A musician’s guide to YouTube SEO: 8 steps for SEO-optimizing your music videos

Posting your music as a video or lyric video on YouTube is a big step toward building your fanbase and sharing your work with the world – plus, it’s a solid way to add more content to your channel. But with countless videos uploaded daily, how do you make sure yours stands out and doesn’t disappear into the vast YouTube library? That’s where SEO – or Search Engine Optimization – comes in. And it doesn’t have to be complicated or intimidating! SEO is simply about making your video searchable and helping it rank higher in search results so that more people can find, enjoy, and connect with your music.

Let’s get into all the elements you need to focus on to SEO-optimize your music videos on YouTube:

1. The (perfect) title for your music/lyric video

Your video title is the first thing both potential viewers and YouTube’s search engine see, so it’s essential to get it right. Aim for simplicity while packing in key, clear information.

For music video titles, a strong format to follow is something like:

“Artist Name: Song Title (Official Music Video)”

or

“Artist Name - Song Title - Lyric Video”

This format highlights your artist name, the song title, and the type of video, which not only builds trust with viewers (and YouTube!) but also makes it easy for fans to find if they’re searching for that specific song by you.

Bonus tip: Skip any extra words, symbols, or exclamation points in the title – save these for the description or tags, where they’ll have more impact.

2. Optimizing the video description

A well-written description not only gives viewers more context – it also helps boost your video’s visibility in search results. YouTube’s search engine pays close attention to the words here, so this is the place to pack in keywords (in a natural way).

How to structure it:

1 Intro

Start with a 1–2 sentence intro that (ideally) includes your artist name and song title again, along with a bit about the song’s theme or story.

For example: 

Sunset Dreams (by Taylor Ray) is all about the nostalgia of summer evenings with friends. This official lyric video should help you sing along while soaking in the vibes of a warm summer night.

Pro tip: Keep important keywords like your artist name, song title, genre, and mood terms in the description, but use them naturally. Aim for readability and flow. 

2 Adding links

Including links in your video description encourages viewers to explore more of your music and follow you on other platforms, helping drive video engagement and streams. It’s also a signal to YouTube that your content is connected to other relevant parts of your online presence.

What to link to?

Include links to all key places related to the song/video in question and your main channels:

• Streaming platforms: Let fans know where they can listen or buy your music (e.g., Spotify, Apple Music, or Bandcamp).
• Website and/or Merch store: If you have a website, link it too (for credibility and visibility).
• Social media: Direct viewers to your (active) social platforms.

Quick tip: Always add "https://" to links so they’re clickable in the description.

3 Adding lyrics (yes, in the description!)

Adding the song’s full lyrics after your intro and links can help your video rank higher, especially when people search for lyrics on Google. Include a subheader (like “Song Name Lyrics:”) and paste the lyrics below. 

This can attract more searches to your video, where fans and listeners with intent can discover your channel and music.

3. The power of Tags

Tags are another key SEO tool at your disposal, located below the description section (click “Show More” to add them). Think of tags as a keyword field that helps YouTube understand what your video is about and who might enjoy it.

Think of tags as a keyword tool that helps YouTube understand your video's content and match it to the right viewers.

Tagging tips:

• Artist name: Add variations of your name that people might search for, including nicknames, initials, or common typos. For example, on SubmitHub’s channel, adding “Submit Hub” and “submithib” as tags would catch people who might search it that way.
• Song title: Include the full title and any likely abbreviations or close word combinations.
• Mood & genre words: Use terms that capture the song's vibe, like “chill,” “upbeat,” or “acoustic pop.”
• Location or language tags: Add details that might connect to specific viewers, like “Strasbourg,” “France,” or “français.”
• Similar artists: Tagging a few artists with a similar sound or genre can help your video appear as a recommendation for their fans.

Keep in mind: Tags are private to you, so don’t hold back. Use as many as you can within the 500-character limit – it’ll help YouTube’s algorithm understand and promote your content better.

4. Playlists: Grouping music for a greater reach

Playlists aren’t just for Spotify or fan organization; on YouTube, playlists can actually improve your video’s ranking and help reach new audiences. Grouping your videos into specific playlists builds a niche around your music style or brand – something YouTube recognizes and can push toward the right viewers (and you too).

