YouTube is the new TV. In the US alone, more 18-49-year-olds tune into YouTube during prime time than into the top 10 TV shows combined. In fact, about 5 billion videos are watched on YouTube every single day.
It doesn’t look like it but YouTube is a search engine, and it’s the second largest on the world wide web. What’s more, YouTube videos get ranked by Google and web searches include YouTube videos right there at the top of the page.
So yes, YouTube is important and therefore so is having a strong YouTube presence. One way to guarantee your place on YouTube is by keeping up with the trends. Here are some strategies you can use and content trends you can match so you can stay relevant on YouTube.
Optimize your video for mobile
Marketers have been telling us for years how important mobile marketing is. So, you probably have optimized your videos for mobile already, but in case you still haven’t, this is the first thing you need to do before jumping into other current practices on YouTube.
There are three official YouTube mobile apps: the main app, the YouTube Creator Studio app, and the YouTube Kids app. Make sure that when people look at your videos from any of those mobile apps, your videos will still look appealing.
Image credit: TheNextWeb
Use humor
Comedy is the most popular form of online video content among all viewers. This is why everybody’s trying to be funny. Visit a few of the most popular YouTube channels and you’ll find that one recurring theme they share is humor.
Humor is even effective when used in skippable ads. A study found that people are more likely to watch humorous ads and that humorous skippable ads positively impact ad recall and brand awareness.
Image credit: RapperTip
So don’t be afraid to look silly and laugh at yourself every now and then. Inject humor into your videos anytime it is appropriate.
360-degree and virtual reality videos
YouTube is quickly changing the way people watch videos. Now, people can go to their 360-degree and VR hub and pick a video they can watch in 3D through a VR headset, or straight off their gadget sans a VR experience.
So if you’re not doing 360-degree videos yet, it’s time to get on top of the trend and upload your first 360-degree and VR-ready videos.
Image credit: FreeflyVR
It’s great for product demos since your audience can easily pan around and see your product from all angles. If you’re into real estate, then you can make great use of the feature, too!
There are plenty of ways you can incorporate 360-degree videos in your YouTube marketing campaigns. When you make one today, you can be at the forefront of this revolutionary way of watching videos and stay relevant on YouTube for a long time.
CTA overlays
The use of clickable links on videos is still widespread on YouTube, and why not? Clickable links encourage engagement and increase the chances of conversion if you use them correctly. Below is an example of a clickable CTA or call-to-action text overlay on a video.
By using a clickable CTA, you can ask your viewers to subscribe, leave a comment or even send them to your website. The possibilities are endless.
To add a clickable link to your video, make sure to verify your account first.
Image credit: GoAnimate
Also, if it’s engagement you’re really after, you can actually buy YouTube Views and other signals from reputable providers, and that will result in real views and engagement on your videos. People will gravitate towards your videos because they appear popular and well-liked, and that’s how you’re going to get organic views and attention.
They don’t advertise it, but even some big brands buy YouTube Views and other forms of engagement – because it works.
Use end screens and cards
End screens
Seen a nice closing screen on YouTube lately? Well, they are called end screens, and they are gaining ground on YouTube these days. The feature has become popular with users since it was launched by YouTube last year.
Here is an example of an end screen.
Image credit: andrewmacarthy
Cool, right? It gives your video a professional feel, especially if your end screens have logos on them. It’s also great that you can put all your pertinent links on one page and present them in an organized way to your viewers. Links to your other videos will also serve as your audience’s direct connection to your channel if they only stumbled on your video and found it to their liking.
So, if you aren’t using them yet, it’s time you add end screens to all of your videos. End screens are mobile-friendly but also function properly for desktops.
Cards
The use of cards is also very popular on YouTube today. It’s a neat way of making your videos more interactive because you can make the cards appear at any time during the playback. You can put a link on them, show a custom image, add a call-to-action, and more.
Aside from bringing your channel up-to-date with the latest trends, cards can also do wonders for your YouTube marketing campaigns. So, add teaser cards on your videos now and explore the various ways you can use them to engage your viewers.
Image credit: Gabriel Rockenbach
Spend more on ads
In the final quarter of last year, YouTube said their top 100 advertisers have increased their spend on YouTube video ads by 50%. It is also predicted that digital video ad spending in the US will reach $28.08 billion in 2020 – from only $6.84 billion in 2015.
Evidently, people are spending more on YouTube video ads these days and the figure will only increase in the future. You should too, because video ads have an average click-through rate of 1.84%- higher than any other digital format. Also, according to a 2016 video marketing report, the average Internet user spends over 16 minutes watching online video ads every month.
This shows how effective video ads can be. So ramp up your marketing campaigns with videos, and if you can make them humorous, emotional, and calming within the first 5 seconds, you’ll also have a greater chance of connecting with your audience and getting a high brand recall.
Partner with creators
Image credit: YouTube
If you ever doubted the clout YouTube creators have these days, you should take a look at this year’s top 10 most influential American celebrities among US teens: four-fifths were from YouTube.
Take advantage of the influence of YouTube creators by partnering with them. You can do product placements, promotions, or sponsorships. The YouTube creator you’ll tap will serve as an intermediary between you and your target audience so you can connect with them in an authentic, non-intrusive manner. Do you know that 6 out of 10 YouTube subscribers say their views of a brand or company are influenced by a creator?
If you don’t know where to start, check out the platform that Google acquired for creators and brands to meet.
Alternatively, you can buy YouTube Views. Bought Views have the potential to improve your YouTube presence as well as your search engine rankings.
There are 300 hours of video uploaded to YouTube every minute! It’s so easy to get buried in that pile. However, if your channel is showing lots of Views, people will be drawn to your videos, gaining you real Viewers. Additionally, YouTube itself will put a high value on your videos and you’ll rank higher not just in YouTube search results but in Google, as well.
Lead on!
Just as quality content matters, it’s critical to stay abreast of changes taking place, so you can stay ahead of the pack and have a successful YouTube presence. Fresh, quality content will always attract viewers.
So, incorporate the strategies mentioned above in your videos. If you do, you can stay relevant on YouTube and remain ahead of the competition.