How to Get More Views on YouTube in 2025: 21 Proven Tactics That Actually Work

Posted on July 13, 2025 by James Martin

Let’s be real—growing on YouTube in 2025 isn’t as easy as just uploading and hoping for the best. The game’s changed. There’s more content, more competition, and a way more advanced algorithm.

But here’s the good news: there are real, proven tactics that work—without spending a fortune or gaming the system.
If you’re tired of seeing low view counts and want to finally break through, you’re in the right place. I’ve broken down 21 methods that actually work, based on what successful creators are doing right now.

No fluff. No BS. Let’s go.

1. Start with a Killer Title
Let’s not sugarcoat it—your title is everything. It’s the first thing people notice, and most of the time, it determines whether someone clicks… or scrolls right past you.

Think of YouTube like a crowded bookstore. Your video is one of millions on the shelf. Your title? That’s the cover. If it doesn’t pop, it doesn’t get picked up.

So, what makes a killer title?

Use Curiosity, Emotion, or a Hook
Titles that hint at something surprising, emotional, or that leave a question unanswered tend to perform better. Why? Because we’re wired to want closure. If your title makes someone think, “Wait, what happened next?”—you’ve already won half the battle.

• “How I Edit My Videos” → too plain.
• “I Edited Like MrBeast for 24 Hours—This Broke Me” → emotional, intriguing, and includes a popular name (great for search too).
• “What Happens If You Never Sleep? (Don’t Try This)” → taps into curiosity and fear.

Add Numbers or Timeframes
People love specifics. “5 Editing Tricks That Saved Me Hours” or “Learn to Sing in 30 Days” feels clear and achievable.

Examples:

• “7 Easy Guitar Hacks You’ll Wish You Knew Sooner”
• “30 Days Without Sugar – My Honest Results”

Make It About the Viewer
This is key. People are selfish (in a good way). They want to know: what’s in it for me?
Flip the focus from “I did this” to “Here’s what YOU can get.”

Examples:

• “My Daily Routine”
• “The 10-Min Morning Routine That Boosted My Focus”

Even when telling your story, connect it to a result viewers care about.

Use Power Words
Certain words trigger emotion and urgency. Try these:

• Shocking
• Proven
• Worst/Best
• Secret
• Crazy
• Behind the Scenes
• Ultimate
• Mistakes
• Hacks

Example: “5 Shocking Mistakes New YouTubers Make (I Did All of Them)”

But Wait—Don’t Clickbait
There’s a fine line between curiosity and trickery. If your video doesn’t deliver what the title promises, people will bounce—and YouTube notices that. Your CTR might go up, but retention will tank.

So if your title is “I Spent $10,000 on a Camera”, you better actually spend $10,000 on a camera.

2. Design Thumbnails That Make People Stop Scrolling
Let’s be honest—most people judge a video by its thumbnail. It’s just human nature. We scroll fast, and something’s gotta scream “WATCH ME!” in that tiny rectangle. That’s where a killer thumbnail comes in.

Think of it like this: your thumbnail is your billboard on a busy highway. You’ve got one second—maybe less—to grab someone’s attention. If your thumbnail looks like a blurry mess or a random freeze-frame of you mid-blink… yeah, people are probably gonna keep scrolling.

So how do you make people stop and click? Let’s talk about it.

Show Real, Raw Emotion
People connect with faces—especially faces that feel something. Shock. Excitement. Disgust. Confusion.

If you’re just sitting there with a blank expression, it’s forgettable. But open your eyes wider, raise those eyebrows, exaggerate your reaction. It might feel weird while posing for the thumbnail, but trust me—it translates.

For example, ever notice how MrBeast is always looking like he just saw a ghost or found buried treasure? That’s not by accident.

Use Bright Colors and Contrast
This might sound basic, but colors matter a lot. YouTube is full of clutter. A splash of yellow or red, or bold white text on a deep blue background—those combos make your thumbnail pop.

