Optimizing your YouTube channel means gaining subscribers according to many YouTube creators and gurus. But my Co-host Ileane Smith, a YouTube trailblazer herself, was invaluable in helping listeners to our recent Spaces Event on Twitter(X) gain new perspectives on how to optimize YouTube beyond the subscriber count.
Twitter(X) Spaces offers a fantastic way to take a topic into a secure and helpful audio event that allows discussion around any topic. I was thrilled with the chance to cohost alongside Ms. Ileane and her shares for you in this discussion may prove eye-opening. I know I felt a few aha moments at her approach and wisdom regarding YouTube.
YouTube Tips to Change Your Perspective
I’m not going to lie… growing your YouTube channel is not at all easy these days, but in talking to my friend and colleague about it, Ms. Ileane made me feel a whole lot better by helping me realize and understand that subscriber counts— which we all seem to chase— are in a way, a vanity metric pushed on us by YouTube.
And why does YouTube care about how many subscribers we have— well, arbitrarily, they give us a goal for the number we need in order to get access to YouTube's special features, particularly ad sales payments. But in truth, YouTube has its own objectives for channel subscribers — of course, you’re helping bring viewers to their platform!
They don’t really care if anyone watches your videos or not; they simply want people on the platform to watch ANY and EVERY video, regardless of YOU!
So, in thinking about some of the gems Ms. Ileane shares consistently on her YouTube channel in an effort to help and serve The Creator Economy (YES, THAT’s US, Content Creators of all walks!) on her Patreon Page, in Emails, and on all (and there are tons) of the many platforms where you can find her, I asked her about exactly how we can optimize our YouTube channels and reach realistic goals that are particular to our unique businesses.
SOoooo how do we Optimize Our YouTube channels to reach those important goals and grow our communities?
Well, first of all, don’t be fooled by the idea of big bucks from YouTube ad share because there are very few creators making bank through YouTube ads. And the ones who do, have astronomical subscriber and video view counts, just for starters.
Now that that’s out of the way, let’s get to the core of awesome advice from the insightful Ms. Ileane.
First Things First
Take a look at your Channel Page and optimize it first for better YouTube results. Make sure you write a relevant and current description and think of including keywords. Be thoughtful about your Channel Page Header and check all your visuals and copy on mobile devices for accurate visibility.
Add links and prioritize the top one as it's the only one in view without further action. Add as many links relevant to you and your audience as possible. Touchpoints matter and these links are pathways to get to discover you further.
Using keywords and hashtags that reflect your channel's topics is helpful for signaling to YouTube what your channel is about, making it easier to serve your videos to the proper audience. Think about and research what viewers are searching in relation to your topics to help you with content titles, keywords and phrases, and even for future content ideas.
Consider topics, titles, thumbnails, and copy hooks to draw people to click on and watch your videos. Playlists are a way to categorize the things you cover or talk about on your channel. Plus having playlists on similar topics helps induce users to click on other video content on your channel, especially if they are liking what they are watching.
Remember to always include CTAs (calls-to-action) and make your audience want more from you. Keep producing and before you have an engaged community, you don't need a set schedule but you do need to just keep producing videos. (Don't worry, this gives you time to muck them up, and get a little better with each one!)
Think Then Produce
Ms. Ileane smartly and graciously reminds us to put some thought into the reason we are on YouTube in the first place. What are you trying to accomplish by doing YouTube videos? From marketing your business to selling products or endorsing affiliates to offering how-to videos to grow a community and audience, there are many approaches you can take with a wide variety of goals or desired results in mind. The important thing, she explains, is that you tie your productions to your specific business goals.
Keep in mind, your business goals may have nothing to do with how many channel subscribers you have. For example, if you are marketing services you provide, new clients for those services are a top priority, and how you will measure success. Subscription models on the other hand make more sense if you are trying to get into the YouTube Partners Program and to gain ad revenue. Maybe your most important priority is to share thought leadership and grow your authority and recognition, rather than sales or subscribers!
There will be phases in your YouTube projects where different things apply. If you're just starting, experimentation and testing help to find your sweet spot and give you time to learn and adapt, too.
You may also want to think about whether you will focus on long-form videos, YouTube Shorts, or a mixture of formats and styles while you find your comfort zone. Building an audience is always going to be a goal for the videos you produce so pay attention to what is resonating with viewers. Note which topics are most popular and double-down on those, or expand around those topics.
Resource: 7 New Trends for YouTube in 2024 by Think Media
Engage With Your Audience
I suggest that creators pay attention to and respond when people make comments on your videos. Ms. Ileane points out that this may not be in any given creator's plan or priorities and that's okay. Everyone is different and interact with their audience in their preferred ways. But, to build your channel and help create raving fans, interaction with viewers means a lot. I love how Ms. Ileane acknowledges everyone on her LIVE audio and video events, making everyone feel welcome and special.
Livestreaming is another way to engage directly with people, answer questions in real time, and getting people excited about catching your shows. Streamyard is our go-to platform because of its ease-of-use, professional streaming, and stability. This platform rocks and customization continues to grow for more and more capabilities. Ms. Ileane loves these guys and is always on top of what they're up to (usually before the rest of us!) so you may want to subscribe to her Newsletter for Weekly Digital News and Tips.
NOTE: I want to engage with you, directly in fact! So consider joining The Marketing Mirror's NEW membership platform coming to you here on BuyMeACoffee for $10/month coffee club fees, you'll get EXCLUSIVE CONTENT and invitations to Mastermind Topic Meetups and more!