Posts tagged “YouTube”

 
Video Marketing can form an important part of your businesses digital marketing strategy, but with both YouTube and TikTok offering different benefits for marketers it can be difficult to find which platform is the right fit for your business. 
 
In this blog, we’ll look at what TikTok and YouTube have to offer, helping you make an informed decision as to which site will work the best for your marketing efforts. 

YouTube 

YouTube sits just behind Facebook as the 2nd biggest social media platform, with 2.5 billion active users each month. Known for it’s long-form content, YouTube is popular across all generations, allowing creators to easily find their target audience when their content is optimised correctly. YouTube allows for long and short form content, and with the introduction of Shorts, the platform truly gives you the opportunity to find the right strategy for your video marketing plans. 
Whether you want to create a podcast to go alongside your business, you want to upload quick product clips and promotions or you plan to educate your audience in your videos, YouTube allows you to find your niche. You can also share your videos across platforms, by clipping bits out to post on places like Facebook or TikTok whilst linking interested, already existing audiences to your channel and to your full video. 
 
YouTube is owned by Google, who will show videos in search results if they're optimised well. In your channel and video description, use relevant keywords as this will help YouTube with promoting and suggesting your channel to the correct audiences. Make sure these keywords are also included in your video title, which should be eye catching and not too long. Add tags to your video to boost visibility. When it comes to the video itself, pick a thumbnail that grabs the audience’s attention, relates to your content and stands out amongst your competition. You should make sure your content is clear, concise and is edited well, has moments that keep the audience hooked in and displays your industry knowledge perfectly. 

TikTok 

Created in 2017, TikTok has become a huge part of the current make up of social media – it’s popularity boomed during the pandemic, and has become a hub for younger audiences. With nearly 31 million daily users, the average user will open the app up to 20 times a day - giving you ample opportunity to be seen by your audience. 61% of users have discovered a new brand through TikTok, with 92% taking some kind of action after seeing content on the platform (such as likes, comments and shares). 
 
On TikTok, viewers are expecting short form content – and this means you have a limited time to get to the point of your video before people scroll past. If you’re advertising, then TikTok found that ads with an emotional message perform the best, with 63% of ads that convey their message right away being successful. 
 
You also don’t need to worry about the production being high quality – you can easily make a TikTok using your phone, their editing tools or a site like CapCut. This low-cost expense shouldn’t eat too much into your allocated budget, and gives you room to make tweaks and edits for free or for a small cost. 

Which Is Best For Your Business? 

You should choose YouTube if you have a broader target audience in age range, want to create in-depth content, have the equipment or budget available for high—quality and professional content creation and you plan to build long-term visibility using search. 
 
You should choose TikTok if you have a younger target audience, have plans to create short, snappy content that is posted more frequently, have an interest in creating and leveraging viral content and trends and if you have limited resources for video marketing.  
 
Alternatively, you can use both if you feel it’s necessary taking advantage of each platforms strengths to create a winning video marketing strategy. 
Picking a platform for your business takes time and careful planning, but when you have an idea on the best fit for your business start drafting up your video ideas and create content that brings your business success. 
 
Social Media Marketing is constantly evolving, and with the end of 2024 fast approaching we can now predict some of the trends that we may be seeing in the next year. Staying ahead of the curve, keeping updated and implementing these strategies and tips into your 2025 plan can boost your marketing performance. 
 
Here’s a look at the trends to watch in 2025. 

Short Form Content 

Short Form Content, thanks to TikTok, Reels and YouTube Shorts, has been on the rise in the last couple of years, and now is the content being pushed more and more across social media. Attention Spans have been decreasing, and with the fast-pace style of social media nowadays if you’re not hooking people in straight away, they’ll just move on to the next thing – which is why you need to ensure your short form content impresses in just a few seconds.  
There are no signs that audiences are shifting away from short form content, so having it as part of your marketing strategy in 2025 can boost your performance and unlock new avenues and new platforms your business may not have considered before. 

