YouTube is the world’s second largest video-sharing platform, only behind Facebook. It is a fantastic place for entrepreneurs to grow their business. In 2019 alone, YouTube’s monthly global average watch time is 80 minutes, with 55 minutes spent on mobile phones and tablets. In the UK, the average user spends 4 hours and 45 minutes per day on the platform. This is a great opportunity to make money online as well as the perfect platform to build a business.
The Basics Of YouTube for Online Marketers
Launching and growing a YouTube channel can be very lucrative, but only if you implement the correct strategies. Successful entrepreneurs who want to build a business around YouTube will want to watch the following tips.
1. Choose The Right Platform
YouTube is a fantastic place to build a business, but it’s no walk in the park. You need to have a good grasp of how YouTube’s algorithm works, so you can understand what content performs well and keeps getting surfaced to the user.
It’s also important to note that not all videos on YouTube are created equal. Some videos are much more engaging than others, meaning that they get more views and hence, make more money for the uploader.
2. Optimize For Mobile
YouTube’s daily average of 17.7 million monthly active users is dominated by mobile phones and tablets. That’s 80% of the total YouTube audience.
In the UK, mobile usage makes up 66.2% of all Internet usage, so it’s essential that you develop marketing materials and strategies that work well on mobile phones.
Optimizing your content for mobile means making it shorter – usually between three and five minutes in length – and simpler. This means that the videos are easier to consume on smaller screens and therefore, increase the chances of a user staying engaged.
3. Build An Audience Through Video Content Strategy
Now, this is where the rubber meets the road. YouTube users prefer to be informed more than they like to be entertained. That’s why you should aim to create informative, engaging content that is also entertaining.
You can follow the same principle when publishing content on any social media channel. If you want to be smart about it, you should always consider the terms of service for the channel you are publishing to, so you don’t get your account suspended for breaking the rules.
Developing content strategies for different platforms is a common phenomenon, but it’s one that can be quite difficult. YouTube’s algorithm is always changing, so it’s important that you stay ahead of the curve. This is where an analytics tool like Hootsuite’s Video Content Platform can really help. You can use the tool to track the success of different content types and video topics, allowing you to identify which ones work well and which ones might need a rethink.
4. Use Keywords And Tags Effectively
It’s important to use keywords and tags effectively in your content to secure more exposure. YouTube’s algorithm prioritises videos that are tagged with relevant keywords. You don’t need to overuse keywords and tags, but a couple of well-chosen keywords here and there can help immensely. This is especially important for channels that target B2C consumers, as Google searches for the key terms that you’ve used will appear in the results.
5. Create And Upload Regular Content
If you have a YouTube channel that covers a wide range of topics, creating and uploading content frequently can be highly beneficial. You can build up a library of content that you can draw on whenever you need to. This helps to establish your channel as an expert in your field, while also giving you more opportunities to make money.
Consumers want to be informed, and they want to be informed quickly. The shorter the content the better, as long as it’s of good quality. This means that you should shoot for at least three unique videos a week, each between three and five minutes in length. If you can keep up this routine, you’ll find yourself making money online within no time at all.