YouTube Marketing: 10 Best Practices to Boost Your Views

YouTube Marketing: 10 Best Practices to Boost Your Views

The video is the new text. Creating great videos is the best way to attract attention and get potential customers to see your content. Videos are easier to digest than text, offering several advantages over text-only marketing. They are also one of the most effective ways to market your business without spending much money or time.

Even though there are many benefits to creating and posting videos online, it can sometimes be challenging. So many YouTube channels have been made for nothing more than to give viewers a taste of what life is like behind the scenes at famous brands. 

This can result in videos being viewed for hours before they are considered “bland” or “boring” enough to be viewed again. To help your content stand out from the crowd, there are some best practices you can follow to help your channel rank higher in search engines and attract more viewers.

But before discussing these best practices, let's have a quick overview of YouTube marketing.

YouTube Marketing: An Overview

YouTube is a video-sharing website where people can upload and share videos. The videos can be funny, informative, or inspirational. If you want to make money online, YouTube is a platform you may consider. 

On the other hand, YouTube marketing is a marketing strategy that involves creating and sharing video content on YouTube. The aim is to promote a product, service, or brand, gain exposure, or convert leads to paying customers. It also helps companies improve their presence, boost traffic, and reach distant audiences.

YouTube marketing may be new to many. And while not everybody is familiar with the proper ways to use the platform to achieve marketing goals, every marketer should at least take advantage of it.

So, how do you use it?

Well, there is no right or wrong answer here. However, the best way to market a brand on YouTube is to use it so that followers will feel like they're part of the video and that the creator is willing to talk about relevant things to the audience. 

You see, what's important here is that marketers should be able to find ways of getting people subscribed to the channel and encourage them to spend more time watching the videos. If done right, channel owners should see growth in their subscriber list over time. 

10 Best YouTube Marketing Practices

If you are serious about growing your YouTube channel, you've probably realised that getting noticed can sometimes be challenging. In a world where everything is “shared for social media approval,” standing out from the crowd can be tricky. 

Fortunately, there are some things you can do to help your videos get noticed faster and rank higher on search results pages (SERP).

Here are ten best practices for growing your YouTube channel that will help it rank higher in search results and make getting noticed much easier:

1 – Create a YouTube Channel for the business

Before starting YouTube marketing, you must set up a YouTube channel first. And since Google owns YouTube, you need a Google account to create a YouTube channel. 

Here's a step-by-step guide on how to set up a YouTube channel:

1. Create a Google account.
2. Use the newly created Google account to create a YouTube account.
3. Visit YouTube and log in to the account you created.
4. Now, create a Brand Account and channel.

It is easier to manage your YouTube channel if you create a Brand Account. This is because it allows multiple people to manage and update it.

Once you have your channel already, optimise it by adding information to the About section, a profile picture and header image, and other social media links.

2 – Use YouTube SEO Correctly

Assuming your YouTube channel is all set, you can optimise it and apply best practices to achieve your marketing goals.

We know that SEO is essential for seeing blogs on search engine results. For instance, your niche is computers. You want to create an article about computer viruses. So, you decide to insert relevant keywords, like soap 2 day virus and computer threats.

The same concept applies to YouTube. You have to use the right keywords and optimise your videos so they can be found on YouTube. Videos with a higher rank are more likely to be seen and watched by people actively looking for content. 

Then again, it is noteworthy that SEO on YouTube works a little differently than in other places, so it's best to do some research before you get started. 

Here are some tips on how you can use SEO correctly when marketing on YouTube:

• Choose the keywords that are relevant to your niche.
• Ensure you include keywords in both the title and description of each video. A keyword tool like Keyword Explorer will help you find keywords relevant to your niche or topic area. 
• Add a transcript to all videos where possible (not all viewers will watch the video). 
• Be sure that links within video descriptions lead back to pages on your site (or social media channels) – don't link them back directly to YouTube! 
• Create related playlists that feature popular titles within your niche or topic area. 
• Include hashtags (e.g., #health) as part of the title or description of each video where appropriate. Hashtags on YouTube work like on Facebook and Twitter, connecting your video to a larger community of users discussing similar topics. Hashtags are beneficial if you're trying to market content about new trends or current events. 
• Comment and engage with others in the YouTube community. Reply to comments left by viewers and mention other creators within your niche with exciting content. 
• Upload informative tutorial-style videos featuring high-quality production values. These videos tend to be shared at higher rates than shorter clips due to their educational value. 
• Post at least one video daily but never more than three per day (more is unlikely to result in increased views). 
• Update your channel regularly with new content so subscribers don't forget about you between uploads.

