Google YouTube Creator Playbook Guide Education - Manual (Page 31)

31
Video Optimization
What does video optimization mean for EDU content
creators? While the same optimization best practices for all
types of creators still apply for EDU content creators, there
are a few EDU specific optimization strategies to consider.
In this section, we’re going to focus on the following:
• Metadata
• Thumbnails
• Transcriptions and captions
Metadata
Your metadata strategy should align with your overall
channel strategy. For example, if you’re an academic,
course-based channel, your metadata should reflect the
details of your curriculum. Alternatively, if your channel
consists largely of standalone, edutainment videos, you
might consider being more creative with your metadata,
capturing search trends and targeting casual viewers.
Here, we’re going to focus on EDU specific metadata
strategies and how to apply them to both courses and
lessons, as well as single, self-contained
edutainment videos.
Titles
Remember, your titles function as taglines for your
video, so make sure you carefully select keywords
that will compel users to click. As long as they are
accurate, consider keywords in your titles that align
with high-popularity search trends.
If you’re writing titles for videos that are part of a
course or larger series of lessons:
• Make sure this is obvious to the viewer from the
title.
• Always lead with a compelling title. Follow up
with a specific format and structure (for example,
“Lesson Title, # | Course Title”).
• Stick with the same format for other courses or
lessons, as it will help your viewers navigate your
channel.
Here are a few example titles for a lecture series:
• “Multi Linear Regression Model - Part 3 of 4 -
Statistics”
• “Ecological Hierarchy - Environmental Science
Level 2”
How do I optimize educational videos when I upload?
See Playbook Sections:
Metadata, Thumbnails, Reaching All Audiences
Remember that it is a violation of YouTube Terms of Service to use misleading metadata on your
videos.