YouTube has been around since 2005, and in the years since, it has slowly started to become one of the most valuable marketing tools that exist on the internet today. Many companies have already begun taking advantage of YouTube as a way to promote their brands and connect with consumers, but there are still many others who aren’t yet making use of this powerful platform. Here are reasons why you should have your own YouTube channel as well as tips on how to get the most out of it!
1. Free advertising
Having your own YouTube channel can be an excellent source of free marketing and advertising. By creating videos that address problems your target audience is dealing with, you’re positioning yourself as an expert who people can turn to for help. These days, building a solid following on social media is often more effective than purchasing advertisements. Use your content to spread relevant information about your company that inspires viewers to become customers or subscribers.
2. Brand building
Having your platform allows you to build your brand and generate interest in other areas of your business. Setting up a video portfolio on your YouTube channel allows potential employers to see what you’re capable of, too. If someone’s hiring for a social media position, for example, it might be easier to decide whether or not they want to hire you after watching videos that display your expertise in that field.
3. SEO Benefits
Having your channel allows you to post videos under your brand name. If people search for topics related to your business, they will find and view your videos, helping establish yourself as an authority in your field. This can be great for SEO purposes, too. In addition, posting on YouTube is free and easy to do. Once you’ve posted your video(s), it’s also simple to share them across social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter. The more shares or likes your Youtube channel video gets, the higher it will rank on Google Search results pages (SERPs).
4. A Platform to display your creativity and personality
You don’t need to be a famous actor or actress to get involved in video making. A good example of an influential person who uses video effectively is PewDiePie; even though he isn’t as well-known as other celebrities, he has over 47 million subscribers on his main Youtube channel. If people like your videos, they can subscribe and be updated every time you upload something new.
5. Benefits of having a YouTube channel
If you want to gain more exposure as a blogger or author, building your own YouTube channel can be an incredibly effective way to go about it. If you aren’t familiar with YouTube, here’s the scoop: It’s the second-most popular search engine in the world after Google and is used daily by hundreds of millions of people worldwide. Therefore, if you have something unique to say and are capable of presenting it well on video, building your own YouTube channel can prove to be an invaluable addition to your brand or business strategy.
6. Monetization
Setting up ad-supported monetization and/or working with an established sponsor to sell pre-roll ads (more on that below) is one way to start making money from your videos of Youtube channel. Although you won’t get paid when people watch them, they’ll be running ads before or after your video.
7. Influencer marketing
An influencer is someone who has earned their following by producing quality content over an extended period on his youtube channel. If you’re looking to create relationships with influencers, your best bet is to find people that are passionate about your product or service and get in touch with them directly. Or, if you have a budget for paid promotion, services like TapInfluence and FameBit can help connect you with high-quality video creators.
8. Building an audience
When you launch your YouTube channel, it’s going to be pretty lonely. But don’t fret! If you have something interesting to say and are consistent about producing video content, you’ll soon build an audience for yourself. As your subscriber base grows, more opportunities will arise.
9. Entertainment
If you have no interest in becoming a big-time YouTuber, entertainment is still one reason to consider starting your youtube channel. Who doesn’t like being entertained? From babies laughing at dogs playing to viral dance crazes, there are endless amounts of topics on YouTube that can be entertaining. The more people who find your videos fun and entertaining, the more viewers you’ll draw in.
10. Giveaways
At one point, giveaways were considered spammy. Now, brands and influencers use them to build trust with their audiences by providing free products in exchange for an email address or social media following. For example, you could host a Q&A session where you ask viewers to submit questions via video comment, then choose three random commenters who win your new book.
11. Host webinars, interviews, Q&As, etc.
The more you give to your community, the more they’ll support you. This can be tricky for established brands because you don’t want to give away too much information. But it doesn’t have to be complicated: Host webinars, interviews, Q&As, and curate answers from your community about specific issues. For example, how do I get my ads approved? Could prompt response from someone at Google AdWords or another PPC expert.
12. Community building
When someone subscribes to your channel, they become a member of your community. The moment they subscribe, they also receive all of your future updates in their feed or via email.
13. Have fun!
Getting started with making videos is super easy! Whether you choose to use your smartphone or an actual camera, just get out there and have fun. Remember, it’s about communicating an idea and sharing your passions—not about getting every detail right. As with anything else in life, practice makes perfect. Don’t worry if your videos aren’t technically sound at first. You’ll be surprised how quickly it all comes together once you start shooting!