What are YouTube Tags?

YouTube tags are keywords used to identify and describe videos uploaded on YouTube. Before videos are uploaded for public view, a standard practice is to add tags to the videos so YouTube algorithm can figure out how to categorize the videos.

The proper use of tags can help attract the right viewers to your videos. That is why YouTube tags are very important and should be optimized in order to get the best results.

Using the right mix of tags can broaden the reach of videos and get more viewers. YouTube penalizes anyone found using irrelevant tags just to generate views. Getting appropriate tags requires research on related keywords, what your targeted audience is searching for, and what your competitors are using.

Different Types of YouTube Tags

There are three different types of YouTube tags that are available with each having its specific purpose. These are:

1. Specific Tags - These are keywords that best describe the content of your video. You may have specific tags that you plan to use though it is advisable to add the ones that are suggested by YouTube if they are appropriate for your videos.
2. Compound Tags - These are phrases that contain more than two keywords. They are very descriptive and best used for video titles.
3. Generic Tags - These tags are like umbrella keywords that are used in all your videos and across all your channels. They are usually one or two words which are used to generally identify your video posts.