YouTube Creators Playbook! I just got this!
Hello everyone. My name is Ivin Viljoen (re-introduction?) and I love blo… I mean vlogging. And one thing that I'm constantly looking out for are ways to become a better vlogger. I recently bought an HD editing program, but I'm sure, looking at the video above, you realized that I haven't started using that yet (It's actually busy installing right now – yeah, I'm a breaking news kinda vlogger).
Well, I'm excited to share with you something that I literally picked up (or is it ‘downloaded') a couple minutes ago. And I thought:
Who can I share this with that will REALLY appreciate it.
And I thought of you, Ileane's valued readers. (Aww… – I know, right?). Anyway, as you can see in the video, I have literally just downloaded the playbook and after skimming through it (yes, I pretty much skim through everything), I picked up 5 essential tips that I thought YOU could implement right away to make your Youtube videos better (I'm gonna implement these tips myself).
The first 15 seconds.
We all know online folks have the attention span of Dory from Finding Nemo (I skim most posts). Therefore you gotta catch them in the first 15, otherwise you'll lose them (you can find your engagement in stats Youtube provides you [called ‘Insights'] for each video). You can achieve this through proper production and show structure.
Use a ʻteaserʼ for the content of the video; start with a quick clip of whatʼs to come later in the video (I know it's intense and a lot of work and editing, but if you want success, it's gotta be done).
What I do is tell people who I am , where I'm from (URL plug [VERY Important!!] If you're guest vlogging, plug the host URL – NOT your own!) and what the video is about.
Determine the Right ʻHookʼ or Opening for your content and audience. Vary your approach and test, test, test! The rule of thumb is: be compelling, engrossing, or entertaining enough to get your viewers to commit to continue watching the rest of the video.
Calls-To-Action.
You know all about this right? It's an essential part of every successful bloggers successful blog post. No different in Youtube (See my simple call-to-action at the end of this post).The idea is to invite viewers during the video to take actions that can help build audience. With your videos, you should be aiming at creating an interactive experience. Community engagement and subscriptions build audience. This is achieved through production and/or annotations.
Good calls to action in your videos could include the following:
- Subscribe – this is critical if you want to build a subscriber base. A subscriber base is important if you want to launch a video with an immediate audience for your videos.
- Comment – You may not know this, but this is important for ranking in YouTube's search bar (driven by the big G, I might add), creating interaction with your viewers. The purpose of all that is to get to know your audience – which in turn helps you brand, sell and produce products better (if you're into online business and want to leverage videos).
- Like/favourite/share – This is a no-brainer (if you understand proper blogging). Positive video actions from your viewers will improve your rankings in the YT algorithm.
How do you ascertain which calls-to-action you need?
- Decide what actions you as video producer/blogger want your viewers to take to achieve your desired marketing results. Looking at key community actions is advisable, but instead of ‘favoriting', you may want to invite them to click a blogs link, or sign up to a email list. This all depends on what your objectives are with making the video.
- You need to determine the right timing, style and variance that would be applicable to your audience. Zany and crazy may not work in a corporate video, but in a fun vlog providing your two cents on a matter, it may be okay to do so.
- Keep in mind, having mentioned timing, that you should be careful not to direct your viewers away from the video until they have actually finished watching the video. This is a good tip for bloggers too!
Regular schedule and frequency.
Trend and viewer interests driving television viewership applies in online video marketing too. Two points are mentioned in the YouTube Creators Playbook that is evident in television as well (remember YouTube's tagline is ‘Broadcast Yourself). Let's look at them:
- Regular schedule – It may be advisable to have a video schedule for releasing your content. Like for instance a Monday. Think of yourself plonking yourself in front of the telly at the regular scheduled time to watch 24 or CSI Miami. You know when to expect to watch what. If you see your viewers as, erm, viewers, you can understand their behaviour better looking at your own telly-watching habits. You could add to your schedule when trends hit and news break (like I did with the above video – not that I personally have a schedule).
- Frequency – Being consistent by posting videos frequently is said to help your rankings through the YT algorithm. Your frequency should be determined by factors such as the needs of your audience, your own goals with your channel and your content. Less is more, so if you have an insane pace working online, once a week is advisable. But if you're iCarly and your audience craves your content, you best produce some episodes daily and make money through that! At the end of the day, I have found that more frequency is possible if you develop a ‘template' and method to producing videos. If you have that down and it works, you'll be able to produce more easily.
Take-away steps.
- Find the Right Schedule for Your Content!
- Make Your Schedule Known!
