Yesterday I read an article on Mashable that YouTube recently passed 2 Billion views a day on their network. YouTube, a company that recently celebrated their 5th birthday has become quite the major component to any businesses online marketing strategy. Whenever I am doing online consulting with a client regarding their social media marketing strategy, I always try to encourage them to integrate video as a main component of the online marketing strategy.
Next to behemoth search enging Google, YouTube (which is actually owned by Google) is the second most used search engine in the world. Companies can gain instant notoriety by establishing a solid video online. Examples: Remember the Social Media Revolution? This video regarding some statistics on the power of social media gave a businesses YouTube channel an instant jolt of traffic. Or maybe you remember the infamous song of how United Breaks Guitars? The band Sons of Maxwell became overnight successes because of their catchy tune about how United Airlines broke a guitar and refused to pay for it. They created a quick video poking humor at the event & within no time the video had been viewed over 8 million times. Their success was so great they even created another video United Breaks Guitars Breaks My Career that basically says thanks for destroying our gear, you made us famous!
So how does someone optimize their efforts on YouTube & other video sites? Well, there are a few things that if done consistently will help you to get the best results.
1. Tagging & Title of Video. Just like when you write a blog, the title of the video is one of the most important parts. I had a client who had a video that was really good on something that people would want to see, but the title was done all wrong. In fact, it had just the basic random title that the video camera named it when they downloaded the video. When the client uploaded it to YouTube, they never took time to change it and could not understand why their video was not getting much traffic. So, we renamed the video to a term people would search for & the video started to take off almost instantly. Now, that video has over 1,100 views! The tags are also important on a video because they help to categorize your video properly to be searched. I find myself going to YouTube now for answers on a question rather than search engines.
2. Distribution of Video. The second thing most people is load their video to YouTube but nothing else. Nowadays we all have Facebook, Twitter, websites, blogs, Posterous accounts & more. YouTube has now made it really easy to distributet your videos out to other networks. When I take my reach of all these networks & add them together, it is well over 8,000 people. Why not share those videos with that audience? The more exposure you can give to a video, the more likely it is to be viewed by masses. Not to mention, those who watch the video & like it will then also share it on with others. Each person has a wide net of connections and you can see quickly how your video can then spread like wildfire!
3. Keeping it to the point. Have you ever clicked on a video to watch & as it starts you see it is 8:39 and you just do not want to sit there that long? Videos that drag on longer than 3-4 minutes normally have a lot higher viewing level than those that are 8-10 minutes.
In addition to these three tips on how to optimize the use of YouTube & other video services, here is a post I wrote a while back on how to create effective videos. This post shares with you 5 really basic tips on how to make videos that people will actually sit & watch without having to spend thousands of dollars to have the videos produced. It covers things like music, how to pan shots properly, and much more. It is a great beginners guide to starting on video.
In closing, if you are not yet using video in your marketing strategies, it is definitely time to start exploring this. One final piece of advice: You do not need to be a professional videographer to create good video. Most videos that go viral are ones shot with basic digital cameras, flip cams, and most of the times are not even edited. So do not allow things like that hold you back from getting started. Raw video can be just as beneficial for your business as one that is shot by the pros. If you want some assistance in getting started with this, feel free to contact me and I can help you. The biggest key however, is to just get started!
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I am the Co-Founder of 210 Consulting- Social Media Advisors. If you would like more information on any of the topics discussed in this blog, please contact me directly. Also, please visit my other online consulting blog for more social media tips, tricks and enhancements.
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I'm learning, I'm learning as fast as I can!!!!
Videos and Youtube are the way to go for exposure.
No Problem Raine, but im Jeremy :)
Lloyd- exposure is definitely attainable with YouTube!
Loreena- You are doing great!
I'm curious about how many online homebuyers search for videos vs. blogs or websites. I agree video is worth exploring but feel it's overall impact is still very minimal.
Featured @ Club Chaos
I get so overwhelmed, with what I must do to grow my business. Video is something I diffently will do, I just have to get to it. (sorry about the previous post) Jeremy ;0)
Let's see over the 2 Billion videos viewed in one day. I still remember when McDonald's was advertising their 1 Million big macs sold! The future is now and your tips show the way. I need my clone to get to work!
I'm still working on doing more video. I just feel so stiff talking to no one except a camera.
This is some good stuff, I am getting ready to do a new batch directly
Thanks Jeremy for the info. Learning never ends.
True confessions: I've never posted to YouTube. Can someone point me to a good tutorial on getting started? Jeremy? Anyone?
This is a keeper for me, having recently uploaded 30 videos to youtube and I was not sure how to maximize it's juice
Hi Jeremy! Talk to you soon. XO
Jeremy - These tips will help many people take into account optimization issues to maximize video views.
