pulls keyword ideas based on YouTube’s auto-suggest > keywordtooldominator.com
– Content Studio – Provides trending keyword data and helps with multi-platform content planning > contentstudio.io
– Copy.ai’s free YouTube keyword tool – Gives you quick, AI-powered ideas for keywords, titles, and even descriptions > copy.ai

Not magic wands, but close.

STEP 4: Use your keywords in the right places

Once you’ve got your shortlist, use your keywords intentionally – not like you’re stuffing a turkey.

Here’s where to place them:

– Video titles: Keep them natural. Front-load your main keyword.
– Descriptions: Repeat the keyword contextually in the first few lines.
– Tags: Use a mix of broad (e.g. “YouTube SEO”) and specific (e.g. “BMW i4 charging review”) terms.
– Captions: Upload transcripts with keyword-rich language — YouTube’s algorithm reads these.

🎯 Bonus tip: Add keyword phrasing to your thumbnail text too. While not a ranking factor, it helps with human clickability.

STEP 5: Review and regularly refine your YouTube keyword research

Set a calendar reminder every 4-6 weeks to check your YouTube Analytics:

– Which search terms are sending traffic?
– Which videos have the longest watch time?
– Are you ranking for the terms you intended to?

If not, tweak titles and descriptions based on what’s working. You can even test alternate thumbnails for the same keyword to see what drives higher click-through rates. This is a long game. But every small optimisation adds up.

What good looks like: A fully optimised YouTube video

Let’s put it all together with a real-world example. Say you’re reviewing the BMW iX1 electric SUV — here’s how you’d apply smart keyword research across your video setup.

Title
BMW iX1 Review 2025 – Real Range, Charging & Interior Tour → Keyword-led, value-packed, and naturally phrased. It places the primary keyword up front and tells the viewer exactly what to expect.

Description (as it would appear in your video)
Thinking of buying the BMW iX1 in 2025? In this video, we review the BMW iX1’s real-world range, charging performance, and interior features. Whether you’re considering an upgrade to electric or just want to know if the iX1 is worth it — this review covers everything you need to know.

We’ve broken it down into clear chapters to help viewers navigate quickly:

0:00 – Intro
0:45 – Exterior design
2:30 – Charging test and real-world range
5:20 – Interior walk-through
7:15 – Driving impressions
9:00 – Final verdict

Want more? Watch our follow-up comparison: BMW i4 vs iX1 — which should you choose? https://youtube.com/xyz123

Tags

bmw iX1, bmw iX1 review, bmw iX1 range, electric suv review, 2025 bmw iX1, bmw iX1 charging → Use a mix of broad and long-tail tags to give YouTube’s algorithm multiple contextual cues. Always stay relevant — no tag stuffing.

Thumbnail Alt Text
BMW iX1 parked roadside with charging cable, open door showing interior. → Adding accurate alt text improves accessibility and signals relevance to YouTube’s backend systems. It also ensures your content is usable for all audiences.

This setup helps your video rank better, appear in more relevant searches, and improve click-through and retention rates – all without trying to game the system. It’s clean, clear, and created with purpose.

Accessibility reminder

Keyword-rich content should also be inclusive. Always:

– Add clear alt text to thumbnails.
– Include captions for every video.
– Provide transcripts if possible.

YouTube rewards clarity. So does your audience.

Final thought…

Chasing views is fine. But what you really want is the right people watching your videos – the ones who care about what you’re offering and are likely to stick around. And that starts with showing up in search when they need you. Keyword research doesn’t just help you rank. It helps you stay relevant.

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