YouTube Video Sharing Website: Easy to Understand Information For Website Owners
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What is YouTube?
It's never been easier for anyone to broadcast themselves to the world via short videos uploaded to the website, YouTube. Owned by Google since 2006, YouTube is the world's largest online video community. Users can upload, share and view videos which can cover (almost) any topic: short news videos, current affairs, advertisements, comedy 'home videos', home-made films, trailers, advertising features - you name it. The first video was uploaded on 23rd April 2005 and featured one of the site's founders taking a trip to San Diego zoo. By October 2010, the cheeky little monkey that is YouTube was serving up more than two billion videos a day. Video gruel indeed.
How Can I Advertise My Business Using YouTube?
Businesses can create a video advert, which when published (uploaded) can reach a targeted online audience defined by:
- Geographic region
- Language
- Age and gender
- Interests
- User type
- Keyword usage / content viewed
- Type / category
The challenge for many businesses, especially those with a limited budget, is to create a video with a really strong hook. This hook needs to encourage the YouTube community to watch a video, but just as importantly, pass the link onto their contacts. Businesses can of course promote links to their video postings via their own websites, blogs, newsletters, email signatures, Facebook pages and so on.
Google has ensured that results can be tracked and that there are plenty of advertising opportunities for businesses to promote their products, services and brand alongside relevant videos.
Tips for Optimising YouTube Posts
- Meta Data - Use the Meta data as you would for website page optimisation - e.g. use keyword-rich titles, descriptions (including video description) and tags, but take care not to stuff in your keywords. If it makes sense to do so, use your main keyword twice in the video description.
- Use of 'Video' - Include the word "Video" in your title if you can, because people search for it.
- Link to your Web Site - Use a link to your own website as the very first thing in your description.
- Post Links - Post links in the 'more info' section.
- Thumbnails - Make sure you utilise the thumbnails, which Google pulls from the 1/4, 1/2 and 3/4 marks. Make them count.
- Provide Information - Make sure you include captions, sub-titles and your website address during your video.
- Length - Spare a thought for the weary video viewer - keep it short and sweet with all your relevant marketing presented at the beginning (or during) rather than the end of the video.
- Promote - Promote your video through your own marketing materials including your blog and Facebook page.
Store Them Away
If you want to keep any pages tucked away in your online pantry of goodies, simply bookmark the relevant page in your browser by clicking:
- 'Favourites' (if you're using Internet Explorer/IE)
- 'Bookmarks' (if you're using Firefox).