YouTube is testing a new way to search for videos on the desktop using a “search chip” that allows users to refine results with suggested keywords.
For video creators, this feature may increase the chances of your content being discovered.
The search chip is similar to the search suggestions at the bottom of Google’s SERPs and operates in a similar fashion.
Users can refine video searches by clicking the search chip to enhance the relevance of search results.
For example, a search for “WordPress” can be turned into a search for “WordPress ecommerce site tutorials” with the click of a button.
This is great for channels with videos that rank for long-tail keywords.
For users, this can make it easier for them to find what they are looking for. They can start with general topics and then use the search chip to dig deeper.
YouTube search chip on desktop – experimental feature
YouTube is currently testing the search chip as an experimental feature for premium members.
One of the benefits of YouTube Premium is the ability to test new features before they go live for everyone.
Search Chips is the latest experiment and one of the few tests I’ve seen that focuses on search results.
Previously, YouTube tested voice search on the desktop as an experiment for power users, eventually rolling out to all users.
The same could happen with search chips if there is enough positive feedback.
What does a “search chip” look like?
If you’re a premium subscriber, you may see the following dialog the next time you visit YouTube on desktop.
Clicking “Try it out” will take you to a page where you can activate the feature.
YouTube Premium allows you to test one feature at a time, but you can cycle through them as many times as you want.
Screenshot via YouTube.com/new, March 2022.YouTube’s animated example is more vivid than how the feature actually looks in practice.
Search chips are really just keywords that appear in the bubble below the search bar.
Sticking with the same “WordPress” example, here’s what a YouTube SERP looks like with the search chip enabled:
Screenshot from YouTube.com, March 2022.From there you can click Search Chips to further narrow down the results.
However, you can only refine the results one level. So you can’t keep clicking chips to fill up with more suggestions.
I’ve found that if your search isn’t broad enough, the search chips won’t populate at all. For example, if you first enter “WordPress free website tutorials” in the search box, YouTube will not show any chips.
YouTube search chip limited time test
Between now and April 14, YouTube is testing the search chip. Perhaps we’ll see the feature roll out more widely in the next few months.
Another potential use case for search chips is keyword research. YouTube doesn’t state the basis for suggested keywords, but they’re likely to come from related searches.
If that’s the case, here’s another set of data you can use to see what people are searching for.
The keywords suggested in a search chip aren’t always the same as autocomplete suggestions, so you may find some ideas you haven’t come across yet.
resource: YouTube
Featured Image: Postmodern Studio/Shutterstock