AI-Powered Content 

AI has slowly been on the rise the last few years, but saw it’s first big boom in 2024 after social sites, scheduling tools, and search platforms integrated it into their models. Whilst there are ethical concerns around using AI, and many complaining that it removes the personalised feel that users on social media are craving in recent years, it hasn’t stopped the big social platforms from pushing its usage more and more. ChatGPT was the first real significant sign of change after it’s release in 2022, and things have only sped up since. McKinsey research suggests Generative AI usage has increased by 32% in 2024, and whilst you don’t have to use it many marketers are now looking at how they can use AI features to boost their content output, design and ideas. 
 
Don’t just use AI because you can though – really get to grips with what the platforms you are on are offering, learn how to use them best for your business and then discuss with your team before implementing it as part of your business model. As we’ll see later, consumers are actually leaning towards more ethical marketing practices – which could make using AI tricky, especially with concerns about the environmental impact of using sites such as ChatGPT – but it doesn’t seem like there will be an uprising against it any time soon, so if you feel like it’s right for your business, use it responsibly. You could always keep going with the plan you have now to – if AI isn’t something that will enhance your marketing that’s currently performing well for you, don’t just bring it in because everyone else is. It could just become your niche to be the business that doesn’t rely on artificial intelligence! 

Social Commerce 

More and more people are using social media for finding products and services than they are with search – and with Gen Z now becoming the star generation for targeted marketing, social media is the way to go for advertising. Gen Z have now reached a point where they’ll be earning their own money, and as the first generation to grow up with the social media we know today at their fingertips, they are far savvier with what they’ll purchase, and what marketing speaks to them. If they’re your target audience, think about the types of content that is popular with this generation – short form video content, general video marketing and influencer marketing – and what platforms they’re most likely to frequent – TikTok, YouTube, Snapchat and Instagram. TikTok, Facebook and Instagram all allow you to have your own in-platform digital stores, which will help you sell and advertise products without having to take your audience off these social platforms. Utilising paid advertising is also a great way to sell through social media – though this may lead people off the platform, it will help you to connect with your audience and boost conversions. 

Ethical Marketing 

Ethical Marketing is a technique based on your company’s values and principles, focusing on honesty, transparency, user privacy, responsibility, and sustainability. Now more than ever, audiences are conscious about data protection and the impacts company’s and products are having on the earth, and will often look for businesses that meet their own values, and those who are completely transparent about their products and services. Being honest about your practices, how you’re working to become a more sustainable business and how data is used will all help to build trust whilst also making your commitment to being a more ethically and environmentally conscious clear. 

Niche Influencer Marketing 

Big Influencers are no longer the go-to for audiences, as niche influencers are on the rise. Whilst they may cultivate a smaller audience pool, they allow you to connect with influencers who’s content revolves around the same audience you are looking to reach out to. It’s a highly targeted form of advertising through using influencers to promote your products, which unlike using big names who have potentially irrelevant audiences to your business in their followers, the niche influencers will be talking to people who need a product just like yours. It’s a great way to boost sales, and with many audiences gravitating to these smaller, authentic influencers finding ones that align with your business can be great to use in your strategy for 2025. 
Social Media Marketing is always changing and evolving, and keeping up can be difficult when you’re also trying to run your business. Using these trends, you can prepare in advance and enter 2025 with the experience and knowledge in these growing, popular digital marketing efforts. 
 
Video Marketing has been booming for the last decade thanks to YouTube, TikTok and Reels – 91% of businesses use video as part of their strategy, with 88% seeing it as an important part of their strategy overall. 
 
There are things you need to keep in mind when using video marketing – from your budget to your audience, crafting the perfect plan for your videos will help to set you up for success. Here are all the things you need to consider in order to do video marketing right. 

What Do Your Audience Want? 

Statistics show that videos that are educational and instructional videos are what engages audiences, along with testimonials. This doesn’t mean you have to stick rigidly to this style – your audience is unique, and you may find a different video style matches what they’re looking for more so than something that educates them, so when you first start test our a few different ones – testimonial, behind scenes, teasers, demonstrations etc. – and go for the one that brings in the best engagement from your audience. 

Balance Your Budget 

Investing tonnes of money into your video marketing may seem like the way to go, but it doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get results. Having a high production may look good, it may look professional, but that doesn’t mean the viewers will watch. Funnelling money into video marketing that doesn’t work leaves less resources for the areas of your marketing that does work. You can build your budget over time, but when you start out you may not have the most-fancy equipment, confidence or style you’ll eventually acquire – and that’s not a problem. The better you get, the better your videos get, and you may even find your viewers engage more with lower produced videos than they do the ones made with more budget, allowing you to find your niche. 

