Promoting an existing YouTube video can seem daunting, but with the right strategy it is very achievable. There are many proven techniques you can use to get more views, likes and comments on your YouTube videos. Here we will explore the most effective ways to promote a video and dramatically increase its performance.
Optimize Your Video Metadata
The first step is to optimize your video’s metadata, which includes the title, description and tags. These provide cues to YouTube about your video’s content so it can be recommended to the right audience. Here are some tips for optimizing each element:
- Title – Include your main keyword phrase close to the beginning of an appealing, descriptive title. Keep it within 60 characters.
- Description – Write a detailed description of at least 250 words using keywords naturally. Explain what viewers will see and learn in the video.
- Tags – Include a full list of relevant keywords and phrases people may search for. Separate tags with commas. Use some longer tail keywords.
Spend time perfecting your video metadata, as this gives YouTube the information needed to show your content to interested viewers.
Promote on Social Media
Social media is one of the most effective ways to promote your YouTube videos. Post your videos on all your social accounts and ask your followers to share them. Here are some social media tips for video promotion:
- Share on Facebook and groups – Write an engaging post explaining your video and ask viewers to watch, like and share.
- Tweet your video – Drive views by tweeting your video link directly on Twitter 2-3 times. Reply to relevant tweets with your link.
- Share on Instagram – Post eye-catching clips from your YouTube video and encourage people to watch it.
- Promote on LinkedIn – Add your video to your LinkedIn profile and share it in relevant LinkedIn groups.
- Leverage other platforms like TikTok, Snapchat and Pinterest by posting clips and links to drive traffic back to YouTube.
Remember to include a strong call-to-action in all your posts to boost video views. Persistent promotion on social media will significantly grow your audience.
Collaborate with Influencers
Getting influencers with engaged followings to share your YouTube video can give it a surge in new viewers. Some ways to collaborate with influencers include:
- Guest interviews – Ask respected influencers to appear in your YouTube videos for more credibility.
- Sponsorships – Pay influencers to post your video and recommend it to their audience.
- Shoutouts – See if influencers will share or mention your video in their content in exchange for a free product sample.
- Hashtag campaigns – Start a branded hashtag for your video and encourage influencers to use it in their posts.
- Playlist mentions – Request influencers add your video to their public playlists to expose it to their subscribers.
The right influencer endorsements can bring exponential growth, so focus on those who reach your target audience. Offer incentives that make the partnership rewarding for influencers too.
Optimize Your YouTube Channel
Optimizing your YouTube channel overall will improve the performance of all your videos. Here are important tips for channel optimization:
- Keywords – Include keywords in your channel name, description and tags.
- Design – Pick eye-catching channel art, icon and thumbnails using consistent branding.
- Playlists – Organize your videos into playlists around topics, themes or series.
- Content – Upload videos consistently and increase total content over time.
- Organization – Use sections, links and concise descriptions to make navigation easy.
A polished, keyword-focused channel signals to YouTube the relevance of your content for ranking and recommendations. Drive more loyal subscribers with a well-designed channel.
Promote Your Video Links
Strategically placing links to your YouTube video can generate more viewers. Here are techniques for promoting your links:
- Website content – Embed your videos or link to them from blogs, articles and site pages.
- Email signature – Add your best YouTube video link to your professional email signature.
- Forum posts – Share relevant videos in your forum comments and profiles.
- Online listings – Include a YouTube video link on profiles like LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.
- Offline marketing – Print your video’s URL on business cards, flyers and presentations.
The more places you publish your YouTube video links, the greater your chances of getting click-throughs. Just make sure links are contextually relevant.
Run YouTube Ads
YouTube ads allow you to target specific demographics and pay only for video views, making them highly cost-effective. Some tips for running YouTube ads include:
- Audience targeting – Use YouTube analytics to identify and target your ideal viewer demographic.
- Placement – Focus ads on YouTube home, search and related results pages.
- Objectives – Run ads to achieve views, subscribers and link clicks.
- Keywords – Use relevant keywords so your ads display for searches.
- CTAs – Include subtitles, end screens and video CTAs to direct viewers.
YouTube ads give you complete control over who sees your videos and engagement goals. Allocate part of your marketing budget for video ads to expand reach.
Include Cards and End Screens
YouTube cards and end screens let you link to your other videos, website and playlists right from the viewing experience. This helps promote your other content. Tips for using cards and end screens:
- Link to related videos – Recommend specific videos at relevant points.
- Promote popular uploads – Redirect viewers to viral videos they may enjoy.
