YouTube is the second largest search engine in the world, and users flock to the site in their billions to find answers to questions on all sorts of topics. The challenge for YouTubers is not only to create the content they are most passionate about, but to find the gaps in the YouTube space where the competition is less fierce for that content.

Take Mother's Day for instance. The short-tail term "Mother's Day' is the most searched for term around the celebration in 2019. No massive surprise there - and neither is the volume of content that's published around that keyword phrase. If you have an established channel with a loyal and engaged subscriber base that has been uploading content around lifetsyle and family for years, then YouTube may return your videos pretty high up in the search results for that term. But if you are a new channel, you may struggle to gain any visibility outside of your own audience, due to the sheer volume of uploaded content around this major tentpole event.

If you plan on creating a Mother's Day's video then you will want to fully understand what keywords people are searching for and when they are searching so your video has the best chance of being seen during this very competitive U.S. holiday.

Luckily, viewers are searching for all sorts of terms around Mother's Day that you can take advantage of to drive views and subscribers to your channel. Here are the top 20 search terms for 2019:

YouTube: Top 20 Mother’s Day Keywords To Use

Are any of the keywords listed above a surprise to you as a YouTube creator? Are there any ideas that you can think of around some of the topics? These terms are being actively searched for right now so you have the opportunity to rank in the results if you can create an engaging and entertaining video using these keywords as a kick-off point. But remember to OPTIMIZE your custom thumbnails, titles, tags, and descriptions accordingly so YouTube knows exactly what your video is all about.

When are Viewers Searching for Mother's Day Content on YouTube?

In 2018, most of the interest for Mother’s Day keywords happened between April 9th and May 27th according to 

. We suggest getting your content out around the 1st of May and expect it to start losing steam around the end of May.

However, even though this is a once-a-year event, your video has the opportunity of becoming evergreen content that will attract views and engagements year after year.

We've listed the most searched for Mother's Day keywords on YouTube. Now let's show you some examples of content that's driving those terms. At #2 is a keyphrase I'd never thought I'd see but "

" is proving popular with viewers as they tune in to watch this hilarious promotion from KFC's on-point marketing campaign. Featuring the Chickendales, the video has generated over 551K views since being uploaded on the 25th of April.

While the KFC video might have a short shelf life (see what we did there), the following upload from HGTV Handmade is a fantastic example of combining the tent pole event with another YouTube favorite - DIY. Uploaded on April 29th, the '9 DIY Mother’s Day Gift Ideas' has already generated 1.3M views.

Sticking with the DIY theme, 'Fix This Build That' created a video that showed off 6 different gift projects for Mom's special day. What's so interesting about this content is that while the channel's focus is squarely on a range of DIY projects, they saw an opportunity to create a video around this tentpole event that fits right in with their genre. That means it's not confusing the subscriber base but offers an opportunity for the video to rank well for Mother's Day terms.

If you want to discover your own keyword opportunities, and take your YouTube channel to the next level then make sure to download vidIQ. It will help you research YouTube, analyze videos, audit your own channel, and take actionable steps 

Red heart graffiti with "Mom's" banner on yellow brick wall background mural.

Mother's Day content is huge on YouTube - and here are the top 20 most searched keywords around this major tentpole event.

Top 20 Mother's Day Keywords on YouTube

Although K-pop has been alive and kicking in the hearts of its fans for over a decade, this year's cracker of a summer smash, 'Boy with Luv' from BTS featuring Halsey, has firmly cemented its place in global pop culture. Not only is 'Boy with Luv' the most viewed music video uploaded to YouTube within 24 hours, 'BTS' is the most searched for K-pop keyword on the platform, with 

 the search volume than that of another crazy popular K-pop band, Blackpink. Such is the popularity of BTS content on YouTube, the group is searched for over 

 than the genre of music they represent. Mind blown.

