Youtube hashtags flummox me. I use them because I assume that they are "signals" to YT to help my videos get discovered because of the search word/phrase. But also put my video on the radar for people seeking out other videos on a given hashtag.
Hashtags are a 2-way street. I read and heard arguments you SHOULDN'T use hashtags because you are helping other videos get views and leave your video.
The counter-argument is that a hashtag could be a way for other people to find my videos. I read that YT recommends up to 15 hashtags. As a practical matter, I use only 3 to 6 hashtags generally because I can only come up with so many relevant hashtags before it comes super obscure.
My thinking is that if you have a smaller channel you would want MORE access to other viewers who would not otherwise find you. Hashtags allow that and are highly recommended on Instagram and TikTok platforms.
However, is it really a bad thing to use hashtags within our videos? Yes, some people might leave because of the hashtag but even if they did, they cannot unsee my channel. But in my mind, using the hashtag opens up my video to all-new viewers. My current thinking is that it is all about the initial exposure and initial opportunity to earn a new viewer to both view your other videos and subscribe. Isn't that what getting large numbers of impressions all about? The opportunity to be seen and discovered?
In terms of YT, I try to be the "glass is half-full guy" vs. "glass is half-empty".
I am genuinely interested in hearing the pros and cons of using hashtags in our YT video descriptions. Or is the whole hashtag thing just a copycat feature from Instagram and TikTok?
Hashtags are a 2-way street. I read and heard arguments you SHOULDN'T use hashtags because you are helping other videos get views and leave your video.
The counter-argument is that a hashtag could be a way for other people to find my videos. I read that YT recommends up to 15 hashtags. As a practical matter, I use only 3 to 6 hashtags generally because I can only come up with so many relevant hashtags before it comes super obscure.
My thinking is that if you have a smaller channel you would want MORE access to other viewers who would not otherwise find you. Hashtags allow that and are highly recommended on Instagram and TikTok platforms.
However, is it really a bad thing to use hashtags within our videos? Yes, some people might leave because of the hashtag but even if they did, they cannot unsee my channel. But in my mind, using the hashtag opens up my video to all-new viewers. My current thinking is that it is all about the initial exposure and initial opportunity to earn a new viewer to both view your other videos and subscribe. Isn't that what getting large numbers of impressions all about? The opportunity to be seen and discovered?
In terms of YT, I try to be the "glass is half-full guy" vs. "glass is half-empty".
I am genuinely interested in hearing the pros and cons of using hashtags in our YT video descriptions. Or is the whole hashtag thing just a copycat feature from Instagram and TikTok?
