Creating a successful YouTube channel and engaged community of subscribers may seem like a lot of work, but the reward is worth it.
Video content can help you become a trusted authority in your industry, as well as a great source of entertainment and reliable information.
You don’t have to be a filmmaker or a professional editor to be successful on YouTube. All you need is to figure out how you can offer your audience something of value. This way, they’ll appreciate your effort, engage with your content, and come back to visit your page again and again.
So if you're a small YouTuber do spend more time thinking of ideas and double the time you put into filming. Then make 100 videos and improve something small with each video. Doesn’t matter what, just improve each video. Your content will be in a different league when you finish.
Furthermore, for some small businesses and organizations, getting started on YouTube can be scary. Trust us when we say that the benefits of being on YouTube greatly outweigh the downfalls. Don’t let your initial nervousness get in the way of giving this powerful platform a try.
The most important thing you’ll need for a successful YouTube channel is something you most likely already have — an understanding of who your audience is as well as what kinds of things they may find valuable. For example, if you run a pet store you know that your audience consists mainly of pet owners and that they find animal-related tips and tricks, such as “how to train a dog to sit” or “tips for leash-training a cat,” valuable. Taking note of your audience and their interests will help you determine where to focus your efforts when creating content for YouTube.
Video content can reinforce your branding efforts and show off your business expertise. However, it’s also a great way to entertain, educate, and connect with people.
Moreover, considering the fact that YouTube has a billion unique viewers every month, creating a channel for yourself or your business is a great tool for marketing and enhancing your creativity. Not to mention opening up yourself to a global market and endless opportunities.
However, if you don’t have viewers or haven’t increased followers in a while, have time to rethink your strategies. Here are 10 tactics to create a popular active YouTube channel.
1. Design your brand
Decide what the overall theme of your videos should be and how you want your channel to be known. Because of the massive influx of YouTube videos uploaded every day, your videos should have a distinct quality to make them stand out from the rest. Be known as someone who makes amazing, edgy stop-motion videos rather than the common cute versions.
The name of your channel should incorporate what kind of videos viewers can expect from you. Having a logo that represents you and your style is important. Your style of presentation (in all aspects of your content and work) is also recognised as your brand.
2. Offer something professional
YouTube is not only a place for home videos you and your friends decided to upload for fun; it’s also for professional use. Make people actually learn from your knowledge. If you have a degree in Chemistry and think people automatically shut their minds off upon mention of the subject, why not hold lectures online? Be sure to make it interesting and less intimidating by using less jargon and more specific, relatable examples.
3. Consider reviews
Reviews perform much better when they are done in video format as opposed to text. It is easier to understand something when it is presented visually because it means you don’t have to use your imagination. Reviews are descriptive in nature and YouTube is one good venue for sharing your thoughts on products, movies, ideas, and establishments.
4. Do covers or live performances
You might think, “Hey, everybody on YouTube does that!” but most people who got discovered on YouTube had something unique in them that grabbed a record label’s attention. If you’re going to offer the same old acoustic covers, then people might not notice you. However, if you can think of something creative and unique, it is possible to make even acoustic covers seem fresh.
5. Work on the tags
Tags let your videos be categorized and appear on YouTube searches easily. Make sure that they are relevant to your video‒don’t just use popular tags such as famous artists’ names who are trending on YouTube. If your video is about making cupcakes from scratch, but the specific tag first follows by the generic ones.
For example, “How to make cupcakes from scratch” should be the prioritized tag. “Making cupcakes from scratch,” “Cupcakes,” “Party,” “Dessert,” and other related tags should follow.
6. Complete the description
Do not forget to complete the information on the description box. This is where you can freely state anything about the video. It will make viewers know more about the video before and after playing it. Giving complete information is not only professional, but it also lets viewers know that you are serious about what you are doing.
7. Videos should neither be too short nor too long
Do you think a 15-second video can teach viewers how to put on Halloween makeup? Will 30 minutes just for a reaction video get them to stay? No. Most people on the web have a short attention span and if you give them something too long, it might be boring.
Something too short will make viewers look for more, and that’s not a good thing. They will look for other channels that offer them what they need, which you failed to give them.
8. Produce quality videos
The video’s content may be thought-provoking or extremely creative, but if the production value is low, nobody will continue playing it after the first few seconds. Invest in a video camera to capture videos in HD. If your channel mainly uses graphics, use a video editing program recommended by professionals.
It takes a lot of effort to make your videos look good, but if you are going to create moving pictures, you might as well do it in a visually-appealing way.
9. Promote through other social media
Actively engage in social media to promote your YouTube channel. Facebook and Twitter are primary social networks you can use to let people in your circle know about your videos. This will not only target your family and friends but also people in your friends’ circles. Let them promote you too.
Use hashtags to let users who might be interested in the kind of videos you produce easily find you.
10. Embed it into your website
Do you have a website or blog that already has a following? Embed your YouTube videos on your website or post a link directing to your channel somewhere on your blog. Loyal followers share everything their favourite blogger posts, so it’s best to let them have something to promote.
In conclusion, if you don’t practice any of these methods they won't help you, so it's best you try one tactic at a time until you become a professional in your own way and always remember at Jumper Namibia we create our own.
Be the change you want to see and keep on doing what you know BEST.
Compiled by Jerry Lusiku,
PR at Jumper Namibia.
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