Table of Contents
Introduction
YouTube started as a fun way to share videos, but since its launch in 2005, it has grown into one of the biggest and most powerful platforms in the world. With over 2.5 billion active users, it is second only to Google as a search engine and for overall website visits. Surprisingly, only 9% of small businesses have their own YouTube channel. This article will guide you on how to create a successful YouTube channel to promote your brand and build your business. With almost 5 billion videos watched on YouTube every day, it’s crucial to create content that stands out and captures the attention of your target audience.
Understanding Your Audience
Before creating any content for your YouTube channel, it’s important to understand your target audience. Dive deep into what you know about them, beyond just their reasons for buying your product or service. Look for commonalities in their interests, lifestyles, values, opinions, purchasing habits, and the websites and social channels they visit. Use this insight to come up with a theme for your channel that resonates with your brand and strikes a chord with your viewing audience. By aligning your content with your audience’s interests and needs, you can create a channel that keeps them engaged and coming back for more.
For more on understanding your audience, read our blog post on Understanding Your Target Audience.
Creating an Engaging Channel Trailer
Your channel trailer is like a movie trailer for your brand. It should be designed to grab the attention of new visitors and convince them to subscribe to your channel. Unlike regular subscribers who see suggested “What to Watch Next” videos, new visitors see your channel trailer first. Use this opportunity to introduce your channel and explain the value they’ll receive by subscribing. Tease your best content, showcase your brand’s personality, and highlight what viewers can expect from your channel.
Optimizing the About Section
The About section of your YouTube channel is an essential element in converting viewers into subscribers. After watching your videos, interested viewers may want to learn more about your company and channel. The About section is where you can provide them with all the necessary information. Include eye-catching and relevant visuals along with a detailed description of your company and the purpose of your channel. Explain the types of videos you create, how often they are posted, and the value they provide to subscribers. Don’t forget to include links to your website and social channels for easy access.
Creating Cohesive and Compelling Content
To build a real audience for your YouTube channel, your videos should be tied together in a way that complements your brand. This can be achieved through a common theme, a recurring character, or a consistent look and feel. By maintaining a cohesive style, viewers can easily identify your content wherever they encounter it. Additionally, it’s important to have a regular posting schedule. Choose a schedule that is manageable for you, whether it’s once a day or once a month, and stick to it. Consistency is key to building trust and keeping your audience engaged.
Optimizing Videos for Search
As part of the Google family, YouTube videos are integrated into Google search results. To optimize your videos for search, make sure to create clear, compelling titles and detailed, keyword-rich descriptions. Utilizing closed captions can also be beneficial as it allows viewers to watch your videos without sound and provides additional opportunities for keyword inclusion. To find relevant keywords for your videos, you can start typing your topic into YouTube’s search field and see what autocomplete suggests. You can also use keyword generators like Google Keyword Planner for a more comprehensive keyword research.
Categorizing and Tagging Videos
Categorizing and adding tags to your videos not only helps viewers find your content, but it also helps YouTube understand the content of your videos. This allows the platform to suggest your videos to users who might be interested in them. Take the time to categorize your videos and add relevant tags that describe the content accurately. This will increase the visibility of your videos and attract more viewers who are interested in your niche.
To add tags and specify categories for your videos, go to your channel’s Creator Studio and navigate to the Video Manager section.
Organizing Videos for Easy Navigation
Once you have a substantial library of videos on your channel, it’s important to help your subscribers find what they’re looking for. Organize your videos in playlists that cater to different needs, interests, or stages of the sales funnel and buyer journey. This way, viewers can easily find the content that is relevant to them and explore more of your channel. Playlists also help to keep viewers engaged by automatically playing the next video in the playlist, increasing watch time and viewer retention.
Conclusion
Creating a successful YouTube channel requires more than just posting random videos whenever you have the time. By understanding your audience, creating an engaging channel trailer, optimizing your videos for search, and organizing your content, you can build a cohesive and compelling channel that promotes your brand and drives business growth. With the right strategies and consistent effort, your YouTube channel can become a valuable asset in your digital marketing strategy.
Remember, there is much more to learn about YouTube sales funnels. To explore more resources on this topic, check out the following reputable sources:
Now it’s your turn to put these tips into action and create a thriving YouTube channel for your brand. Happy creating!