When you think about video content, probably the first platform that comes to mind is YouTube, and there are good reasons why! As the second-largest search engine in the world, YouTube boasts a 2 billion active userbase.
That’s one big community! So big, in fact, that’s safe to say your target audience may be among them.
So, growing your business’ YouTube presence can translate into higher visibility, a more substantial reputation, and, ultimately, more conversions. But, before you run to create a YouTube channel, you need to know that success in this platform isn’t something that happens overnight. It takes a good dose of effort and know-how.
So, to start your video content strategy with the right foot, we’ve brought you the best YouTube practices out there. Come and take a look at them!
Pick the Right Kinds of Videos
YouTube is a fantastic place for most types of video content, but we must admit some video styles fit better than others. Let’s see which kinds of videos work best for this particular platform:
· How-to Videos
It’s no news that a large number of people rely on YouTube for learning practical knowledge. After all, it’s easier to understand a procedure through video than through text, so you can be confident of finding an audience on YouTube for tutorials related to your industry, just like Apple did.
These kinds of videos can not only help your audience greatly, but they can also position you as an expert in your field, strengthening your business’ reputation.
· Explainer Videos
Explainer videos are becoming an essential piece of any video marketing tool belt, as they tackle the most complex topics in a simple way.
They can attract organic views on YouTube since many video production companies cleverly include compelling storytelling in their scripts. But these videos perform even better as YouTube ads, as they work wonders for conveying businesses’ value propositions and boosting conversions. How can you leave them out of your YouTube channel?
· Testimonial Videos
Many people decide to go through reviews and testimonial videos before making a purchase. It helps them boost their confidence in your product or service (or puts them off from acquiring it).
A YouTube playlist of testimonial videos featuring happy clients can give your prospects enough proof for trusting your brand and, ultimately, lead them towards buying.
Make Your YouTube Video Easy to Find
For people to watch and enjoy your video, they first have to find it! For that reason, you need an on-point YouTube SEO strategy, which, like any other effective SEO approach, starts with thorough keyword research.
We are talking about finding out which terms your audience searches for on a particular platform. In YouTube’s case, there are many ways to carry out this research:
· Minding Search Suggestions
This tactic is as simple as it’s helpful. If you start to write the most generic keyword related to your business’ field on the search bar, YouTube will offer you some handy suggestions to fulfill the sentence. Those represent the most searched terms and may work like a charm as your long-tail keywords.
· Visiting Related Channels
Successful channels similar to yours can be a goldmine of tried-and-true keywords. Check out their videos’ titles, description boxes, and tags, and pay special attention to the words that frequently appear on each. That can give you an idea of your competitors’ keywords and how those are working out for them.
· Using Google Trends
Google Trends is a free tool that you can leverage to check the popularity of your potential keywords. It allows you to compare various keywords simultaneously, showing you the graphics of their search volume and demand. This way, you can filter out the keywords that are unlikely to pay off and focus on those that do.
Keep in mind that this tool is mostly used for Google keywords, so you may need to change the analytics from “Web Search” to “YouTube Search” before starting your quest.
Make the Most Out of Your Keywords
Once you have chosen some relevant keywords related to your business, it’s time you use them to your advantage.
How? Including them in these four essential elements that accompany your video:
· The Title
Pick your main keyword and incorporate it into your video’s title, even better if it appears at the very beginning.
That said, don’t let this practice mess up your title’s appeal! Bear in mind the title is meant to capture your audience’s attention, so include your keyword in a way that sounds organic and enticing.
· The Description Box
The description box is another great place for displaying your best keywords and attracting viewers.
The best way to go about it is by writing a short text that complements your video – notice it says ‘complement,’ not ‘summarize’! – and that organically includes your chosen terms. Take in mind the first couple of lines will show on the YouTube SERP, so start your description in a compelling way!
This element can also prove useful for driving more traffic to your blog, eCommerce platform, or to another one of your videos, as you can embed links in it. Not bad, huh?
· Tags
Tags allow you to hint YouTube’s algorithm on how to classify your video, making it easier for viewers to find it.
That said, don’t get carried away with them. YouTube’s policy is against the excessive use of tags and dubs it as spam. With that in mind, try to use under eight tags on each video.
Tags aren’t as important as the other on-page elements on this list, but they can be particularly useful if people tend to misspell your video’s topic. So, don’t forget to include a misspelled version of your main keywords just in case!
· Transcripts
A transcript is a text document that includes all your video’s script, being one of your (and your audience’s) greatest allies.
Your channel benefits from transcripts since they allow you to include the keywords mentioned in your video. You know, search crawlers can’t index audio content, so having a written version of your video enhances the density and variety of your keywords.
On the other hand, transcripts allow your video to have captions, making it accessible to a broader audience. I’m talking about people with hearing impairments or a different native language dependent on captions to understand a video. I’m also referring to those who watch videos without sound when being in public, which usually accounts for the vast majority of viewers.
To Wrap Up
Since its creation in 2005, YouTube has done nothing but grow, and that tendency isn’t stopping any time soon! On the contrary, as video marketing keeps getting stronger, brands are bound to put more effort into the most well-known video platform.
That’s a move with many bright sides. It enables you to build an engaged community around your content, attracting more leads, and enhancing your relationship with your customers. YouTube also allows you to boost your brand’s reputation and your customers’ trust, depending on the types of videos you decide to upload.
To make the most out of these YouTube benefits, we recommend combining the helpful tips and tricks you’ve learned today. That way, you would find yourself with a strong YouTube strategy that can work for your business in the long run. Sounds good, doesn’t it?
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