How to Promote Your YouTube Channel: 10 Simple Ways

Starting a YouTube channel is exciting, primarily if you aim to earn from it. However, making your channel take off faster than expected takes time, effort, and money. With the help of paid advertising, you can promote your channel quickly. But for those starting on a tight or zero budget, there are ways you can market your YouTube channel without costing an arm and a leg. Wondering how to promote your YouTube channel to get subscribers fast? Try these 10 simple ways. 

1. Cross-promote your channel

The adage of technology opens up several ways for brands to advertise their offers. With video marketing in high demand, promoting your YouTube videos on various channels grabs attention. For instance, you can promote your videos on social media networks. Automating postings and monitoring them on social media is easier by using tools like Hootsuite, BuzzSumo, or Loomly. 

Actively engaging with social media users and nurturing relationships with followers encourage them to learn more about your brand. In turn, they could visit and subscribe to your YouTube channel. 

Another way to cross-promote your channel is by blogging about it or sending email newsletters if you already have a following. A proper marketing sales funnel ensures you lead your prospects from awareness to action. 

2. Use SEO-friendly keywords

While you can promote your YouTube channel using paid advertising, ranking it organically is possible with the right tactics. And this is where SEO (Search Engine Optimization) comes in. Ensure you’re using the right and relevant keywords for your target audience. Also, follow proper SEO guidelines for Google’s algorithms. 

Using proper SEO-friendly descriptions on your YouTube videos increases your search visibility and search engine rankings.

3. Use keywords in titles, meta tags, video descriptions, and tags

Once you’ve done comprehensive keyword research, use those keywords in titles, meta, descriptions, and tags. This is a simple yet effective YouTube marketing strategy that many YouTubers fail to include. 

For example, you can write your keyword in the first half of your title because some users skip the other half. Also, ensure the title and descriptions are relevant to the video and tell users immediately what to expect. This way, it prompts them to click on the video, which will increase your click-through rates. 

4. Run YouTube contests or giveaways

The most challenging aspect of promoting your YouTube channel is getting people involved. And one way to entice them is to run contests or giveaways on YouTube. Who doesn’t want freebies? Everyone would want to chime in, especially if you offer irresistibly good gifts or prices.

Here are some YouTube contest or giveaway ideas:

• Live session giveaway
• YouTube challenge contests
• YouTube talent contests
• “Caption This” contests
• Quizzes
• Trivia sessions
• Content suggestion giveaway

5. Promote your YouTube channel on forums

Knowing where and how to promote your YouTube channel boils down to selecting the right avenues. For instance, advertising your YouTube videos on online forums fills the bill because you organically insert them in conversations. But it’s sometimes not smooth sailing. 

Most of these online forums have strict “no promotions” policies. That said, building a good contributor reputation on these forums helps. Involve in relevant conversations and offer real value by writing in-depth answers while subtly promoting your video. 

Some of the top online forums are:

• Reddit
• Quora
• Imgur
• Medium
• Steam
• Discord
• StackOverFlow
• GitHub

6. Include relevant hashtags

Hashtags are a fantastic way to promote your YouTube videos on this channel. Most people search for anything online using hashtags. That said, ensure you maximize your reach by including relevant and trendy hashtags. 

But be aware of the YouTube hashtag policies, which are:

• No spaces
• No over tagging
• Misleading content
• Harassment
• Hate speech
• Sexual content
• Vulgar language
• Non-hashtags

7. Build a community

Internet users seek genuine brands or channels that align with their principles, values, or advocacies. And you must leverage this demand by building a community that enriches creativity, innovation, and inspiration. 

YouTube offers a Community posts feature that allows creators to interact with viewers via rich media. You can communicate and connect with your audiences even beyond video uploads. Your Community posts will show on the Community tab, Home, or Subscriptions feed. 

8. Collaborate with other YouTubers

Working with other creators gains your YouTube channel more exposure. But this YouTube advertising strategy is tricky as you have to choose creators that aren’t direct competitors but with a similar target audience. 

You may also approach influencers to work on projects together. Collaborating with creators and influencers aims to expand your reach to people likely interested in your channel. 

9. Create a video series

Regular posting is one of the tips on how to promote your YouTube channel that garners more subscribers. People will often visit your channel if you post valuable, engaging, and entertaining YouTube videos. One way to make them come back for more is to create a video series or, in YouTube terms—video ad sequencing. 

Video ad sequencing lets you gradually build interest and encourage users to view your videos regularly. This YouTube marketing method is also a way to reinforce your message and engagingly inspire others. 

10. Do live streams

Live YouTube videos also involve users and get them to stay on your channel longer, increasing your view duration. Live streams are also a way to gather your followers and nurture relationships by increasing engagement. 

Some live videos you can do are: 

• Q&A
• Educational content
• Simple presentations
• Topic discussions

Conclusion

Learning how to promote your YouTube channel is a powerful advantage that could get your videos ahead of competitors. Integrating these smart techniques to ensure a more extensive reach is your stepping stone to stardom or success. 

Finally, include a call to action in every video to encourage users to take action, leading them to the next stage of your funnel. Also, include custom thumbnails, compelling banners, and YouTube profile images. Personalize your YouTube channel to achieve memorability within your target audience.