In this post, I’m going to teach you a powerful YouTube SEO strategy that can change everything for your channel. This is the exact strategy I used to get notable names like Noel Randall, Jason Schroeder, Laurel LM, Paul Jenkins, and even myself, Nicoline Peck, to rank at the top of YouTube.
Unlike many other videos you’ll find on YouTube, which dive into theoretical advice, this post is all about the how-to. You’ll leave with practical tips and actionable steps that will help you get your videos ranking high on YouTube.
The Tree Analogy
To truly understand this strategy, I’ll use a tree analogy. If you’ve heard this concept before, great! But trust me, even if you have, this updated strategy works even better today.
Picture a tree:
- The trunk of the tree represents your core area of expertise.
- The branches are all the different categories or subtopics of that area of expertise.
- The leaves represent the specific questions your target audience is asking.
Here’s the key takeaway: Don’t make videos about the trunk or the branches. Instead, focus on the leaves—those specific questions that people are searching for on YouTube.
What Are “Leaf Titles”?
Let’s say your core expertise is nutrition. Instead of making videos on broad topics like “Nutrition,” you should aim to make videos with specific titles—leaf titles—that target questions people are searching for.
For example:
- “How to calculate the nutritional value of a recipe”
- “How to carry nutrition during a marathon”
These are specific questions that people are looking for answers to. Use these as titles for your YouTube videos, and you’ll see your videos ranking high on YouTube’s search results.
Using YouTube SEO Tools
The tool I use to find these specific questions is the Keyword Magic Tool. Here’s how it works:
- Enter your core keyword, like “real estate investor”.
- Turn on the questions filter.
- Use the advanced filters to narrow down your search. I love starting with a word count filter of 8 words or more.
This tool helps you uncover very specific, highly-targeted questions that people are searching for. For instance, you might find:
- “How to become a real estate investor with no money”
- “How to find investors for real estate flipping”
Even if these phrases only get 10 to 20 searches per month, they are pure gold. People asking these questions are very likely looking for help—which means they are ideal leads for your business.
Five Key Ingredients for the Leaf Strategy
Now, let’s go over the five ingredients of my leaf strategy that will help you dominate YouTube.
1. Choose a Target Branch
Think of your tree with multiple branches. Each branch is a subtopic within your core area of expertise. To succeed, choose one branch (or more) to focus on, and dominate it.
For example, Noel Randall, a real estate expert, chose the “real estate investor become” branch. We found that this branch had a lot of potential for growth, and after creating videos for it, we saw dramatic results.
2. Film Every Leaf
Once you’ve chosen your target branch, start filming videos for each of the leaves (specific questions) on that branch. The more leaves you cover, the more likely you are to dominate that branch and rank at the top for these search terms.
3. Use Lead Magnet and Nurture Videos
Another crucial part of your YouTube strategy is to balance lead magnet videos (which bring in new leads) with nurture videos (which help build relationships with your audience). I dive deeper into this concept in my Leaf Strategy Webinar.
4. Talking Head Videos
The best kind of videos for this strategy are talking head videos—like this one. You don’t need elaborate setups. Just sit in front of your camera, smile, and talk naturally as if you’re having a conversation. Don’t use a script—let it flow. Your audience will appreciate the authenticity, and YouTube will reward you for it.
5. Quantity Matters
How often should you upload? That depends on your goals. If you’re just starting, upload at least one video per week. If you’re more aggressive, aim for 7 videos per week (one per day). The more consistent you are, the faster you’ll see results.
Conclusion
By focusing on leaf titles, using the right SEO tools, and consistently creating content tailored to your audience’s needs, you can see rapid growth in your YouTube rankings. This strategy has been proven to work for countless creators, and I’m confident it can work for you too.
If you want to dive deeper into this strategy and get even more detailed advice, I invite you to join my live Leaf Strategy Webinar. I’ve helped creators across multiple industries generate massive growth using this strategy, and I want to help you too!
Go to theleafstrategy.com to sign up and get started.
