YouTube is great as a social media marketing tool. It gives us the opportunity to stream countless vlogs, political satire, cat videos, and epic fails. But did you know that you can use it like any other social media platforms for marketing your business? Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ may be where you can most effectively interact with your followers; facilitating real conversation and engaging them in the occasional promotion or competition. And YouTube is not exactly known for the quality of its comments section – even discussions about your gardening service are likely to end with Hitler.
But, if used properly as a social media marketing tool, it can be the greatest vehicle to drive social media participation.
Think of Old Spice. It may not be everyone’s favourite scent, but its YouTube videos have given it a reputation for entertainment – leading to loads of followers on Old Spice’s other platforms.
How do you get a piece of the YouTube marketing pie? Here are 6 ways to use Youtube as a social media marketing tool.
1. Go Big
YouTube can be a great place to detail the features of your product. But while that may sway potential buyers into choosing your product over others, it’s not what’s going to get you fans. Bring out all your creativity – or hire someone to do it if you have none – and come up with an ambitious campaign that will wow watchers and buy you love from those who’d never heard of you before.
2. Put money into it
You may see YouTube as a marketing opportunity for you to skimp on budget. But rather pump some time and money into making your content eye catching and impressive. You’ll still be spending less than on a TV ad, while it won’t look like an amateur, low-budget production. The quality will say something about your business – namely, that you’re the real deal.
3. Your Product Specs aren’t always necessary
Youtube is more than just another Social media marketing tool, it is another way to get info out to potential customers. It’s a way to engage them, and win their loyalty to your brand. Often this means that it’s not your product that matters – get the fans and your product will sell. With many of the Old Spice campaigns, the product is worked into the concept rather than the other way round. It features, but it’s not what’s doing the entertaining.
4. Keep it short
How many videos do you watch which are over 3 minutes? How many of those are adverts?
Get the point?
5. Quantity Quantity Quantity Quantity
The more videos you put out there, the more likely you are to gain followers. So instead of your campaign consisting of one or two videos, have a series of ten. Remember this when, scheduling your recording. Use the set, actors, etc. to record multiple ideas, even those you probably won’t use.
6. Make it fun
No matter how impressive an advert is, it’s still an advert. So, unless you’re doing a huge publicity stunt that will wow people – like sponsoring a jump from space – make it fun. It doesn’t have to be funny. It can be exhilarating, intriguing, thrilling, etc. But ensure that people will want to watch it.
These 6 important tips will get you started using Youtube as a social media marketing tool. Make sure to hear out your marketing team, and give them clear instructions of exactly what you want in this medium.