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YouTube is a magical place where cat videos go viral and your carefully edited, info-packed masterpiece gets... eleven views.
But YouTubers whose videos show up in search results aren’t just lucky, they’re using keywords.
This guide is here to walk you through the real, step-by-step process of finding the right keywords so your videos actually show up in search, without resorting to clickbait or shady SEO hacks. While a dramatic title like “How I Got 1M Subs in 5 Days With Just a Toaster” might rack up a few desperate clicks, it won’t win you loyal subscribers.
Plus, find out everything about a user-friendly tool that instantly provides the right keywords for your niche, helps you track keyword performance over time, and stacks your results against your competitors.
Think of keywords like breadcrumbs for the YouTube algorithm. When you sprinkle them into your titles, descriptions, tags, and even transcripts, you’re basically telling the algorithm, “Hey buddy, here’s what this video’s about — go show it to people who care.”
If your title and description match what users are searching for (e.g., “how to make sourdough bread”), you’re more likely to be found. Suggested videos rely on contextual relevance. YouTube recommends content based on viewer history, but also on keywords that match themes in other videos. In the browse tab, metadata still helps categorize content by topic or trend.
The common myth that “tags don’t matter anymore” is just partly true. Tags can still help clarify spelling variations, common misspellings, or context, like “bass” the fish vs. “bass” the instrument.
Over the past few years, YouTube has fine-tuned its algorithm to deliver more personalized video recommendations. It now factors in a viewer’s watch history, location, device type, and even the time of day to surface content that aligns closely with their habits and interests, often right on the homepage.
Rather than focusing solely on traditional engagement stats like watch time, YouTube is shifting toward a more holistic view of viewer satisfaction. The platform evaluates both direct feedback, such as comments and post-video surveys, and indirect signals like how often users rewind or skip parts of a video. The better a video holds attention and satisfies its audience, the more likely it is to be promoted. On the flip side, content that misleads or frustrates viewers, like clickbait, tends to be pushed down in visibility.
All this means that while personalization plays a big role, keywords still act as the foundation for discoverability. If your content doesn’t cover the right keywords in your title, description, and other metadata, it may never reach the right audience, no matter how engaging it is.
In short, strong keywords get you seen, and quality content keeps you watched.
Recognizing the intent behind a viewer’s actions on YouTube is crucial since their searches and watch choices are shaped by their goals or motivations. The intent dictates the content they seek, whether it's to learn, be entertained, or solve a problem. So, understanding this helps in creating videos that truly resonate with audiences.
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Based on these, YouTube’s algorithm interprets user intent after considering these key signals:
If you want your videos to rank, it starts with the right keywords. Here's a step-by-step workflow and how to find them using tools that work.
Start by listing broad topics that fit your niche and serve your audience. Think like your viewer. If you run a fitness channel, seed topics could be “home workouts,” “fat loss,” or “meal prep.”
YouTube Search Auto-Suggest
This is the fastest, free way to find what people are actually typing into YouTube. Start by typing a phrase into the search bar—YouTube will fill in popular queries.
For example, if you type “how to make coffee,” you’ll see suggestions like “how to make coffee without a machine” or “how to make coffee like Starbucks.” These are real searches with real demand. You can plug these into your titles, tags, and descriptions to match user intent.
YouTube Trending & Explore Pages
Check YouTube’s Trending and Explore tabs to see what’s blowing up right now. While not keyword tools in the traditional sense, they help you spot themes and breakout topics. Use these insights to create content that’s timely and search-worthy.
Google Trends (YouTube Search Filter)
Go to Google Trends, switch to “YouTube Search” under the filters, and track interest over time. Let’s say you search “meal prep.” You can see when it spikes, which regions care most, and related rising queries. It’s especially useful for seasonal content planning.
AnswerThePublic or AlsoAsked.com
These tools map out actual user questions around a topic. Type in a phrase like “YouTube SEO,” and you'll get a tree of “how,” “why,” and “what” questions. Use these to guide video topics, hooks, and even thumbnails.
