How does SEO work on YouTube? Is it the same as SEO for websites—or totally different?
If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s harder or easier, or how some creators get their videos to rank right at the top of YouTube search results, you’re in the right place.
Today I’m breaking down how I helped creators like Stan the Annuity Man, Noel Randall, and Jason Schroeder get to the top of YouTube—and how you can do it too.
Spoiler: YouTube SEO is easier than website SEO—by a long shot.
The Big SEO Shift
Search engines have changed.
Google used to be all about websites. Now? It’s all about content.
Website SEO used to involve complicated diagrams, link wheels, and spammy tactics that took years to see results. I used to run one of those services a decade ago—it was insane!
But now, with YouTube SEO, you can create just one video and start driving traffic. That’s the entire game plan.
Website SEO vs. YouTube Content SEO
Website SEO focused a lot on “short-tail” keywords—things like “improve productivity.” But with content SEO, we go longer. Much longer.
Let’s compare:
- Short-tail: Improve productivity
- Extra-long-tail: How to improve productivity on a construction site
Which one is more specific? More likely to attract the right viewer?
That second one is what wins in YouTube SEO. And it’s easy. Just create a video with that title, and you’re off to the races.
The YouTube SEO Funnel (It’s That Simple)
Here’s how it works:
- A person goes to Google or YouTube and types a question.
- Your video pops up (because your title matched their search).
- They click, watch your content, and build trust with you.
- Then—they visit your website and become a lead.
You’ve just turned a search query into a customer journey. From one video.
Now imagine doing that with 10 videos. That’s 10 potential lead machines working for you 24/7.
Real-World Examples
Let me show you how this works in practice:
- “Are fixed indexed annuities a good investment?”
Stan the Annuity Man ranks #1—and it brings him leads. - “How to get business credit with poor personal credit”
Noel Randall ranks at the top, with over 1.1 million views in four years. - “What’s the role of a superintendent in construction?”
Jason Schroeder ranks #1. His YouTube channel now brings him more business than he can handle.
Search Traffic > Viral Traffic (Long-Term Wins)
YouTube gives you fun metrics like “fireworks” for your best-performing videos. But that’s short-term.
Search is long-term.
Take Jason’s channel. We looked at the last 90 days of search traffic and compared it to the previous 90:
- Previous 90 Days: 82,000 views from search
- Last 90 Days: 94,000 views from search
That’s steady, compounding growth. And that’s what matters.
Want the Full Strategy?
If this blew your mind a little bit, I’ve got an entire course right here on YouTube that walks you through the whole process.
➡️ Watch my full course: YouTube SEO: My Full Course
Let’s get your videos ranking and your business growing.