Before we jump into some more keyword data, take a listen to 'Boy with Luv' and get a taste for the K-pop phenonenom:

, we can confirm that the following are the most searched for K-pop terms on YouTube right now, based on monthly search volume. They include band names, and generic terms, with 'Boy with Luv' the 15th most searched for K-pop song:

 data for the last 12 months confirms our findings. Searches for BTS and Blackpink are on the rise, and are surpassing searches for the main Kpop keyword term.

BTS are arguably THE most popular K-pop band in the world right now. AKA The Bangtan Boys, they are a 7-piece boy band founded in Seoul in 2013, and while they are smashing records across the world as a group, there is also intense interest on YouTube for each member of the band. In order of popularity, here are the BTS boys being searched for on YouTube each month:

(Data corrected 7-26-19 based on Twitter feedback)

Finding Opportunities to Create K-pop Content on YouTube

While BTS is the most searched for K-pop term on YouTube right now, it's also one of the most competitive. Unless you're BTS yourself, the chances of ranking high for that very specific term are pretty hard. However, finding a keyword or phrase with low competition but a decent search volume means you could be creating content that viewers are looking for but not many YouTubers are making. That's a win win for you and the viewer.

Also using vidIQ's Keyword Tool, we took a look at some of those possible search terms to see what gaps there were and came up with the following:

And while we're not saying that creating content around those specific keyphrases will bring in tens of thousands of views, you have a much better chance of ranking for them than going after the main K-pop keywords. Our data shows that viewers are searching for very specific terms around the genre, the bands, and the culture so take advantage of that interest and find your own niche.

Want To Get More YouTube Views & Subscribers?

If you want to take your YouTube channel to the next level then make sure to download vidIQ. It will help you research YouTube, analyze videos, audit your own channel, and take actionable steps 

Seven male performers in suits posing on stage with colorful lighting and cameras behind them

Did you know that there are 67M searches for BTS on YouTube every month, and that Jungkook is the most searched for member of the band on the platform? Read on for more K-pop facts on YouTube.

Top 20 K-Pop Keywords on YouTube 2019: BTS Top Search Term

The 4th of July is one of the top tentpole events in the US, and like Thanksgiving and Christmas, there are huge opportunities to create content around this national holiday that will appeal to YouTube viewers. But what keywords and terms are YouTube users searching for around this event? Let's take a look.

Top 15 4th of July 2019 Keywords on YouTube

If you plan on creating a 4th of July video then start by understanding what keywords viewers are searching for, and also when they are searching for the content. Knowledge of both will give you a heads up on what and when to publish.

, we can confirm that the following are the most searched for 4th of July keywords and phrases on YouTube right now:

We also took a look at whether there was a significant difference in the average number of people who searched for either 'Fourth of July' or '4th of July' on YouTube each month. Interestingly, there wasn't a lot in it, so you're safe to use either (or both) in your YouTube titles and descriptions:

 - 26.8K searches average monthly searches

When are Viewers Searching for 4th of July Content on YouTube?

Just as important for any YouTuber creating videos around a tent-pole (and potentially evergreen) event is to know just when viewer interest is peaking. 

 data for the last 5 years confirms that the holiday trends between 29th June - 5th July so publishing videos this week would give you the best chance of being seen so you can attract those views and subscibers.

Finding Opportunities to Create 4th of July Content on YouTube

Alongside the main keywords being searched for, we took a deeper dive into the food and DIY categories, both of which land themselves very well to content ideas. When it comes to food for the celebration, it's no surprise that snacks, and party food top the list:

Top 10 4th of July Food Keywords: YouTube

If you want an idea of the type of 4th of July recipe ideas that YouTube viewers love, take a look at this upload, published by Twisted on July 2nd 2018. To date, it has generated 1.3M views, and still attracts around 150 views per hour:

4th of July and DIY is also a very popular content theme with 'Dollar Tree' topping the list of keywords associated on YouTube with this tentpole event.

