….and we’re back! Last week we covered some of the best tips for artists to make the most of their YouTube channel. We went through things like customizing your channel’s aesthetics, optimizing your SEO, and more. However, we’re not quite done just yet! There are still plenty of other ways for artists to optimize their YouTube channels in order to transform the platform into both a means for connecting with new fans and bringing in revenue. So, welcome to part 2 of “How Artists Make the Most of Their YouTube Channel”.
Below are an additional 5 tips for you to use for conquering YouTube.
1. Diversify Your Videos
If you have other interests like food, travel, or gaming, YouTube is a great place to share with your fans, but consistency is crucial here. If you’re launching a new video every Monday, create multiple videos in advance. Launching regular content will help you develop a loyal audience. Event specific topics such as “Happy Record store day,” or “Un-happy inauguration day” get bounced up in the YouTube SEO, since many people search the subject on that specific day. Behind-the-scenes footage, announcements, interviews, live videos, cover songs, or lyric videos also work very well in playlists on YouTube.
2. Showcasing Collaborations
One specific example which can help diversify your content mix AND help you build on your channel’s visibility is showcasing collaboration videos with other artists. Think jam sessions, duets, etc. Another idea to think about when it comes to collaborations is featuring a YouTube influencer. You could feature them in your next music video, have a Q&A session with them, etc. It may be a no brainer to have some collabs on your channel, but when choosing the best artist or influencer to mix with… now that’s a bit of a thinker.
You want to host an artist or influencer who’s fan base is similar to your own in the sense that your content will resonate with them. However, you also want your partner’s audience base to be slightly new in the sense that you can connect to new fans through working with them. There’s definitely a line to toe and consider when choosing the right person to collab with.
Here’s a perfect example of a great collaboration video. Tom Misch ventures a bit outside his genre and style of music to link up with UK grime/rap artist Novelist in his collaboration series — 5 Day Mischon.
3. Utilize In-Video Programming
One trick artists typically look to is in-video programming for driving additional views on videos they’re shooting to get extra engagement on. In-video Programming is a feature that enables you to embed a chosen video or your channel logo across all of the videos on your channel. You can even add a channel watermark which allows you to brand your video or you can add a specific video or playlist.
Below is an example of how Kobalt/AWAL artist Tom Misch uses in-video programming to drive viewers from this “South of the River” (official audio) over to the official video version.
4. Add Lyrics and Closed Captions
Placing lyrics in the descriptions of your videos and closed caption areas is a really simple way to improve video searchability and SEO. This is especially relevant for when someone only remembers a lyric from one of your songs and searches for it. If the lyrics are included, they’re more likely to find your video.
Additionally, YouTube has recently made it possible for others in the YouTube community to actually translate your captions into varying languages. This is a great way for artists to connect and build a following across the globe. It should definitely be something to consider when setting up closed captioning on your next video.
5. Share Your Videos off Platform
Returning to the idea of YouTube working best as an ecosystem, share your content via other social media platforms. This also gives the opportunity to tag other people involved with the video. If you’re close enough to these people/organisations, ask them to re-post the content to their own networks. Additionally, the featured images you use for YouTube are relevant for sharing on other social media platforms. Think of these as a visual teaser to draw your audience in.
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