Don’t overdo it though. Keep it clean, not chaotic. Too many colors = visual overload.

Also, try to avoid using the same color as YouTube’s background (aka white or dark gray), or your thumbnail might blend into the platform.

Keep Text Short, Punchy, and Bold
Your title says a lot, but sometimes your thumbnail needs to drive the message home. Keep it short—like 2 to 4 words max. Viewers need to read it in one glance.

Think:

• “This Changed Everything”
• “Don’t Try This”
• “$1 vs $1,000”

Use big, bold fonts that are easy to read on both phones and desktops. Test it at smaller sizes—if it’s unreadable on your own phone, redo it.

Tell a Visual Story

Your thumbnail should hint at what’s coming. If the video is about “Testing Weird Kitchen Gadgets,” show yourself with one of them doing something totally absurd—like trying to peel a watermelon with a spaghetti spoon.

It should raise questions: “Wait, what’s going on here?”, “Why is she holding a toilet plunger in the kitchen?”

You want people to feel curious without feeling tricked.

Tools to Make Life Easier
No, you don’t need to be a Photoshop wizard. Plenty of YouTubers (even big ones) use free or beginner-friendly tools:

• Canva – Super beginner-friendly. Tons of free templates just for YouTube thumbnails.
• Photopea – Like Photoshop, but free and browser-based.
• Fotor – Great for quick edits and filters.
• Snappa – Another easy drag-and-drop option.

If you’re camera-shy, you can even create thumbnails with illustrations, emojis, or screen grabs. Just make sure they still pop and look clean.

Real-World Tip:
Before publishing, try this: take a screenshot of your YouTube homepage and paste your thumbnail into it (Photoshop or Canva will work). See if it stands out next to other videos. If it blends in, tweak it.

3. Use Keywords Like a YouTube Detective
Okay, so here’s the thing nobody tells you when you’re starting out on YouTube:
It’s not just about making cool videos. It’s about making videos people are actually searching for.

Think of YouTube as Google’s video-loving cousin. People type stuff in like:

• “How to fix echo in videos”
• “Best skincare for oily skin”
• “Weird Amazon gadgets that actually work”

And if your video shows up when they search? Boom—views.

That’s where your keyword detective skills come in. Tools like TubeBuddy, VidIQ, and KeywordTool.io are game-changers. I’m not saying you need to become a full-on SEO nerd (unless you want to), but just knowing what people type into that search bar? Super helpful.

Once you’ve found some solid keywords, work them in naturally:

• In your title (but not in a boring way—no one wants to click on “how to use a blender tutorial step by step blah blah blah”)
• In your description (just write like you’re explaining the video to a friend)
• In your tags (YouTube uses ‘em for context)
• And even say the keywords out loud in your video. Yeah, really. YouTube listens now. Creepy? Kinda. Useful? Definitely.

For example, if your video’s about budget travel in Europe, you might say in the intro, “If you’re planning cheap travel in Europe this summer, here’s how I survived two weeks on $200.” Boom. You just told the algorithm exactly what your video’s about.

This isn’t about keyword stuffing. It’s more like planting little breadcrumbs for both the viewer and the YouTube robots to follow.

Treat it like a conversation, not a checklist.

4. Hook Your Viewers in the First 10 Seconds
Ever clicked on a video, watched for like five seconds, and thought, “Meh… next”? Yeah—your viewers do the same. That’s why the first 10 seconds of your video are make-or-break.

Right out of the gate, say or show something that makes them stop scrolling and think, “Okay wait, where is this going?”

It doesn’t need to be dramatic—just interesting enough to earn their attention.

Example:
“I spent $100 trying five viral productivity hacks… and only one didn’t totally flop.”

That kind of hook builds curiosity fast.

No slow intros, no asking for likes and subs right away—save that. First, earn the watch. Get them to care. Then you’ve got a shot at keeping them around.

