Getting more subscribers and views on YouTube takes time and effort. However, you can grow your channel faster by following proven YouTube SEO and marketing strategies. In this comprehensive guide, we provide 10 tactics to increase YouTube views and subscribers based on the latest YouTube algorithm and expert research.

Globally, more than a billion users in over 88 countries use YouTube in 76 different language formats, and more than half of them access the content using a mobile device. The daily viewership of YouTube videos exceeds that of the most popular global cable television channels. 

Although it is possible to pay for YouTube views, we do not advise you to do so. An authentic community of people viewing your videos will feel more special than bots. If it were as simple as buying a few million views, everyone would be a YouTube star. Buying views will also result in your channel being either terminated or suspended. 

While YouTubers like PewDiePie and BuzzFeed make getting millions of views look easy, it is more of the opposite. You have to consider a range of things when creating a video in the hopes of getting a lot of views. This article will present the best tips and tricks to increase your YouTube Views.

If you haven’t set up a YouTube channel yet, check out our tutorial on creating one.

YouTube Channel Growth

Building a successful YouTube channel starts with understanding who you’re creating content for and staying focused within your expertise area.

Understanding Your Target Audience

Successful YouTube channels invest time in understanding exactly who they’re trying to reach before creating content. This goes beyond basic demographics to include viewing habits, pain points, and the specific value your audience seeks from video content.

Start by analysing your existing customer base. What questions do they frequently ask? What challenges keep them awake at night? What type of content would genuinely help them succeed? For B2B companies, this might involve creating detailed buyer personas for decision-makers in your target industries. For consumer brands, consider your ideal customers’ lifestyle, interests, and aspirations.

Use YouTube Analytics to examine your current audience demographics, including age, gender, geographic location, and viewing patterns. This data reveals when your audience is most active, which content performs best, and how viewers discover your videos. Pay attention to the “Audience” tab, which shows whether your content attracts new viewers or primarily serves existing subscribers.

Research your competitors’ most successful videos to identify content gaps and opportunities. Look at their comment sections to understand what viewers are requesting or discussing. This competitor analysis often reveals untapped topics your target audience cares about but aren’t being adequately addressed.

Developing Your Content Niche

Successful YouTube channels maintain focus on specific topics or industries. This focused approach helps the algorithm understand what your channel represents and makes recommending your content to relevant viewers easier.

Choose a niche that aligns with your business expertise and target market needs. If you’re a digital marketing agency, focus on SEO strategies, social media marketing, or website optimisation. For e-commerce businesses, consider product demonstrations, customer success stories, or industry trend analysis.

Within your chosen niche, develop content pillars – broad themes that guide your video creation. For example, a software company might focus on tutorials, feature announcements, customer interviews, and industry insights. This structure provides consistency while allowing flexibility in specific topics.

Consider the search volume and competition for topics within your niche. Tools like Google Trends, YouTube’s search suggestions, and keyword research platforms help identify what your audience actively searches for. Balance popular topics with more specific, long-tail keywords where you can more easily rank.

10 Tips to Get More YouTube Views and Subscribers

Boosting your YouTube presence requires more than just uploading content. To stand out and grow your audience, you must implement effective strategies that increase visibility and encourage engagement. Here are 10 actionable tips to help you get more views and subscribers on your YouTube channel.

Tip 1: Get More Views on YouTube by Knowing Your Audience

When starting, plan for the type of videos you want to make. Keeping within your niche will entice people who are into that topic. These people will be interested in this specific type of video and will be more inclined to subscribe. Once they have subscribed, they will continue to get notifications about your new videos and may check them out.

As the subscribers and views grow, you could branch out on what kind of videos you make to engage new viewers. However, it is essential not to lose the bulk of your viewers because you decided to change your content type.

 Tip 2: Get More Views on YouTube by Making Relevant Videos

Gaining more YouTube views can be challenging. It is essential to look at what types of videos are trending; if you see a recurring type, make similar videos. Remember to put your spin on the trends, as people will not be willing to watch the same video twice. To kickstart your YouTube growth, you might even consider buying YouTube views, which can help increase the visibility of your videos and attract more organic viewers.

Tip 3: Get More Views on YouTube by Engaging Titles

When someone searches for a video, one of the first things they will look at is the title. It is essential to entice the viewer. Avoid using clickbait titles, as it is exceedingly rare that you will deliver on what the title says. It is also unlikely that the viewer will watch another of your videos if you have lied to them.

