YouTube is undoubtedly one of the most popular platforms on the Internet. As of May 2019, the site has 2 billion logged-in monthly users. And the numbers are only growing each month.
The platform has a plethora of content that will keep anyone entertained for days on end. Also, to some extent, YouTube has become a search engine that people go to when they need answers since there are several videos on just about every topic. This fact makes YouTube an attractive venue to promote businesses. And many do.
Some say that just because everyone’s doing something, doesn’t mean you should do it too. In the case of YouTube marketing though, you most likely need to get with the trend and use the platform. It’s a great tool to boost the growth of your small business.
Improve Your Online Visibility
A YouTube channel will help you improve your online visibility and accessibility. While your channel doesn’t directly improve search rankings for your website, your videos can serve as a gateway to it. For instance, you can put a link to your site in the description of your videos. If viewers find value in the content of your video, they’re likely to be interested in your business and check out your site. This increased traffic to your site can help with its rankings.
Increase Your Credibility
Depending on how you use it, your YouTube channel can increase the credibility of your small business and attract customers. For example, a digital marketing company that offers PPC or pay-per-click advertising services might post informative videos with the definition of this strategy, how-tos, and case studies. Viewers will find value in this video. And in turn, it will demonstrate the company’s expertise and make them seem more credible to consumers.
Or a small business might post videos about the latest trends in their industry. While the video doesn’t talk specifically about the business, the content shows that they know their industry well enough to earn the trust of viewers.
Increase Your Sales
One study found that the buying decisions of 74% of consumers are influenced by the videos they see on social media. Also, product videos help 90% of users make purchase decisions. Just looking at these numbers, it’s obvious that creating videos for your small business can boost its sales.
Indeed, a video is a great way to showcase a product or service. A video is easier to consume than text. And the visual and audio cues in a video can influence viewers. For example, if they see that a person enjoying a certain product and praising it, these viewers are more likely to want to buy that same product. You can use your YouTube channel to showcase the products and services of your small business.
Attract New Customers
Producing valuable video content on your YouTube channel can help you attract new customers. As stated earlier, YouTube has billions of viewers every month. If you optimize your videos effectively, such as using relevant tags, a well-written description, and a transcription, these videos will be easier for your potential leads to find. And if the contents of your videos are relevant to them, you’ll be able to convert them into customers.
Starting a YouTube channel is free. But you’ll need to shell out money for the tools you need to create videos, such as a camera, a microphone, and lighting equipment. Shooting and editing videos also take time and money. But if you meet a set of criteria, you can have your videos monetized for extra income and potentially earn back what you invested. And given what a YouTube channel can do for your small business, starting one will be a worthy endeavour.