How to Setup and Use Youtube

How to Setup and Use Youtube

May 21, 2021

YouTube is the world's largest video-sharing platform and a powerful tool for businesses to reach and engage with their audience. By setting up and optimizing your YouTube channel, you can showcase your products, share valuable content, and drive traffic to your website. In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through the steps to set up and use YouTube for your business, from creating your account to optimizing your videos and leveraging YouTube's features.

1. Understanding the Importance of YouTube

a. Why YouTube Matters for Your Business

YouTube is a valuable platform for businesses for several reasons:

  • Wide Reach: With over 2 billion logged-in monthly users, YouTube offers a vast audience for your content.
  • Engagement: Video content is highly engaging and can help you connect with your audience on a deeper level.
  • SEO Benefits: YouTube videos can improve your search engine rankings and drive traffic to your website.
  • Brand Building: Regularly posting videos can help build your brand's presence and authority in your industry (https://www.hubspot.com/youtube-marketing).
b. Types of Content to Share on YouTube

You can share various types of content on YouTube to engage your audience:

  • Product Demonstrations: Show how your products work and their benefits.
  • Tutorials and How-Tos: Provide valuable information and solutions to common problems.
  • Behind-the-Scenes: Give viewers a glimpse of your company culture and operations.
  • Customer Testimonials: Share success stories and reviews from satisfied customers.
  • Webinars and Live Streams: Host live sessions to interact with your audience in real-time (https://neilpatel.com/blog/types-of-youtube-videos/).

2. Setting Up Your YouTube Channel

a. Create Your YouTube Account
  1. Sign In to YouTube: Go to the YouTube website and sign in using your Google account. If you don’t have a Google account, create one.
  2. Create a Channel: Click on your profile picture in the top right corner and select "Create a channel." Follow the prompts to set up your channel name and customize your profile (https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/1646861).
b. Customize Your Channel
  1. Profile Picture and Banner: Upload a high-quality profile picture (typically your logo) and a banner image that represents your brand.
  2. Channel Description: Write a compelling channel description that explains what your channel is about and what viewers can expect. Include relevant keywords to improve search visibility.
  3. Links: Add links to your website and social media profiles in your channel’s "About" section (https://www.hubspot.com/youtube-channel-optimization).
c. Set Up Channel Sections
  1. Featured Video: Select a featured video to welcome new visitors to your channel. This could be an introductory video or a popular piece of content.
  2. Playlists: Organize your videos into playlists based on themes or topics. This makes it easier for viewers to find related content.
  3. Sections: Customize your channel layout by adding sections to highlight specific videos or playlists (https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/3219384).

3. Creating and Uploading Videos

a. Plan Your Content
  1. Content Calendar: Create a content calendar to plan and schedule your videos. This helps you maintain consistency and ensures a steady flow of content.
  2. Script and Storyboard: Write scripts and create storyboards for your videos to ensure they are well-structured and engaging.
  3. Equipment: Use high-quality equipment to record your videos. A good camera, microphone, and lighting setup can significantly improve the production value of your content (https://www.wordstream.com/blog/ws/2016/06/16/video-content-marketing).
b. Recording and Editing Videos
  1. Recording: Record your videos in a quiet, well-lit environment. Ensure your camera is stable and captures clear, high-resolution footage.
  2. Editing Software: Use video editing software like Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, or free options like iMovie and DaVinci Resolve to edit your videos.
  3. Editing Tips: Trim unnecessary parts, add transitions, and include text overlays or graphics to enhance your videos. Ensure the final product is polished and professional (https://neilpatel.com/blog/video-editing-tips/).
c. Uploading Videos
  1. Upload Process: Click on the camera icon in the top right corner of YouTube and select "Upload video." Follow the prompts to upload your video file.
  2. Title and Description: Write a compelling title and detailed description for your video. Include relevant keywords to improve search visibility.
  3. Tags and Categories: Add tags and select a category to help YouTube understand the content of your video and improve its discoverability.
  4. Thumbnails: Upload a custom thumbnail that is eye-catching and relevant to the video content. Thumbnails play a crucial role in attracting viewers (https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/57407).

