This info is handy for new creators or small channels who want views without leaving success to chance. Most new YouTubers tend to upload a ...
This info is handy for new creators or small channels who want views without leaving success to chance.
Most new YouTubers tend to upload a video, hit “Publish,” and hope for the best. But if you want to actually give your content a chance, there’s more to it. Here's 10 steps you should be taking after uploading. This is all based on how YouTube’s system works (at least at the time of writing this post), rather than guesswork.
- Name Your File Strategically
Before uploading, rename your video file to match your title (or include your main keywords). It adds metadata that helps YouTube understand your content — especially important for small/new channels. - Optimise the Description with Keywords
Use your preferred AI tool (eg Gemini/ChatGPT etc) to write a video description packed with relevant, high-volume keywords — but make it readable. A transcript or rough script helps generate better keyword-dense results. Avoid dumping a tag list (that’s now flagged as spam). - Deep-Link to Other Videos
In your description, link to related videos, but not just any link; use playlist links so your videos auto-play one after another. This boosts session time and keeps viewers in your ecosystem. - Use Hashtags Wisely
Add 3–5 relevant hashtags to your description (e.g. #YouTubeTips, #VideoEditing). More than that tends to look spammy. Use keyword tools to pick the highest search volume options. - A/B Test Thumbnails
Always design at least 2–3 thumbnails. Tools like YouTube’s built-in A/B testing (or external mockup tools like "Would You Click?") can help you see which performs better. For small creators, wait at least 7 days before changing a thumbnail. Why? It give YouTube time to collect data. - Use Smart Tags
Tags might not be a necessity for big channels, but they’re pretty important for new ones. Use a free tag generator or tools like vidIQ to find and organise SEO-relevant tags. Put the most important tags first. - Build End Screen Funnels
Only show one clear next video on your end screen. Give your viewers too many choices, and they’ll probably just click off entirely. Make the next video highly relevant, ideally a 'part 2' or related topic. - Upload as Private or Unlisted First
Admittedly this might require a little forward planning ... don't publish immediately. Upload your video as private or unlisted and wait 24–48 hours. This lets YouTube fully process metadata, captions, and HD versions before you go live, giving your video the best start. - Subtitles Boost Retention
Enable auto-captions and add translated subtitles in other languages (like Spanish, Hindi, etc., depending on your audience). This can increase view time and help foreign viewers stick around. - Watch It Like a Viewer
Once published, watch the entire video from your main and secondary accounts. Like, comment, and reply to others — it signals high retention and engagement early on, which the algorithm likes. Even watching it while logged out helps trigger visibility in search and suggested videos. - Bonus: Link Long-Form Videos in Your Shorts
If you're posting Shorts (on a separate channel is best), link to your long-form videos in the description. Even a handful of clicks from Shorts viewers can boost your main content.
You don’t need millions of views to win you just need the right setup to give your videos a fighting chance. These steps won’t go viral for you, but they do set the stage for it to maybe happen later on. Hope this helps someone!
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