Have A Goal 

What do you want your videos to achieve? If you have an idea of what you want to create, the next thing you need to think of is the goal of creating them. Providing value to the audience is a must, but what steps do you want your audience to take? 90% of marketers have said videos have increased brand awareness so this could always one of the things you aim for, alternatively you could want videos to instead push your audience to purchase a product, you may want to generate leads, you could increase your web traffic, or you could get more engagement on your social media pages. Whatever it is, make sure this goal is clear and defined – follow the SMART model and make sure your team are all on the same page. SMART stands for: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-Bound. 

Use Live 

Your videos don’t all have to be pre-recorded! Mix things up by going live and speak directly to active audience members. You can get them involved beforehand by asking them what they want to see and answer any questions they have instantly by engaging with the live chat. Most platforms offer a live feature – whether that’s video or audio – and are great ways to put a face or voice to the name and display your expertise and knowledge beyond text-based posts or pre-recorded content. 

Creation Of Videos 

Make sure your videos are clear, concise and edited before going out on your chosen platform. If desired, create an eye-catching thumbnail that draws in your viewers. Answer any pain-points your audience have and show them how your business is the solution – display what your products can do, using slick transitions and text on screen to add extra details where needed. Creating a map of how you want your videos to look before you start creating them will give you an idea on the direction to take. 

Use The Right Format 

The right format is key to ensuring your videos are displayed properly. Most platforms now support both vertical and landscape videos, but working out which format you’re more likely to go for will be great when setting up your content. If you’re thinking of vertical videos, then TikTok, Reels and YouTube Shorts are great options. If you’re business leans more towards landscape, then YouTube, Facebook, and X are the right ways to go, and Instagram potentially too. 
Videos are a powerful marketing source, and one that requires time & attention from you an your team to perfect. By following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to creating fantastic videos that play a key role in your marketing. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
We’re reaching the end of another month, and during July we’ve seen a couple of updates to the Social Media & Digital Marketing world that are worth being aware of. 
 
Here is everything you need to know…. 

New Creative Options Added To Shorts 

With Shorts becoming one of the most popular ‘new’ features on YouTube in the last year, the platform has been working hard to ensure that it remains to be used and becomes even more of a rival to TikTok. This month they’ve rolled out some new features, including auto-layout for Android users, a text—to-speech option (much like TikTok), auto-captions that can be customised, the ability remix already remixed videos and, in a move like the sticker template on Instagram, the ability to use the new ‘Add Yours’ sticker and join in with other users based on the sticker prompts. 

YouTube Spaces 

In another move by YouTube, they’re also adding community spaces. Channel membership has been a thing for a while, allowing loyal viewers to get different perks should they sign up – this was then followed by the Community tab where creators could make posts either for all viewers or just members. 
 
Now, Spaces will allow not just the creator but also viewers to make their own posts and interact with one another within the channels Community Space, opening the platform up to becoming a more social and collaborative media platform. It’s currently being rolled out on selected channels, with hopes, if it’s successful, it will be rolled out across the platform soon. 

Overlay Ads On Reels 

Reels, like Shorts, seem to be Meta’s focus right now – with over 200 billion daily views - and they’ve been making changes over the last year to keep up with rivals and keep users on Facebook on Instagram instead of switching to TikTok or Shorts.  
 
Now, Meta is making it easier for advertisers to get engagement with their ads via reels, allowing an overlay option for ads either between clips or for ads to expand on the second playthrough of the reel. 

Small Update For TikTok Users 

TikTok will now allow users to add their own thumbnails to videos, which may help with grabbing user’s attention, creating cohesive profile feeds and luring users to click on videos on your profile. We’ve seen a the power thumbnails have had on YouTube, with different trends popping up over the years which, when used correctly, have maximised video views. Whilst TikTok in itself works different to YouTube in terms of it’s display, the new option to add a custom thumbnail could still have a big impact. 
That’s all for July! Have a wonderful August and remember keep an eye out for any more digital marketing or social media updates. 
 
Finally, your social media tip is: Analyse your Post Performance 
 
Seeing which posts get the most reactions and reach is key to growing your visibility. 
 
