Recently I was streaming some ‘How-to’ videos on YouTube. And while doing this, a stunning statistic caught our eye – One Billion Hours of YouTube content is consumed EVERY SINGLE DAY.
1 Billion hours. (Source)
Adding onto the billions — around a billion people are streaming at any given point! That’s more than Netflix and Facebook videos combined!
Why do I spend all my time and effort producing content for SERPs when YouTube is so enormous?
Since its inception in 2005, YouTube has steadily grown. YouTube’s expansion puts it second only after Google. It is also the third most visited site in the world! Thus, with the advent of this social media giant, the importance of video content has risen to a major zenith. Today, we need to not only create good videos but also increase their reach.
Since I need to know more about YouTube, and feeling sheepish that I am missing the boat, I created a complete overview of YouTube content marketing.
Join me in learning more about how to do YouTube marketing and YouTube strategy for businesses.
This article splits into five sections for easy navigation.
This is an article about YouTube tips for beginners, so the very first thing is to create a YouTube channel.
If you already have a YouTube profile, start here. Create a YouTube channel by going to your profile. It’s very easy.
Before you get started, here’s a tip…
If you create it with your Google account, only one authorized person can log in.
Since you might require the help of others as your channel grows, it is better to create a channel using a brand account. That way, multiple authorized Google accounts get access.
Then fill up your profile with details like a name, a banner picture, links to your social media, channel description, etc.
Business accounts can access the YouTube analytics lab. This portal gives you data and information on your audience’s behavior such as:
Also, the YouTube analytics lab captures other audience demographics like age, location, and gender. Keep these factors in mind when you create videos that cater to your audience.
YouTube comments can also be a great place to learn what your viewers like and dislike.
Try to discover what kind of content actively engages your target audiences. Then model your videos accordingly.
Also, have a look at your competitors’ YouTube channels. They can be an inspiration. But remember to have your own voice and bring something new to the table. “Me too” strategies are not very effective.
Keep a watch out for changing trends on social media platforms. Check out the latest ones here.
Once you’ve done your homework with these steps, the next step is content creation.
Decide the type of content you want to share with the world. (Remember how big YouTube is? Your content really can have a worldwide reach.)
Consider these three parameters as potential priorities:
Make sure you do not go overboard with any of these while you create your videos. Whatever style you want to adopt, always have your vision and main goals behind your videos.
Build your brand identity around this vision and cater to your audience niche.
Now let’s look at some tried and tested tips and tricks to enhance your YouTube video content.
If you’re new and just starting with your channel, this is the time to experiment.
Your original plan may or may not work out. Don’t get discouraged. Keep brainstorming and trying new formats and other ideas.
Analyze how viewers are responding via views, watch time, and comments. Then adapt.
Some of the most successful channels and influencers have a specific structure to their videos.
It is worth taking some type to study their structure. Find a channel that is similar to your content type and break down their script.
Just like the essays we wrote in school, YouTube videos should have a beginning, a middle, and an end. Every video should also have a call to subscribe and encouragement to share.
The first 15 seconds of a video are crucial for grabbing the viewer’s attention. Approach the beginning of your video with a make it or break it mentality.
The intro must be as catchy!
Some ideas for quickly captivating audiences are:
Make sure you upload at least two videos per week. Schedule them for specific days of the week. And let your watchers know when you’re releasing your next video. Train them to come back for more.
Also, while you’re at it, strive to increase your viewers’ watch time. YouTube ranks videos according to the hours they stream, not the number of views.
More watch time = Higher ranking
Read more about increasing watch time and other ways to rank higher.
Your YouTube channel reflects you and your brand. It’s a creative space for you to explore and grow. Stay on the brand (or close to it). Choose color themes and designs that match your color scheme and company.
Remember to be consistent with your themes.
Some examples of YouTube art are:
(Notice the logos, colors, and fonts.)
Collaborating with other channels can be a great way to gain momentum. You may even jump start your channel to a level that beats your competition.
Try to get in touch with influencers who can promote your channel or your products on their page.
Secondly, you can also get in touch with like-minded pages to make videos you both can feature on your respective pages.