3 – Choose Quality over Quantity

Two factors matter most if you want to get more views on YouTube. The first is the quality of your video content, and the second is how you promote it. 

To gain more YouTube views, you need a balance of both. If you have a high-quality video, but no one sees it because no one knows about it, it won't get any views. If you have a low-quality video with tons of promotion, but no one watches, no one will see the video. Thus, you will gain nothing in terms of views.

YouTube is not only a great way to get your message out there, but it's also a great way to make money. And while there's no specific formula for content that converts, it's important to remember that quality will always beat quantity when it comes to what makes an exciting video. 

Additionally, promotion can do wonders for getting more views on YouTube. While you should always focus on posting high-quality content that people want and need, you can also utilise various marketing strategies to get more exposure for your videos. 

4 – Post Videos Consistently

It's no secret that consistency is the key to success. It's also a significant factor when it comes to YouTube marketing. If you want your videos to be seen, post regularly. Whether weekly, biweekly, or monthly, keep up with the schedule so your viewers know when they can expect new content from you. 

According to surveys, the best days to post videos on YouTube are weekends, with Saturdays as the most popular answer. Perhaps the reason is that the weekend allows consumers to spend more time on the platform. On the other hand, the worst day to post content on YouTube is Mondays.

5 – Use Social Media to Gain More Views

Social media is a great place to share your YouTube videos. Posting them on social media will allow you to gain views, likes, and shares in no time. The best times to post videos on social media are usually right after posting them on YouTube. You can also schedule posts ahead, making you more organised and efficient. 

Remember, though, that the frequency you post videos on social media depends on how often people visit your page or profile. If there are many visits from followers, it's worth it to post multiple times per day, while if there are only one or two visits per day, maybe once every other day would suffice. 

In addition, make sure your fans are alerted every time you post something new and feel free to use catchy hashtags for additional exposure.

6 – Engage with Your Audience

One of content creators' most common mistakes is not understanding their audience. You should know what type of videos your viewers want to see and then tailor your strategy around that. 

For example, if you're making a video about an unpopular topic, you should find a way to make it exciting, and fun-no one wants to watch a boring lecture on the history of golf. 

Once you know your target audience, engaging with them and providing them with what they want will be easy.

But how do you ensure your audience keeps returning for more and stays subscribed for a long time? The key is to communicate.

Feedback to your audience is valuable for building a relationship with them. Responding to comments on your videos can help you interact with people and keep your community engaged. 

You may also want to create a separate YouTube account so that when you respond, it's clear who is talking. Plus, if you start posting regular content, it will be easier for your audience to find and remember you. 

Remember to always read through all the comments before responding so that you don't overlook any vital information from viewers. Thank those who have left positive feedback by clicking Like on their comment or video response. 

If someone has given you constructive criticism, try using a response like this one: 

“Hey there! I'm glad that you are enjoying my video so far. What specifically did you like about it? What would make it better? I want to make sure I understand your perspective! It's great that you shared your thoughts because now we both know how to improve this video together. Thanks again!”

7 – Use the Latest Features in Creator Studio

Creator Studio is the hub where you can upload videos, manage channels, and keep an eye on analytics. The latest features in Creator Studio allow you to do even more regarding YouTube marketing. 

Here are some practical ways you can take advantage of the features of Creator Studio:

• Use the video editor's annotation features to include links in your video descriptions, live stream events on YouTube, or add polls and quizzes to get feedback from viewers. 
• Use relevant and accurate tags for search engine optimisation (SEO) when video uploading. 
• Promote your videos using YouTube ads so people not subscribed to your channel will see them. 
• Create a playlist of some of the best moments from one of your past live streams to make them available offline, which helps if they go viral after being uploaded.

8 – Speak Directly to Your Audience

With three billion videos watched daily, YouTube is the world's second most popular search engine. As a video sharing platform, it has revolutionised how we communicate with each other and how businesses promote themselves. 

But how do you get your videos noticed with many people on the site and competition for attention? 

The key here is to make your viewers feel that you are connected with them. When you create videos, you can address your audience directly and encourage them to take action.