Search Engine Optimisation is just as relevant on YouTube as on Google. Therefore, using short but relevant titles is essential. Including keywords people are searching for will make your video more likely to appear. As many people use YouTube as a visual guide, using keywords like “how to” and “what is” are excellent titles for videos. 

ALSO SEE:  YouTube SEO Tips and Tricks

Tip 4: Eye-Catching Thumbnails

Like the title, the thumbnail must immediately catch the viewer’s eye. If someone is looking up a video on how to tie a shoelace, it is a good idea to show someone doing it. 

Here are some tips to get you started:

• Include text on the thumbnail
• Make it colourful
• Close-ups of your face
• Design the thumbnail as the quality will be better

Tip 9 once again shows how having an eye-catching thumbnail is vital.

Tip 5: Relevant Descriptions 

The video description is another way to entice the viewer. Although unlikely, some people may read the description before they watch the video. It is essential to be clear about the benefits of watching this video to let them know what they are in for. 

You can also include additional information that did not make it into the video; for example, you could include the name of a product you used in the video in case the viewer wants to purchase it.

For example, you can:

• Include a link to subscribe to your channel or any other relevant videos
• Include timestamps in your descriptions that will let viewers skip to the information they need
• Link your social media pages as a way for you to engage with your audience
• Keep the description short

Tip 6: Get More Views on YouTube by Encouraging Engagement 

Asking viewers to like and subscribe throughout the video is pivotal. If someone finds your video entertaining or helpful, they will engage with the video to say thank you. Increased engagement will lead to the possibility of your videos coming up in the recommended section or higher up when someone searches. 

People subscribing will mean your videos appear in more people’s boxes, meaning more viewers.  You should encourage people to turn on the bell notification once they have subscribed, as it will alert them when you upload a new video.

Check out our tutorial on how to gain more subscribers on YouTube.

Tip 7: Social Media Is Key 

Promoting your videos on social media accounts like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram is a good idea. Social media lets you engage more with viewers by asking questions or complimenting your videos.  

If the viewers have a more personal connection, they will likely stick around and continue to watch you. When you upload a video, posting it to all your social media accounts will encourage viewers to check it out earlier. 

Releasing snippets of videos and posting it to your socials is a good way to excite viewers before you have released the full video, almost like a trailer to a blockbuster movie. 

Tip 8: Create Playlists 

Creating a playlist of relevant videos means YouTube will suggest it when the video ends. It is similar to how Netflix continues to play the next episode when binge-watching a series.

Playlists will keep viewers on your channel and convince them to check out more of your videos. Playlists usually appear first compared to single videos when people are searching, meaning the videos in the playlist are more likely to be viewed.

Tip 9: End screens 

End screens show the thumbnails of some of your other videos. If the viewer clicks on the end screen, the video begins to play. Once again, this will encourage viewers to stick around and watch another video.  

This is another reason thumbnails must be well-made, as they could be the difference between clicking on another video or not.

Tip 10: Peak Times 

It is essential to know when the best time is to upload. Knowing where your videos are being watched can allow you to upload at a time that suits most viewers. For example, if many viewers are from the UK, uploading at a time like six, when people finish school or work, is a good idea.  

YouTube Analytics is the best way to examine this information. It will also show you the average age and gender of your audience, allowing you to tailor your videos to the people watching them.

More Proven Ways to Get More YouTube Views and Subscribers

If you want to take your YouTube channel to the next level, it’s essential to go beyond the basics. In this section, we’ll explore more proven strategies to help you attract more views and gain loyal subscribers. These methods have been tested and effectively drive growth and increase engagement on your channel.

Section 1: Optimise Your YouTube Channel

Start by ensuring your YouTube channel is optimised for discovery and conversions.

• Create an appealing channel icon and art that represents your brand.
• Write an excellent channel description that highlights your niche and value proposition. Include relevant keywords, and keep it under 300 characters.
• Organise your channel page with playlists around topics and popular videos. Make it easy to navigate your content.
• Enable channel homepage customisation to showcase important videos, playlists, subscribe buttons, etc.

According to SocialBlueBook, customising your channel increases views by 125% on average.

Section 2: Create Compelling Custom Thumbnails and Titles

Your thumbnails and titles are the first things viewers see when browsing YouTube. Make them clickable.

• Research what thumbnails perform best in your niche – text, numbers, faces, contrast colours, etc. Create multiple options.
• A/B test different thumbnails to see which gets more clicks. YouTube provides this capability.
• Use attention-grabbing titles that promise value and align with thumbnail creative. Include the target keyword.
• If appropriate, include “10 Ways to…” or “5 Reasons Why…” to encourage clicks.

