Getting Started with YouTube Marketing
If you’re looking for alternative ways to promote your business online, YouTube marketing is a great option. One of the most popular websites in the world, YouTube is a powerful marketing tool when used correctly. In this article, we explore how to get started with YouTube marketing.
Is YouTube Marketing Right for my Business?
Before getting started with YouTube marketing, you need to decide whether it’s right for your business. Currently, YouTube is the second most popular website in the world. Although people don’t think of it primarily as a search engine, that’s exactly what most users do on the site. Not only is YouTube the second most popular website, but it’s the second most popular search engine, too. As you’d expect, Google takes first place. In other words, the platform offers a huge potential reach for your company.
There are many benefits to YouTube being such a popular platform; however, it also means that there’s a lot of competition. Data suggests that around 400 hours of video are uploaded to the site every minute. With this in mind, to succeed on YouTube you need to have the time and resources to publish high-quality content consistently. To do this, you’ll need to set up a YouTube marketing plan which we’ll explore in more detail a little bit later.
One of the benefits of YouTube for marketing purposes is that it focuses on video. All the rage right now, video marketing has proven to be one of the best types of marketing in terms of engagement. As well as publishing your videos on YouTube, you can repurpose them and use them elsewhere, too. Depending on the type of video you create, it may work well on your email marketing campaigns, your website and any other social platforms or channels you may be using. In terms of video production, it’s not as tricky as it may seem to create effective marketing videos. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need a huge budget and you don’t need to invest in state-of-the-art equipment. As long as you’ve got a decent camera and microphone and are willing to learn basic video editing, you’ll be good to go!
So, is YouTube marketing right for your business? In most cases, yes! If you sell products or services, it’s an excellent way to showcase and promote them through video. If you’re a business-to-business company, YouTube is a great way to expand your reach and generate new leads.
How to Get Started
So, you’ve decided that YouTube marketing is right for your business. But how do you get started? Below, we explore the first things to do.
Develop A Strategy
To use YouTube as a marketing tool, the first thing to do is develop a strategy. To do this, start by noting down the specific targets you want to achieve. These may include engagement, clicks, traffic, reach and subscriber numbers. To put together some good objectives, use the SMART model: specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound. This simple tool will make sure that your objects are specific, achievable, and have a deadline. You’ll also need a way to measure your progress on YouTube. At this stage, establish a few key performance indicators to help you measure your results.
Commit to a Schedule
On YouTube, consistency is important. If you want to grow your channel, you’ll need to post high-quality videos consistently. Similarly to blogging, the more content you upload, the more chance you’ll have of getting seen.
Successful YouTubers have a strict publishing schedule that they stick to. The videos are then promoted on their other social platforms so that even those who aren’t subscribed to their channel are aware of the new video. When setting a YouTube marketing strategy, consider how often you’ll be able to upload content and set a schedule that you can stick to. Once you’ve decided how often to post, you need to decide when to upload your videos. Research suggests that most viewers watch YouTube videos on weekends and in the evenings. With this in mind, the best time to post your video is early Saturday and Sunday mornings or early afternoon during the week. This way, your videos will be up-and-running by the time your audience is ready to watch.
Types of Marketing Videos
So, now you know what your goals are and when to upload, it’s time to consider what types of videos you want to create. To keep your audience entertained, it’s important to keep things relevant but varied. In the early stages of YouTube marketing, it’s worth experimenting with different types of videos so you can see which ones work best for your business. Below, we explore some of the most popular video types.
- Listicles: When it comes to YouTube marketing, listicles are a popular type of video. Essentially, you create listicles that highlight your product or service; for instance, “the 10 best ways to use your product”. Listicles can be informational, educational or entertaining. Just remember to keep your lists relevant to your industry and your viewers’ interests.
- How-to videos: Providing a lot of value to the viewer, how-to videos are another popular video type. For instance, if you’re selling graphic design software, you could create how-to videos on how to use your product to expand a business. If you’re stuck for ideas, look for top-performing videos and blog posts for this type of thing.
- Behind-the-scenes videos: Customers love behind-the-scenes videos. This type of video is a great way to humanise your business and show that you’re more than just a product or service. For instance, if you sell illustrated prints, share some behind-the-scenes footage of you in the studio.
If you’re looking for a new way to promote your brand online, give YouTube marketing a try. Before getting started, develop a strategy and upload schedule that you can stick to. After that, experiment with a few different videos and see what works!