An excellent example of a channel that uploaded content that took advantage of the viewer's interest in 4th of July plus DIY'ing the celebrations using Dollar Tree is 'My DIY Home'. It uploaded a video on May 27th 2019 which has already generated a healthy 28.5K views:

Hand holding lit sparkler and small American flag on dark background celebrating USA.

4th of July videos are hugely popular on YouTube - here are the top most searched keywords around this major U.S. tentpole event.

How to Win on YouTube with 4th of July Content

Are you excited about the changes coming to online video content and social media platforms in 2020? We asked the experts at vidIQ for their tips and predictions for the coming year.

What do Video Creators Need to Know for 2020?

 YouTube’s not going anywhere and neither should you.

 Tricks are not as important as understanding your value to the world. No title, thumbnail or description is going to make someone watch your entire video. Really focus on the value you bring. Discover your superpower and become a perceived thought leader in that niche.

 There is still an enormous opportunity to build an audience around your video content on YouTube - but you have to go all-in with strategy! While a handful of lucky channels generate a massive amount of views and engagement with random content, that’s not going to work for 99% of creators. Pick a focus for your channel, learn what your potential community is searching for around that topic, then create, create, create and optimize, optimize, optimize until you hit your stride.

Carla Marshall: Head of Content Marketing

 While 2020 will bring on new challenges for creators, one thing will not change; viewers on YouTube want to be entertained or educated. Your content should either entertain the person watching or teach them in some way about something they are looking for. Think about some of the reasons you watch YouTube. When you are looking to learn something, what kind of aspects of a video work best? When you are looking to be entertained, what works when you watch that awesome video that you shared with your friends? Think about the viewer first!

Travis McPherson: Customer Success Manager

 YouTube might constantly change, but the one element that is consistent is making good content people want to watch. Going into 2020 it is important to understand what you are bringing to YouTube and your channel, why would someone want to watch you over another and are you delivering value.

Liron Segev: Director of Customer Success

 Focus on timeless and perennial truths, keep on shipping videos, whether you deem them good or bad and keep honing your craft until you get really great at creating content consistently without much effort required. Your audience will give you feedback in the way of comments, views, likes, and other ways, and keep testing and improving what you’re doing. 

Mr Beast didn’t become Mr Beast overnight

, and neither will you. When you empower your analytical left brain with mastery of creating content and the shipping process, your right brain has the power to be creative and find those magical ideas that become trends.

 Unless you make videos aimed at children, don’t let COPPA and the FTC slow you down when it comes to your content schedule. Remaining optimistic on YouTube is essential when you’re trying to stay focused on your next upload.

Kick-start Your 2020 YouTube Journey with the vidIQ Academy!

Before we continue with the predictions, why not start growing your channel, and earn revenue in 2020 by joining the new vidIQ Academy! Members of the vidIQ family that 

have upgraded to our Boost and Pro packages get immediate access

 so you can start your YouTube success today!

Access to the exclusive vidIQ academy will give you a huge advantage over your competitors from the get-go. For a quick overview of what to expect from vidIQ's brand new Academy just watch this video:

What Trend Are You Most Excited For in 2020?

 There are some exciting things going on with YouTube analytics. At first, like everyone else, I was resistant to the huge overhaul. But now I’m really getting into the flow of what YouTube is trying to do, which is to spell out as loudly as possible to creators: this is what’s working for your channel, do more - dare I say it, taking a page from vidIQ’s own book.

I will miss the classic studio but the time does now feel right to move on and once we do, within three months no one will remember how YouTube analytics used to look. That should free up YouTube to create even more tools.

Talking of mobile....there is a LOT in the vidIQ pipeline for 2020 and I’m looking forward to sharing it with the vidIQ community. 

Tools that complement YouTube’s analytics

 and help you grow your channels smarter and faster.