TubeBuddy research shows videos with faces in thumbnails get more views.

Section 3: Hook Viewers in the First 10 Seconds

You only have a brief window to grab viewers’ attention. Optimise your first 10 seconds.

• Open with an exciting hook relevant to the topic, like a surprising fact, emotional appeal, etc.
• Show off your best content, graphics, and personalities right away. Don’t waste time on intros.
• Use cuts, graphics, B-roll footage, etc., to stimulate the intro visually.
• Verbally state the focus of the video and its value to the viewer. Get to the point fast.

According to YouTube, 20% of viewers click away within the first 10 seconds of a video. Engage them quickly.

Section 4: Structure Your Video for Maximum Watch Time

YouTube favours videos that keep viewers watching. Structure content to optimise for watch time.

• Organise your video in logical sections with headers every 2-3 minutes. Easier to digest.
• Balance length and depth. Stretching topics too thin results in lower watch time. But overloading viewers causes a dropoff.
• Use strong transitions between sections like “Moving on…”, “Now that we’ve covered…”, “Next up…”, etc.
• To keep viewers engaged, add mid-video CTAs like “Stay tuned” or “Don’t forget to subscribe for more…”

The ideal video length for maximum views varies by niche—research top videos in your category.

Section 5: Promote Videos on Social Media

Social media drives significant YouTube traffic. Promote your videos where your audience is active.

• Create native video posts tailored for each platform, like square format for Instagram, under 2 minutes for TikTok, etc.
• Write compelling captions that pull viewers to YouTube. Ask questions, highlight key takeaways, etc.
• Post on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. Experiment across platforms to see which drives the most traffic.
• Promote videos in relevant Facebook or Reddit groups, forums and communities. Provide value and build trust.

Sprout Social found that videos on social media drive 10 more comments than links or images. Promote natively for best results.

Section 6: Leverage YouTube Cards and End Screens

YouTube cards and end screens help surface related content and prompts that boost views and subscribers.

• Use cards strategically throughout videos to promote other videos, playlists, subscribe prompts, etc.
• End each video with a visually branded end screen that links to 2-4 related videos or popular playlists.
• A/B test end screen elements to determine which thumbnails, prompts, and calls-to-action perform best.

According to YouTube, adding end screens to videos leads to viewers watching up to 30% more content on average.

Section 7: Interact with Your Audience

Building relationships with viewers leads to more loyalty, engagement, and subscribers.

• Reply to as many comments as possible. Ask for feedback and ideas.
• Give behind-the-scenes commentary on community posts and stories. Make viewers feel invested.
• Do occasional live streams to interact in real time. Answer viewer questions.
• Prompt viewers to like, comment, subscribe, and turn on notifications to stay connected.

Videos with comments see 2X more engagement on average, according to Talkwalker. Humanise your channel.

Section 8: Analyse Performance and Optimise

Continuously analyse your YouTube performance data to refine your approach.

• Review analytics insights like traffic sources, viewer demographics, dropoff points, dislikes, etc.
• See which videos overperform for views, watch time, clickthrough, etc. Make more similar high-traction content.
• Identify low-performing videos and analyse why they didn’t resonate based on titles, thumbs, content, etc.
• Experiment with different topics, formats, lengths, styles, etc. Double down on what works best.

Checking analytics and iterating is key. According to YouTube, 70% of viewers are recommended videos to watch next versus searching. Please give them the videos they want.

Section 9: Optimise Your Videos for YouTube SEO

Winning the YouTube algorithm requires optimising your videos for discovery.

• Research keywords people search for related to your topic and include them strategically in titles, descriptions and subtitles.
• Add a full transcript to enable text search. Make it easy for YouTube to index and rank your content.
• Include links to other videos in descriptions to boost viewership across your catalogue.
• Add keyword-rich chapter timestamps so viewers can jump to sections.

TubeBuddy data shows that over half of the traffic comes from YouTube searches and suggested videos. SEO is crucial.

Section 10: Collaborate with Other Creators

Collabs help reach each other’s audiences and cross-promote content.

• Identify creators with similar styles and audiences. Contact them for shoutout trades, guest appearances, etc.
• Do “react” style response videos highlighting other creators’ content. Embed links back to them.
• Participate in collaborations like compilation videos, experiments, challenges, etc, featuring multiple creators.
• Give shoutouts to other channels. Thank the creators who helped you. Good karma pays off.