Simply head to your Facebook driving school's Meta Business Suite and click insights in the left column. You will see an overview of all your content with their reach (how many devices it appeared on) and reactions (likes, comments and shares etc). 
 
From there you can monitor what works and what doesn't. 
 
Simply do more of what works and less of what doesn't 😊 
 
 
 
 
 
 
We’ve come to the end of May, meaning it’s time for this months Social Media Roundup! 
 
There has been a couple of new things that may be handy for you to make note of in the digital marketing world this month. Here’s everything you need to know… 

New Ad Tools On TikTok 

The TikTok World Event 2024 took place this month, and there were some new things announced regarding the TikTok Ads system. 
 
First of all, they’re continuing to utilising AI to help creators with their advertising. This new suite is called ‘Symphony’, and is made for ad partners who will receive AI assistance with things such as writing scripts, producing videos, creating ideas, and more. TikTok began introducing all these features separately last year, but will be collecting them all into one place to make it easier for ad partners to access and use to their full potential. 
 
They’re also bringing in a platform for marketing named TikTok One, which will act as a replacement for the current Creative Centre. TikTok One will make it easier to access TikTok’s built in marketing tools and new creation elements. As explained by TikTok: “Brands will be able to tap into this one-stop-shop to access TikTok creators, production partners, and insights, including TikTok Creator Marketplace and TikTok Creative Challenge. With TikTok One, advertisers will be able to access nearly 2 million creators, discover top agency partners and leverage our creative tools to implement and scale successful TikTok campaigns, all with a single log-in.” It will launch later in 2024. 
 
They’re also improving AI and machine learning for Ad Targeting, and improving optimisation tools for those selling on TikTok Shop. 
 
They’re also launching something called ‘Unified Lift’, putting all existing campaign measurement options into a single performance measurement – with TikTok saying “[Unified Lift will] empower advertisers to confidently maximize the results of their investments on TikTok. Unified Lift combines the power of Brand Lift Studies and Conversion Lift Studies to give businesses a comprehensive view of their total TikTok campaigns’ impact.” 
 
Also announced were ad functions ‘Interactive Add-Ons for TopView’ and ‘Duet with Branded Mission’, both to help boost ad engagement and performance. 

Chat Option To Close On Google Business Profiles 

Google will shut down the chat and call history features on Google Business Profiles in July. 
 
The tools were underutilised, but allowed users on Google Search, Maps and Shopping to get in touch with your business directly from listings by starting a chat from the display. The closure of this feature is being done as Google streamlines its business tools. Chat will be disabled in mid-July, with the feature shut down entirely at the end of July. 

YouTube Rolls Out New Video Function 

For those who use YouTube often, the platform will now be able to identify specific sections of videos where demonetisation or restrictions have been triggered so you can remove content that flags up on the system. They’ll also let you know if the problem lies with your thumbnail or title, as per YouTube “The way this will work is that when a creator uploads a video using our Self-Certification process on web uploads, and that video receives a yellow icon, they’ll have the option to appeal, and have one of our experts review the video. When that review is complete, the issues our expert found that led to a yellow icon (for either Limited or No Ads) will appear for the creator in Studio, alongside timestamps of where in the video they appeared.” 

TikTok Management System Launched 

Finally, we end this month on another TikTok update – they’ve launched a Management dashboard for Creators to use for analysis. It includes all of their analytics in one place, and is called TikTok Studio – another section that has been taken from the original Creative Centre. They said of the launch: “Whether you’re a seasoned creator, a newbie debuting your first video, or a small business balancing content creation while managing a business, TikTok Studio provides free, easy-to-use creation tools and centralized operational capabilities designed to efficiently streamline content workflow. Using their TikTok account to log in or sign up, creators can upload, film, edit, and post to TikTok directly from TikTok Studio and use tools like auto caption, photo editor, and autocut to polish their content with professional finesse.” 
That’ all for May! Have a wonderful June and keep an eye out for more news in the digital marketing world next month. 
 
Your social media tip for this month is: "I dont get many likes" 😢 
 
"No one engages with my content"  
 
All excuses people use to not post on social. 
 
But you see likes, comments and shares can be vanity metrics. 
 
Yes the more engagement you get the more reach you get, but there is also "lurkers". People who watch your content, value your content and consume it but they never engage. 
 