On another note, I’m as intrigued as everyone else to see how this 

 ‘thing’ is going to play out. There has been a LOT of negativity and it’s an especially challenging time for kids content creators… but amongst the chaos, I believe there is going to be opportunity. Whether or not it directly affects you as a creator, if you approach this with an open mindset and stay positive you will overcome this obstacle, just like every other one that has been put in front of you.

 I’m most excited to see how people will evolve based on new laws and changes to the algorithm. Many of the best things in life come when you have to get creative and have restrictions. The creative problem solvers might just win 2020 on YouTube.

 Two things. Firstly, the ‘Shane Dawson Effect’ on documentary commentary and long-form content. Did the YouTube audience tune in specifically because of the 

 and the drama that came with it or are we about to see an explosion of longer and more in-depth content from publishers and creators on YouTube?

Secondly, the evolution of TikTok - I’m excited to see what steps (if any) the platform will take to help creators monetize. Also, am ready to get out the popcorn and watch the mass migration of creators to other platforms if this doesn’t happen.

 In 2020 we will see more creators using other platforms to connect with audiences. This is already happening on channels where comments and notifications have been disabled.

Docuseries style content will become more mainstream and I expect more high-profile individuals such as celebrities (Will Smith) will continue to use YouTube to keep top-of-mind.

New show formats such as video podcasts will also emerge as varied content will be tried and tested to ascertain if there is a receptive audience. Phil DeFranco, HotOnes, Kevin Hart LOL Network are just some Podcast shows doing it with a twist.

 In 2020 and beyond, everyone is self-employed. That means you’re going to have a whole lot more competition because we all need our own brands and that’s exciting because that means whatever you want to teach or become, there’s usually a growing audience for it. We are responsible for our own success, no one is going to hand you success.

 Every year on YouTube the competition grows, forcing creators to come up with even more insightful, engaging, valuable videos to help them stand out. I look forward to seeing people who record gameplay videos (for example) look to find more ways to build their audience besides just playing a game.

If you want to take your YouTube channel to the next level and 

 then make sure to download vidIQ. Join over 1 million other users and use vidIQ to help you research YouTube, analyze videos, audit your own channel, and take actionable steps 

And if you’re really serious about growing your YouTube views and subscribers, sign up for exclusive access to the 

 and learn how to launch a successful YouTube Channel in just 30 days.

Blue 3D 2020 numbers with light and shadows on a smoky blue background.

2020 is going to be a huge year for online video, but what changes can we expect and what do YouTubers need to get right?

Online Video 2020: Tips and Predictions from vidIQ

Valentine's Day is just weeks away and millions of viewers will be turning to YouTube for ideas around dinners, desserts, and decor as well as inspiration for gifts and ways to treat their other half.

Of course, this offers a massive opportunity for creators to publish the exact content viewers will be looking for. Let's take a look at the top keywords and terms around Valentine’s that users on YouTube have been searching for in the past 30 days.

If your strategy is to upload content about Valentine’s Day then you need to confirm the keywords users are searching for. We did our research using the invaluable 

, and the following are the most searched for Valentine’s keywords and phrases on YouTube right now:

When are Viewers Searching for Valentine's Content on YouTube?

Of course, as a creator, you should also know when people are searching for Valentine’s Day content so you can maximize your video’s viewing potential. As with any tentpole or holiday event, interest is often specifically seasonal.

, interest from viewers in Valentine’s Day starts to peak around the end of December and lasts right through to the beginning of March. No breaking news there of course but a great strategy would be to publish 2 to 4 weeks ahead of February 14th to attract those views and engagements.

Don’t forget that tentpole content is evergreen so if you’ve published any Valentine’s Day clips on YouTube in the past, and you believe the videos are still relevant, 

update your titles and custom thumbnails to see if can leverage the interest in the content

 that always comes this way this time of year.

Finding Opportunities to Create Valentine's Content on YouTube

When viewers are searching for content on YouTube, it’s usually with a specific topic or question in mind. They want an answer for something they’ve gone searching for, and will use a core keyword as a kickoff point for more ideas.

