These are some tips and action items I found from 3 different sources advising on how you can optimize your YouTube channel for a better return on your efforts and content creation. I’ve summarized them as bullet list here but check out the source links for more details.

Digital Marketing Institute 

• Build Videos Around a Single Keyword/Topic
• Reformat Existing Quality Content
• Engage with Your Audience
• Get Branded
• Promote Your YouTube Videos on Other Social Channels
• Show Up
• Post Great Thumbnails
• Leverage YouTube Cards
• Push for Subscriptions
• Increase Your Uploading Frequency

Forbes 

• Create videos based on a single topic / keyword
• Optimize your title and description
• Win the CTR battle with great thumbnails
• Leverage YouTube cards to boost engagement and reduce abandonment
• Leverage playlist URLs to increase time spent on your channel
• Encourage discussion and engage with your audience in YouTube comments
• Keep your related channels on
• Add sub confirmation to all your YouTube links

SocialMedia Examiner

• Commit to Posting to YouTube Multiple Times Per Week
• Develop a Sustainable Video Production Workflow
• Begin Each Video With an Interesting Hook
• Keep Titles and Opening Credits Short
• Add End Screens to Promote Your Videos, Channel, or Website
• Edit Distractions Out of Your Video
• Design Video Thumbnails YouTube Users Want to Click
• Test Thumbnail Options With AdWords
• Replicate Topics or Tactics From Top-Performing Videos
• Create Long Videos to Improve Watch Time
• Go Live on YouTube
• Use Three Types of Videos in Your Content Mix
• Develop Videos as a Series
• Collaborate With Other YouTubers
• Promote Collaborations in the Video’s Title, Tags, and Description