- Get the Most of Your Production Investment!
- Maximize Your Frequency
Meta Data.
Your strategy here should be to write optimized titles, tags and descriptions for your content. It's critical for building views from search and related videos as it is affected by the YT algorithm. Regularly format your keywords to improve the indexing of your videos.
Let's look at some basic things to work on to make meta work for you:
- Title – The sequence is like this: Keyword first, branding second (make it compelling!). Look, it's like a blog post title, you want people to click through and read your post (or view your video). Use popular, relevant and compelling keywords to maximize your CTR and search traffic. Do you have videos you uploaded before that didn't do too good? Well, you can always go back and optimize them more, just like with blog posts. Sure, it'll take time, but you'll be happy you did.
- Tags – Use a set of general, standard tags that applies to the video you're publishing. You should maximize the tagging and use ALL of the 120 character limit. Think of all the different words that may apply to your video content. Long tail keywords are not advised here. Short. Punchy. To. The. Point. That should do it 😉 You can also mirror the video title, using the same word order.
- Description – Your first line should be the most relevant to the video as only a line or two show up above the fold. Include your keywords and tags in your description. When you have a show, develop a keyworded tagline to describe your show and include that in every video post description. This will assist in telling first time viewers what the show is all about. It's advisable to also add your schedule here. Develop a structure template to work from when writing new descriptions.
Video responses.
I think I got one video response from Ileane before. Can't fully re-collect, but I'll tell you, getting traffic to your channel isn't easier, and this method is SO under-used, it's not even funny. So let's talk about it.
[shadowbox]NOTE: YouTube no longer support video responses. Keep up with all the changes in the YouTube platform on Ms. Ileane's Scoop.it page for YouTube.[/shadowbox]
I have actually watched TONS of videos by Gary Vaynerchuck yesterday, on all his channels (BIG fan), and in one he mentioned how using/leveraging Seesmic on Techcrunch brings in great exposure for him. If you can duplicate good blogging practices on Youtube you'll do well real quick.
Video responses are like ‘video commenting', or vommenting (wait, that doesn't sound right, hehe). What you want to do here is also optimize them with keywords, tags and descriptions, just like with the other videos, and you'll get noticed in the niche and among the buzz around the topic/keyword.
Asking for video responses is a great way to create interaction around your content, channel and topic. It's also a great CTA at the end. Remember to set your video that video responses have to be approved, just like you would on your blog. Nasty people out there!
Get Your Copy of the YouTube Creators Playbook Now!
Get the rest of the content with all the awesome information from the horses mouth, go download it here. (They have a video upload checklist at the end).
Your Turn.
Have you downloaded the book? What sneaky Youtube tip could you share with me that could help me make my video better and seen more? Hope to hear from you below in the comments!
recently, I’ve learned through trial and error that writing a keyword rich “call to action” title gets indexed faster and better position in [major search engines], versus regular sounding titles, whether it be a title for an article, blog post, or online video. It’s always good to have an HD video editing program on hand, because it can help not only get special-effects to video, but, it can also excite users once the video has been modified to come back and watch the video again and again potentially, for years to come. I have to admit I have been slacking in the area of “optimizing META descriptions”, due to sometimes being lazy. Now that you’ve given me something to think about in terms of better optimizing my YouTube videos, I’ll strive to better in the near future of doing so. Thank you so much for giving us “YouTube optimization food for thought” today 🙂
Hellop Drewry. Yes, using HD video editing is HUGE. It was important for me to remain having an edge over my competition. The one who puts in more effort will be more successful.
Ivin,
I’m inspired now to get a copy of that HD video editing program in the future. Hopefully, after I get my hands on it, it’ll do me some good also, just like it did you 🙂
Totally agree with the words you said. The ones who put it more effort will definitely gain more advantage.
When I saw your video response heading, I thought you were giving a different tip. I like the idea of asking for video responses to get more interaction. But actually, leaving a video response on a related video (especially a popular one) will also generate a lot of views for you video. It’s a win win for you and the video maker.
Yeah, leaving a video response will get you a lot of attention. People will be like: ‘Who is thie guy?’. Great exposure. Not everybody, especially those that know their videos go viral, will allow for video responses. So, you’ll be lucky to find one.
Great article, Ivan! I particularly like your writing style and use of humor (vommenting! Haha, I hope that won’t be catching on any time soon!). This may seem obvious but it’s still worth mentioning; It is also quite beneficial to use all available web platforms (Facebook, Twitter, personal website, and, as you have done, a blog) to link to your YouTube videos. It’s all about consolidation!
