YouTube is the second most-viewed site on the web, with more than 1.9 billion active monthly users. Mastering it is a must for any digital platform. So how do you make the most of this fast-growing platform? While advertising offers lots of paid ways to promote your brand, it is not the only option. There are organic ways to promote your brand on YouTube.

1. Find Google friendly keywords: A great YouTube channel starts with great SEO. And SEO starts with understanding what users are searching for. It turns out, people do not just look for videos on YouTube; they use Google too.

- Identify possible keywords with a tool like Keyword Planner.

- Google one of your options.

- Scan the Search Engine Results Page for each keyword.

2. Use descriptive titles: The title is the first thing users see when they find your content. And if it is not creative or compelling to click on, it might be the last.

3. Fill out your profile: Many YouTubers skip the profile section and get straight to content creation. But a compelling profile is one of the easiest ways to promote your brand on YouTube.

4. Be consistent: Use a similar color, writing style, and layout as you do on your website and other social channels.

5. Optimize your YouTube channel description: This is a great place to add keywords. YouTube gives us “tag stuffing,” but including a couple of keywords can go a long way.

6. Create custom thumbnails: Thumbnails matter, even more than titles. That is because our brains are hardwired to notice visuals first. YouTube produces automatic thumbnails for all videos, but they can be out of focus. To boost views, make an eye catching custom thumbnail for every video you post.

7. Offer real value: Great content is the best way to keep viewers engaged and the most effective way to rank well in search. That’s why YouTube’s ranking system prioritizes the viewer’s experience. Before you publish any video, ask yourself.

- What problem does this video solve?

- Is it entertaining?

- Will it improve viewer’s lives in any way?

8. Run contests: Contests are great way to get your audience involved. With a video, you can collect viewer data, encourage likes or comments, and gain subscribers. Following are the quick takeaways include:

- Start with a clear goal in mind.

- Respect YouTube’s contest rules and restrictions.

- Choose a prize your viewers will actually enjoy.

- Maximize your reach with other social channels.

9. Offer real value: Content is the best way to keep viewers engaged and the most effective to rank well in search. That is because YouTube’s ranking system prioritizes the viewer’s experience. Before you publish any video, ask yourself:

- What problem does this video solve?

- Is it entertaining?

- Will it improve viewer’s lives in any way?

10. Add a call-to-action: Include a CTA in your video to make the most of your hard earned audience. Sometimes you want to push your viewers to like or share your video. Maybe you want them to click through to your website.

11. Promote your channel, not just your videos: You know how domain authority affects page authority? The same is true for videos. Take advantage by promoting your channel as a whole, and your individual videos. Push for subscribers and link to your account. This will help your videos rank high in YouTube and Google search.

12. Balance trending content with evergreen videos: Upload a few timeless videos that your subscribers will return to again and again. Popular evergreen content includes how-to guides, tools and resources lists, stat collections, and more.