YouTube

YouTube is a video-hosting website that offers a “forum for people to connect, inform, and inspire others across the globe and acts as a distribution platform for original content creators and advertisers large and small,” according to its website.

As the second largest search engine in the world, according to Socialnomics.net, you’ve undoubtedly seen silly videos on YouTube posted for entertainment purposes. (My personal favorite is “Charlie Bit My Finger!”) But did you know that YouTube is also an effective business tool? From marketing products to addressing customer service issues, business-related YouTube videos are on the rise.

“Large organizations have been using audio and video for a long time in marketing and training. What sets the new social media-sharing solutions apart is that they can be fast, broad, and free,” says authors of The New Social Learning: A Guide to Transforming Organizations Through Social Media, Tony Bingham and Marcia Conner. Not to mention simple – all you need to create a YouTube video is a cell phone with a camcorder or a hand-held digital video camera. Uploading and sharing your YouTube video is also quick and easy.

YouTube videos are effective for many different industries. Teachers use YouTube videos to help engage and educate students on current events, realtors use YouTube videos to take clients on virtual property tours, retail companies use YouTube videos for product launches, and the list goes on.

“Audio and video connect people much more powerfully than just the printed word,” says Chris Brogan, author of Social Media 101: Tactics and Tips to Develop Your Business Online. With videos, your customers/clients/patients can put faces with names and voices, making it easier for them to connect with your company. People can also comment on YouTube videos, a feature that provides valuable feedback.

We’ve mentioned before how using different social media websites together help your overall social media campaign. Now consider this: how many Facebook or Twitter status updates do you see that link to a YouTube video? A lot! These social media websites purposely support video-sharing technology to make posts as captivating as possible.

Creating YouTube videos for your business is also smart because it gives potential customers another way to find you online. The more searchable content that you have about your company online, the higher your company will rank in organic search results. Plus, videos help consumers with their research of products and services. Having product tours or customer testimonials are great ways to gain a competitive advantage.

Different social media websites work best for different companies’ social media marketing objectives. What type of YouTube videos could help grow your business online?

1) Don’t just do it – do it correctly. Make your social media marketing efforts count. Don’t just post for the sake of posting. The key to social media marketing is knowing what to say, who to say it to, and how often to say it. Commit to the upkeep of your social media accounts, and deliver content that interests and engages your audience. If your followers don’t find value in the information you share, they’ll stop following you.

2.) Form a cohesive social media marketing campaign. To reach the largest audience possible, you must establish your business on multiple social media websites. Choose the platforms that your customers are most involved with, and use linking strategies to show them what else you have in place. Experts agree. “LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube are not options. They must all be used or BOOM! will never happen, much less meet your expectations,” states Jeffrey Gitomer, author of Social BOOM!. The key to a successful social media marketing campaign is having a clear set plan in place. At TMC, we recommend at least a 12-month plan to track your efforts effectively.

3.) Be consistent. Align your social media marketing efforts with your traditional media marketing efforts. Do your print ads contain a Twitter logo? Do your TV ads feature your Facebook URL? Coordinating these efforts helps establish your brand and also makes it easier for customers to find your business. Always keep your marketing objectives in mind, and you will keep that consistent voice across all media.

What do you consider to be other dos or don’ts of social media marketing?

What is YouTube?

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