Understanding YouTube Tags: A Simple Guide for New Creators

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Understanding YouTube Tags: A Simple Guide for New Creators

Starting a YouTube channel can feel like learning a whole new language, and figuring out all the different pieces that go into making a video successful is a big part of that. One term you've probably heard thrown around is "YouTube tags."

Maybe you've been told they're super important, or maybe you've heard they don't matter at all anymore. It's confusing! Especially when you're just starting out and trying to get your videos seen. You're probably asking yourself: Do tags really make a difference for a small channel? How do you even figure out which tags to use? And where do you even put them?

This simple guide is here to clear up the confusion about YouTube tags in 2025. We'll talk about what they are, what role they play now, and how to use them effectively as part of your overall strategy to help new viewers find your content. Think of this as a fundamental step in understanding how to optimize your videos, which builds a foundation for tackling more complex strategies down the road.

What Exactly ARE YouTube Tags (and What Aren't They)?

At its most basic, a YouTube tag is simply a word or short phrase you can add to your video's metadata (the information about your video) to help categorize it. Think of them like keywords you'd use when searching for something online.

In the past, tags were considered a significant ranking factor for YouTube's search algorithm. Creators would stuff their tag sections with as many keywords as possible, hoping to rank for everything under the sun.

However, YouTube's algorithm has gotten way smarter. Today, YouTube states that tags are much less important for directly ranking your video in search results compared to your title, thumbnail, and description. Their primary purpose now is to help YouTube better understand the context of your video, especially if the content is about a topic that could be easily misspelled or has multiple related concepts.

So, while they aren't the magical key to instant virality, they still play a supporting role in telling YouTube (and potential viewers) what your video is all about.

Do Tags Still Matter for Small Channels in 2025?

This is a question many new creators wrestle with. Given that YouTube says tags have minimal direct impact on ranking, should you even bother with them?

The short answer is yes, you probably should still use them, but don't stress over them.

For smaller channels, every little bit of information you give YouTube to help it understand your content can potentially make a difference. While tags won't suddenly make your video appear at the top of search results, they can provide additional signals that reinforce what your video is about, especially to viewers who might misspell search terms.

Think of it this way: Your title and thumbnail are the main ways you grab attention and tell people what your video is. Your description provides more detail. Tags are like extra little labels that confirm and clarify the topic.

According to insights from YouTube strategy experts, while title and description are far more important, tags can still offer a marginal gain, particularly for helping YouTube categorize videos with nuanced topics. The process of researching relevant terms to use as tags is often more valuable than the tags themselves, as it helps you understand the language your potential audience uses. This understanding should then inform your title and description, which are the primary ranking drivers.

So, for a small channel, spending a little time on relevant tags is worthwhile, but your focus should remain squarely on creating great content and optimizing your titles, thumbnails, and descriptions.

Tags as Part of On-Video Optimization

Understanding tags isn't just about filling a box; it's about seeing how they fit into the bigger picture of optimizing your videos for discovery. This "On-Video Optimization" includes your Title, Description, Tags, Thumbnail, and increasingly, Chapters.

These elements work together to tell YouTube's algorithm and potential viewers exactly what your video is about and who it's for.

• Your Title is your headline – it needs to be compelling, accurate, and include your main topic.
• Your Thumbnail is your visual hook – it needs to be clear, eye-catching, and represent the video accurately.
• Your Description provides context, keywords, and important links. It's where you can expand on your topic and include related terms naturally.
• Your Tags support the title and description by providing additional keyword signals and helping with misspellings.
• Chapters help viewers navigate your video, improving watch time and viewer satisfaction.

Consider channels focused on specific niches, like beginner art tutorials. Channels like @Anime Charlie, with nearly 100k subscribers, likely benefit from having a clear focus on "Drawing Tutorials" for beginner to intermediate artists. While we don't see their specific tags, their channel topic and likely video titles and descriptions (inferred from their success in attracting viewers interested in drawing) clearly signal their content. Videos like Landscape painting /flower painting/ seascape painting / acrylic painting for beginners tutorial from the channel easypeasy art, which has over 16,000 views, use a clear title that leaves no doubt about the video's content. Tags for this video would likely include variations of "landscape painting," "flower painting," "acrylic painting," and "beginner tutorial," all reinforcing the information already present in the title and description.

The key takeaway here is that tags are a supporting element. They work best when your title, thumbnail, and description are already doing a great job of communicating your video's topic. The process of researching keywords for tags can actually help you craft better titles and descriptions in the first place!

How to Choose Good Tags for Your YouTube Video (The Efficient Way)

Since we know tags aren't the primary ranking factor anymore, the goal is to use them efficiently and effectively without overthinking it. Here's how to choose good tags:

1. Focus on Relevance and Specificity: Your tags should accurately describe the content of your video. If your video is a tutorial on drawing a cat, your tags should be things like "how to draw a cat," "drawing tutorial cat," "easy cat drawing," etc. Avoid using irrelevant or misleading tags just to try and get views – this can actually hurt your channel.
2. Use a Mix of Broad and Specific Terms: Include a few broader terms related to your niche (e.g., "art tutorial," "drawing") but also include more specific, long-tail keywords that match your video's exact topic (e.g., "how to draw a cat for beginners," "easy cartoon cat drawing").
3. Include Variations and Potential Misspellings: Think about different ways people might search for your topic. If your video is about "watercolor painting," include tags like "water colour painting" (with the misspelling) or related terms like "painting with watercolors."
4. Include Your Channel Name: Always include your channel name as one of your tags. This can help your videos appear when someone searches specifically for your channel.
5. Include Your Exact Video Title (or a close variation): Using your video title or a slightly shortened version as a tag can also help reinforce the video's topic.

