https://youtu.be/gSBp2RhEW4Y
Struggling to rank your YouTube videos? You’re not alone. Many creators think they’re doing everything right—optimising titles, using SEO tools, and following the advice of popular platforms like TubeBuddy and vidIQ—only to see their videos buried under the competition.
The truth? Most keyword research tools don’t actually help you rank. In this article, I’ll break down the best way to find keywords that will get your videos to the top of YouTube search. We’ll cover:
- The right tools for keyword research (and the ones to avoid)
- Long-tail keywords and why they matter
- How to assess keyword competition
- The secret to finding keywords your competitors have missed
- The smart way to incorporate trending keywords
Let’s dive in.
The Right Keyword Tool: Forget TubeBuddy & vidIQ
Many YouTube creators rely on TubeBuddy and vidIQ for keyword research, but here’s the harsh truth—they won’t help your videos rank. Sure, these tools might give you an SEO score and tell you to tweak your title or description, but following their advice won’t necessarily get your video to the top of search results.
Instead, I recommend using the Keyword Magic Tool. This tool lets you find highly specific questions your audience is asking and shows you the monthly search volume for each term. Unlike AnswerThePublic, which generates a broad list of questions, the Keyword Magic Tool provides data-driven insights—so you know exactly how often a keyword is searched.
The takeaway? Stop wasting time with tools that give you a false sense of SEO success. Use a tool that delivers real, actionable data.
Why Long-Tail Keywords Matter
If you want to rank, the more specific your keywords, the better.
A five-word phrase? Good.
A ten-word phrase? Even better.
Why? Because long-tail keywords help you stand out in a crowded space. Most videos competing for rankings use shorter, more generic keywords. But by targeting longer, more detailed search queries, you attract viewers who are looking for exactly what you’re offering.
When someone searches for a specific phrase and finds a video that perfectly answers their question, they’re more likely to watch the entire video—which signals to YouTube that your content is valuable. And that means better rankings.
Is a Keyword Too Competitive? Here’s How to Tell
Most keyword tools measure competition based on paid ad pricing—but that’s not helpful for organic YouTube SEO. Instead of relying on competition scores, I use a branching strategy.
Here’s how it works:
- When you research keywords, you’ll notice that some topics (or “branches”) have tons of related search queries—sometimes 30, 40, or even more.
- Other branches have only a handful of related questions.
- The less populated branches tend to be more competitive, because competitors have likely already covered those topics with multiple videos.
- A deep branch (one with many related questions) presents a bigger opportunity. Most competitors won’t take the time to cover all those questions, but you can.
By focusing on in-depth keyword research and answering all the questions within a specific branch, you dominate that niche—pushing competitors down in search rankings over time.
How to Use Trending Keywords (Without Clickbait)
Many creators chase trends, hoping to go viral. But if you want long-term YouTube success, your focus should be on evergreen content—videos that generate traffic for years, not just for a few weeks.
That said, there is a way to blend both strategies:
- Start with solid keyword research. Find the right questions related to a trending topic.
- Optimise your title wisely. Include the core keyword first, and if it makes sense, add the trending term at the end.
- Use your thumbnail creatively. This is where you can grab attention with a bold statement or visual reference—without resorting to clickbait.
For example, if you’re making a real estate video and there’s breaking news about Donald Trump, you could title your video:
💡 “How to Invest in Real Estate: What You Must Know (Trump Would Never Do This!)”
Your video stays valuable long-term, but the timely reference gives it an extra push in search results.
The Secret to Finding Keywords Your Competitors Miss
If you want to outperform your competitors, the key is depth.
Most creators make a handful of videos on a topic and call it a day. But here’s what they don’t do—they don’t take the time to cover every single question their audience is searching for.
By using the branching strategy, you can find a group of related keywords and systematically create videos answering each one.
- Start with the low-hanging fruit—the least competitive, specific questions.
- Over time, build up your content library, covering more and more keywords within your branch.
- Eventually, your videos will push competitors down in rankings—because YouTube recognizes you as the go-to expert in that space.
Master YouTube SEO: The Leaf Strategy
Everything I’ve shared here is just the beginning. To truly dominate YouTube search and turn your channel into a lead-generating machine, you need to implement the full Leaf Strategy—a five-step framework designed for YouTube SEO success.
I break it all down in this video: YouTube SEO: Learn the Leaf Strategy. Watch it now to learn how to leverage YouTube’s algorithm for long-term results.