5. Use YouTube Shorts to Explode Your Reach
Let’s be real—Shorts are everywhere now. Open YouTube and boom—vertical videos for days. And guess what? YouTube’s really pushing them. Like, if you’re not using Shorts, you’re kinda missing a free ticket to reach way more people.

The best part? You don’t need fancy gear or slick edits. Just grab your phone, shoot vertical, toss in some music, and make sure the first 2 seconds slap—seriously, if you don’t hook people fast, they’re gone.

Use Shorts to:

• Tease your full videos (“Wanna see how this ends? Full video’s up!”)
• Drop quick tips or hacks
• Jump on trending sounds or memes

They’re easy to make, fun to watch, and crazy good for growth. Try it.

6. Create Series or Episodic Content
You ever fall into one of those YouTube rabbit holes where you watch one video… then suddenly it’s been an hour and you’re 5 episodes deep? Yeah, that’s the binge effect. And it totally works in your favor.

Instead of posting a bunch of random one-off videos, try doing a series. Group your content around a single theme so when someone watches one, they want to see the next. It’s like giving people a playlist they didn’t know they needed.

You could do stuff like:

• A “30-Day Vlog Challenge” (people love progress stories)
• A Weekly Reaction Friday thing
• Or something like “How to Make Beats from Scratch – Part 1, Part 2…”

Trust me—when viewers know there’s more to come, they stick around. And YouTube notices.

7. Add Timestamps and Chapters
It might seem like a small thing, but adding timestamps? Totally underrated.
Ever click on a 15-minute video just to find one answer? Yeah, we’ve all been there. Timestamps make life easier for your viewers—they can skip to the parts they care about without guessing or scrubbing forever.

But here’s the cool part:
They don’t just help viewers—they help you, too. Adding chapters can actually increase your watch time, because people are more likely to stick around when they know what’s coming up.

Plus, Google loves ‘em. Your video might even show up as a featured snippet with clickable sections. That’s free SEO power.

Also… real talk? It just looks more pro. Like, “Oh hey, this creator knows what they’re doing.”

And it takes maybe 5 minutes to do.

Totally worth it.

8. Engage with Comments (and Pin One!)
Here’s something a lot of creators overlook: talk to your viewers. Seriously.

When someone takes the time to drop a comment, especially right after you upload, don’t ignore it. Reply, hit that little heart, or even just say “Thanks for watching!” It takes like 10 seconds, but it matters.

And don’t forget the pinned comment. You can highlight something funny someone said, or even pin your own with a question like, “What should I try next?” It keeps the conversation going and encourages others to join in.

People remember when creators actually respond. It makes your channel feel more like a community than a one-way broadcast.

Trust me—fans stick around longer when they feel seen. And that kind of loyalty? You can’t buy it. You build it—one comment at a time.

 9. Ask Viewers to Like, Comment, and Subscribe—But Keep It Chill
You know that part where creators say, “Like, comment, and subscribe” in the most robotic voice ever? Yeah… let’s not do that.

Instead, make it sound like you. Keep it casual, maybe even a little goofy. That way, it doesn’t feel like a sales pitch—it feels like part of the hangout.

Something like:
“Hey, if you made it this far, you’re officially one of my favorite people. Drop a 🍕 in the comments so I know you’re real—and hit subscribe if you’re into this kind of chaos.”

It’s fun. It’s light. And it works.
People are way more likely to engage when you make them smile instead of guilt-tripping them.

Talk like a real person—not a commercial. Your audience will feel the difference.

10. Embed Your Videos on Blogs or Websites
Got a blog? Know someone who runs one? Cool—embed your YouTube videos there.

Seriously, it’s one of the easiest ways to boost watch time and bring in fresh traffic, especially from Google. People love reading how-tos or listicles, and when there’s a video right there? Even better. It keeps them on the page longer, and if your content’s good—they’ll probably click over to your channel.

And hey, here’s a bonus move:
Drop your video (when it fits!) into Reddit threads. If the topic’s relevant and not spammy, it can blow up fast. Reddit might be tough, but when it clicks? Big traffic.