Although this goes without saying, don’t spam. Don’t put out content just for the sake of it.
Explain from the beginning of how the video will be useful and stick to this.
Be careful with the content you share.
Lastly, make sure you verify facts before publishing and sharing them.
Your channel URL (Uniform Resource Locator) helps direct people to your channel homepage.
The requirements for a custom URL are
Custom URLs are best practices for YouTube channel strategy, especially for those doing YouTube marketing and business.
If you’d like to get your custom UR, follow these easy steps:
I’ve noted this before, but engaging and interacting with your viewers is crucial!
Whenever you publish a video, check your YouTube Analytics. Check for specific parameters like:
Give a reply to viewers’ questions in the comments sections. Respond as quickly as you can.
Also, ask viewers to subscribe to your channel at the end of your video.
Refer back to #2 Build a structure – “Every video should also have a call to subscribe and encouragement to share.”
Organizing your videos in playlists makes it easier for the viewers to navigate through them.
You can also create lists according to your channel categories.
For example, a recipe channel can segregate into playlists like breakfast, main course, desserts, etc.
YouTube’s channel, School of Life’s playlists, looks like this.
More than 60% of a video’s views originate from outside the country of its origin.
Thus, it can be a good idea to translate the video. Before you go through the translating work, verify that you have viewers in other countries. Start translating the videos into those specific languages first. You can also ask your viewers to help you out, or you can hire professional translators.
Although Google Translate is not 100% reliable, the app is a free resource and an excellent starting point.
A second option is to add a transcript for your videos. YouTube can automatically add a transcript if you would like. Sometimes YouTube transcripts might not be accurate. Also, if you include an audio recording of the video, you’ll need to type the transcripts.
Following these 11 steps ensure that you’ll produce top-notch content that viewers enjoy. For even better results, there are a few more steps to have a fantastic YouTube presence. Just as with all content, we always consider SEO.
So before we finish, here are some search engine optimization recommendations and tips for your YouTube channel.
No surprise for anyone in marketing; keywords are key to ranking. Do your research. Include your top keywords. Also, pick keywords with the right intent.
Spend time writing video titles that are rich in keywords and that stand out.
Refer to the handy Google Adwords Keyword Planner. YouTube video titles can be 70 characters long. Best practices seem to be closer to 60.
One tool we love at Convirza is the Advanced Marketing Institute’s website. We use their Headline Analyzer all the time. Check it out: https://www.aminstitute.com/headline/ You’re very welcome! 🙂
YouTube uses a thumbnail image to feature your video. Just like social media posts and blogs, thumbnails images need to grab attention.
You can either pick an image from your video or customize your own. Both approaches work.
You may want to A/B test this with your audience and see which thumbnails get more views.
Let’s think back to the YouTube content strategy, #2 Build a structure. The video description can be a summary of the YouTube content ideas planned.
Another way to compose the video description is to pretend you are telling a friend about the content. Make it persuasive. Even friends have many YouTube video options to watch. Pepper the video description with your keywords. Also, add links to other social media profiles and use relevant hashtags.
Use relevant hashtags to rank fast. Don’t stuff your description with them, but make sure you write the important ones first.
Know more about the latest search engine optimization tricks.
Apart from these techniques, there are certain aspects that require attention during the video recording stage. Here are the technical aspects for YouTube content.
You need to follow certain specifications from YouTube before uploading your videos.
The major ones are as follows:
Recommended Sizes:
Minimum Size:
426 by 240 pixels
Maximum Size:
3840 by 2160 pixels
Supported Aspect Ratios:
16:9 and
4:3
Recommended Specs:
Maximum file Size:
128 GB
Maximum Length:
12 hours long
Always record your videos in HD. Use an excellent quality video recorder and a sound microphone.
Viewers easily recognize mistakes and poor audio and video quality on YouTube.
YouTube has an enhancement feature to trim sections of the video, blur certain parts, apply filters, and add or change the audio or music. Your content will look more polished instantly after editing.
Make sure your videos are watchable across devices like mobiles, tablets, laptops, etc. One way can be to record shorter videos; aim for 3 minutes or less.
Mobile users prefer shorter videos and need YouTube content messaging fast. Again, the best YouTube content to make is short, informative, and entertaining.
