Weekly Reading--All About Social Media

How to Grow Your Business with a Branded Channel on YouTube

While it is probably too much to expect for an SMB company video to go viral, that is no reason why you shouldn't use video to show your brand in a fresh and energetic way. If you decide to go ahead and tap into the power of YouTube, here are some tips from 60 Second Marketer.

• Start a branded channel. Take the time to add elements that will advance your company's branding rather than using a generic look. Create a layout and add some art, as well as website and social media links. Complete the About Us section to tell visitors more about your company.
• Don't neglect the search benefits. YouTube can help your search engine optimization by building out organic content, especially if your videos get a lot of views.
• Encourage user participation. If you don't have the budget for slick corporate videos, encourage customers to submit videos about how they use your products and services. You can sponsor contests or offer other incentives for those who participate.
• Try but don't overdo it. Rather than displaying all the qualities of what you think will make a video go viral, stay true to your company and principles. The odds are much better you'll get the kind of results that matter—trust in your company among an audience that can actually use your products.
• Produce quality content regularly. Plan to publish content on a regular schedule rather than set up the channel and ignore it for the next year or more. To build frequency, you can also share videos of other people and companies that add value to your brand presence.
• Keep an eye on your channel. Use analytics and test videos to see what works to get the best return on your efforts.

How to Use Pinterest to Build Trust and Loyalty