Think beyond YouTube. Anywhere your content can live online = more eyes, more views. Simple as that.

11. Promote on Other Social Platforms—The Right Way
Look, just dropping a YouTube link everywhere with “new video up!” doesn’t cut it anymore. People scroll fast—you gotta give them a reason to care.

Tailor your promo to where you’re posting:

• On Instagram, show a quick behind-the-scenes clip in Stories or Reels
• On Twitter (X), hit ‘em with a spicy take or mini thread that teases the video
• On TikTok, chop a funny or juicy 15-second highlight—make them want the full story

Don’t just say “Watch this.” Instead, say why they should. Make it about them. Like:
“Here’s what happened when I let AI control my morning routine…”

That sparks curiosity. And curiosity = clicks.

Promo isn’t copy-paste. It’s storytelling—just shorter.

12. Use Community Posts
If you’ve hit 500 subscribers, congrats—you’ve unlocked one of YouTube’s most slept-on features: Community posts.

Seriously, they’re like your own mini social feed inside YouTube. And they’re perfect for staying on your audience’s radar between uploads.
You can drop:

• Polls (people love clicking those things)
• Behind-the-scenes shots from your setup or life
• Little sneak peeks of what’s coming next

It’s not about going viral—it’s about staying connected. Even if you’re not uploading this week, a fun post can keep people engaged and maybe even spark some conversation.

Think of it like texting your subscribers without needing to post a full video.

If you’ve got access to it… use it. It’s low effort, high reward.

13. Build Playlists That Encourage Binge-Watching
Here’s the thing—YouTube loves when people don’t leave. Like, the longer someone sticks around watching your stuff, the more the algorithm’s like, “Yep, this creator’s onto something.”

That’s where playlists come in. Not just for organizing your channel (though yeah, that’s helpful too), but for kinda… guiding people down the rabbit hole. One video ends, the next starts automatically. No effort. Just vibes.

Want the trick? Don’t just slap videos in any order. Put your best one first—the one that really grabs attention. That way, they’re more likely to keep watching.

I used to ignore playlists, honestly. Big mistake. Once I started using them properly, people stayed longer—and YouTube noticed.

Small tweak. Big difference.

14. Focus on Watch Time Over Views
Here’s something not enough creators talk about: watch time beats view count. Every time.

Sure, getting a bunch of views feels great—but if people are clicking and bouncing after 15 seconds? That’s not helping you. YouTube’s algorithm pays attention to how long people stick around. That’s the real signal that your content’s good.

So yeah, one solid 10-minute video where viewers stay for 5+ minutes? That’ll help you way more than three Shorts that get a quick scroll.

It’s not just about grabbing eyeballs—it’s about holding attention. That’s what makes the algorithm go, “Okay, let’s push this.”

I used to chase views. Now I chase watch time. Way better results.

Moral of the story? Make stuff people want to finish—not just click.

15. Collaborate with Other Creators
Wanna grow faster? Don’t go it alone. Collabs work. Period.

Find creators in your niche—doesn’t matter if they’re huge or just a bit ahead of you—and team up. Seriously, it doesn’t have to be complicated.

You can:

• Swap shout-outs in your videos
• React to each other’s content
• Or go full-on and make a video together

The beauty? You’re both getting in front of new people who already like content like yours. That’s way more powerful than random views.

I once did a simple Q&A collab with a creator who had a similar vibe—nothing fancy, but both our audiences showed up big time.

Just DM someone you vibe with and pitch a fun idea. Worst they can say is “nah.” Best case? You both grow.

16. Upload Consistently (Even If It’s Just Monthly)
You don’t need to crank out daily videos to grow—but you do need to show up regularly.

Think of it like this: your audience wants to know they can count on you. And YouTube’s algorithm? Same thing. It loves patterns. Consistency tells both, “Hey, I’m serious about this.”

That doesn’t mean burning out trying to post three times a week. Honestly, once a week, bi-weekly, even once a month is fine—as long as you stick to it.

