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YouTube Marketing Drives Free Traffic

This post was most recently updated on July 31st, 2016

Youtube for MarketingYouTube marketing drives free traffic to your blog when you use a specific strategy, and when you implement that strategy consistently.

I guess that’s not news.

Anything you do to drive traffic to your blog requires those two essential elements.

1. Use a specific strategy

2. Implement that strategy consistently

 

 

I’ll show you what I mean

You never want to just start “doing things” randomly.

I once thought a really cool “strategy” to get lots of traffic from YouTube would be to open an account, put up a few videos and wait for people to find me.

That’s not a strategy.

It’s just a chore.

  • Open an account
  • set up a profile
  • shoot a few videos, and
  • wait.

That process kept me busy for a while, and I was accomplishing something.

I now had a YouTube account and I learned how to do videos.

The problem was…

I wasn’t accomplishing anything that was part of a bigger strategy.

So, as you can imagine, nothing much happened from this half-baked approach.

Down the road a bit, I looked at my YouTube account and saw it wasn’t driving any traffic to my blog.

Go figure.

I realized it was because I had no strategy for making it work.

So, I decided to develop one, and I did.

My weird follow-through

It consisted of sending out 3 videos a week with links back to my blog.

I created 9 videos one weekend, so they’d be ready to use.

I published one every other day for the first week.

I didn’t see anybody going to them.

I didn’t know how to get views.

So, I decided I was wasting my time and gave up on YouTube.

Not a very good follow-through on implementing my strategy consistently.

Or at least, it wasn’t implemented consistently for a long enough period of time to show any real results.

Brighter days

Now, I have several YouTube channels, and I use them for different purposes.

One purpose is to drive free traffic to a specific theme or promotion I might be doing.

Here’s a basic YouTube marketing strategy I’ve found that drives free traffic to my campaigns.

1. Create Videos

Of course, you need videos to build a YouTube marketing campaign.

I like to use 1 to 3 minute videos.

I find people don’t watch long videos, especially ones that are blatantly promotional, or ones that are designed with a clear call to action, such as “click on this link to read more about this subject.”

I like to do all my videos for a campaign at one time.

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So, for instance, if I’m going to promote an affiliate launch, I might want to create 7 to 10 videos in one sitting.

Each video will highlight a different aspect of the product, or maybe just re-state the same aspect with a different angle.

The idea is to have a small group of videos promoting the same “Big” thing.

Then, you can “publish” these videos to YouTube, one at a time, day after day until they’re all published.

That way you establish a consistent pattern of delivery on a specific topic.

It looks like a progression, rather than a blast of a bunch of videos all at the same time.

2. Keywords

It’s important to remember that YouTube is one of the top 3 search engines in the world.

So you want to take advantage of that, and help people to find your videos when they search for your topic.

This is, after all, the way that YouTube marketing drives free traffic to your blog.

People search out your topic, find your video, watch it, and then click on your links to learn more about it.

They key way to do this is, to use your video title and keyword tags to attract a relevant audience.

Let’s say your video campaign is for a product or a series of blog articles you’ve written on the topic of using meditation to overcome stress.

You need to use a title and keyword tags that will point back to your central theme… using meditation to overcome stress.

So, just like with any standard SEO strategy, use your favorite tool to determine the best title and keywords that will work for you.  This might mean “using meditation to overcome stress” for a title, and would include “meditation” and “overcome stress” for keywords.

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I get a bit lazy on this, so I often just look at other videos that are ranking well for this topic or theme.

Then, I’ll use the same keywords that they used to rank high and get lots of traffic.

Just search out those videos on YouTube and you can see what their title and keywords are.

If it worked for them, why not for me?

No reason to re-invent the wheel.

Affiliates can do this, too.

If your campaign revolves around an affiliate product like “John Doe’s Facebook Course,” some of your titles and keywords should specifically reference “John Doe’s Facebook Course.”

Others could be more general for the topic, in this case “Facebook.”

So some videos might be titled things like “The Best Review of John Doe’s Facebook Course,” while others would be more topical, like “3 Facebook Strategies To Build Your Business.”

3. Backlinks

The description box that YouTube gives you for putting in additional information is very important.

This is where you want to put a hyperlink back to your blog, where people can learn more about whatever you’re promoting in any specific campaign.

