The basic principle of getting started on YouTube is that you upload regularly until you find a niche that either you like, people respond to, or some combination of the two.
The next stage is going pro: but you don’t need to actually go straight into quitting your job to do YouTube full-time. You can professionalize your work by making the adjustments that will take your channel further with the most impactful and minimal effort.
You do not need to be a YouTube expert to run a channel, but a good understanding of how to get the basics of the platform right will take you a long way. These are some essential things to deal with when you manage your YouTube channel.
Start with engaging titles, not clickbait
Clickbait titles have become a common tactic on YouTube, but they can also be a major turn-off for viewers. Imagine you're scrolling through your YouTube feed and come across a video with a title that promises the "best cake recipe ever" but the video talks about gardening instead. This is how people get annoyed by clickbait and stop trusting and watching videos from that channel.
YouTube marketing revolves around presentation. In this case, titles are a critical aspect, and they can determine the success of your content.
One of the most important factors one should consider when creating compelling titles is avoiding using clickbait headlines. People are more likely to engage with entertaining content.
YouTube has a lot of platforms that are known for using titles that are both entertaining and hyper-focused. For instance, WhatCulture and BuzzFeed use listicles, question-based titles and hyperbole to drive views.
Many sources have noted that the ideal length of YouTube video titles is around 70 characters. On the other hand, CoSchedule's headline analyzer suggests using 55 characters for an engaging title. Although CoSchedule doesn't specifically cater to creating video titles, it can be used to brainstorm YouTube-friendly titles for your channel.
Understand what your audience wants
Before you start working on a video or blog post, it's important that you first get to know what your audience wants to see from you. This will allow you to create an engaging and relevant title.
Before you start promoting your YouTube channel, it's also important to look at other creators' videos. This will allow you to identify which topics your audience is interested in and which style of content they prefer.
You should also check out your YouTube Analytics if you've already made a video. This will allow you to monitor various metrics such as audience demographics, engagement and location. You can also take advantage of the platform's reporting features to see how your content is performing compared to other videos.
Engage your YouTube community
Respond to people! The magic of a social video platform is that you can interact with your audience and no matter how small your following, people always appreciate it and reward you with loyalty.
Although YouTube doesn't look like many other social networks, it's still a thriving community full of like-minded individuals, all engaged with their own personal niche tastes. They can engage with content through their profiles, comments, and likes - and so can you.
Want to grow on a platform? Be active on it.
One of the most important factors you should consider when developing content is the interaction with your viewers. This can help build a stronger connection between you and your audience. One of the most effective ways to engage with your viewers is by adding a personal note to their comments.
For instance, Artzie Musik regularly responds to comments and likes on its recent uploads. Its creator also regularly responds to subscribers in a way that shows appreciation. Similar to other social networks, you can also engage with your followers on YouTube.
Customize your thumbnails
One of the easiest ways to promote your channel on YouTube is by creating custom thumbnails. Titles and thumbnails are basically the "hook" for the viewers.
If you do nothing else on this list - then at least do this. It has been widely reported that 90 percent of YouTube’s top-performing videos use a custom thumbnail image.
Thumbnails are an opportunity for an audience to recognize your style of video without having to read, as well as getting more information about what it is about and what it might feel like to watch it.
YouTube generally uses an automatically captured image from a video as its thumbnail. However, it can sometimes get blurry or just doesn't represent what the video is about. This is why creating custom thumbnails that feature a clear and consistent shot is essential.
Creating custom thumbnails can also help boost the quality of your videos. It can also help you establish a certain level of professionalism.
You don't have to be an expert in graphic design to create custom thumbnails. You can easily customize them using the tools provided by Canva. This is straightforward to implement and can help you establish a consistent and on-brand image.
Look at thumbnails on channels whose audience you want to target or that you just genuinely like (remember, be authentic), and make your own with those as a base. Feel free to evolve them over time, as you and your channel will.
Run your YouTube through Google SEO
YouTube is considered to be one of the most dominant platforms on the internet when it comes to search engine optimization. While SEO is unnecessary to create content for people, you should still promote your channel with this strategy.
Search engines often highly regard long-form videos focused on topics related to a particular keyword. For instance, if a user searches for "how to tie a tie," YouTube won't produce a video focused on this topic. Instead, it will display results that can provide the answer. For that reason, running a keyword SEO test can be crucial to your channel's growth.
In addition to ranking, YouTube also considers engagement and analytics when determining the most popular videos. The platform uses the metric "watch time" to measure how long viewers stay on a video. Videos with a long watch time are more likely to rank than those with a short watch time.
To improve the quality of your videos and reach a higher ranking, try creating content optimized for long watch times. For instance, you can provide a surprise or a free product by promising to give away something.
Host a giveaway or contest
People love free stuff. A YouTube contest or a free product is one of the most popular ways to promote your channel on the platform. It can help encourage people to subscribe to it and engage.
You can host a contest or giveaway by simply leaving a comment on your video and letting the viewers participate, as well as use user-generated content to attract more participants.
It should be noted that you must follow YouTube's guidelines to ensure your social media contest runs smoothly. Also, you need to host a contest connected to your brand and provide a related gift.
Although hosting multiple YouTube contests is understandably tempting, ensure you get the most out of them. Among the most critical factors you should consider are the engagement numbers and the drop-off rate of your viewers. If you're not getting the most out of your efforts, you might attract people who just want free prizes.
Origin Hope provides any content operation with newsroom efficiency, powered by its optimized processes, AI technology and excellent customer service. We work with marketing departments, independent creators, publishers and media groups around the world. Get in touch here.