YouTube Marketing – 11 Tips to Grow Your Channel

One of the best things you can do to expand your business is to start a YouTube channel and start your YouTube marketing campaign.

As you already know it’s the most popular video-streaming service. Boasting massive online traffic, and constant streaming services.

Ultimately, it will maximize exposure and help your brand become recognized within your market.

And it’s the second most-visited website on the Internet. With nearly billions of monthly users logging on to watch videos every day.

YouTube Marketing Tip #1

Have a Clear Vision

One of the most important things you can do. Is to develop a clear vision and strategy for your channel long before you begin to create content.

You want your channel to appeal to a specific audience.

So that you’re able to connect with your core market. You also want visitors to immediately understand what you have to offer.

And that your content appeals to their interests.

The key to YouTube is being consistent.

In terms of the type of content you offer. As well as uploading fresh, unique content on a regular basis.

Creating a content plan helps you stick to that overall theme.

YouTube Marketing Tip #2

Create an Attention-Grabbing Description

Believe it or not. A lot of new YouTube channels often overlook the importance of a highly-optimized channel description.

Creating a well-written, keyword optimized, informative channel description, is imperative to the success of your YouTube channel.

Use YouTube as a springboard to generate and control traffic flow to other avenues of your business. It’s one of the easiest ways to position yourself in your market. And build a loyal following.

Once you’ve created a handful of videos. You can also create a playlist that is linked and featured in your About section.

At the end of your about section. You’ll want to include something to encourage viewers to interact with your videos.

YouTube Marketing Tip #3

Optimize Everything

A critical part of having a successful YouTube channel is Search Engine Optimization (SEO).

This is what puts your videos on the Google map. As well as other search engines and social media sites.

Where people searching the internet can find it.

Be sure to familiarize yourself with Google’s Keyword Planner. Which is found at:

Ads.Google.com/keyword-planner

You can also use Google Trends here:

Trends.Google.com

Begin by evaluating different keyword phrases to determine what people are actively searching for.

But also what keywords are relevant to your market. Chances are you’ll uncover a ton of high-traffic keywords you haven’t even considered.

Use a few of these keywords throughout your entire channel.

Not just your description but also in your video descriptions and title tags.

Keywords are what people search for when looking for specific content.

So the more often you are incorporating them into your channel’s content. The higher number of social signals will be out there, driving traffic in.

Also keep in mind that repetition matters.

Don’t keyword stuff (this is where you use keywords in ways that don’t make sense to your audience or detract from a viewer’s experience).

At the same time don’t be afraid to use the same keywords multiple times throughout different areas of your channel.

2-3 times is best practice. Any more than that can get your account flagged.

YouTube Marketing Tip #4

Commit to a Schedule

It’s worth saying again:

Consistency is key when it comes to creating a successful YouTube channel.

This means that you’ll want to create a content plan that involves uploading content on specific days of the week.

You’ll also want to make sure it’s a schedule you can stick to. Since your subscribers will begin to rely on content updates on those days.

Decide on the days that you can guarantee videos will be uploaded.

During the week, it’s suggested that you upload between 12-4pm.

This gives your video enough time to be indexed. For the viewers who will be sitting down that evening to watch.

On Saturday and Sunday, they suggest publishing between 9am-11am.

YouTube Marketing Tip #5

Vary but Focused

Depending on the type of channel you are planning to create. You’ll be able to offer a variety of content.

For example, if your channel is being created to promote other products and services. Consider creating case-study style videos that highlight the progress your existing customers have made.

You could easily mix those types of videos in with product highlight videos. Product review videos. And even unboxing videos if you sell physical products.

YouTube Marketing Tip #6

Understand Your Audience

In order to both maintain and grow your YouTube audience. It’s imperative that you know all about your current viewers and overall market.

You’ll want to be able to create a visual snapshot of who your average customer is.

In truth, market research should begin long before you create your YouTube channel. The more you know about your target audience. The easier it will be to create engaging content that they’ll be interested in.

When you’re inside of your YouTube admin panel. Head on over to the Analytics tab.

This is going to give you a tremendous amount of information.

Concerning your content and the type of visitors you’re getting as well as what they are spending time watching.

Use this information to help your channel grow by knowing who your market is and what they want from you.

YouTube Marketing Tip #7

Know Your Competition

Just like your business does in the real world.

You should keep tabs on your competitors on YouTube.

Not only can they help you better understand your audience. But you’ll be able to find inspiration from the successful channels in your market.

Set some time aside each week to review a handful of top channels in your niche.

Pay attention to the videos that receive both the highest and lowest number of views. Watch them yourself. And pay attention to the different elements included in the video as well as the general style.

-What are they doing that you aren’t doing?

-How could they improve their videos?

-What did you personally enjoy?

-What did you personally dislike?

All this information will help you improve. As well as shape your content so that it will likely appeal to most your market.

Never copy someone else’s content!

Just use them as a case-study and as inspiration for your own content ideas.

YouTube Marketing Tip #8

Learn from Your Favorite Channels

Another great way to learn about YouTube success is during your downtime.

When you can relax and watch videos from some of your own favorite channels.

These aren’t the channels of your competitors, we’ve already covered that.

This is when you spend some time in off-market channels.

Meaning that you’re studying how other channels outside of your niche are increasing engagement and driving in traffic.

Just because they aren’t in your niche. Doesn’t mean you can’t learn something valuable from them.

In fact, it’s quite the opposite.

By studying other markets outside of your own. You’ll likely be able to generate fresh,new ideas that your own niche hasn’t yet seen.

You’ll also begin to see a pattern based on the content style. That people are more excited about. As well as how the channel owner chose to produce that content. And in what formats (candid, professional, how-to style, etc.)

YouTube Marketing Tip #9

Create An Interesting Thumbnail

A thumbnail is the picture that you click on when you want to watch a video. It should clearly indicate what the video is about.

Even though your title and description should also reflect the topic of your video content.

One option you have is to choose a freeze-frame from the video that you’ve uploaded.

The most popular option is to create a custom thumbnail. And then upload it, as you can incorporate something that may not be in the video but will entice people to click on it.

This is as simple as taking a picture and using a picture editing tool. Such as Photoshop, or free online editing tools like Canva.com. To make it more appealing and relatable to your video.

YouTube Marketing Tip #10

Brand Logos and Art

In addition to everything else, it’s important to have both a profile picture and channel art on your YouTube channel.

That accurately represents your company and reflects your brand message.

And if your business has accounts on other social media platforms. Then your business profile picture and channel art should be the same. Again, it’s all about consistency!

Your profile picture and channel art are the very first things that people will see when they visit your channel.

Whether you’re a one-person business or a company with thousands of employees. It's important for brand recognition.

YouTube Marketing Tip #11

Sign Up for G-Suite

YouTube is owned by Google. And so your channel will automatically be linked with a Gmail account.

Even if you already have one. It’s a good idea to create a separate account just for your business.

Look into investing in G Suite in order to have professional email addresses created.

So rather than @gmail.com, your email will say @yourcompanyname.com.

It’s a small step, but it helps promote a professional atmosphere for your channel and company overall.

Keep in mind that the name you choose for your new Google account should be the name of your brand.

Conclusion

I hope that this post has given you the direction you need to start building your very own YouTube channel.

Start off by researching your market.

Spend some time watching videos from successful channels in your niche.

Then develop a content plan and schedule that you can stick to.

Once you get the hang of it. Make it a point to regularly upload quality content based on the schedule you’ve chosen.

To Your Success,

Joshua