It’s important to put that hyperlink right in the beginning of your description box, so people see it without having to click the “read more” tag.

I usually like to put the link back to my blog post (or sometimes a squeeze page) in the beginning of my description.

Then I add the words “click this link to get my 3 step process”.

That way, you are directing people, telling them exactly what action they need to take to get a specific benefit (ie., “my 3 step process”).

Then I like to do a quick recap of the video they just saw, followed by a second link back to my blog.

One thing that’s important to note is that YouTube no longer sends clicks directly to your links. It sends them to a “confirmation page” that essentially asks them to confirm that they really want to be taken to the page that you’re linking back to.

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For that reason, you should really explore the use of YouTube Cards (I just did a demo for you here).

It’s a new feature that allows you to link back to your blog directly on your video.

I haven’t used this feature yet (I’ll tried on the above video, though, so check it out to see if it worked), so I won’t try to describe it in detail here.

I have looked it over and it looks very simple.

  • Just go to “info and settings” when you’ve download your YouTube video.
  • On the top menu that appears, you’ll see an item called “Cards.”
  • Click on it and you’ll get a very simple walk-through on how to use it to drive free traffic back to your blog.

4. YouTube Marketing Drives Free Traffic

So, let’s get back to the videos themselves.

In order for this strategy to work, your videos need to be interesting, of course.

They don’t have to be flashy or glitzy. They don’t have to be cute or funny, and they don’t even have to be “professional” looking.

In fact, people usually like to see videos that look amateur and home-made.

This is especially true if you’re promoting an affiliate product.

Before people buy something, they want to see a review from a “real person” who’s had experience with the product, and is now sharing their thoughts on it.

Remember, they’re not look for actors. They want to hear testimonials and review from “real people.”

So don’t stress about your hair, your shirt and your professionalism.

That’s not what they’re looking for.

That’s not the formula for driving free traffic from YouTube to your blog.

Being authentic, helpful and brief are the keys.

You don’t need to be face-to-camera, either.

You can use presentation slides, or screen capture images, or even live browser “walk though” videos where you never even appear on camera.

But face-to-camera will definitely help you build trust and “real person” authenticity with your viewers.

So I think it’s a really good idea to do some videos where people get to see you.

If I’m doing a 7 to 10 video campaign on a topic or to promote an affiliate launch, I like to have 2 or 3 of them be face-to-camera, then the rest are a mix of browsing screen capture and presentation-slide videos.

Your Blog Is A Sales Funnel

YouTube is an excellent vehicle for driving free traffic to your blog.

Just remember, you need to develop a real strategy.

You can use the one I’ve just described, but you can create your own strategy, too.

Have fun and explore.

Video is fun, and when your audience senses that you’re enjoying yourself, they’ll be much more receptive to your message, even if it’s a “pitch.”

The final piece of the puzzle is “consistent implementation.”

If you don’t stick to your plan, then it will fizzle and your results will too.

Have you used YouTube to drive free traffic to your blog?

I’d like to hear about it.

Or, maybe you have other methods you prefer for driving free traffic.

I’d love to have your comments below, and please… share this article on your social sites if you think folks can benefit from it.

-Donna

Donna Merrill
Donna is a well known blogger and creator of "Blogging Magic" - an intensive guide to blogging. "Blogging Magic" is for beginners who are trying to figure out how to bring their blogs to life with tons of visits, comments and social media interaction. It's even for advanced bloggers looking to reach new levels of authority and engagement with their audience.

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76 Responses to YouTube Marketing Drives Free Traffic

  1. Andrew
    Twitter:
    July 5, 2015 at 10:34 am #

    Donna, Donna, Donna,

    This is really timely for me, because ever since I no longer write a blog post every week, I now have additional time to repurpose my content. And one of the things I’ve been doing is creating video … however, I haven’t released it yet. I’m trying to get the editing down.

    But video is the way to go and you’re right, nobody REALLY wants to watch exceptionally long video … short 2 – 5 minute videos will suffice. And everything you said there is accurate. Keywords, Backlinks, etc. You have to do that. You can’t just expect people to magically find you …

    Great post, great tips, and I’m going to keep editing my videos diligently so I can start using video ti my advantage.

    – Andrew
    Andrew recently posted..6 Practical List Building Ideas That Generate Amazing ResultsMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      July 6, 2015 at 7:57 pm #

      Hi Andrew,

      I haven’t noticed you not blogging ever week…chalk it up to Summer madness lol. But yes, YouTube videos really help with search engines.