According to Sprout Social, 79% of viewers subscribe to a channel after watching a collab video from a creator they follow.

Professional Video Production

When done strategically, investing in professional production can dramatically improve your channel’s credibility and business results.

When to Invest in Professional Production

While anyone can create YouTube content with basic equipment, professional video production can significantly impact your channel’s growth and business results. Understanding when this investment makes sense is crucial for maximising your return on investment.

Consider professional production when your channel becomes a significant part of your marketing strategy and you have specific business goals tied to video performance. Companies using YouTube for lead generation, brand awareness, or customer education often see substantial returns from professional content.

Professional production is valuable for important videos like company introductions, product launches, or educational series representing your brand’s expertise. These videos often serve as evergreen content that continues to generate value over months or years.

The difference between amateur and professional video content isn’t just about image quality – it’s about storytelling, audience engagement, and ultimately, business results,” notes Ciaran Connolly, Director of ProfileTree. When businesses invest in professional production, they invest in content representing their brand’s value and expertise.”

“Too many businesses create YouTube content without understanding their audience’s true needs,” adds Ciaran Connolly. “We’ve seen companies transform their results by shifting from generic content to strategic videos that directly address their customers’ pain points and decision-making process. It’s not about going viral – it’s about reaching the right people with the right message at the right time.”

Elements of Professional YouTube Content

Professional YouTube videos combine technical excellence with strategic content planning. The most successful business channels understand that every element, from audio quality to visual branding, contributes to viewer perception and engagement.

Audio quality often matters more than video quality for viewer retention. Professional productions use external microphones, sound treatment, and post-production audio processing to deliver crystal-clear sound that engages viewers.

Lighting design creates visual appeal and maintains consistent brand presentation. Professional setups use multiple light sources to eliminate shadows, create depth, and present subjects in the most flattering way possible.

Motion graphics, lower thirds, and branded elements help reinforce company identity while making content more engaging. These elements guide viewer attention and can significantly improve information retention.

Post-production editing transforms raw footage into polished, engaging content. Professional editors understand pacing, storytelling techniques, and how to maintain viewer interest throughout longer videos.

Measuring Professional Production ROI

Investing in professional video production requires clear metrics to measure success and justify ongoing investment. The most meaningful measurements go beyond view counts to include business-specific outcomes.

Track conversion metrics, such as website visits, lead form completions, and sales inquiries generated from video content. Use UTM parameters and dedicated landing pages to attribute business results directly to specific videos.

Monitor brand awareness metrics, including brand mention increases, social media engagement, and direct traffic improvements following video campaigns. These indicators often precede direct conversion metrics.

Analyse long-term subscriber growth and engagement rates, as professional content improves both metrics. Higher-quality content often attracts more engaged subscribers who are more likely to become customers.

Calculate customer lifetime value for leads generated through video content. Video-generated leads often have higher conversion rates and customer lifetime values than other marketing channels.

Conclusion

Succeeding on YouTube requires patience and consistency. However, leveraging these proven tips will dramatically accelerate your ability to get more channel views, subscribers, and loyalty. Analyse your performance data to double down on what works. Provide relentless value to your audience. Collaborate with others. Stay on top of algorithm changes. If you keep optimising your YouTube strategy, you can build a thriving channel and community over time.

Unfortunately, it is hard to be an overnight sensation. Growing on YouTube will take much hard work, and growth can be slow sometimes. Consistent uploading and engaging with your audience will be essential in gaining more views on YouTube.  Some people just need one video for their opinions to shoot up, and then the subscribers start to roll in.

Transform Your YouTube Channel Into a Lead Generation Machine

You now have the roadmap to YouTube success, but implementing these strategies while running your business can be overwhelming. ProfileTree has helped hundreds of companies across Northern Ireland, Ireland, and the UK transform their YouTube channels into powerful marketing assets that consistently generate qualified leads.

Ready to stop struggling with DIY videos that don’t convert?

Book a free 30-minute YouTube strategy consultation where we’ll analyse your current channel and show you exactly how professional video production can accelerate your business growth.

What you’ll discover:

• Why your current videos aren’t generating leads (and how to fix it)
• A customised content strategy for your industry
• How to turn YouTube viewers into high-value customers

Book Your Free YouTube Strategy Session →

Or call us directly: 028 9568 0364

Don’t let your competitors dominate YouTube while your business misses out on qualified leads. Let’s build your YouTube success story together.