18 Key Practices for an Effective YouTube Channel

YouTube has been one of the leading social networks in recent years. Every minute, an average of 300 hours of video are uploaded to YouTube. There is no shortage of advice on the subject. But it is easy to get lost and not know where to begin. Here, then, are 18 key practices that can improve your channel and its visibility.

1. Find Your Niche

If the internet has proved anything, it is that niche communities are growing in number and importance. Even major brands such as Nike or Apple partner with local businesses to reach a niche audience on YouTube.

2. Create Multiple Channels

Many YouTube accounts that achieve a degree of success manage several channels, each addressing a particular target audience and covering specific topics.

3. Use YouTube Analytics

What gets measured can be improved. And YouTube has numerous analytics tools to help you assess your activity. These include:

• The overall health of your channel
• Who is watching your videos and how they find them
• The level of participation and engagement among your audience
• How much revenue your videos generate

4. Stay Consistent

Try to maintain a certain consistency from one social network to another and from one YouTube channel to another. The topics and target audiences will inevitably vary, but your brand's identity must remain stable.

5. Customise Your Channel

Customising your channel allows you to stand out and also to add functionality. For instance, you can add links to your other social media profiles (such as LinkedIn or Twitter).

6. Choose an Effective Trailer

A good trailer will arouse the interest of internet users who visit your page. It should also let them know what type of content you offer.

7. Add a Customised Subscribe Button

You can add a subscribe button to your channel and decide when it appears on screen.

7. Add a Customised Subscribe Button

This refers to the horizontal banner at the top of your channel page. You can add an illustrative photo to your image with a single click.

9. Add an Icon to Your Channel

Usually representing your brand's logo, your channel icon will appear in several places (on the channel illustration, next to your username in your comments, and so on).

10. Use Cards in Your Campaign Videos

YouTube cards are, in a sense, written notifications. You can spot them by a discreet icon in the corner of a video, which the user can click. This unfolds the card along one side of the video. YouTube has produced a video to better explain how cards work. A card can serve several purposes: running a poll or redirecting to your website, for example.

11. Use YouTube's Video Editor

YouTube offers an online editor that allows you to adjust several elements of a video and add audio effects, among other things.

12. Optimise Your Videos for Mobile

YouTube video viewing has increased by 50% in 3 years. 90% of this growth is said to be due to the use of mobile apps. Make sure you upload your videos bearing in mind that they will very likely be watched on a smartphone.

13. Create Effective Titles

Choose titles that internet users will find easily. To do this, you can:

• Use Google Trends to identify the most popular keywords
• Create short titles
• Choose a video thumbnail that intrigues and tells a story

14. Write Useful Descriptions

For example, lyrics beneath a music video or relevant links.

15. Tell an Effective Story

Since YouTube is a social medium, use that to your advantage by encouraging human interactions (comments, discussions, live videos). Sharing your story can help you connect with others and build your community.

16. Listen to Your Audience

Your viewers are your greatest asset. They frequently offer their help through their opinions and ideas. Between their feedback and your channel's analytics, you can obtain honest and relevant input.

17. Create Playlists

This helps maintain viewers' interest.

18. Consolidate Your Content

It is easier than ever to bring your content together and share it across multiple networks and media. Share your videos on Facebook and Twitter and embed them on your WordPress site, for example. We hope that these essential practices will help you gain more visibility and connect with your community around your content.