How to use YouTube playlists:

• Create an “Artist Playlist”: Try “[Your Artist Name] Originals” to bring all your own tracks into one place.
• Create Genre or Mood Playlists: Options like “Acoustic Pop Bliss” or “Dreamy Downtempo Tracks” help your fans find more of your music along with songs that inspire you.
• Explore Niche Playlists: Consider creating playlists that fit themes, like “Urbex for Beginners” or “Workout for Girls,” to reach listeners in specific communities.

Whenever you upload a new video, add it to a relevant playlist. Not only does this help the algorithm understand where your video fits, but playlists also keep viewers engaged with your music longer, signaling to YouTube that your content is worth promoting.

💡 Pro Tip: Playlists encourage continuous listening, which can improve your channel's watch time and ranking. Don't be afraid to promote them on your socials or suggest them in the description or End screens.

5. Video thumbnail = first impression

Thumbnails may not be word-based, but they’re a key part of SEO, acting as a mini billboard for your video. A thumbnail should be eye-catching and relevant, giving viewers a sense of what to expect and increasing the chance they’ll click.

Design Tips:

• Text & quality: Use clear, readable text (usually just the song title) and a quality image.
• Visual appeal: Choose colors and visuals that reflect your music’s style and still look good at a small size – tiny details don’t stand out, so focus on overall impact.
• Minimal text: Often, a strong image with just the song title works best – but even just the picture itself (without any copy text) can work wonders. Use your gut and pick the “coolest” or “prettiest” one if unsure.

A great thumbnail can boost your video’s click-through rate (CTR), and a higher CTR signals to YouTube that your video deserves a boosted ranking.

6. Subtitles

Adding subtitles makes your video more accessible to a broader audience, and YouTube rewards captioned content by showing it to more people. Subtitles can also boost engagement and watch time, as viewers are more likely to stay longer if they can read along.

How to add subtitles/captions to your (music) video:

1. Go to YouTube Studio and select the video.
2. Click on “Subtitles,” then “Add” and transcribe your lyrics, syncing them to your song. You can also upload ready-made captions if you have those. YouTube often auto-generates subtitles, but they’re usually inaccurate for music, so consider deleting those.

Good to know: Subtitles improve SEO as well as make your content accessible for hearing-impaired viewers or those watching without sound.

7. Adding End screens to guide viewers to more video content

End screens appear during the last 5–20 seconds of your video and are a great way to keep viewers engaged. Use them to direct viewers to more of your music and to follow your channel.

To set up end screens:

• Click “End Screen” on the right bar in Video Setup.
• Add elements (up to 4) – we recommend two or three to avoid overcrowding: Subscribe (to your channel) and another video suggestion (like your latest upload or a similar song).

Adding end screens encourages continued engagement, which helps your channel’s growth!

8. Viewer engagement

Did you know viewer engagement can play a big role in improving your YouTube SEO? The more likes, comments, and interactions your video gets, the better its chances of being suggested to others. So, apart from creating engaging content, what else can you do?

The answer: plenty! Ask questions during your video – directly in your content or by using features like Cards. You can also spark interaction with a question or a bold statement in the Description or a Pinned Comment.

And one last, simple yet effective tip: ask your fans, friends, and family to leave a comment. Give your mom a call, drop an IG Story with a link sticker to the video, or just tell them in person – whatever works! It costs them nothing but can make a big difference in boosting your video’s performance and growth.

9. Consistency keeps the SEO flowing

YouTube rewards channels that post video content regularly. Keep in mind that not every video you upload needs to be new music and/or a full music video – consider sharing related content like behind-the-scenes, live performances, Q&As, or just simple, fun shorts. This keeps your channel active and shows YouTube you’re serious about your content.

... to wrap up

Creating SEO-friendly YouTube videos doesn’t have to be difficult. Much like uploading a song on SubmitHub, the more details you fill in, the better. Think about it as giving YouTube the info it needs to show your content to the right audience. Start with the basics we covered, and as you see what works, keep tweaking and expanding. Music video promotion is always a good next step, but starting strong with an SEO-optimized approach can only help your music or lyric video get the attention it deserves.