With more than 1,300,000,000 daily visitors, YouTube is 2nd most visited website in the world, according to Alexa. A large number of people are turning to YouTube to look for how-to videos, vlogs, sports music, highlights, and much more.

Views play a very important role in building the reputation of any YouTube channel. The number of views seems to have a magnetic effect, with viewers sharing videos they like and thereby attracting more views.

As of June 2018, the Spanish-language hit, Despacito, by Luis Fonzi featuring Daddy Yankee, with 5.22 billion lifetime views, became the most popular and viewed video on YouTube, according to Statista. This video was followed by Wiz Khalifa – See You Again, featuring Charlie Puth [Official Video] from the Furious 7 Soundtrack, with 3.61 billion views and Ed Sheeran’s Shape of You with 3.56 billion views.

Needless to say, views are really important for the success of a YouTube channel. So, how do you ensure you get loads of views for your videos? Here are my 10 top tips on just that.

Tip #1: Make Quality Videos

Boring videos of poor quality will only repel viewers and ruin your reputation. When creating a YouTube video, your focus should be on creating educational and entertaining content, which is visually and acoustically stunning.

Make sure you have good lighting and an HD device to capture the video content with utmost perfection. Keep the video concise and have good background music. Only when viewers like your video will they be more likely to share and recommend their friends to watch it, while craving for more from you.

Tip #2: Focus on Content

At the core of a good video lies good content. When you deliver the content that your audience wants to see, viewer loyalty is created, which means that they are definitively going to come back to you for more.

Get into the habit of saving interesting comments from your website and social media channels and use them in future content, adding another layer of interest for viewers. You can also use these comments to get ideas for new content. If you are still running short of ideas, ask your viewers for suggestions. You might just be surprised at what they have to say.

Tip #3: Optimize the Thumbnail Image

Did you know that the decision regarding whether to view a video or not often comes down to its thumbnail? Call it a book cover, mini-marketing poster or a movie teaser, an eye catching and compelling image, along with an equally inviting video title, can increase the probability of your video being viewed.

Although YouTube gives you three options of thumbnails when you upload a video, I would advise you to design and upload custom thumbnails for new videos. Create custom poster-frames that are bright, clear, in-focus, have close ups of faces or visually compelling imagery that compels the visitor to click. Most importantly, the thumbnails should accurately represent what your content is about, else the viewer might feel disappointed or, worse, cheated.

Tip #4: Optimize Your Videos

As I mentioned earlier, a captivating thumbnail can be your key to getting more views. However, the presentation is incomplete without an interesting title that accurately describes the video. The title should be descriptive yet short and sweet. It should also be keyword rich for search engine optimization. Do some keyword research to find specific phrases that can make the video visible to your target audience.

Make sure you create a quality description that provides the viewers a gist of what to expect from the video. The description should also contain keywords for search engine optimization. Don’t forget to use title tags to get better search rankings for your video and in suggested video sections.

Tip #5: Share Your Video on Multiple Social Platforms

If you are having a YouTube channel, entice your friends or followers on different social media platforms, such as Facebook and Twitter, giving them hints about the latest you have to offer on YouTube. Use a special hashtag for the videos and organize the hashtags in YouTube Playlists.

Sharing the video with on multiple social networks will help you get feedback, which you can use to better your game.

Tip #6: Take Advantage of Influencer Marketing

According to survey conducted by Collective Bias, the buying decisions of 70% of millennial consumers are influenced by the recommendations of their peers. The study also revealed that 60% modern consumers consider advice from a non-celebrity blogger or social media posts to shop for something.

An influencer advocating a product on YouTube works great because it can both educate the consumer about a brand and drive conversions. You can also take advantage of crowd marketing, which is the sponsored word-of-mouth, to make people talk about, share and recommend your videos on their own social media channels.

Tip #7: Buy YouTube Views

YouTube videos are being touted as the present and future of online marketing. So, I can’t overemphasize the need to maximize views. One of the most popular methods YouTubers are using to get more views is buying them. The method may look shady or even dishonest, but it is undeniably effective.

Companies like FastFollowers and Devumi are some examples of where you can buy views from. There is nothing fake about them and they actually promote videos to real people via social media channels and websites.

Tip #8: Advertise on YouTube

YouTube In-Stream Advertising is a great way to monetize your channel. These ads play before the video. I recommend TrueView video ads that are opt-ins and advertised to people who want to watch your video. The best part about True Views is that you’ll only be charged when either someone clicks on the ad or watches 30 seconds or to the end of the video. Don’t miss this tip, since it can help you target your audience by gender, interests and location.

Tip #9: Add End Screens in the Video

Using powerful end screens on your videos is a great way to build viewership. They serve a unique purpose of providing viewers who have watched the entire video and enjoyed it information about your channel, recommended videos, other playlists and the link to your verified website. This helps in building credibility and customer loyalty.

Tip #10: Create Playlists for Your Content

A playlist is a collection of videos that you or another user has created, such that videos play one after the other. While you might already know this, what you may not know is that playlists can be used to get more views on your YouTube channel. Creating unique playlists with a relevant flow for your content somehow mentally motivates the viewer to watch more videos, more so since it automatically plays after one ends. You can embed playlists or post them on your channel for this purpose.

YouTube is such an exciting platform to be on. Take advantage of every opportunity to increase your viewership and create a channel that keeps giving back to you.