Other tools that help you find long-tail keywords for YouTube:
YouTube Analytics: Mine Your Own Data
In YouTube Studio, head to Analytics → Advanced Mode → Traffic Source: YouTube Search. You’ll find the exact keywords viewers used to find your videos. This is pure gold as it tells you what’s working and what your audience already wants more of. Double down on these keywords across new content.
Once you have a list, it’s time to assess which terms are worth chasing. Aim for the ideal balance: keywords with solid search volume but competition that's not overwhelming.
Not every keyword is a winner. Once you’ve filtered your list, prioritize based on:
Trends matter, but so does longevity, so balance evergreen topics with timely content.
Also, Google Keyword Planner (via Google Ads) helps identify high CPC keywords, which often translate to better CPM rates on YouTube.
Here’s how to find low-competition keywords for YouTube videos.
After finding keyword ideas, manually check the first page of YouTube search results for those keywords. Look for videos with lower views, shorter lengths, or fewer likes/comments, which may indicate lower competition. Avoid keywords dominated by highly authoritative channels or viral videos.
Finally, decide how to turn each keyword into a video.
Tailoring the format to the keyword ensures you meet expectations and stay competitive.
With SubSub’s powerful filters, you can search YouTube’s massive channel database using real performance signals.
Refine your search by filtering based on specific criteria such as category, subject matter, geographic region, or the number of subscribers. This helps you focus on the most relevant content and discover results that align with your needs. You can also sort by view volume to instantly surface the most-watched channels in your niche.
This is about who’s getting clicks using the right keywords.
Once you’ve found the channels that clearly compete with yours, save them to a collection (like a special competitors folder) for ongoing analysis.
Your competitors are likely using SEO and strategically chosen keywords to climb the rankings. With SubSub, you can pull back the curtain on titles and descriptions and see:
All of this helps you figure out what’s driving visibility and how you can plug those insights into your own content.
Want a big-picture view of multiple competitors? Or a deep dive into one channel’s strategy? SubSub gives you both.
Every time you analyze, you sharpen your keyword targeting and content decisions.
When it comes to analyzing your own content, it’s fairly easy to get a clear overview of what’s really clicking with your audience.
Track views, revenue, and performance trends with clear, actionable metrics that go beyond basic data dumps.
Plus, tag analysis shows how specific tags impact your video performance, so you can fine-tune your strategy and repeat what works. Track overall views, engagement, and even revenue tied to each tag, and use that insight to grow smarter and faster.
You can instantly generate a full competition analysis report, combining performance data from your channel and your competitors.
The report helps you:
Here’s a sum up of where and how to place keywords effectively:
Remember that keywords should flow naturally. And even the best keywords won’t save you if your thumbnail isn’t engaging. A strong click-through rate (CTR) is essential, so pair great keywords with eye-catching visuals for the best results!
Mastering YouTube growth goes beyond chasing trends and satisfying users’ needs. It’s also about finding the right keywords that connect with the right audience. If you focus on high-performing, low-competition, and long-tail keywords, you’ll set your channel up for real visibility and engagement. Yet, keep in mind to find a middle ground that increases the chances of ranking well while still attracting a meaningful audience.
And when it comes to powerful keyword discovery, SubSub helps you see what’s ranking and why. It becomes easier to make content that connects. You’ll build a keyword strategy that sticks.
Ready to stop guessing and start ranking?
How to find keywords for YouTube?
You can find relevant keywords using YouTube Search Auto-Suggest, which shows popular queries when you start typing in the search bar. Plug these into your metadata to match user intent. Additionally, check YouTube’s Trending & Explore Pages for emerging topics, and use tools like Google Trends (YouTube Search filter) to analyze keyword interest over time.
How to add keywords to a YouTube video?
Add keywords in the title, description, and tags when uploading or editing a video in YouTube Studio.
How many keywords can you use on YouTube?
There's no strict limit, but focus on relevant keywords in the title, description, and tags to improve search rankings.
What are good keyword tools for YouTube?
Keywords Everywhere, and Google Trends are popular choices for keyword research. Plus, SubSub Analytics helps you easily discover keywords that drive views and also monitor keyword performance over time.
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