8 useful tips for growing your YouTube channel
YouTube is a platform with huge marketing potential and therefore should occupy an important place in the creation of a business’s digital strategy. As the second largest search engine in the world and the largest database of video content, YouTube is basically a must-have for all businesses today, regardless of their size.
Video content on YouTube is followed by 8 out of 10 users who are always looking for inspiration, motivation, or a solution to their problem. Believe it or not, activating your video content, or YouTube channel, can be the key missing piece to skyrocketing your online business. That is why, in the following text, we will share with you some useful tips on how to grow, and constantly develop, your YouTube channel. We will explain how to improve the quality of your content, adapt it to Google, and how to attract subscribers.
#1 Look for inspiration on the best YouTube channels
When, as a brand, you start your digital project, the first thing you should do is to slow down and not make sudden decisions and moves. After that, indulge in research, observation, and analysis of Internet content, regardless of whether it is your competition or not. It is necessary to be informed and knowledgeable about what big and small brands are doing, and to know why they are doing something.
This is especially true on the YouTube platform, which is full of diverse content and you cannot find a good way of marketing your content without detailed analysis and information.
So follow what others are doing, research, select the channels that you personally like the most and those that are good for your business. Find what you want for your content, but don’t forget to make something stand out.
Of course, in the sea of content on YouTube, it is difficult to be authentic and stand out at the start. However, if you take what’s good from each channel you follow and combine it with your values and principles, you’re sure to get something original and unique.
#2 Analyze your YouTube competitors
After you have grasped how YouTube content works, and what the biggest brands and channels are marketing, it’s time to find out what your competition is doing. First you need to find it, then narrow the selection down to those you like and with whom you share similar values.
Look for the pros and cons of their content. Think about what you can give the audience that they have not. Could it be a subtitle in a video, an additional explanation, a dose of humor or seriousness.
Researching the competition on YouTube is a long and constant process, but it will definitely pay off. In addition, today there are tools for competitor analysis, such as Quinitly, which can greatly facilitate this work for you.
If you need additional help in analyzing the competition, you can always turn to YouTube experts who will be able to explain the analytics and results, in detail.
#3 Optimize your YouTube videos
Whether you want to admit it or not, first impressions are very important. Especially when it comes to YouTube content, there is so much that it is difficult for users to choose when searching. That’s why you shouldn’t be satisfied with an average result and fail to put forth an effort when it comes to the cover image in a search, i.e., the YouTube thumbnail.
If you want to get more subscribers and views, you should encourage users to click on your video and visit your YouTube channel more often. You can do this with a cover image, which is more important than you may think. It represents a visual video representation, and the caption should follow the topic, while being attractive and inviting someone to click on it.
The best way to attract users is to offer them a solution, or to announce something extremely interesting in the text of the YouTube thumbnail itself. However, whether or not you always use this trick depends on your subject matter and the audience you want to attract.
Pay attention to the video description
As you know, YouTube is the second largest search network and therefore special attention should be paid to the keywords, i.e., the description of video content. When we talk about keywords, we don’t just mean the algorithm, but also the words itself that attract the audience. Start with the title and try to make it attractive, interesting, and inviting to click. This is where copywriting skills are of utmost importance. It is important that you stand out from the mass of video content that the user receives during the search. Make him stop scrolling and click on your video.
It would also be a good idea to optimize video titles for voice search, because users are increasingly finding, the content they are interested, in this way. Think about how you would voice search – basic keywords or a longer description.
When it comes to keyword optimization, YouTube has the same principle as Google. Try to include important and relevant keywords, staying away from “robotic” and artificial sounds, it should be written primarily for the readers.
It would be a good idea to use keywords within the first 300 characters, as much as YouTube allows to be visible, before the “show more” option.
Organize video content into playlists
To keep users on your channel longer and follow your content more closely, it’s best to organize content in such a way as to enable them to know what to expect. The easier you make staying on the channel, the more satisfied they will be with their presence, and will reward your efforts by following and sharing.
Organized content is also an indicator of your professionalism and responsibility towards both users and the business you are promoting.
#4 Promote content on other social networks
The best way to get as many people as possible to hear about your YouTube content, and to follow you, is to promote and share it on other social networks. This is so called cross-promotion of content on social networks.
Even if you have decided to make YouTube your primary content marketing channel, you must not neglect other networks such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, etc. It is necessary to be present on other channels and to invite people to visit and follow your YouTube content through them.
#5 Create connections and partnerships
Creating connections, partnerships and referrals is very important to the development and growth of YouTube content. You can collaborate with another brand, influencer, or public media, it’s all a matter of decision and circumstances. The most important thing is that you never leave out this segment of marketing.
When you create partnerships and connections on YouTube, you’ll not only get help promoting your content, but you’ll also get a whole new audience following you.
The rule for partnerships on YouTube, as well as for this type of collaboration in general, is that there must be some connection and similarity in the values, content, and principles that you share with a partner profile. Otherwise, YouTube followers will soon realize that you are doing something fake and forced.
#6 Try YouTube live
When you analyze the content on any social network, you will notice that each has an option for live video inclusions. That is in fact what today’s viewers want.
During the Covid pandemic, there was a mass production of home video content and thus people showed more interest in authentic content. Polished and professional videos are not something that speaks to the everyday life of the audience. Plus, through live engagements, people can see who’s behind the brand, further connecting them to the channel.
If you’ve realized how important a YouTube channel is to your marketing mix, then be sure to engage in a series of live engagements and communication with the audience.
#7 Don’t miss out on YouTube advertising
Paid ads are a very legitimate and very important part of any marketing strategy. Since a YouTube channel is a big step for your business, you should consider investing in advertising at the very beginning.
There are also different types of ads, depending on what goal you want to achieve and how much you are willing to invest in YouTube advertising.
If you need help and support in advertising, you can always count on Ad Symphony’s team of YouTube experts.
#8 Follow YouTube analytics
Once you’ve taken your first steps on YouTube and achieved one part of your strategy, it’s time to analyze your performance and results. Nothing will be of more help to you then YouTube analytics. Depending on what you want to achieve and analyze, you can use the performance insights provided by YouTube itself. But you can also rely on other analytics services, which are very precise and give clear instructions for progress, but often require an additional fee.
Bonus tip
Use the content that you have previously created for other social networks, or for presentation purposes, for the YouTube channel. Whether it’s podcasts, live chats, presentations, infographics, short video clips or something else – you can package and repurpose everything to fit YouTube principles.