Gosh, I hope it doen’t catch on too, lol! If you really want to make it work, as I wanty to in VERY near future), is upload your marketing videos to all 20 or so top video sharing sites, and then share the video on all SM platforms – as you metnioned. That way you can have maximum exposure.
Lot’s of work, so once a week wouldn’t be too bad.
Thanks for the tips. Making good short opening segments is an important part, and a challenge sometimes. Have to keep in mind that the viewer might just want to get to the good part.
In that case, you should annotate the video with çlick here to skip to the good part’. But I’d caution this, as you need your entire video to be good. Otherwise, just upload the ‘good part’.
Hi ivan,thank for let us knowing these essential part of youtube opening,im totally clueless these part
Me too, I have an aged YT account but I have been ignoring that account for a while now, I think its time to get back to it and get into action. Thanks Ivan for this awakening 😀
Go forit guys. It raises your blogging level by thousands, trust me.
Yes not know where to start with video has been my problem. I’m only just starting to get interested in incorporating video into my business so this has been helpful, thanks.
These are GREAT fopr business. Tell people what you do, share you daily office grind, make videos of your social or charity drives. People want to know that companies have ‘people’ behind them. This is the best way to do it.
Great tips Ivin! I like the tip on asking for video responses. I’ve submitted video responses before but never ended a video by asking for video responses. Will give it a try.
If you watch the Youtube celebs, you’ll see they do it often. A great way to create a community around your content and channel.
Thanks for the info, I’ve been reading a few blogs about this recently, its brilliant that YouTube are bringing in so many interactive features.
Many of those interactive features have been there all along. We have just not known about them or knew how to use them. It’s great of Youtube to bring out a playbook for your team to ‘win’ in your niche.
wow.. that was loads of information… i am not into vlogging but am surely planning to come into it one day…you have revealed some great points regarding youtube ..i have a old YT account ..time to look into it i guess… love ur humor..
Regards
Aniket
Thanks for the compliment Aniket. Yes, I cannot stress the importance of leveraging Youtube into your marketing plan enough.
the video is good and the tips are awesome surely gonna try.
Go for it Junaid.
Ivin Thanks for this very useful article about Vblog. It’s true that makes visitors interest in video on the blog should attract their attention primarily on the first 15 minutes. If the beginning of the video we’re not interesting perhaps they will soon leave our blog by clicking “close tab” their browser.
Yeah, you don’t want that. Look, people will still close the browser. Nothing you can do about that, because it may not be of interest to them. But for those who will be interested, you don’t want thjem to leave without knowing that they may be missing out!
It’s sort of the same thing. Just videos 😉
I think that video blogging will be a forward step in online marketing. As far as I noticed more and more videos appear on different blogs and sites
If you want a bigger slice of the pie, you’ll want to engage in video marketing.
Hy i am blogger also virtual gamer.I am uploaded many videos on YouTube. Games high definition also cut scene high definition. you can fast response to download video close all tabs and also close web page where you can download movies during start downloading because that video sucks your net speed cause streaming.Start downloading close streaming.Definitely work.
Hi Ivin,
Great minds think alike or maybe it’s just that I was just introduced to YouTube’s new playbook so I wrote my post about this one as well. Plus, I viewed Ileane’s video response to Lisa yesterday so I had to include that one too.
I love how you went into a lot more detail though. I just listed what they had to offer just encouraging my readers to be sure and pick up this playbook and really pay attention to what YouTube is sharing with us.
Great post, so much more detailed and I appreciate your explanations. Now I have some work to do!
Hey, I recognize that avatar from somewhere! Thanks for your comment on my post. I really appreciate it. Goes to show, if you produce high value content, you catch the attention of the biog dogs.
I just read your post and think a ‘vommenting’ community on Youtube would do a great deal to raise all our viewership up to somewhere close to the Youtube celebs.
I agree Ivin and Ileane and I are going to start video responses on each other’s videos so maybe we can start a trend. That would be cool. Hey, we’ve got some great stuff to share! 🙂
Care to share your channel link?
Awesome find Ivin. Downloading as I write this comment 🙂 I am not an avid vlogger myself and have yet to improve my videos when I do decide to create them. Your tips with the “playbook” combined will certainly be my point of reference when doing so. Thanks for putting this up!
Thanks Francisco. Enjoy and welcome to the vloggers club. Leave a comment on my blog okay? I’ll appreciate it.