To you it seems that no one is watching... but they are. 
 
So, stop getting caught in the trap of craving social media engagement and instead concentrate on offering value, showing your expertise and knowledge and showcasing your ability as the best in your industry. 
 
 
Happy 2024! As we enter the New Year, we can expect lots of updates coming to social media as 2024 progresses, and have started to see updates being rolled out this January. 
 
Here’s all the social media news this January. 
 
Detailed Targeting Options To Be Removed For Facebook Ads 
 
Meta have announced certain targeting options are to be removed from Facebook Ads due to low usage, being too specific and causing issues due to sensitive topics such as race, ethnicity and health. 
 
As we head towards the end of 2023, there’s been some updates to social media platforms over November that could be helpful to make note of, especially as you approach reviewing or creating your digital marketing strategy for 2024. 
 
Here’s all the updates from November! 
 
Link Previews Returning To X 
 
It was just last month that Elon Musk decided to remove link previews from articles when posted to X, meaning the article image was the only thing displayed to users, meaning they’d have to click the image to find the article, and marketers would have to try and cram enough information into their copy in order to let their audiences know what they were sharing. Now, Musk is said to have done a U-Turn, with the article titles returning to the display of links when they’re posted on X. 
 
This October, there’s been a few changes to social media platforms that could be helpful for you to know so you can adapt and create your own business’ social strategies accordingly. 
 
Here’s all the news from October… 
 
YouTube Updates Partner Programme & YouTube Shorts 
 
YouTube has expanded its partner programme to include users in another 23 countries to have access to monetisation options should they have 500 or more subscribers. This was previously only rolled out to select regions. 
 
For Youtube Shorts, AI features are being rolled out to enhance videos and add filters to creator’s videos (much like TikTok). This is still in early development, although looks to be another way that YouTube plans to continue promoting the Shorts feature, making it a worthy competitor to both Reels and TikTok. 
 
 
 
Video marketing has become a powerful and important part of marketing on social media – with the rise of TikTok at the start of the 2020s resulting in more video content being pushed on other platforms – most recognisably the reels feature on Facebook and Instagram – it’s transformed the way businesses market towards their audience and potential customers. 
 
82% of the global internet traffic came from videos in 2022, with an audience reach of 97% worldwide. Videos can help to add context, give more information and introduce audiences to the faces behind the business – in fact, 96% of people use video to learn more about a product or service. 
 
The power of video marketing cannot be underestimated – here’s how you can use video for your business on social media. 
 
 
 
As we reach the end of August, there’s been a number of updates to social media platforms that are worth noting if you’re looking to improve or build on your digital marketing efforts. 
 
Here’s all the latest news from the last month… 
 
YouTube Testing AI Generated Video Summaries 
 
YouTube has started to test out more AI-based features, this time allowing users to use AI Generated Video Summaries to help add more context to clips. 
 
There’s been some big social media news this month, from new platform launches to rebrands and feature changes that could be handy for marketers to take advantage of. 
 
Let’s take a look at the latest updates for July 2023…. 
 
Meta Launches Threads 
 
The biggest news from July is the launch of Meta’s new social media app, Threads. 
 
Threads works in a similar way to Twitter – even having a similar interface, where users can create text-based posts, follow other creators, like, repost and quote other ‘thread’s’. They have also introduced a similar ‘For You’ and ‘Following’ timeline feature, after listening to concerns from users that they weren’t seeing content from users they follow on the initial app’s rollout. 
 
We’ve had a lot of updates for social media platforms this June, from new features to monetisation opportunities. 
 
Here’s the latest updates in the world of social media this month…. 
 
Instagram Tests AI Chatbot in DMs 
 
Meta are currently experimenting with using AI, and over on Instagram they have introduced a new AI chatbot. This works similarly to Snapchats ‘My AI’, where users can ask questions and get instant responses. By @’ing the AI in your DMs, you can incorporate the feature into discussions. 
 
Mark Zuckerberg spoke of Meta’s current decision to focus on developing AI features: “In the short term, we’ll focus on building creative and expressive tools. Over the longer term, we’ll focus on developing AI personas that can help people in a variety of ways. We’re exploring experiences with text, with images, and with video and multi-modal experiences.”