Is SEO on YouTube really a thing? Absolutely—and it’s actually the smartest place to focus your SEO efforts right now.
Why? Because Google isn’t just a website search engine anymore. It’s a content search engine. And YouTube is the #1 content platform in the world.
Let’s talk about how to take advantage of that—how to get your videos ranked at the top of YouTube, and then how to turn those views into real customers.
Step 1: Why YouTube Search Traffic is Gold
Search traffic is the most valuable kind of YouTube traffic when it comes to generating leads. Why?
Because these viewers are already looking for answers. They’ve typed in a specific question, and when your video pops up and delivers real value, it feels like magic. They’re not being “sold to.” They’re learning something. They’re grateful. And trust starts to build.
From there, it’s just a natural next step for them to visit your website, where they see your branding, your offers, and maybe even schedule a call or make a purchase. It feels organic because they came looking for you.
Step 2: Get Your Videos Ranked at the Top of YouTube
Getting your video to the top of YouTube search is essential. I teach a specific process called the LEAF strategy for that, and I’ve created a whole video walking you through it. You can check it out here.
Step 3: Have Something to Sell
Here’s a quick story.
When I launched Chris Crone’s YouTube channel over a decade ago, we had views, subscribers, and tons of engagement—but no clear offer. Chris was only promoting a local Utah event. And out of all that attention, only one person traveled from out of state to attend.
I told him to create a course. It took him six months to do it, but when he finally launched it (a $1,000 course), he sold 100 in the first month. That’s over $100,000 just from YouTube. And it continued to grow from there.
Step 4: Capture Contact Information
So how do you turn a viewer into a lead?
Offer a free gift at the end of your video. Something useful and actionable that aligns with what you just taught. To get the gift, the viewer has to give you their email address—or phone number.
“Now that you understand what I just taught in this video, I’ve got a free gift that’s going to help you implement it. It’s called [Your Lead Magnet Name] and it will help you [insert benefit]. Just go to [your link] to grab it.”
Step 5: Use Internal Links to Keep YouTube Happy
Don’t send people off YouTube in every video—YouTube doesn’t like that. Instead, build a video ecosystem.
Pick one core video that offers your free gift and sends people to your site. Then, in your other videos, recommend related YouTube videos to keep people watching on the platform.
Step 6: Nurture Your Leads
Once people opt in and give you their contact info, the next job is to nurture them.
Text them. Email them. Keep providing value. Stay top of mind. When the timing’s right, they’ll book a call, buy your offer, or take the next step with you.
Ready to Get Your Videos to the Top?
Everything starts with visibility. That’s why I created a free video where I break down exactly how to rank your videos at the top of YouTube using the LEAF strategy.