Remember, the goal is clarity for the algorithm and for users who might search slightly differently. Don't spend hours agonizing over every single tag. Get the most relevant ones in there and move on to optimizing the elements that matter more.

Tools within platforms like Subscribr can assist with this process. For example, Subscribr's AI Chat or Research Assistant features can help you explore related terms and topics, giving you ideas for specific keywords and phrases that you can then use to inform your title, description, and yes, your tags. While Subscribr offers a Tag Generator tool, it's important to use it strategically, focusing on generating ideas for relevant terms rather than relying on tags alone for discovery.

Where Do I Find YouTube Tags?

Finding the section to add tags to your YouTube video is straightforward:

1. During Upload: When you upload a video on YouTube, scroll down on the details page. You'll see a section specifically for "Tags." You can type your tags into this box, separating them with commas, or hit enter after each tag.
2. After Upload (in YouTube Studio): You can also add or edit tags for existing videos. Go to YouTube Studio, click "Content" in the left menu, hover over the video you want to edit, click the "Details" icon (the pencil), and scroll down to the "Tags" section.

To find ideas for tags, you can:

• Use YouTube Search Suggestions: Start typing your video's topic into the YouTube search bar and see what suggestions pop up. These are terms people are actually searching for.
• Analyze Similar Videos (Manually): While you can't directly see the tags of other videos anymore, you can analyze the language used in their titles and descriptions to get ideas for relevant keywords.
• Utilize Keyword Research Tools: Platforms like Subscribr offer tools and features designed to help you research keywords and understand what terms are relevant in your niche. Subscribr's Research Agents, for instance, can help you prepare detailed reports on topics, which can indirectly inform your tag choices by highlighting popular and related search terms.

Beyond Tags: What Really Drives Discovery for New Channels

Now that you understand tags and their current role, it's crucial to shift your focus to the factors that truly drive discovery and growth for new channels in today's YouTube landscape. Tags are a small piece of the puzzle; the big picture is about creating a compelling viewer experience.

What really matters is:

• Audience Retention and Watch Time: How long do people watch your videos? YouTube prioritizes videos that keep viewers engaged.
• Click-Through Rate (CTR): How often do people click on your video when they see it in search results or recommendations? This is heavily influenced by your title and thumbnail.
• Content Quality: Is your video well-produced, clear, and valuable to your target audience?
• Audience Engagement: Likes, comments, shares – these signal to YouTube that viewers are reacting to your content.

Modern YouTube strategy emphasizes understanding your audience deeply and delivering content they love. Concepts like Outlier Theory (analyzing which of your videos perform unusually well and why) and Idea Transfer (adapting successful content formats or ideas from other niches to your own) are far more impactful than fine-tuning your tag list.

For new creators, mastering the fundamentals of creating engaging content and optimizing the most important metadata elements (title, thumbnail, description) is the fastest path to building an audience. Understanding tags correctly – as a minor supporting element – allows you to allocate your limited time and energy to the strategies that will actually move the needle.

Leveraging Subscribr for On-Video Optimization

Platforms like Subscribr are built to help you master the entire On-Video Optimization process, focusing on the elements that matter most for discovery and growth.

Instead of just providing a tag generator, Subscribr offers a comprehensive suite of tools to help you plan, create, and optimize your videos effectively:

• Research Assistant: Helps you gather information and identify relevant topics and keywords that will inform your titles, descriptions, and tags.
• AI Script Writer: Assists in structuring your content and writing engaging scripts that keep viewers watching, directly impacting audience retention.
• Title Generation System: Generates optimized title options designed for both algorithmic performance and human clicks, boosting your CTR.
• Description Generator: Helps you craft comprehensive descriptions with relevant keywords and calls-to-action.
• Thumbnail Brief Creator: Guides you in designing thumbnails that are eye-catching and accurately represent your video, improving CTR.
• Video Analysis Suite: Allows you to analyze successful videos in your niche to understand their structure, hooks, and engagement patterns, informing your own content strategy.

By using tools like Subscribr, you can streamline your workflow and focus your efforts on creating high-quality content with compelling metadata, ensuring that all elements – including tags – work together to maximize your video's potential for discovery. This not only helps your videos perform better but also builds trust with your audience, laying the groundwork for future monetization opportunities as your channel grows.

Conclusion

While YouTube tags are no longer the SEO powerhouse they once were, they haven't become completely irrelevant, especially for new creators. Think of them as helpful labels that provide extra context to YouTube and can assist with misspellings.

However, spending excessive time on tags is a mistake. Your energy is much better spent on crafting engaging titles, designing compelling thumbnails, writing detailed descriptions, and most importantly, creating high-quality videos that keep viewers watching.

By understanding the true role of tags and focusing on the more impactful aspects of On-Video Optimization, you'll be well on your way to helping new viewers discover your content and building a thriving channel. Use tools like Subscribr to make the optimization process more efficient, allowing you to dedicate more time to what matters most: making great videos your audience will love.