      More than that, we can convey a short message in minutes. I find as long as I write “watch this 3 minute video” people do click on.

      The shorter the better. And as I always say a face to face video is that virtual handshake that people love to know like and trust you.

      Indeed, edit those videos and you will see you will gain more traction.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..The Most Common Excuses For Not Being Listened ToMy Profile

  2. Kathryn
    Twitter:
    July 2, 2015 at 6:53 pm #

    Hello Donna
    Visiting you from PAC Rotor

    Your you-tube tricks are super. I saw the article on the video cards and was very interested.
    A great thing to add to your videos for sure. I have not ventured into putting any videos on
    you-tube as yet but I’m sure that will come in time.

    I thought these tips were very helpful ” It’s important to put that hyperlink right in the beginning
    of your description box, so people see it without having to click the “read more” tag.

    I usually like to put the link back to my blog post (or sometimes a squeeze page) in the beginning
    of my description. Then I add the words “click this link to get my 3 step process”. Thanks
    Kathryn recently posted..How To Write A Blog PostMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      July 3, 2015 at 11:56 am #

      Hi Kathryn,

      Your ideas are wonderful and if you put them on a Youtube card on a video you produce I’m sure you will see a rise of visitors.

      As long as it is connected to a site you will be fine. I would suggest that you start using YouTube because Google owns it. So you can see the power of it!

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..How To Make YouTube CardsMy Profile

  3. Lesly Federici
    Twitter:
    July 2, 2015 at 7:29 am #

    Hi Donna,
    Love making videos … so easy to do now with all the easy software out her in space to do it with. Which is great .. I have over 100 videos on my You Tube Channel now … I remember when I started how nervous I was. Not any more… a fresh swipe of lipstick and I’m ready to go … LOL .. as usual, thank you for your informative post…
    Lesly Federici recently posted..Breaking The Cycle Of StinkMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      July 2, 2015 at 2:20 pm #

      Hi Lesly,

      You said it just that fresh swipe of lipstick and we are good to go lol. I do remember when I first started and had layers of make up on, spray in my hair and all that. Yuck!

      Now I can put on my glasses and jump right on it. The Youtube Cards are working well with me so far. I’ve went to a few old videos, played with keywords, and put it on the card that was attached to an old blog.

      Getting more visitors 🙂

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..How To Make YouTube CardsMy Profile

  4. Carol Amato
    Twitter:
    July 2, 2015 at 12:00 am #

    Donna!

    I needed this! You hit me right between the eyes. My content calendar is filled out a month in advance, and I batch create, but my videos have gotten pushed to the side. No more! LOL

    Definitely need to get back on track with providing more video tutorials and then systematically syndicating them out there. And SlideShare too, have to increase this as well.

    Right now I’ve got a project to make sure all of my Wistia videos are on YouTube as well, and there are 5 I need to add still.

    Love your tip about YouTube Marketing drives free traffic. <— I am not taking advantage of this like I should be. Final piece of the puzzle, yep – consistent implementation!! That’s what I need to do. Thank you for the step-by-step and encouragement to get on board with this.

    Will keep you posted, haha! 😉

    Thanks and hope you’re having a good week so far.

    Ciao Ciao,
    ˜Carol Amato
    Carol Amato recently posted..13 Experts Reveal How to Start Over (Hint: It’s Never Too Late)My Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      July 2, 2015 at 2:18 pm #

      Hi Carol,

      I too batch create and have my calendar so full it’s crazy. But I keep organized that way. If you are uploading your Wistia videos on YouTube, take some time out to create a “card” I have explained that how to in a short video in my next post.

      Yes YouTube does drive free traffic and with conjunction with cards, it is a great way for people to find what they are looking for.

      Ciao!

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..How To Make YouTube CardsMy Profile

  5. Leslie Denning
    Twitter:
    June 29, 2015 at 7:09 pm #

    Hey Donna. I’m actually working on a video marketing course and forcing myself to do videos. I hadn’t thought about putting a short video on YouTube/my blog just saying ‘hi’ and telling people to read my blog. That’s a great idea!

