7 Ways to Promote Your YouTube Video and Grow Your Channel

You’ve probably heard the quote before, “if you build it, they will come.” When it comes to YouTube videos– not unlike many other forms of content– this statement couldn’t be less accurate. The existence of a video on your YouTube channel alone is not enough to get views and drive awareness, interest, and action for your business. It’s imperative to promote your YouTube videos in order to get the attention they deserve!

YouTube is a vast platform, with over 500 hours of content uploaded every minute. With millions of videos competing for attention daily, even the best videos can get lost in the sea of content, making it challenging to reach your target audience. Promoting your YouTube videos helps them stand out, giving them the visibility they need to attract viewers, gain subscribers, and generate engagement. 

Let’s dive into the variety of ways you can effectively promote your videos to grow your YouTube channel.

1. Optimize your video for search engines

Use keywords and descriptions

One of the most important ways to get views of your YouTube videos is to optimize it for search. YouTube, owned by Google, is one of the largest search engines in the world. So identify upfront– ideally before you even create your video– what keyword you wish to target with the content. 

When you post the video, you will want to use the keyword and supporting phrasing which is relevant to that topic in the video title, description, and tags. Optimizing for search helps videos rank higher on the results page, making it easier for potential viewers to discover your content.

Create an engaging thumbnail

It’s also important to create eye-catching thumbnails to grab attention in search results. If you are able to rank well enough, making the video look inviting to click on is going to help drive more clicks and give you a better chance to get views.

2. Share on social media platforms

Leverage social media to reach a wider audience

Another way to get views on your YouTube videos is to promote them on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn to reach a broader audience. Instead of posting the entire video, create brief clips or teaser videos to generate interest in your topic and encourage viewers to click through to YouTube to watch the full video.

Camtasia is an excellent tool for creating promotional social media videos as well as your YouTube videos. It’s especially beneficial if you’re new to video creation and are looking for a user-friendly tool for beginners that also has the capacity to grow with your skills.

3. Cross-promote your YouTube channel

Collaborate with other YouTubers

Collaborating with other YouTubers is one of the most effective ways to expand your channel’s reach and introduce your videos to fresh audiences. By partnering with creators in your niche or complementary fields, you gain direct exposure to their subscriber base, many of whom may not have encountered your content before. This cross-promotion introduces you as a trusted creator to an already engaged audience, increasing the likelihood of gaining new subscribers and loyal viewers. 

One of the key benefits of collaborations is the mutual value they bring to both parties. Whether through shoutouts, guest appearances, or co-creating content, you and your collaborator can introduce each other’s channels to new viewers while enriching your audience’s experience with fresh perspectives. 

For example, guest appearances in each other’s videos allow for a seamless exchange of audiences and create a more engaging and dynamic content offering. This approach not only boosts awareness of both channels but also provides more varied and relevant content for your viewers, helping to maintain their interest and keep them coming back for more.

Cross-promotions, when done thoughtfully, can foster long-term relationships with other creators and introduce sustainable growth strategies for both parties involved.

Promote videos across different channels

Additionally, you should be embedding your YouTube videos on your blog, website, or even in email newsletters to attract viewers from other sources. Depending on what kind of products or services you or your brand offers, creating tutorials and how-to videos with Camtasia is a great option for providing your audience with more engaging how-to video content, in addition to the marketing video content that is likely already top of mind.

This type of content might be a better fit for your website, but it can also link back to your YouTube channel. You can consider keeping how-to content in a different playlist on your channel to ensure relevance to your audience.

4. Engage with your audience

Encourage comments and replies

Once you’re getting views on your YouTube videos, ideally the comments will follow! Consider asking questions in your videos to encourage viewers to leave comments, and always respond to them to keep the conversation going. Responding to individuals will help to foster your community and boost visibility on YouTube.

5. Use playlists to keep viewers watching

Create themed playlists

Relevance is incredibly important when it comes to keeping your audience engaged and viewing videos on your YouTube channel, which can in turn signal to YouTube that yours is one of quality.

If a viewer doesn’t find what they are looking for or content they are interested in, they’ll stop watching. Creating playlists based on specific themes can keep viewers on your channel longer because it helps individuals hone in on specific topics and continue viewing related content, leading to increased watch time for your channel overall.

6. Share your video in online communities

Promote in forums and groups

To effectively promote your videos, consider sharing them in online communities where your target audience already gathers, such as Reddit, niche forums, and Facebook groups. It’s important to approach these social networking spaces thoughtfully, though—avoid spamming your content. Instead, focus on providing valuable contributions by engaging in meaningful discussions and sharing insights.

When appropriate, share your YouTube video as a helpful resource that adds value to the conversation, positioning it as a solution or informative addition rather than self-promotion. This approach builds trust and credibility within the community, leading to more organic interest in your content.

7. Run YouTube ads to boost reach

Use YouTube ads for targeted promotion

Running YouTube ads is an effective strategy to promote your videos and boost visibility, as it allows you to target specific demographics, interests, and behaviors. By utilizing YouTube’s advanced targeting options, you can ensure that your videos are shown to people who you believe are most likely to engage with your content. 

For example, you can target viewers based on their age, location, or specific interests, such as gaming, beauty, or technology, among others. YouTube also enables you to reach audiences based on their viewing behaviors, ensuring your ads are displayed to those who frequently watch similar content. This precision helps your videos appear in front of the right audience, significantly increasing the likelihood of views, subscriptions, and engagement.

While advertising is obviously a paid method of promotion, it offers one of the quickest and most scalable ways to grow your YouTube channel. Investing in ads can provide immediate exposure and allow you to reach audiences that might not have discovered your videos organically. 

Advertising can be particularly valuable for new creators or brands looking to establish a presence and gain momentum quickly. By leveraging YouTube ads, you can accelerate your growth, build brand awareness, and increase your video reach much more effectively compared to relying solely on organic traffic.

Summing it up

While the list isn’t short, these methods are tried, true, and effective strategies for promoting your YouTube videos. To recap, below are all of the approaches outlined:

• Optimize your videos for search engines
• Promote on social media
• Cross-promote your YouTube channel
• Engage with your audience
• Use playlists to keep viewers watching 
• Share your video in online communities 
• Run YouTube ads to boost reach

Whether you’re well-versed with video creation or new to it, Camtasia is a helpful tool for creating YouTube video content that is engaging and professional. It’s perfect for a variety of video types, from marketing to instructional, and more. Starting with high-quality video content is going to be a dependency when it comes to launching and growing a successful presence on YouTube. 

Like so many other pursuits, regardless of how many of these strategies you’re already using to promote your videos, there’s always going to be an opportunity to push a little harder to drive improvement. We hope this post has inspired you with some ideas where you can focus some energy to grow your YouTube channel!