@ Ivin…
Sub my channel if you feel like it =)
http://www.DrewryMedia.com
Thank you!
Ivin,
Great post by the way, especially the part about going back and systematically re-titling all the post (for better chances of being indexed). Question: If you did a video and then wrote a key-word rich blog about it, do you recommend pasting the entire post underneath the related Youtube video? Would that increase your chances of your video getting found quicker? Or would it fall under content-duplication?
Thanks
No, normally you write a small excerpt for your blog post right? Well, take that excewrpt and paste it into the description box AFTER the link to your blog/site.
OK, Thanks Ivin.
Hey Ivin,
I know the importance of vlogging and I’m trying to hard promote my business through vidoes, I must admit that I’ve learned here something valuable and interesting…. plus going to download youtube creators playbook. 🙂
Great. Good luck!
Hey Ivin. I’m yet to start trying vlogging; when I do I’ll make sure I read your blog posts on vlogging (that I’m busy bookmarking right now 🙂 ) Keep us posted on how your experience goes with the HD editing program! A review would be great I guess.
Layne
A review IS a GREAT idea. The program I use don’t have a lot of bells and whistles, but it’s ‘just enough’ re: features for me to make ample and professional videos. If you want to go pro and deliver sales page videos and do work for clients’, cousin Andy’s program is the best to go for. Otherwise, this one is fine for blogging.
Great Article.
I wonder what your thought are about the new Channel design and how it affects marketing .
I think it’s more user friendly, a bit hard to get used to, but once you scouted out the new area, you’ll be fine. I’ve seen impressive and customized Channel pages where the page is designed like a sales page. Haven’t figured out how to do that yet, but will someday. I think the new design is more conducive for business and people need no reason to vlog on another blogging platform, you can keep it at Youtube (if you want). I use both ’cause it provides more exposure.
to be honest, I do not like the new YouTube channel design. When I go to my YouTube channel, I cannot see my subscribers, nor my YouTube friends. I’d rather stick with the oral YouTube design, but unfortunately, we are forced to stick with the new YouTube design…
To see your subscribers on the new Youtube design, go to “My Channel” and click on the your subscribers number. It’s a link that will send you to a subscriber page that looks much better than under the old design. However, I have NO idea where they put the Channel comments, or the friends
oh okay. I never knew that. The new YouTube design is quite confusing. Thank you so much for turning me on to these “useful YouTube tips on how to find YouTube subscribers” in my [YouTube control panel] ! 🙂
You can still use the old design (temporarily), if you’d like,. They give you that option. Other people won’t necessarily, but if it helps you…
to be honest, I have not a clue on how to revert my YouTube channel back to its old design. How can I accomplish that? 🙂
Thank you for sharing this blog . I am looking forward to your inforamtion and going to start a blog this year. And seeking for your more help in the future.
Great tips. Not just for youtube but all video hosting/network sites.
Capturing the audience within the first 15 seconds is a great and important tip.
I used to write resumes professionally and one of the most important things in that is to stand out and capture the readers interest right away. Because just like youtube video watchers the employer will have to go through a lot of boring resumes So he will skim it and then move on if you didn’t capture his/her attention.
For video a teaser is great to do this. It is well worth it’s time. Even if the video is not that interesting, you can still get people interested with a good teaser. Look at all these boring comedies that have hilarious trailers but when you go watch the real movie you realize that you’ve already seen the funniest parts because that was in the trailer.
to be honest, I was never sure if search engines still look META data, as well as META keywords and so forth. Does best bill play an important role in determining search engine ranking? 🙂
so sorry about the tip of graphical error in the last comment. Where it says “best bill”, I meant to say “does that still”. Sorry about that 🙂
Wow! This is a great informative article Ivin. I have always been a fan of Youtube especially to promote my website. It has proved to be a very helpful and reliable platform. Thanks for sharing this article and adding more to my knowledge.
Hi Ivin,
Thank you for 5 tips directly from the source. As a search engine optimisation persion I particualrly appreciate your mentions of Meta data and the role it plays. My understanding is that more recently Google can actually interpret words using voice recognition technology and uses this to determine what a video is actually about rather than simply relying on the Meta data provided by the author. I recall when when search engines placed more weight on the Meta data provided on a webpages, but now look at many other factors. My understanding is that voice recognition technology will play an increasingly imprtance rule for videos since it is harder to manipulate. Did you hear similar rumblings? What are your ideas on this? Thanks in advance.
Sir Irvin thank you for this article. This is so informative article.I can use this to promote our website.