YouTube Marketing: 5 Tips For Creating YouTube Videos

by Tracie Nall on December 27th, 2012 | 1 Comment »

YouTube videos are a great addition to your blog or website. They provide an opportunity to connect with your readers in a new way. People like being able to hear your voice and get a feel for your personality.

The nice thing about using YouTube for your videos is that it makes it easy for you to embed a video, and also provides another way to drive traffic to your site. YouTube is an active social media site in its own right, and should not be ignored. There are also some YouTube videos that went viral, try to check out this Jimmy John Shark video here to know what made it viral!

5 Tips to Create Successful YouTube Videos

1. Keep it Short

There is no perfect length, but it is best to stay under three minutes when possible. Remember that people have short attention spans, especially online, and even your mom is clicking away once you pass the five minute mark.

2. Plan Ahead

You don't need to read from a script, but you do need to know what you want to say before you start recording. Otherwise, you will find yourself rambling and spending a lot of time editing.

3. Lighting

Record your video in a well-lit area. Natural light is best. If recording outside isn't an option for you, pick a room with lots of windows, and place your lamps strategically. Make sure the light is not behind you; you don't want to be a back-lit shadow.

4. Remove Clutter

Take a quick picture of the area where you are going to record, and look at it critically. It only takes a few minutes to remove any clutter or unwanted objects. You don't want to finish your video, and then realize there was a pile of dirty laundry sitting in the corner of the frame.

5. Branding

Your goal is always to let people know you have a website, and make it easy for them to find it. You can add a logo to all of your videos. At the beginning or end of your videos, insert text with your name and url. It is also a good idea to include a link to the blog post or website where the video will appear in the video description.

Make videos about things you enjoy or are passionate about, and you will find an audience. I have used YouTube to make very serious videos speaking out against child abuse. I also used it for a silly video demonstrating how I sing Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer in an effort to prove that my husband sings it wrong.

Craft or cooking tutorials, commentary on current events, product reviews, and anything humorous are always popular subjects for YouTube videos, but don't limit yourself. The most important thing is to be creative, and don't be afraid to have fun.

If you want to start making videos but need a little inspiration, you can check out Mama's Losin' It Weekly Vlogging Prompts. It is a great way to get ideas, and meet other bloggers who are using video to connect with their readers.

Do you do YouTube videos to promote your website? What are your most successful videos?

Tracie Nall lives in Florida with her husband, daughter, and more books than her shelves will hold. She spends her days writing and homeschooling. Many of her words end up on her blog, From Tracie, on Twitter @FromTracie, and on Facebook. Tracie takes pictures of things that are yellow.

Bio
Latest Posts

Tracie Nall

Tracie lives in Florida with her husband, daughter, and more books than her shelves will hold. She spends her days writing and homeschooling. Many of her words end up on her blog, From Tracie, on Twitter @FromTracie, and on Facebook. Tracie manages the monthly Blog Against Child Abuse.