A look at most-searched-for keywords brings up a lot of search intent around Valentine’s Day decor, so let’s take a deeper dive into what viewers are interested in around this category:

Top 10 Valentine's Day Decor Keywords: YouTube

If you want an idea of the type of Valentine’s decor inspo that YouTube viewers love, take a look at this upload, published by IDunnGoddess on January 30th 2016. It has generated over 7.8M views to date:

Top 10 Valentine's Day Treats Keywords on YouTube

Valentine’s Day content about gifts and treats is also a total winner with viewers (and creators and publishers) on YouTube. Here are the top keywords in this category:

MissRemiAshten uploaded this 9:41 minute video a couple of days before Valentine’s Day 2016 which has attracted just under a million views to date:

Striped heart-shaped gift box, pink heart cookies spelling love, rose petals on wood

Valentine's Day is nearly upon us ❤️ Here are the most searched for keywords on YouTube around this romantic tentpole event.

Top 15 Valentine's Day Keywords on YouTube

YouTube Rewind is designed to celebrate all that is good on the platform. The 2018 edition features Will Smith, Baby Shark, Ninja and many other famous YouTubers. But what was once a loved tradition now seems to be one of those lightning rod videos that people will click on and immediately dislike irrespective of the content.

Here is an explanation on why it did so bad

Marques Brownlee has a lot of great ideas and theories on why this video blew it.

Haters are always gonna hate but there just seems to be a lot more of them on YouTube these days. It wasn't always like this. People use to look forward to the annual YouTube Rewind video. In 2012-2016 millions would watch and like it and less than a hundred thousand would dislike it; a ratio of more than ninety percent in the positive.

As the years have gone by and YouTube has become global and more mainstream however, they've also been hit by bad news stories such as adpocalypse and the controversy over Logan Paul - remember he was one of a poster boys of last year's Rewind. 2017 saw a 25% drop in approval while 2018 sees the Rewind being disliked almost twice as much as it is liked.

So what's going on? More people are watching YouTube than ever before, more video creators are making more money on YouTube than ever before yet more viewers seem more disillusioned than ever before

We noticed something about YouTube Premieres

In this video we talk about our thoughts on how they used YouTube Premiers for this video and why that confused us.

We'd love to hear your constructive thoughts on why you think this is happening on YouTube. Let us know in the comments.

YouTube Rewind 2018 with 2 million dislikes and vidIQ logo overlay

People seem to really hate the YouTube rewind 2018 video. In the first 24 hours, it received over 2.35 million dislikes making it the 9th most disliked video of all time on YouTube.

YouTube Rewind 2018 Hits 2 Million Dislikes in 24 Hours

vidIQ’s Search Companion made it easy for us to put together a list top holiday in just a few minutes– the keyword research tool appears right on your YouTube search results page and reveals information on your search query including Top Related Keywords, Trending Videos, and Average Age of the videos.

We already put together a quick list of the best holiday keywords (see yesterday’s post), so we used them to find out what holiday videos are getting the most views right now. Results below:

Top 5 Holiday Videos Right Now (Watch them all)

An unexpected holiday surprise #MakeItHappen (Microsoft Lumia, 6,700 VPH)

Merry Christmas from Rodney, Tom, and Mono (Joanne Gardner, 640 VPH)

Hanukkah Explained By Christians (Buzzfeed, 640 VPH)

It’s The First Night of Hanukkah (The Ellen Show, 446 VPH)

Keywords used: Hanukkah, Christmas, Happy Holidays, Holidays, and Merry Christmas (

All of this information is at your fingertips with the vidIQ Search Companion, available to vidIQ Pro and Enterprise users. Not a Pro subscriber? 

Find out more about our products and sign up here.

Assorted wrapped gift boxes with red ribbons and gift tags on wooden background

’Tis the season for racking up video views—we took a look at the creators/videos who are trending for the holidays this year using the vidIQ Search Companion.

YouTube Trends and Insights