SEO Coach: GBP & YouTube Training

Your SEO Coaching Session

Mastering Local SEO (GBP) & Video SEO (YouTube) for Business Growth.

🚀 Best Practice: The Upload (The Launch Checklist)

This focuses on the technical steps you take before and during the upload to set your video up for success.

Step	Action	Why It Matters (The Benefit)
1. Video File Name	Rename your video file to include your main keyword, using hyphens (e.g., `best-first-time-youtube-setup.mp4`).	This is the very first SEO signal YouTube's algorithm sees.
2. High-Quality Content	Ensure your audio is clear and your video is well-lit and well-edited.	Audience Retention is the #1 metric. Clear production keeps people watching.
3. The Hook	Make the first 5-15 seconds of your video extremely engaging. Tease the benefit or the most exciting part.	This prevents viewers from clicking away immediately, boosting your retention rate.
4. Subtitles (CC)	Upload accurate subtitles or edit YouTube's auto-generated captions.	Helps the hearing-impaired and those watching on mute. Crucially, it gives YouTube a full transcript to better understand and rank your content.
5. Categorize	Select the most relevant Category for your video (e.g., "People & Blogs," "Howto & Style").	Helps YouTube suggest your video alongside similar, established content.

This focuses on all the metadata you add to your video to help YouTube and Google find and rank it.

Component	Best Practice Action	Maximize Your Discovery
Keyword Research	Use the YouTube search bar's autocomplete feature to find what people are actually searching for. Target specific, long-tail keywords (e.g., "DIY bedroom decor on a budget" vs. "decor").	Find the specific problems your audience needs to be solved.
Title	Include your main keyword as close to the beginning as possible. Keep it concise (under 60 characters) and click-worthy.	This is the primary ranking factor. It convinces a user to click (improving Click-Through Rate, or CTR).
Thumbnail	Create a custom, high-resolution image (1280x720). Use high-contrast colors, a compelling face/emotion, and minimal, bold text.	More important than the title. A great thumbnail/title combo is what gets the click.
Description	Write at least 250 words. Include your main keyword naturally in the first two sentences. Use it 2-4 times overall.	Helps Google rank your video in search and gives YouTube context for "Suggested Videos."
Timestamps	Include a clear list of timestamps (Video Chapters) starting at `00:00` in the description.	Makes your video easy to navigate and helps Google create "Key Moments" that appear directly in search results (a massive visibility boost!).
Tags	Use a mix of: 1) Your exact keyword, 2) Variations, and 3) Broad topic tags. (e.g., homemade bread, easy sourdough recipe, baking tutorial).	Helps YouTube group your content with relevant topics and other creators.

This focuses on long-term strategy, audience growth, and using YouTube's tools.

Area	Best Practice Action	Impact on Growth
Consistency	Set a realistic upload schedule (e.g., once every two weeks) and stick to it.	Trains the algorithm and your audience to expect content, building loyal viewership.
Audience Engagement	Ask a specific question in your video and in a Pinned Comment. Reply to every comment you receive, especially early on.	Engagement signals popularity and community to YouTube, leading to higher rankings.
Internal Linking	Use End Screens and Cards to recommend your next video or a relevant Playlist at the end of every video.	Increases your Channel Watch Time (a critical metric), which is what YouTube values most.
Playlists	Group related videos together into themed playlists with keyword-rich titles.	Encourages binge-watching and organizes your content for viewers.
Channel Branding	Create a branded Channel Banner and a Channel Trailer (a short, exciting video for non-subscribers).	Makes your channel look professional and tells new visitors exactly what your channel is about, encouraging subscriptions.
Analytics Review	After 7 days, check the Click-Through Rate (CTR) and Audience Retention graphs for the video.	Learn what titles/thumbnails get clicks and where viewers are dropping off so you can improve the next video.