Have you tried doing keyword research for YouTube, followed all the “right” steps, and still found your videos buried deep in the search results?
You’re not alone—and it’s not your fault.
Most people are being taught outdated methods. They’re using website SEO strategies and applying them to YouTube, which simply doesn’t work.
In this post, I’ll show you the keyword research method that actually gets videos to the top of YouTube search results—along with real proof and examples.
Why Most Keyword Research Doesn’t Work
Here’s the big mistake most creators make: they film their video first, then try to apply SEO afterward.
Let’s say you’re a productivity expert. You film an amazing, cinematic video about improving productivity in general. Then you try to do SEO and find relevant keywords. You discover phrases like:
- How to improve productivity on a construction site
- What can increase productivity in a dental office?
Both of those have consistent search volume—but neither fits your general video.
That’s why post-production SEO doesn’t work. You’re trying to retrofit a video to match keywords it wasn’t built for.
The Right Way: Do Keyword Research First
Instead, start with keyword research.
Use a tool like Semrush’s Keyword Magic Tool, turn on the “Questions” filter, and search for a base keyword (like “productivity”). Then:
- Turn on Phrase Match to keep results focused
- Use the Advanced Filters to find questions with 8+ words (long-tail keywords)
- Filter by CPC—set a minimum value of 1 to clear out irrelevant queries
Now you’re left with specific, actionable questions real people are searching for. Examples:
- How do you increase productivity in the workplace?
- Why do companies use online collaborative productivity software?
- How generative AI can boost highly skilled workers’ productivity
Each of those could be its own video. So instead of making one general video on productivity, you could make three hyper-targeted videos that directly answer real questions.
Organizing Your Keyword List
Copy those selected keywords into a Google Sheet. I like to paste in “Values Only” and sort by monthly search volume.
Then I pick filming dates and start with the keywords that have the lowest volume first. These are easier to rank for—what I call the low-hanging fruit.
Track your videos’ performance over time and build your library around what’s working.
Next Steps: See the Full Strategy
If this sparked some ideas for your channel, I’ve got an even deeper dive waiting for you.
Check out my full YouTube SEO course for 2025, right here on the channel. It’s packed with strategies that have helped thousands of videos hit the top of YouTube search.
Let’s get your videos ranking.
