How to Use VidIQ for YouTube Keyword Research
Keyword research is a crucial part of creating a successful YouTube channel and videos. Finding keywords and phrases that people are searching for, but that have low competition, is key to getting your videos ranked high in YouTube and getting views.
In this article, I’ll walk you through step-by-step how to use the video optimization tool VidIQ to research the best keywords to target for your YouTube videos.
Sign Up for a VidIQ Account
First, go to VidIQ.com and sign up for a free account. You’ll need to connect your YouTube channel to your VidIQ account.
Comparison of VidIQ Free vs Paid Plans
VidIQ has both free and paid plans. The free plan gives you access to key keyword and competitors research features.
| Feature | Free | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Keyword research | ✅ | ✅ |
| Competitor tracking | ✅ | ✅ |
| Video rankings tracker | ✅ | ✅ |
| Daily video ideas | Limited | Unlimited |
| Channel audit | ✅ | |
| Keyword grouping | ✅ |
Use the Keyword Tool
Once logged into your VidIQ dashboard, go to the “Keywords” section. This is where you’ll research and find the best keywords.
Simply type in a keyword or phrase into the search bar that is relevant to your video topic. For example, “how to start a YouTube channel”. Hit enter.
Keyword Research Metrics to Look For
| Metric | Ideal Range |
|---|---|
| Keyword Score | 50+ |
| Search Volume | Higher is better |
| Competition | Lower is better |
VidIQ will show you data and metrics for that keyword:
- Keyword Score: This is VidIQ’s overall rating for that keyword, based on its search volume, competition, and more. Look for keywords with scores above 50.
- Search Volume: This shows approximately how many monthly searches that keyword gets. Higher is better.
- Competition: This shows how competitive that keyword is – how many other videos are already ranking for it. Lower competition is better.
Analyze Related Keywords
Scroll down on the keyword research results page to see additional tabs:
- Related keywords: Other similar keyword ideas that are relevant to your main keyword.
- Questions: Questions that people are commonly searching for related to your keyword. Great for getting video title ideas!
- Matching keywords: Other keyword variations that include your main keyword phrase.
Go through each section and look for additional strong keyword opportunities to target. Make sure they have high scores and search volume, and low competition.
Use Keyword Groupings
A useful feature in VidIQ is saved keyword groupings. Once you’ve found a group of strong keywords to target, you can select them and click “Add keywords to new group”. Give your grouping a name.
This saves the keywords for easy access later when making your video.
Insert Keywords into Your Video Details
When you’re ready to optimize your video, go to your Video Manager in YouTube. Insert your main keyword and keyword grouping into the title, description, and tags of your video.
This helps YouTube connect your video to those search terms, and improves your rankings and visibility for those keywords.
Check Your Rankings
After your video is published, go back to VidIQ to check its rankings. Search for your keywords, and see if your video appears on the first page of results.
Track your rankings over time to see if they improve. Continue optimizing your video metadata to improve rankings.
Checklist for Optimizing Video with Keywords
| Task | Complete? |
|---|---|
| Insert main keyword in title | |
| Add keyword grouping to description | |
| Include related keywords in tags | |
| Check initial rankings for keywords | |
| Continue optimizing to improve rankings |
Using VidIQ’s keyword research and tracking tools is incredibly valuable for boosting YouTube video visibility and views. Follow these tips to perform effective keyword research for your YouTube channel.