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Start a Following with YouTubeTM

Start a Following with YouTube™
 Video is Vital to Growing Your Business Online

What is YouTube™?1 It's a Google™2-owned social media platform where users share short videos publicly. With over a billion monthly users, YouTube is the second largest search engine in the world. YouTube reaches more 18-34 and 18-49 year-olds than any cable network in the U.S. With those statistics, YouTube can be vital to growing your business online.

How can I utilize YouTube to grow my business? You might post an educational video showing customers how easy it is to program their Observer® Communicating Wall Control or an informative video demonstrating the benefits of the Heil® geothermal product line. This is a great way to position yourself as a Heil HVAC expert and build a following with informative YouTube videos.

How do I get started on YouTube? It's easy to create your business YouTube channel:

  • Since YouTube is a Google product, you will be asked to create a Google account (if you don't already have one) to register or create your YouTube channel. You'll want to set up a special kind of account for your business or brand called a Brand Account. You can use certain Google services, like Google+2 and YouTube, with this account to create an online presence. Click here for more information on Brand Accounts.
  • Visit www.youtube.com and click Sign In.
Sign In Screen2
  • Go to Your Channel List.
  • Click Create a New Channel.
  • Fill out the details to name your new channel (typically your business name) and verify your account. Then, click Done. It's that simple. You've created your new YouTube channel.
  • Now, brand your channel by uploading a profile image and header image. Click here to learn more about creating your new YouTube channel art.
  • YouTube offers a resource called Creator Studio that can help organize your channel, manage videos and interact with followers. For more information on Creator Studio, click here.
Creator Studio
  • You can also use the YouTube Director for Business App to help you create videos from your phone for free. Click here for more information on the YouTube Director for Business App.
YouTube Director for Business App

How can I make the most of YouTube? 

  • Post videos that offer helpful content rather than a sales pitch: People watch hundreds of millions of hours of video on YouTube every day. They visit YouTube to be entertained and educated, so make sure your content is informative, fun and engaging.
  • Add titles, descriptions and key words to your videos so they can be easily found online: YouTube is the second largest search engine. That means people visit YouTube looking for specific content. Include compelling titles and video descriptions so customers can find you and your videos online.
  • For greater discovery online, add tags to your videos: In your description, be sure to include tags or key words that help define your video and the content you are sharing.
  • Lead viewers to your website: Include a link to your website in your video description. You can also include your website link in the "about" section and in the header of your YouTube channel.
  • Include a call-to-action: Adding a call-to-action, even one as simple as "Call ABC Heating & Cooling at 555-123-4567 for more information," creates a greater opportunity for engagement. Make sure potential customers know how to connect with you once they have watched your video.
  • Respond to comments: YouTube offers viewers the opportunity to comment on videos. Respond to questions and engage with customers to position yourself as an online HVAC expert.
  • YouTube videos don't need to be "motion picture" quality: Your YouTube videos don't need to be fit for the big screen. That's the beauty of YouTube. Viewers enjoy the "behind the scenes" or "insider's view" of your business and expertise.
  • Experiment to see what works: Every video is not created equally. You might start with a two-minute video and experiment with video length. If you create a five-minute video and no one watches or engages, you might be better off producing short videos.
Now that you have a better idea about what YouTube is, how you can use it to grow your business, how to create your YouTube channel and how to make the most of it, it's time to get out there and start making your own videos. And...ACTION!

1© 2015 Google Inc. All rights reserved. YouTube is a trademark of Google Inc.
2© 2015 Google Inc. All rights reserved. Google, Google+ and the Google Logo are registered trademarks of Google Inc.
3 https://www.youtube.com/yt/press/statistics.html
4 http://cohlab.com/blog/youtube-the-second-largest-search-engine.html
5 https://www.youtube.com/yt/press/statistics.html