How to Use Youtube.com to Promote Your Website
mklink Internet Marketing Tips

Why use Youtube?

Because it's huge(it's owned by Google) and loads of people use it.

Which means that your customers are using it.

Which means that you should be using it - to sell to them.

In addition to being seen as an industry expert, you can really add value to your website by literally showing people how to use your products and services.

Video offers a different dimension to your website. Admittedly, you can have multimedia on you website anyway - but I'm suggesting you use Youtube to GET PEOPLE TO YOUR WEBSITE.

Lots of people use it.(Youtube is one of the most visited websites in the world).

Again, as with your website, my advice would be offer useful information that people will benefit from - don't just see it as an advert but in a different channel.

I keep harping on about making your website useful - not just a blatant advert.
Your Youtube marketing should be no different.

To create a competitive advantage, show what you have(assets) that other people may not have access to. this could be access to experts, images, settings, products, locations - you name it.

For example, if you're selling golf clubs, you might have a professional golfer show how to swing it properly. How much better to see a golf club in action - used by a professional - rather than just seeing it in a brochure.

If you're selling home improvement products, you might like to demonstrate how to get wallpaper off easily, or how to cut tiles properly - the list is endless. Simply make sure that it is informative and useful.

So - how do you set up your Youtube Account?
Firstly you'll need a webcam and some video editing software. (Just Google - "Free Youtube software" - there's plenty to choose from "Windows Movie Maker" works adequately for example).

Then you'll need to create or customise your Youtube account and 'channel'.

Don't worry - it's easy!

Your channel is automatically generated when you sign up for a new YouTube account.

Having a dedicated channel means you can arrange your own and others content in a single location. This means that you can have a load of multimedia from other sources - not just your own.

When you've built up your youtube channel, you can check out the customisation features to enable visitors to know more about you and your business.

When you sign up for a new account you are given the chance to choose which account type you would like.

The default option is 'standard', although it makes sense to choose another category:

Director - ideal great if you are produce web videos.
With this account type you can add custom items and a logo.

A Musician account
Good if you want to promote your art, tour dates, background info etc.

A comedian account...say no more!

A Guru account - this is possibly most likely to be of interest to your as a website owner.
Here you can be an expert in your particular field and be seen as such.

(You can change accounts anytime)

How to get found on Youtube...Have more than one Account!
In much the same way I advocate multiple website (refer http://mklink.com/marketing-microsites.php ) simply having more than one account - with different account types - enables your target market to find you under different searches.

Obviously, you'll be able to have different keyword descriptions as well.

Remember - it's all about getting multiple streams of niche traffic.

Make sure your video is tagged and categorised well by checking how the other videos in your niche/ target, and other similar niches have been tagged, and by adding lots of keywords.

To make it easier and quicker for people to find your content, you can compile targeted playlists by choosing from your ‘My Videos’ and ‘Favourites’ sections. Ideally, you should aim to select and choose less familiar videos, so you content will seem fresher.

By adopting a proactive approach i.e. using the YouTube Email and Bulletins, and researching other users’ tastes, you can informally promote your videos to a wide network.

Leaving timely and targeted responses to other peoples’ video clips that are relevant and high profile in your chosen niche, is another good way to raise your own video profiles.

Other effective ways of growing your won network in a targeted way are
Joining or creating your own YouTube groups, taking part in realtime YouTube Stream discussions, and by turning on the ‘Active Sharing’ feature when you view other videos.

By targeting relevant content to a well defined niche, and using YouTube’s features to promote proactively, you can market more effectively, and increase your conversion rate without incurring huge costs.

It's easier to dominate a single category than to try and be on the homepage of Youtube!

Being found via the Youtube Search Engine

The videos posted on youtube obviously cannot be 'spidered'(yet! watch this space...) by the search engines like HTML can, so you need to use the description to its best.

Viral Marketing ...
Make the advert unique, interesting, funny or 'wild' enough and
people will start to email it to their friends...

Putting your URL in the video...either use the video editing software to do this - or simply put a written sign with your website address on it and include it in the film.

Tip: Upload to ALL video sharing websites - not just YOUTUBE.
(Google "Video sharing websites" for the latest list)

Embed the Youtube Code at the relevant places (blogs, websites, forums, chatrooms, article directories comparison sites etc) where your target traffic flows to.

Tip: Be sure to use keywords near the place where you embed the youtube script.

Then blog about the video - and add as much content to the more traditional sites(as well as your own) to get people to see the video - or indeed embed it themselves.

I'd suggest you have a limit of about 5 minutes for the time being as I'm told that 5 mins
or less is the optimum time before people start baling out on Youtube.

Remember, you've got 100Mb to play with and people really only watch stuff for any longer if they can't get it anywhere else or it's part of a TV show - or a comedy sketch - that kind of thing.

If you must make it longer, then you can always use the playlists facility to enable people to watch one part after another. Remember - website visitors like control.

I can't tell you how to make good videos - you'll need to get out there and practice!

(As always don't take my word for this - test it for yourself)

Email some contacts to get some feedback from people to see if they like your video. Make any amendments based on that feedback and then re-upload it.

Happy YouTubing...!

- Checkout http://www.mklink.com/training/ to get More Tips & Advice.

'till next time,

Mike Knight.