YouTube SEO in 2025

YouTube has three discovery surfaces: Search, Suggested, and Browse. Each requires different optimization.

**Search:** Traditional SEO. Keyword research, title optimization, and metadata. Works for evergreen, how-to, and educational content.

**Suggested:** The sidebar and "up next." Driven by session time and click-through rate. Optimize thumbnails and opening hooks.

**Browse:** Home feed and subscription feed. Driven by viewer history and channel authority. Consistency and cadence matter most here.

Most creators over-index on Search and ignore Suggested. Big mistake. Suggested is where scale happens.