Working hard to build a successful business? Then you probably realize the countless ways video marketing can help your company grow. It grabs attention, keeps people hooked, and can seriously boost sales when done right. By 2025, online videos will make up 82% of internet traffic, so if you want to make an impact, posting great video content is critical!
But here’s the catch—just posting a video isn’t enough. With so much content out there, getting eyes on your video requires strategy (and a bit of dedication). It’s not just about putting your content out there; it’s about understanding what grabs attention and keeps viewers coming back for more. If you're tired of hitting "publish" and watching your views trickle in, these 10 practical tips will help you boost video views and rapidly grow your audience.
1. Hook 'Em with Catchy Titles
Your video's title is literally the first thing people see, so make it count! It should spark curiosity, offer value, or promise a benefit. Think of your title as a mini hook that draws people in—something that makes them stop scrolling and hit play. Keep it concise and impactful, and use relevant keywords where you can. A catchy title can make all the difference in capturing attention and inviting people to engage with your content.
- Practical Tip: Use a mix of keywords and power words like “How to,” “Top 10,” or “Ultimate Guide” to make your titles more clickable. For example, instead of “Photography Tips,” try “10 Photography Tips for Stunning Photos.”
2. Design Click-WorthyThumbnails
Think of a well-designed thumbnail as a movie poster—its job is to sell the experience. Thumbnails are static images offering a glimpse at what’s inside your video. This means they can easily make or break the click. In fact, research shows that a compelling thumbnail can increase click-through rates by 64%! 🤯But to create that click-worthy moment, your thumbnail needs to be clear, visually appealing, and give a taste of what the content is about.
- Practical Tip: Design custom thumbnails with bold text and high-contrast images. (Tools like Canva or Photoshop are great for creating thumbnails). Keep the text to 3–5 words summarizing the video's main point. And make sure your thumbnail accurately represents your actual video content! Tricking your viewers into watching is never ok; it will come back to bite you.
3. Optimize, Optimize, Optimize
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is your best friend if you want to boost video views. By optimizing things like your title, description, tags, and thumbnail, you’re making it easier for search engines like Google and YouTube to show your content to the right people. This is a must-have, considering there are 800 BILLION videos on YouTube alone. SEO helps you get noticed so your video reaches a bigger audience and racks up more views.
Check out 4 steps to implement into your SEO Video Marketing Strategy.
- Practical Tip: Do keyword research using tools like Google Trends, YouTube’s search bar, or TubeBuddy. Place the main keyword in the title, description, and tags. Also, create a detailed description (around 150–200 words) that naturally uses related keywords.
4. Be Consistent
Posting regularly keeps your audience excited and coming back for more, and platforms like YouTube favor creators who stay consistent. It's a win-win for both engagement and visibility. You don’t have to post daily, but regularity matters. Staying consistent builds anticipation and keeps your audience checking back.
- Practical Tip: Set up (and stick to) an upload schedule that works for you—weekly, biweekly, or monthly. Letting your audience know when to expect your next video creates routine viewership, trust, and credibility.
5. Engage Viewers Early
Those first few seconds of a video are make-or-break for keeping viewers hooked. They're likely to move on if you don’t grab their attention right away. Wistia’s research says if a video doesn’t hook them in 10 seconds, 20% of viewers will click away. So, you need to make an immediate impression! And if you keep the energy high and the pacing tight, you’ll also hold their attention, which boosts your content’s visibility.
- Practical Tip: Start with a hook—whether it’s a question, an interesting fact, or a preview of what’s coming. Avoid long intros and jump straight into the value you’re offering.
6. Cross-Promote Your Content
Don't limit your video to just one place. Sharing your video on platforms where you already have fans is a great way to create more traffic. Share it on social media, embed it in blog posts, or even use it in email marketing. The more places people can find and interact with your video, the better your chance to boost video views and increase engagement.
Practical Tip: Share your video link with a catchy description or a teaser clip on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, or even LinkedIn (depending on your niche). Tailor your promotion to each specific platform and use relevant hashtags to reach new audiences.
Check out our series on Video Marketing for Social Media for more tips!
7. Collaborate with Others
Teaming up with other creators is a smart way to tap into a whole new audience. When you collaborate, you’re not just sharing content—you’re sharing fans. It’s a win-win that can help both of you grow faster and expand your reach. Plus, it’s a fun way to mix things up and bring fresh perspectives to your videos!
- Practical Tip: Find creators in your niche with a similar or slightly larger audience. Reach out with a clear idea of how you can both benefit (e.g., guest appearances, joint projects, shout-outs). Make sure the content feels natural and offers value to both audiences.
8. Utilize Automatic Playlists
Playlists are a simple hack to boost watch time. By automatically playing the next video, they keep viewers hooked and browsing through your content longer. It’s an easy way to guide people through your best stuff without them having to search for the next video themselves. The more they watch, the more invested they become in your channel. In fact, YouTube says when viewers watch more than one video on a channel, they are 75% more likely to subscribe.
- Practical Tip: Group your content by themes or series. For example, if you have a fitness channel, create playlists like “Beginner Workouts,” “10-Minute Exercises,” or “Nutrition Tips.” Always add new videos to relevant playlists.
9. Encourage More Engagement
Reply to comments, ask questions, and encourage conversation. Engaging with your audience builds a sense of community and connection, making them more likely to stay loyal and keep watching what you put out. Also, we know that to boost video views, you need to consider the all-powerful algorithm. Most social platform algorithms favor videos with higher engagement (likes, comments, shares) because they signal quality content.
- Practical Tip: Directly ask your viewers to engage—give them a reason to comment or like. For example, ask them a question at the end of the video, such as “What’s your favorite tip from this video?”
10. Try End Screens & Cards
End screens and cards are like your video’s personal tour guides. They pop up while viewers are still engaged, nudging them to check out more of your content. By promoting additional videos right when their interest is piqued, you make it super easy for them to keep watching and exploring what you have to offer. It’s all about extending that viewing experience and keeping your audience hooked!
- Practical Tip: Add clickable “cards” during the video to link related content, and use end screens (at the end… obviously) to promote playlists or a “Next” video. This guides viewers through more of your content without them needing to leave the platform.
Bonus Tip - Quality Matters!!
It might seem obvious, but you need to create videos your audience actually wants to see. Focus on solving problems, answering questions, or offering insights that matter to them. The more valuable or entertaining your content is, the more likely it’ll get shared and watched. And don’t forget- quality matters!! When your videos look and sound great, they grab attention and keep viewers engaged. High-quality content reflects your brand and shows you care about what you’re sharing. Plus, people are more likely to share videos that impress them, which can lead to even more views.
- Practical Tip (And Shameless Plug): A professional video production company can make a big difference in how your videos look and feel. High-quality videos help you boost video views by capturing your audience's attention from the get-go and keep them coming back! If you want to step up your video quality, consider hiring a video production company like Levitate Media. We can bring your vision to life with professional equipment, years of experience, and industry expertise. Contact us today!
