u/FishingInteresting52

Hello everyone! I’m a new YouTuber, and I recently started posting my first videos on the platform. Since I am still learning how everything works, I have been trying to understand what actually helps a channel grow and what advice is just repeated online without much proof.

One thing I keep seeing people talk about is the importance of hashtags, keywords, and video descriptions. Some creators and so-called “YouTube gurus” say that using the right keywords in your title, tags, and description can make a huge difference in how your videos perform. Others say that keywords are not as important anymore and that YouTube mainly focuses on viewer behavior, such as watch time, click-through rate, engagement, and whether people keep watching your content.

Because of this, I’m a little unsure about what to believe. I do not want to waste time stuffing my descriptions with random keywords if it does not actually help. At the same time, I also do not want to ignore something that could improve my chances of being discovered by new viewers.

From what I understand so far, keywords and hashtags may help YouTube understand what your video is about, especially when your channel is new. However, they probably are not a magic solution. Good thumbnails, clear titles, interesting topics, strong editing, and keeping viewers engaged seem to matter much more in the long run.

I would really like to hear from people who have actual experience growing a channel. Do hashtags and keywords in the description still matter in 2026? Have they helped your videos get more views, or do you think they are overrated? Also, how do you tell the difference between useful YouTube growth advice and advice from people just trying to sell a course?