10 Tips for Using YouTube for Business

It’s no secret that YouTube is one of the most popular websites on the planet, but it’s not just for cat videos and SpongeBob mashups – this colossal video-sharing site is also an outstanding platform for businesses to use to expand their reach and market their brand. You might be surprised to discover that YouTube is the second most used search engine in the world behind Google, so learning how to make your videos more “algorithm friendly” can pay great dividends in terms boosting your visibility on the platform. Below are 10 tried-and-true tips and tricks to help you use YouTube to grow your business.

1. Include your target keywords in the title of your video. You don’t have to get overly SEO with it, but try to find ways to naturally incorporate your keywords into a readable title.

2. Tags are uber-important when it comes to discoverability. When you tag your videos using common search terms that reflect your target keywords, you increase the odds of your video showing up in YouTube’s search results, as well as in users’ suggested videos (i.e., the “Up Next” column of videos that appear to the right of the main video being watched). Getting traffic from suggested videos is one of the best-kept secrets on YouTube, so be sure to properly tag your videos!

3. Under the “Advanced Settings” tab in the upload interface, you’ll see a drop-down menu labeled “Category.” Use this menu to select the most appropriate category for your video based on its subject matter. This also plays a part in getting your video into that coveted “Up Next” column.

4. Create a good description for your video. Since this text is truncated in YouTube’s search results, you want to put the most important information in the first couple of sentences to attract users’ attention and pique their interest.

5. Include calls-to-action (CTAs) in the description, as well as in the video itself. Encourage users to like, share and comment on your videos, and to subscribe to your channel. When appropriate, include CTAs that direct users to contact you for more information.

6. Create customized channel art for the home page of your YouTube channel. Include your brand’s logo, and make sure to link to your official website as well as your other social media accounts (YouTube allows for this in their Creator Studio interface).

7. Allow users to like, dislike and comment on your videos. Some brands shut these options off, but this essentially kills interaction. While you will inevitably get the occasional scathing comment or dislike, just remember that it comes with the territory, and it’s a small price to pay to boost the engagement factor of your video, which is one of the many “signals” that YouTube’s algorithm looks for when determining search rankings.

8. Never ignore the importance of a good thumbnail! It is a well-known fact that thumbnails play a huge role in determining whether or not users will be interested enough to click on your video. Use custom thumbnails whenever possible, but if your channel is brand new and not able to access the custom thumbnail feature yet, try to pick the best image of the three that YouTube provides for you.

9. Be consistent with publishing your videos. YouTube tends to prioritize channels that regularly crank out new content because it signifies a commitment to the platform.

10. Use end screens and cards to refer users to your other videos. The more they dig into your content, the more comfortable they’ll become with your brand, and this can only work to your advantage in terms of fostering higher levels of engagement.

When used wisely, YouTube can be an extremely powerful tool for building your business. Put the above tips into practice to grow your presence on the platform, and take the reach and influence of your brand to the next level!