Make Videos Stand Out

First, make sure your video doesn’t suck. Then make your online video stand out from the crowd. Here’s how to increase your Web video views:

1. Pick an Arresting Thumbnail.
First impressions are important. Thumbnails lure viewers to click on your video. If you post on YouTube, edit with savvy. YouTube currently makes a thumbnail preview using whatever is at the halfway point in your video. Or like LonelyGirl15 - put a frame or two in the middle to make your video thumbnail. Other video sites allow you to select a thumbnail.

2. Craft a Catchy Title.
A good title is a mini advertisement for your video. Summarize the video in a few words in upper and lower case. Get to the point with titles that sum up what your video is about in the main post.

3. Write a Good Description - Use Tags
Summarize the video in a few sentences and use as many tags that are relevant to your video. A good description with tags gives you more viewers from search results. Some videos may prompt questions from viewers, so update your video description to answer questions.

4. Choose the Right Category
Pick the category that best matches who you think will like your video. If you put your video in the Food & Cookery category when your video is about gardening, you annoy viewers.

5. Promote Your Video
Promote, promote, promote. First join some of the groups on YouTube and submit your video to them. Next, click the “Post Video” link under your video to submit to social bookmarking sites such as Digg, StumbleUpon, Delicious, etc.

There is no guarantee your video will be a hit, but a few resources below help improve your odds of making a viral video:

Portrait of a Viral Video Genius
How to Get Famous in 30 Seconds