Posting content that generates a lot of likes, shares, and views is the key to becoming successful on a large social media platform such as YouTube. When it comes to likes, in technical terms, they represent a significant metric that YouTube uses as a way to determine which videos to recommend to people. And, the more people see your content, the greater your chance for success.
But there is another reason why getting a lot of likes on your video is crucial, and it has to do with human nature. Essentially, most people are under the impression that videos with the most likes have the best content, so they’ll immediately flock to watch them. If more people check out your videos, you’ll also get more views and possibly shares.
In a nutshell, your main goal should be to boost your content’s visibility and engagement. This can help your channel gain popularity and put you on the path toward becoming a successful content creator.
So, what can you do to get more YouTube likes? Keep reading to find out!
Create Eye-Catching Thumbnails
If you’ve gained some followers during your time as a content creator, asking them to press the like button is simple enough. But this will only get you so far. In order to substantially increase the number of likes on your videos, you will first need to focus on gaining more views.
It all comes down to this simple rule: generating more views gives you a better possibility of increasing the number of likes on your videos. Now, all you need is a foolproof strategy to get people interested in your content. Ultimately, we recommend that you start by creating eye-catching thumbnails, and here’s why.
Humans are visual creatures. Half of our brain is directly dedicated to processing the information we see throughout the day. In that way, when you show someone a video on YouTube, the first thing they will see is the thumbnail. There are even some useful thumbnail maker tools you can use to get started.
Once you start implementing this tip into your standard practice, you’ll be a step closer to gaining new viewers and subsequently increasing the likes on your videos.
Focus on Generating Clear and Straightforward Titles
Once you’re satisfied with the quality of your thumbnail, it’s time to shift your attention to the video title. In this case, a strong caption needs to be well thought out and captivating enough for people to want to press play.
First of all, consider which keywords you want to add to the title. Position them at the beginning of the title so they’re easy to spot. Also, we recommend using keywords that accurately describe your content and are easy to spell. Confusing potential viewers with lengthy descriptions and complicated words is counterproductive and won’t help you increase your views or likes.
YouTube allows up to 100 characters in their titles. However, if you write anything longer than 70 characters, your title will likely get cut off in the search results. Furthermore, people often skim past wordy headlines, so the tip is to make your titles short yet to the point.
Write Compelling Video Descriptions
YouTube’s description area is located under the title. Its function is to help viewers understand what your video is about. The platform allows creators to write up to 5000 characters. However, only the first few lines are visible in the search results. Since you want to capture the viewer’s attention, you will need to be smart about what you write in those lines.
Typically, providing a brief summary of up to 3 sentences works best. Also, don’t forget to insert your target keyword(s), ideally near the beginning of the description, similar to how you craft your title. If necessary, you can use the middle section to provide additional information about the video. You can also add links to your other content in the description area so as to draw the viewer’s attention to your channel.
If you’re interested in learning more about how to optimize your content on YouTube, check out these useful tips.
Include Relevant Hashtags
The main advantage of adding hashtags to your videos is that they can make your content more discoverable. Nevertheless, you should only use those that are directly related to your content. Therefore, avoid general terms such as #subscriber, #youtubeislife, #newvideo, #youtubecontent, #youtuber, and #youtubevideos, as they don’t add any value to your content.
On the other hand, using hashtags that are closely related to your niche will make it easier for people to find your content. For example, health and fitness content creators can benefit from adding the following: #diet, #paleo, #healthy, #workout, #gym, and #keto.
Similarly, YouTubers with baking/cooking videos can use these hashtags: #homebaking, #homemade, #healthybaking, #cooking, and #recipe.
Also, don’t go overboard with hashtags when you’re adding them to your videos. The same rule applies to over-tagging. Doing so can result in YouTube removing your video from your uploads. Typically, anything between 5 and 8 hashtags per video is more than enough.
If you need a hand getting started, you can try using an online hashtag generator.
Provide Your Viewers With High-Quality Content
Above all, creating quality content is essential when it comes to increasing your likes. By this, we meanproducing unique ideas, professionally editing your videos, providing your viewers with valuable information, and making sure to do thorough research on each topic.
Understandably, the time needed to create a video depends on the niche. For example, educational videos require plenty of research on your part. Therefore, it’s your responsibility to provide your viewers with accurate information on the specific topic you’re covering. Of course, you also need to make sure your method of delivery is entertaining, and a great way to achieve this is through the editing process.
Considering all the work you need to do before posting a video, you may feel overwhelmed. However, doing superficial research or skipping the editing process is counterproductive. To that end, you need to provide the highest possible quality and accuracy to your audience, even if it takes a bit longer to achieve.
Collaborate and Give Shout-Outs
Viewers love to be acknowledged by their favorite content creators. In your next video, make sure to give a shout-out to the people who are subscribed to your channel and to those viewing your content. This simple tactic will paint you as approachable and undoubtedly earn you some likes.
Furthermore, consider doing a collaboration with a creator whose niche is similar to yours. Not only will you get more likes, but this will also help draw more attention to your other content.
Expand Your Reach with Cross-Platform Promotion
In this day and age, you should strive to use all the resources you have at your disposal. Yes, YouTube may be the second most visited platform on the internet, but TikTok and Instagram’s statistics are just as impressive. Namely, both platforms have over a billion active users each month!
So why not use this to your advantage? When you make your next video, consider posting some clips on your TikTok and Instagram accounts. This will encourage your followers to check out your content and hopefully give you a like. Who knows, you may even get some new subscribers along the way!
Trust in the Process
It’s incredible how making a few changes here, and there can make a substantial difference when it comes to your YouTube metrics. Although it’s impossible to say how long it will take for your content to receive the number of likes it deserves, we encourage you to trust the process.
Yes, you’ll have plenty of competition as a YouTube content creator but never underestimate the power of hard work. If you really put some time and effort into your craft, people will inevitably notice. Most importantly, when you ask them to give you a like, they won’t hesitate to do so.