Live streaming gives a kind of trust and authenticity to your YouTube channel strategy. Creative content for YouTube Live can endear your viewers.
Today, YouTube also has the best process for uploading stories. It’s the best of all social media platforms.
Consider using live videos and stories to showcase achievements, tit-bits, meetings, etc. Live streaming is a unique stage to connect with your audience.
What do you want your viewers to do at the end of your video? Hopefully, you have a marketing plan for YouTube, and your call to action is natural.
A common call to actions are: subscribe, continue watching, and go to your website/another video.
You can change your marketing action from your video manager page.
The technical aspects of YouTube are pretty straightforward.
As with any new app, practice, and you’ll get better.
One more thing – remember to share your videos on various other platforms like Instagram Tv (IGTV), Facebook Watch, etc.
YouTube is the second largest search engine on the web. The question is: are you poised to take full advantage of what it has to offer?
An increased number of businesses and marketers have started dedicating more time to this online marketing channel. There are various factors that come into play as far as individual video content, playlists, channels and their ranking factors. This post will outline some tips to optimize videos and channels within YouTube to increase visibility and engagement.
If you’re going to have any success with your YouTube efforts, you need to base your strategy around strong content. If your videos are boring, dumb or a combination of the two evils, then don’t bother – stupid funny might have a shot though.
Ideally, you will populate your channel with content that will provide a value for your viewers and persuade them to continue watching or return at a later time. This can be done by answering questions, entertaining your audience, solving a problem, etc. Finding the appropriate topics may involve keyword research, competitor analysis and customer feedback. Once you have your content ready, you can optimize your channel to increase your reach and marketing influence.
Interesting titles that include relevant keywords are essential for both search purposes and user engagement. However, it is important to avoid misleading users to get more clicks. This will result in a high bounce rate and have a negative impact on your video’s ranking.
A comprehensive text description of individual video content, playlists, and your channel is ideal for search. Inserting a URL at the beginning of the description can be done to drive traffic to your website, and using relevant keywords will help your target audience find your videos. Place the most important keywords and information at the top of the description to keep it from being hidden behind the Show More tab.
Promoting longer view times can be done by setting up playlists to group related videos. Since the next video in the queue will be set to start automatically playing after the initial video is over, the probability of keeping the viewer’s attention is stronger and may introduce them to content they would not have seen otherwise.
Videos with higher levels of engagement are much more likely to rank better than those that with little interaction. Comments and social shares provide positive signals for search engines, which will ultimately enhance the visibility of your channel. Responding to comments and answering questions can elevate engagement.
Assign tags to your video that use a good range of keywords that are associated with your business. Search engines use these tags and within YouTube to pull up and showcase your videos when similar content is viewed or searched for.
Uploading a transcription of your video content will allow YouTube to insert captions within the video that Google can then index. This increases the search engine’s ability to ‘understand’ the information in the video and display it appropriately. This also makes it possible for users that are not able to listen to your video to engage in another way.
Adding annotations to your videos is another way to increase view times and engagement. Links within your videos can direct viewers to watch related videos, link back to landing pages that expand on the topics in the video they are watching, or display a specific call-to-action.
The CTA in your videos can promote a variety of things. Creating “subscription links” within the video encourages viewers to subscribe to your channel, which can stimulate long-term engagement and enhance reach.
Regularly uploading new videos to your channel will help build your authority on YouTube and encourage return visits. A larger amount of quality content on your channel translates to an increased ability to provide value to your audience.
List all of your other social media profiles on your main page and share it across those channels. Ask viewers to like or share your video with a CTA and allow them to embed the video on their blogs, websites, etc. This will make it possible for people to access your video from multiple platforms and increase organic traffic to your channel.
Video offers a powerful means to engage with your target audience, build your brand and increase the ROI of your marketing content.
With YouTube’s massive viewership, marketers and companies need to know how to grow their YouTube channel. On a platform where attention span is imperative, creativity and hard work can produce loyal viewers.
Hopefully, this article shows how to increase YouTube views and subscribers. Let us know which tips and tricks help the most.
And as always, Happy Marketing!
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