When it comes to YouTube SEO, there are a lot of tools out there claiming to offer the secret sauce to help your videos rank. But which ones really deliver results? Today, we’re diving into popular tools like TubeBuddy, vidIQ, SEMrush, Ahrefs, and AnswerThePublic, and evaluating why following traditional SEO training might not always get you the results you expect. Stick with me, and I’ll share a shortcut that could help you rank your videos at the top of YouTube in just a few days – no loopholes, no cutting corners, just a smarter way to work with YouTube’s algorithms.
TubeBuddy vs. vidIQ: Are They Worth It?
Let’s start with the two heavyweights in the YouTube SEO tool game: TubeBuddy and vidIQ. Both offer valuable insights into your channel’s performance, but do they really work for ranking videos?
Take this example: I searched for how to discipline a child that lies and steals on YouTube. Right at the top is Nicholeen Peck’s video, which we strategically optimized to rank well. Now, according to vidIQ, the SEO score for this video is 32/100. It’s a competitive keyword, and vidIQ suggests you’d need over a million subscribers to compete for this term.
Despite the tough competition, we’ve managed to pull in 821 views in just seven days with a channel that has only 60,000 subscribers. But here’s the catch: TubeBuddy’s SEO score for the video is only 50%. So, how did we get this video to rank so highly with what seems like an average score?
Let’s take another example. When I searched for how to become a construction project manager, my client Jason Schroeder’s video is ranking at the top. TubeBuddy rates it with a medium SEO score of 51. Again, it’s a competitive space, and TubeBuddy’s recommendation is to focus on mid-range keywords unless you have a massive following.
Yet, despite being in a competitive field, Jason’s video has racked up 27,000 views—matching his channel’s subscriber count. The key here? It’s not just about the score; it’s about strategically picking the right keywords and using them effectively.
But here’s the real kicker: TubeBuddy and vidIQ rely heavily on tags. And as much as these tools suggest certain tags to use, tags don’t matter as much as you think. YouTube itself has confirmed that tags are not a critical factor in ranking.
Let’s take a look at a real-world example with vidIQ. In a video about credit card applications, vidIQ suggested tags like Amex credit cards, credit score, and financial literacy. The reality? Those tags don’t align with the video’s content, which is about specific mistakes to avoid on credit card applications. These tools give you a laundry list of irrelevant tags that could end up doing more harm than good.
Bottom line? Don’t waste your money on vidIQ or TubeBuddy. They promise a lot but don’t offer much actionable advice beyond generic suggestions.
So, What About AnswerThePublic?
Another tool that’s often recommended for keyword research is AnswerThePublic. It’s supposed to generate questions related to your keywords, right? But when I searched for “real estate investor,” AnswerThePublic only found 8 questions. That’s right, 8. For a topic like real estate investing, this is a ridiculously low number of relevant queries.
On the other hand, Keyword Magic Tool (offered by SEMrush) returned 1,083 questions—now that’s useful! Plus, it provides search volume, which AnswerThePublic lacks. Without knowing how many people are searching for a term, you’re flying blind.
If you’re serious about YouTube SEO, don’t rely on AnswerThePublic. For a more robust, data-driven approach, try Keyword Magic Tool or similar platforms that offer search volume insights.
What About Ahrefs?
Now, let’s talk about Ahrefs. While it’s a powerful SEO tool, it’s also expensive—often more so than the Keyword Magic Tool. I’ve done my own comparison, and honestly, Ahrefs doesn’t deliver better features than its cheaper alternatives. The lack of a free trial also makes it difficult to justify, especially when other tools are offering similar insights at a lower cost.
If you want an alternative to Ahrefs that is both cost-effective and comprehensive, Keyword Magic Tool should be at the top of your list.
The Most Powerful SEO Tool: YouTube Analytics
Now, let’s talk about the most underrated but most powerful tool available to YouTube content creators: YouTube Analytics. Forget third-party tools—YouTube itself gives you all the data you need to track your video’s performance.
Here’s how you can use it:
- Go to YouTube Analytics and click on the Advanced tab.
- Look at your Search Traffic for the last 90 days and compare it to previous periods.
- By checking these metrics, you can track if your videos are gaining more views from search, which is the most reliable sign that your SEO is improving.
For example, on one of my channels, we saw an increase from 79,000 to 87,000 views in just 90 days. This type of insight is incredibly valuable because it tells you if your SEO efforts are actually working.
My Favourite Tool: Google Sheets
Lastly, I use a Google Spreadsheet for SEO tracking. For one of my clients, Noelle Randall (a real estate expert), we tracked every keyword related to real estate investing. I used a simple system: if Noelle’s video ranked in the top 3, it got a “Yes” (worth 1 point). If it ranked lower but in the top 20, it got a “Starting” (0.25 points). If it didn’t rank at all, it got a “No” (0 points).
Over time, we tracked her progress and saw her SEO score improve from 3 out of 20 to nearly 16 out of 20. This scoring system isn’t just about looking at random metrics—it’s a true reflection of how well your videos are ranking on YouTube.
The Secret: The Leaf Strategy
This approach is what I call the Leaf Strategy, and it’s something I teach in my other YouTube SEO video. In essence, it’s about tracking your video’s performance over time, refining your approach, and using data to optimize your future content. If you want to learn more about this, check out my video on YouTube SEO and the Leaf Strategy.
Final Thoughts
While there’s no shortage of tools promising to boost your YouTube SEO, YouTube itself should be your primary focus. Forget overhyped tools like vidIQ, TubeBuddy, and AnswerThePublic. Instead, use YouTube Analytics, the Keyword Magic Tool, and a simple spreadsheet to track your success.
By strategically focusing on the right keywords, optimizing your content with the Leaf Strategy, and tracking your results, you’ll be well on your way to ranking at the top of YouTube in no time.
Ready to take your YouTube SEO to the next level? Go watch my video on the Leaf Strategy now, and let’s dive even deeper into how to get real results.