You can schedule random videos where you interact with them, read their comments, and give them a shoutout. It may only take a few seconds to do that, but your followers will remember that forever.

9 – Make Videos That People Want to Watch

Finding people who want to watch your videos can seem complicated and overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. All you need to do is make videos that people want to watch. You can best give the audience what they want, and they'll keep coming back for more. 

One way to determine what people want is by looking at the type of content that's currently popular on YouTube. For example, you can create content that caters to a specific niche (i.e. makeup tutorials, DIY ideas). You can also share other people's work as well as yours by doing shoutouts or collaborating with them on projects.

10 – Use the Right Tags 

Choosing the correct tags for your video is essential in marketing your YouTube channel. Tags are like keywords that tell YouTube what your video is about and can help viewers find your videos. 

Use these tips to get the most out of your tags and drive traffic to your channel:

• Use Consistent Tags. The more consistent you are with tagging, the more successful you will be with driving traffic to videos from a specific topic or series. 
• It's also essential to use similar tags for related videos so viewers can find related content easily. For example, if you have a video about how to make cake batter, you might want to tag it as such and then make sure all future cake-related content uses that same tag. 
• When posting videos on unrelated topics, take advantage of YouTube's auto-tagging feature by filling in appropriate words when prompted. 
• If there are too many prompts to fill in, try using general words like recipe or video instead. 
• Be creative, and don't worry about creating individual tags for every video!
• If you're unsure which category your video belongs under, choose Entertainment. Most users don't bother changing this because they usually fit into at least one category listed under Entertainment.

5 YouTube Marketing Tools You Can Use

Now that you know the best practices for YouTube marketing, it's time to work! And by that, we mean using the right tools to develop content worth watching. Here are some handy YouTube marketing tools today:

1 – Canva

YouTube thumbnails can help attract more subscribers. And to create enticing thumbnails, you can use Canva. This is one of the best platforms for creating click-worthy feature images and thumbnails.

The best thing about Canva is its drag-and-drop interface, allowing you to drag elements and create an image that wins customers conveniently. It has a vast template library to help you create thumbnails for your YouTube channel.

2 – Keyword Tool

Like Google, YouTube ranks videos based on titles, descriptions, and keywords. Therefore, you need a reliable keyword research tool like Keyword Tool. With this tool, you can optimise videos using the right keywords and make them visible on search results. The more targeted keywords you use, your subscribers will likely grow.

To use this tool, type phrases your audiences are likely to type into the search field when looking for your channel. It will then generate a list of keywords and sort them by search volume and competition.

3 – BuzzSumo

Another reliable YouTube marketing tool is BuzzSumo. It helps you create beautiful content and develop unique ideas that will likely gain views. 

Aside from helping you strategise, BuzzSumo allows you to find influencers who can promote your channel or business. After uploading videos, the tool allows you to monitor its performance and analyse the results.

4 – Agorapulse

Agorapulse lets you communicate with people from different YouTube accounts using one platform. With it, you don't have to switch from one account to another to check if there are notifications. You have to log in to your Agorapulse account!

You can even manage and respond to comments via Agorapulse. You can ban users automatically if you find an inappropriate or rude comment.

Most importantly, it helps you schedule and publishes content for your YouTube channel.

5 – TubeBuddy

TubeBuddy is a browser extension that lets you optimise your content easily by A/B testing, comment filters, and keyword search. It also has video SEO tools that let you translate video titles and descriptions to your visitors' languages! This is indeed a great way to gain new viewers.

TubeBuddy's Keyword Explorer feature also allows you to find and use the right keywords that rank better in the search results. Lastly, this extension has an A/B test feature to help you test the performance of videos using different descriptions, tags, titles, and thumbnails.

Boost Your Views on YouTube!

YouTube marketing has been growing in popularity over the years, and now, it's one of the best ways to promote your business online. When you do this, you can expect that your video will be viewed by hundreds or even thousands of people, which will help increase your audience and grow your business!

The best way to improve your video marketing is to take action. What you're doing now will likely not produce the results you want in the future. The only way to find out if your YouTube marketing efforts are producing the results you want is to try them. By implementing the above YouTube video marketing best practices, you'll help make your videos more effective at getting people to watch and share with others. If you adopt these tips and techniques, your videos will be more effective and engaging, ranking higher in searches.