4. Optimizing Your Videos for SEO

a. Keyword Research
  1. Identify Keywords: Use tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, and TubeBuddy to find relevant keywords for your videos.
  2. Include Keywords: Incorporate keywords naturally in your video title, description, and tags.
  3. Long-Tail Keywords: Use long-tail keywords to target specific queries and improve your chances of ranking higher in search results (https://www.hubspot.com/youtube-seo).
b. Video Descriptions and Tags
  1. Detailed Descriptions: Write detailed descriptions that provide context and information about your video. Include keywords and relevant links.
  2. Tagging: Use relevant tags to categorize your videos and improve their discoverability. Include a mix of broad and specific tags.
  3. Call to Action: Include a call to action in your description to encourage viewers to like, comment, subscribe, and visit your website (https://neilpatel.com/blog/youtube-seo-tips/).
c. Thumbnails and End Screens
  1. Custom Thumbnails: Create custom thumbnails that are visually appealing and relevant to your video content. Use high-quality images and clear text.
  2. End Screens: Add end screens to promote other videos, playlists, or encourage viewers to subscribe to your channel. This helps keep viewers engaged and increases watch time (https://www.wordstream.com/blog/ws/2017/04/20/youtube-thumbnails).

5. Promoting Your YouTube Channel

a. Social Media Promotion
  1. Share on Social Media: Promote your videos on your social media platforms to reach a broader audience.
  2. Engage with Followers: Engage with your followers by responding to comments and encouraging them to share your content.
  3. Collaborations: Collaborate with influencers and other creators to expand your reach and attract new viewers (https://www.hubspot.com/social-media-promotion).
b. Email Marketing
  1. Email Subscribers: Send your videos to your email subscribers to keep them engaged and informed.
  2. Newsletters: Include your latest videos in your email newsletters to drive traffic to your YouTube channel.
  3. Call to Action: Encourage your email subscribers to like, comment, and share your videos (https://neilpatel.com/blog/email-marketing-for-youtube/).
c. Embedding Videos
  1. Website and Blog: Embed your YouTube videos on your website and blog to increase views and engagement.
  2. Landing Pages: Use videos on landing pages to boost conversions and provide valuable information to visitors.
  3. External Sites: Embed your videos on relevant external sites and forums to reach new audiences (https://www.wordstream.com/blog/ws/2016/06/27/video-embedding).

6. Analyzing Performance

a. YouTube Analytics
  1. Access Analytics: Go to YouTube Studio and access the Analytics section to monitor the performance of your videos.
  2. Key Metrics: Track key metrics such as views, watch time, audience retention, and engagement.
  3. Traffic Sources: Analyze where your traffic is coming from to understand which channels are most effective (https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/9002587).
b. Audience Insights
  1. Demographics: Analyze the demographics of your audience to understand who is watching your videos.
  2. Viewer Behavior: Monitor viewer behavior, such as average view duration and drop-off points, to optimize your content.
  3. Engagement: Track likes, comments, shares, and subscriptions to measure audience engagement (https://www.hubspot.com/youtube-analytics).
c. Performance Improvement
  1. Content Optimization: Use insights from YouTube Analytics to optimize your content strategy. Focus on creating more of what works and improving what doesn’t.
  2. A/B Testing: Experiment with different video formats, titles, descriptions, and thumbnails to see what resonates best with your audience.
  3. Feedback Loop: Encourage viewers to provide feedback and use it to improve your future videos (https://neilpatel.com/blog/youtube-performance-improvement/).

7. Best Practices for Using YouTube

a. Maintain Consistency
  1. Regular Posting: Maintain a consistent posting schedule to keep your audience engaged.
  2. Content Calendar: Use a content calendar to plan and organize your videos in advance.
  3. Channel Updates: Regularly update your channel with fresh content to attract and retain viewers (https://www.wordstream.com/blog/ws/2018/09/24/youtube-channel-management).
b. Engage with Your Audience
  1. Respond to Comments: Engage with viewers by responding to comments and questions.
  2. Community Tab: Use the Community tab to interact with your audience and share updates.
  3. Live Streams: Host live streams to connect with your audience in real-time and build stronger relationships (https://www.hubspot.com/youtube-engagement).
c. Optimize for Mobile
  1. Mobile-Friendly Content: Ensure your videos are optimized for mobile viewing, as a significant portion of YouTube traffic comes from mobile devices.
  2. Vertical Videos: Consider creating vertical videos for better viewing experiences on mobile devices.
  3. Thumbnails and Titles: Make sure your thumbnails and titles are clear and readable on smaller screens (https://neilpatel.com/blog/mobile-video-optimization/).

Conclusion

Setting up and using YouTube effectively can significantly enhance your business’s online presence and engagement. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can create a compelling YouTube channel, produce high-quality content, optimize your videos for SEO, and promote your channel to reach a wider audience. Regularly analyze your performance and optimize your strategy to achieve your marketing goals and drive business growth.


For further assistance on setting up and optimizing YouTube for your business, consider partnering with Eastmoor Digital. Schedule a discovery call today at Eastmoor Digital Discovery Call or call us at 302-514-7003. Let our experts help you maximize the potential of YouTube to enhance your marketing strategy and achieve your business objectives.