I used to upload whenever I “felt like it.” Not gonna lie… my views were all over the place. Once I picked a schedule and actually followed it? Everything got better—views, subs, engagement. All of it.

Bottom line: consistency beats bursts of motivation. Pick a pace you can live with—and run your own race.

17. Test, Fail, Repeat
Let’s be real—not every video is gonna hit. Some will flop. Hard.
And that’s totally fine.

The trick? Don’t just move on. Study your flops. Seriously—open up YouTube Studio and look at stuff like:

• Retention rate – where are people dropping off?
• Click-through rate – did the title and thumbnail actually work?
• Comments – are people confused, bored, hyped?

It’s not about getting it perfect every time. It’s about learning what your audience actually vibes with—and then tweaking the next upload accordingly.

I’ve had videos I thought were bangers totally tank. And boring ones? Somehow blew up. Trial and error is the game.

Keep testing. Keep tweaking. The wins come from the weirdest places.

18. Tell a Story—Even in Tutorials

You can teach and entertain—at the same time. Seriously, even if you’re just doing a how-to, add a little story.

Like instead of saying, “Here’s how to bake bread,” try,
“I totally messed up my first sourdough… but I didn’t give up, and by day 4, something clicked.”

That little narrative hook? It makes people care. Now they’re not just watching a tutorial—they’re following a journey. Yours.

People stick around when they’re emotionally invested, not just when they’re learning something. It makes the content feel personal, not robotic.

Next time you hit record, ask yourself:
“What’s the story behind this? How can I bring people along for the ride?”

You’ll be surprised how much more engaging your videos become when you stop explaining and start storytelling.

19. Create “Searchable” Content + “Shareable” Content
If you really wanna grow on YouTube, don’t just focus on one type of content. Mix it up—searchable and shareable.

Searchable stuff is your slow-burn traffic builder. Think:

• Tutorials (“How to mix vocals at home”)
• Product reviews
• FAQ-style videos people are literally Googling

This content helps you show up in search and get discovered long after upload day.

But then there’s shareable content—that’s what gets people talking.

• Funny, relatable clips
• Emotional or inspiring stories
• Hot takes and spicy opinions

Those are the videos people send to friends or repost on Twitter with “THIS.”

Search pulls people in. Shares make them stick.

Best channels? They do both. Teach people and make them feel something. That’s where the magic happens.

20. Use End Screens & Cards Wisely
You made it to the end of your video—nice. Now don’t let that attention go to waste.

Those last 20 seconds? Gold.

Use them to guide people somewhere—anywhere but the “X” button.

Throw in:

• A “Watch Next” video that’s actually related
• A big, juicy Subscribe button
• Maybe a playlist link if you’ve got a series going

Think of it like this: people already watched you once. That means they might watch again… if you make it easy.

I used to forget end screens. Big mistake. Once I started adding them with intention? Boom—more views, more subs, more time on channel.

Don’t just end your video. Extend it.

21. Be Patient, but Not Passive
Yeah, YouTube takes time. No surprise there. But here’s what most people get wrong: being patient doesn’t mean sitting back and waiting for magic to happen.

It means you keep showing up—even when a video flops, even when views are stuck, even when it feels pointless.

Try stuff. Change your thumbnail. Mess with your title. Post something totally different just to see what happens. You never know what’ll click.

I’ve had videos do nothing for months… then suddenly blow up outta nowhere. No warning.

So yeah—give it time. But also, do the work. If you keep going, you’re giving yourself a shot. And that’s all you need—just one shot to change everything.

Don’t quit before it finds you.

Final Thoughts

YouTube in 2025 isn’t just about creating videos—it’s about creating videos that connect, rank, and get shared.
If you apply even 5 or 6 of these tactics consistently, you’ll start seeing results. Maybe not overnight, but sooner than you think.
And hey—don’t just read this and scroll away. Pick ONE tactic, try it this week, and track what happens.