- Link to playlists – Add playlists to bundle and binge your content.
- Drive to website – Use your channel link or website link.
- Prompt subscriptions – Add “Subscribe” button end screens.
The more links you add through cards and end screens, the longer viewers will stay engaged with your channel and content catalog.
Offer Value to Viewers
Promoting your YouTube video relies heavily on delivering value to your audience. Focus on creating truly useful, educational, or entertaining content. Some ways to increase value include:
- Helpful how-tos – Provide step-by-step tutorials people really need.
- Share insider tips – Reveal your secrets that others want to know.
- Entertain skillfully – Capture their attention with high quality entertainment.
- Tell great stories – Craft narratives that captivate and inspire.
- Address pain points – Offer real solutions to struggles people face.
Videos that deliver value tend to go viral because viewers eagerly share them. Make it your top priority to create genuinely useful or compelling content.
Engage with Your Community
Actively engaging with your YouTube subscribers and other viewers fosters loyalty. This community will eagerly help promote your video in return. Some ways to engage your community include:
- Reply to comments – Have real conversations in the comments.
- Give sneak peeks – Post previews of upcoming videos.
- Ask for input – Survey them on video ideas and topics.
- Feature user submissions – Make community content part of your channel.
- Send personalized thank yous – Recognize active fans.
An engaged subscriber base essentially becomes your street team, promoting your videos across their own networks for you. Community interaction is essential.
Leverage Cross Promotion
Reach out directly to other YouTubers with similar or complementary content and arrange cross promotions. Some ways to execute cross promotion include:
- Co-marketing – Coordinate joint marketing campaigns supporting each other’s videos.
- Shoutouts – Give verbal shoutouts or on-screen text promoting their channel.
- Guest appearances – Appear as a guest in each other’s videos.
- Playlists – Add their videos to your playlists and vice versa.
- Website links – Share backlinks to each other’s websites or videos.
Cross promotion fills gaps in your audience by tapping into the followings of strategic YouTube partners. Make sure to select channels that truly align with yours.
Pitch to Relevant Websites
Reaching out to niche websites, blogs and online magazines that cover topics related to your video can help expand visibility. Here are some pitching tips:
- Find the right contacts – Email or message writers who cover your niche.
- Personalize your pitch – Show you read their work and why your video fits.
- Offer to create custom content – Propose interviews, guest articles or exclusives.
- Format it for their audience – Send a text summary, embed code or short clips.
- Follow up politely – If they don’t respond at first, pitch again in a month.
Even a short write-up on a popular site within your niche can direct specialized traffic back to your video. Do your research to identify and build relationships with the right publishers.
Promote at Related Events
Connecting with your target audience face-to-face at relevant events, conferences and meetups provides promotion opportunities. Some event promotion ideas include:
- Display signage – Show thumbnails and snippets from your video on banners.
- Distribute branded swag – Give away customized flash drives or shirts with video links.
- Present a preview – Screen a short highlight reel during your talk.
- Gather email leads – Collect contact info and follow up with video links.
- Network mentions – Bring up your video in conversations.
The in-person connections you make at events can lead to real organic promotion of your video as people share it within their professional circles.
Drive External Traffic Sources
Think outside of YouTube and work on driving traffic from other websites and sources. Some ways to drive external traffic include:
- SEO – Use target keywords in your video title, description and file name.
- Social shares – Run sharing campaigns focused on your video URL.
- Paid ads – Buy Google, Facebook and other paid ads promoting your video.
- Website visitors – Embed or link to your video from high-traffic pages.
- Email lists – Promote your video in email campaigns and newsletters.
People discover new videos in many places beyond YouTube searches. Build and leverage external traffic sources to tap new potential viewers.
Stay Persistent and Patient
Viral video success rarely happens instantly. Promoting your YouTube video is an ongoing effort. Here are some final tips for persistence:
- Commit long-term – Expect promotion to take months or longer.
- Post consistently – Upload new videos regularly to build momentum.
- Refresh old content – Plug old videos in new promotions.
- Track performance – Monitor analytics to see what works best.
- Test new methods – Keep innovating new ways to promote.
With hard work and persistence, the YouTube algorithm will eventually pick up and start recommending your videos, accelerating growth. Stay committed and patient for the long haul.
Conclusion
Promoting a YouTube video is a multifaceted process requiring an effective mix of optimization, social media marketing, collaborations, advertising and strategic partnerships. Focus on delivering value through your content and engage your growing community. Work inside YouTube and drive external traffic sources. With a diligent, persistent approach, you can significantly increase your YouTube video performance.