We dream of creating that one video that takes our YouTube Channel to the next level.
Before you go viral (which is really hard and requires a lot luck) you need to have a solid plan to make your YouTube Channel the best it can be. Because here is a secret... views are not the most important thing on YouTube.
Here are five things you must do before you create your next hit video:
1. Bring Your Brand to the Channel
Your brand is one of the most important assets you have when it comes to marketing your school district. Every social media platform you are on, every post you create, should have your brand associated with it.
Do not let social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube do the branding for you. Your brand is not a Twitter Egg. Your district's logo should be your profile picture. Action shots of your teachers and students need to be your cover picture. There should be no excuse when someone visits your YouTube Chanel that they do not know what district or school is being represented. Be proud of your logo. Show it off.
2. Have a Link to Your Website
Just like your logo, you must have a link to your district's website on all of your social media platforms. It is critical that YouTube is not be your visitor's final resting place. You need them to be on your own turf.
You do not own YouTube. No one knows what what the future holds for their platform or their rules. However, you do own your website, and it is important that your marketing, including YouTube, draw them to your "Hub" of resources... your website.
Once you have them on your own turf, you can show them other content and have them sign-up for your newsletter or email list. By doing this, you now have a database of people you can invite to events and share additional content with. They have given you permission to market to them.
3. Create a Trailer Video
An awesome feature on your YouTube channel is the channel trailer. This powerful feature allows you to highlight a video and make it the focal point of your YouTube channel. My district has great success with these videos. They gather bigger views and more engagement than our normal content on YouTube.
My advice would be to rotate various videos using this feature. Do you have a program you want to highlight? Do you have an awesome event you want to promote? Use the trailer feature every time you have an important message to push. When you don't have a program to highlight, use a generic district trailer to give an overview of your district.
4. Have Other Great Content
5. A Call to Action?
The goal of having a YouTube Channel is not to get a bunch of views. Having a lot of views can be fun, but that is not the most important number you should be focusing on. Engagement and ROI should be what you are looking for.
Where is your audience going after they watch your video? They need to be going somewhere. You need to give them a Call to Action. You can drive them to your website. You can have them sign-up for your newsletter. You can invite them to an event. Video is power. Use it as a tool to drive engagement.
The best way to implement the above tasks is to have a plan. You need a plan on every social media platform you are a part of.
Do you need help with YouTube? Amy Schmittauer at Savvy Sexy Social offers great tips on all things video.
Do you have any other YouTube tips? Leave them in the comment section below.
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