Hi Jeremy: Thanks for the good information. This is the next thing on my list to conquer.
Great information Jeremy. We do have a channel on youtube and I have playlists for our current and sold listings. I still need to work on more views.
Great information Jeremy. I bought Sony Vegas Pro so I can do a little more than raw video. I'll get started soon.
Thanks for making this strategy sound easy to begin and not so intimidating!
Thank you for all this great information about using YouTube to advantage. I have started making videos, but haven't fully integrated it into my marketing.
I liked this post so much I reblogged it. Thanks!
Hello Jeremy - Thanks for the great tips. I really need to start doing some video!
Thanks for the insight. I am going to start doing this on my end!
I also go to YouTube for a lot of my searching...especially on 'how-to' do things. I have my channel and spent hours last night trying to view videos that could show me how to increase views. I'm still confused on how the channel tags work as it doesn't allow too many words to be typed in. It says words are separated by space (not commas) so I'm confused on what the best tags would be to put in that spot. Any suggestions you have would be greatly appreciated! Also, when you upload a home video tour, which category is most effective...people/blogs or travel/events? Thanks for your post(s)!
Jeremy, thanks for the post. I hate to admit I have not been using videos or YouTube. I guess it is time to learn something new.
that is staggering... I thought I misremembered when I posted "about a billion" views daily... wow
Hi, Jeremy. I really need to use videos more, and then I need to optimize them so that they actually show up in searches and things. I read 'Crush It' over Xmas, and I was pumped to start doing video. Then, I did my first one, and decided I needed a face lift before going to video. Anyway, suffice to say that I have not gone to video yet.
It takes a while to get used to incorporating videos into the expansion plan. I'm still learning how to do it, but little by little I'm making progress!
Hi Jeremy, 2 billion ! Other than scam letters from those Nigerians I have no idea how many 2 billion is of anything !
Hi Jeremy,
I completely agree with this. Real Estate Videos on Youtube expose your product nationally and internationally. I've shot two Househunter application videos and I've come to realize that it's quite difficult to shoot good video, you have to choreograph where you are going to move, what you are going to say, keep it short and also worry about lighting.
Hey Jeremy, what camera would you recommend?
Well thank you for the "heads up" on videos.
Patricia/Seacoast NH
Great adivce, looking into video right now.
thanks for the post.
tom
Thanks for sharing.
We plan to shoot some video this Friday. Wish us well!
Video is not an add on, it is the big brother sibling of the real estate marketing family. Hundreds of thousands of views on our real estate/community 400+ video collection makes your blog post a sermon to the choir. Amen. Video is only used by 1% of REALTORS though..so if you do it right, you reap the rewards, get the real estate buyer's eyeballs/ear drums. And all those emails, phone calls, visits, sales. Your buyer is no longer just local in the Global Village. He knows diddly on your area and you need to show him, sell him on the spot to buy the real estate you have a sign on. Use community videos..not selling a stick or inch of real estate like this simple ME soap box derby video with over 10,000 hits. You meet, eaves drop on conversations, see the people that make the area special. Not just the real estate. When asked what is your area like...show them, don't tell them. Video hits all the senses, takes the buyer to your area when he is killing time at an airport with an hour to spend in your area (on line). You are so right Jeremy. And remember 40% of a video is the audio. Don't waste it with Kenny G, or some Broadway musical sound track that makes your buyer wonder where the heck did they find that score, and why did they just toss it on to avoid "dead air" or silence?
Jeremy,
Very nice reminder, thank you.
Hi Jeremy~ I guess I should start using that flip video camera that I bought two years ago!
Jeremy - Up until now my computers didn't have enough Ram in them to work with Video... Just got my new desktop... Lookout world... New batteries in the flip and here I go... Thanks
Teri- The tags I am referring to are in regards to individual videos. Each one has it's own tag & title.
Tammie- The flip cams are really great & rather inexpensive. Definitely the easiest to use.
This is one place I need to work on....oh the lack of hours in the day!
Hey Jer!
Thanks...again!
Revamping everything to include video...
Jeremy, I'm going to forward this to Frank because he handles all our YouTube videos. Putting videos on all our sites is a great idea!
These numbers still amaze me. And still suck since I got on board with YouTube when if first started, then burnt out on video over a year ago >.< Ugh! I used to absolutely love to vlog, and create all kinds of videos. Now it's total, unwanted WORK! =(
Jeremy,
There is so much to learn, but I am working hard to keep up! :)
Your information is timely for me. My new Kodak Zi7 is due to be delivered tomorrow and I can't wait to get started.
I'm going to be starting to video very soon. Have all the equipment, and just need to learn how to edit the video in my new software.
I've played around with video but am going to get serious about it now. Good info on properly adding a title and tags to video.