Within the last few months, I have loaded many videos to YouTube and other sites, and I have a good idea as to what kind of video content gets more traction than others. The role of videos in your SEO strategy is tremendous, even if for nothing other than that people like to watch them. Think about how many YouTube videos you’ve watched this month so far — whether these are how-to videos, music videos, or a compilation of fails for the month of September, chances are you’ve viewed quite a bit. YouTube alone has over 4 billion hours of videos that are being watched each month, with 72 hours of video uploaded every minute.

More importantly, videos can have a dramatic effect on your visibility on social media, with 500 years worth of YouTube videos being watched every day on Facebook and over 700 million being shared on Twitter every minute. Below, I have compiled a quick list of things you should be doing to maximize your chances of getting your videos seen, as well as what kinds of videos to post on your channel.

 

The First Things to Do Before You Upload a Video

  • Make sure that your channel is “skinned.” This means that when a user clicks onto your channel, the background on the page should mimic the look and feel of your website. To do this, just go into your channel settings and change the background features. Also be sure to clarify if you want your background to be fixed or scrolling, which determines whether the background graphic is stationary or scrolls along with the user.
  • Maximize your page’s potential by filling out your entire profile on YouTube. This can also be set up in the channel settings. Make sure to create a description that offers further insight as to what kind of business you have or what you are selling.
  • Link up! Be sure that you have links to your website, Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, Myspace, or anywhere else you want a user to go after watching your videos. You can even add links to other playlists or videos. These links can be added directly under the “About Us” section on the homepage of your channel.
  • Create playlists. If you can categorize the videos on your channel, then you should have playlists for all of them. Make one for walk-arounds, bios, customer testimonials, charity events, tips, and even a “funny/bloopers” playlist that may have outtakes from other video shoots.
  • Be sure to connect all your accounts. You want your Google+ profile associated with your YouTube channel so that you can have links on your business page going to your channel.

 

What Kinds of Videos Should I Post to My YouTube Channel?

Now that you have your channel, it’s time to figure out what kinds of videos to post. You want ones that will engage potential customers and help provide a friendly and inviting view of your business. Try some of the following:

  • Walk-around videos – This one is easy. Basically, you’ll be giving a POV tour of what a person will see when they walk into your business. This is a good way to showcase a nice waiting room or show the layout of the store from a customer’s perspective.
  • Bio videos – This can include a whole host of different videos covering things like the history of your business, owner profiles, employee profiles, building profiles, etc. If you have an employee that has been working for you for many years, an employee profile can help to build trust and a personal connection with potential customers. If you are in a hard-to-find location, a building profile gives you the opportunity to tell viewers about where you are located and how to reach you. When a business has strong community ties or has been family run for many years, having a history profile can also be very interesting. You can also embed all of these types of videos in your website’s “About Us” section to add a more personal touch to your page.
  • Tips – Regardless of the type of business you have, providing helpful tips can be a good way to showcase yourself as an authority on your product/industry. If you are a car dealership, for example, then you may have the service manager giving tips on how to tell when it’s time to change your tires or windshield wipers. You’re not giving away your trade secrets here, but rather providing valuable information to your potential or current clients in order to build trust. You can either post these videos on your webpage under a “Tips” tab or use them in social media to keep your name fresh in your customers’ minds.
  • Customer testimonials – This is a no-brainer. Have some of your best clients do a 1-minute testimonial about how much they love your products/services. These videos can be screaming endorsements for your business. Next to reviews, personal testimonials are something I look for on a business website before I decide to make a purchase.
  • Events – If you take part in a charity event or host an event at your business, be sure to upload some videos afterward. These videos will show that you are involved in the community and can let your customers know what kind of environment to expect at your business.
  • Funny/Blooper/Holiday videos – These are the kinds of videos that you can add to a miscellaneous playlist on YouTube. These can include outtakes from bio videos (there will be many) or even something goofy like an employee singing karaoke, as well as holiday greetings messages from your business that you can send out via email.

 

Make Your Videos Easy to Find

Now that you have your videos uploaded to your channel, it’s time to help people find them. One of the best ways to get your videos seen is to implement them into your social media strategy. On each of your social platforms, you should write a little blurb on what each video is about and then include a link to the video itself. In addition to uploading them in the appropriate sections of your website, you should also have a button to your YouTube channel alongside any going to Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Myspace, etc. After doing so much work setting up a developed and active YouTube account, you want your customers to be able to get to it easily!

Meet Launch Digital Marketing

Launch Digital Marketing is a Chicago based digital marketing agency specializing in helping businesses grow their online and web presence.