If you’re a YouTube creator wondering how to get more views from YouTube Search, you’re not alone. Ranking your videos on YouTube isn’t just about luck — it’s about choosing the right keywords your audience is actually searching for. In fact, in some real analytics data, up to 41% of views came directly from YouTube search alone!
In this guide, you’ll learn step-by-step how to use SEMrush — one of the most powerful keyword research tools — to find profitable, low-competition keywords that will bring in thousands of views consistently over months or even years.
🎯 Why YouTube Search Is Crucial for Growth
Most creators chase viral content, but what they often miss is the long-tail benefit of consistent search traffic. Many successful YouTubers have dozens of videos that pull in 20–50 views per day — not viral numbers, but these videos stack up over time.
Example:
One such “quiet achiever” video has now crossed 78,000 views without any promotion — all thanks to evergreen YouTube search traffic.
🔧 Tool Used: SEMrush (Free 14-Day Trial Available)
Yes, SEMrush is a paid tool, but it comes with a 14-day Pro Trial when accessed via a special link (normal free trial is just 7 days). You can find hundreds of video keyword ideas in this trial alone.
🔗 Get SEMrush 14-Day Pro Trial: [Insert Your Affiliate Link Here]
🔍 Step-by-Step: YouTube Keyword Research with SEMrush
Step 1: Access the Keyword Magic Tool
Once logged into SEMrush:
- Click on Keyword Magic Tool from the dashboard.
- Set your country/language preferences.
Step 2: Search for a Core Topic
For example, let’s say you want to make a video about sales funnels. Start with a broad seed keyword like:
sales funnel
SEMrush will then show you a huge list of variations people search for on YouTube and Google.
Step 3: Filter for “How to” Keywords
These keywords often show intent. For example:
- how to create a sales funnel
- how to build a funnel for free
- how to make a landing page
One strong keyword discovered was:
how to create a sales funnel for free
This video ranked on position 2 for the exact phrase and position 4 for the broader version (“how to create a sales funnel”).
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🧠 Keyword Validation: Check Real YouTube Competition
Before creating your video, validate the keyword:
- Open YouTube in Incognito Mode (to avoid biased results).
- Search the exact keyword (e.g., how to tape a hammer toe).
- Ask yourself:
- Do many videos have this exact keyword in their title?
- Are the top-ranking videos old (1–3 years)?
If:
- Few titles match exactly, and
- Most videos are over 1–2 years old…
🎉 You’ve found a low-competition keyword with a high chance of ranking!
🧪 Practical Examples That Worked
✅ Example 1: “How to Tape a Hammer Toe”
- Most top videos are 4–6 years old
- Few have the exact keyword in their title
- High chance for a fresh video to rank quickly
✅ Example 2: “How to Create a Landing Page for Free”
- SEMrush shows 3529 variations
- One video earned 164,000 views
- Still ranks for terms like:
- how to make a free landing page
- create a landing page without coding
✅ Example 3: “How to Optimize a Landing Page”
- Keywords rarely appear in top-ranking titles
- Videos are 3–5 years old
- A new, optimized video with exact keyword = great chance to outrank!
💡 Pro Tips for YouTube Keyword Strategy
- Don’t ignore keywords with low search volume in SEMrush.
- YouTube SEO is about search intent, not just volume.
- Create multiple videos targeting long-tail keywords.
- Focus on “how to” and tutorial-style topics.
- Use exact match phrases in video titles.
- Design clear and appealing thumbnails.
- Consistency beats virality — 50 views a day from 10 videos = 500 daily views.
🤔 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Is SEMrush worth it just for YouTube?
Yes. The Keyword Magic Tool and YouTube-specific analysis make it one of the best tools to discover low-competition, evergreen video ideas.
Q: Can I succeed with just the 14-day trial?
Absolutely. You can easily generate 500–1,000 keyword ideas in those 14 days and plan content for the entire year.
Q: Why not use free tools only?
Free tools like YouTube Autocomplete give limited suggestions. SEMrush has the largest keyword database, showing insights even most competitors don’t see.
🧩 Final Thoughts: Passive Traffic for Years
The power of YouTube search is in the long game. Videos that rank today can continue to bring in traffic passively for years — even 2 to 3 years after they’re uploaded.
And tools like SEMrush make the process scientific, not guesswork.
👉 If you’re ready to supercharge your channel growth, start your 14-day SEMrush Pro Trial and unlock the keyword ideas you’ve been missing:
Click here for your 14-day trial
🏷️ Tags
youtube seo, keyword research for youtube, youtube search traffic, semrush youtube tutorial, how to rank youtube videos, long tail keywords, evergreen content, youtube growth hacks, video seo tools
📢 Hashtags
#YouTubeSEO #KeywordResearch #YouTubeGrowth #SEMrush #ContentMarketing #YouTubeTips #SearchTraffic #VideoSEO #RankingVideos #YouTubeSearch
Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links. Results may vary depending on niche, video quality, and competition. The strategies mentioned are based on personal experiences and are intended for educational purposes only. Always follow YouTube’s content guidelines.
