YouTube is the second largest search engine in the world \u2013 coming in right behind Google. That means that by ignoring YouTube, even if you\u2019re optimising for search in your other marketing ventures, you\u2019re missing out on a huge advertising opportunity.
But how do you get started creating content? And how do you make sure your videos are seen by the right people? In this guide, we\u2019ll go over the need-to-know YouTube tips, including how to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Plus some FAQs for your YouTube business strategy<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n YouTube boasts 2.53 billion monthly active users worldwide (Statista)<\/a>. For a small business, this offers significant potential for expanding your customer base. Through creating original content and engaging with your audience, you can boost your brand awareness and customer engagement.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Creating content on YouTube can help you reach a larger audience. If you\u2019re selling a product or digital service, you\u2019re not limited to advertising to only local customers. By posting on YouTube, you can give your business more visibility and reach customers further away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Artists, crafters, and even life coaches have found success using YouTube for business advertising. Unlike other forms of marketing<\/a>, creating YouTube content can help you to build trust and credibility with your audience. YouTube naturally lends itself to longform content, which can help your customers get to know you better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are plenty of content styles to try out. Which you choose will depend on your business, but some ideas include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019ll go over some more content ideas and YouTube tips for small businesses later in the guide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using YouTube for business can also be a cost-effective marketing tool if used completely organically. Modern smartphones record great-quality videos, meaning you\u2019re unlikely to need to spend money on additional equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While it\u2019s possible to run a YouTube channel completely organically, you can choose to pay to promote your videos in YouTube search results to get a boost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There\u2019s also an opportunity to make money on YouTube<\/a> by joining the YouTube Partner Program. This will give you an extra income stream outside that of your small business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can apply for the YouTube Partner Program once you\u2019ve reached 500 subscribers and achieved 3,000 hours of watch time in the last 12 months. However, you unlock the ability to earn money from ad revenue at 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 hours of watch time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now that you know why you should be using YouTube for business, it\u2019s time to build your YouTube business strategy. Below are three tips you can follow to help catch people\u2019s attention and keep your audience engaged in order to grow your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Never made a video before? You can learn how to make a YouTube video<\/a> in our full guide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can make sure that your YouTube content reaches a wider audience by using Search Engine Optimisation, otherwise known as SEO. Think about SEO when writing your video titles, descriptions, and tags.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And don\u2019t forget about your video thumbnail, as these will be the first impression a potential viewer has of your content. Use high-quality images and clear text with contrasting colours to stand out in search results. Using your business colours can be a good way to connect your channel to your brand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When creating your thumbnails, the recommended Youtube thumbnail size is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n You should also make sure to organise your videos into playlists. This means that if a user likes your video and clicks onto your channel to see what other content you have, they\u2019re more likely to find other relevant content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While there are many tips and tricks when it comes to optimising your YouTube content, creating quality content will be what truly sets you apart. When it comes to content creation, you want it to be at least one of the following: engaging, inspiring, helpful, or authentic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Engaging content should be well-produced and of interest to viewers. Take inspiration from other YouTubers to see what\u2019s currently popular.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Inspiring content should be aspirational for your audience. Maybe you\u2019ve started a small coffee shop and are sharing your day-to-day life with your followers \u2013 this could be of interest to people looking to start their own business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Helpful content is there to answer questions viewers may have. Remember, YouTube is a search engine and YouTube videos also show up in Google search results. If someone searches for \u2018when is the best time to plant flowers\u2019 and you\u2019re a professional gardener who knows the answer, make a video answering the question.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When creating your YouTube business strategy, think about the search terms you could focus on. You can look up popular search terms with our guide to SEO<\/a> tools when looking for video ideas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And finally, authentic content should be about playing to your strengths and presenting an accurate image of what it\u2019s like to run your business. People watch TV for overly-polished content, and turn to YouTube for authenticity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Looking for some inspiration to get started? Here\u2019s a video by artist and small business owner Prints by Milly showing a day in her life.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhy YouTube is essential for business growth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Reach a larger audience<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
But it\u2019s not only about discovery \u2013 it\u2019s about engagement too. YouTube is a way to advertise yourself as a business owner, not just your business. Engaging with your audience by replying to comments and networking with similar YouTube channels are other ways to expand your potential customer base.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBuild trust and credibility<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Cost-effective marketing strategy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3 YouTube tips for business success<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Optimise your channel for maximum exposure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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2. Creating engaging and valuable content<\/h3>\n\n\n\n