    I love what you are doing with your blog, and since imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, I’m going to do some imitation 🙂

    Thanks for sharing,

    All the best,
    Leslie
    Leslie Denning recently posted..June 24 Home Biz CEO MagazineMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      June 30, 2015 at 10:36 am #

      Hi Leslie,

      So good to know you are challenging yourself to do videos. A short video does wonders on a blog.

      The “about me” section is first and foremost because of that “virtual handshake” as I like to call it.

      Then on some posts short videos work. Just tell your readers the length of the video and they Will click and listen.

      I am truly flattered! lol

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..How To Make YouTube CardsMy Profile

  6. Kathryn
    Twitter:
    June 28, 2015 at 7:38 pm #

    What a really great article.
    I took careful notes on this one. I have just started doing videos.

    I am doing one every Sat until I get more comfortable doing the face-to-camera type on facebook and then moving on to putting them on youtube with slide presentations etc.
    I will be sharing this article on my social media fb page to help others.

    Thanks so much for the great info.
    Kathryn recently posted..I joined the Female Entrepreneur AssociationMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      June 29, 2015 at 4:33 pm #

      Hi Kathryn,

      That’s the way to do it. Keep on creating videos and once you get comfortable in front of the camera you will be knocking them out like crazy.

      I have seen some of you on Facebook and they are wonderful!

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..How To Make YouTube CardsMy Profile

  7. Willena Flewelling
    Twitter:
    June 28, 2015 at 6:50 pm #

    I confess, video is still in the future for me. I haven’t ruled it out… I’m still in the process of learning other things. Your post is both informative and encouraging.
    Willena Flewelling recently posted..Ten Minutes with Stephen KingMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      June 29, 2015 at 4:31 pm #

      Hi Willena,

      Indeed, when you are focused on something, don’t let anything distract you. But if video is in your future plans it’s good to know.
      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..How To Make YouTube CardsMy Profile

  8. Jacs Henderson
    Twitter:
    June 28, 2015 at 1:39 pm #

    Loving this!

    I just went and did a couple of You Tube Cards… how amazing is that!

    How brilliant to link back to our blogs with a CTA from a video… that’s got to be a reason for making more videos to put into our posts.

    Thank you for sharing your strategy Donna… I can see how effective this will be, especially using cards (Yay!)

    I do need to do more short & snappy promotion ones, so thanks too for the kick up the … 🙂

    Once again, a marvellous & informative post… with oodles of great tips!

    ~Jacs
    Jacs Henderson recently posted..Are You Missing This Surprisingly Useful Branding Option On Your Facebook Page?My Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      June 28, 2015 at 3:08 pm #

      Hi Jacs,

      Glad you enjoyed this one! In my next post I’m going to go through a short process of how to use the cards. Hope you will enjoy that one too!

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..5 Wise BloggersMy Profile

  9. Christine Adindu
    Twitter:
    June 28, 2015 at 11:58 am #

    Thank you for sharing your experience with YouTube. I need to pay more attention and implement some strategy to get it going. So far I just use it for hangout that I stream through my Fan page. There is always something new to learn.
    Thank you Have a great week
    Christine Adindu recently posted..How To Blog With Bullet PointsMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      June 28, 2015 at 1:32 pm #

      Hi Christine,

      Youtube is great when you want to lead people to your blog. Just insert a short video and the ranking of your page will increase. As long as it is informational and not spam, we are OK

      Many thanks for stopping by,

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..5 Wise BloggersMy Profile

  10. Andy Lockhart
    Twitter:
    June 28, 2015 at 10:27 am #

    Donna

    Great article and with all social media it is the consistency you talk about, getting enough videos out there. Don’t be spammy or sales’y. Then make sure the link to where you want them to go is there and of course tell people what you want them to do. Great stuff and it is all important but these were the big things for me.

    Thanks

    Andy
    Andy Lockhart recently posted..Do you know your Instagram Statistics?My Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      June 28, 2015 at 1:26 pm #

      Hi Andy,

      Getting videos out there is a great way for people to search a topic…especially those How To’s!

      When we embed a short video in our blog, one can be sure that it will rank more highly.

      Yes, it is about consistency but never be salesy lol.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..5 Wise BloggersMy Profile

  11. Enstine Muki
    Twitter:
    June 28, 2015 at 2:05 am #

    Hey Donna,

    I think your strategy as you described is generating great results. In the past, I had mad interest in YouTube but the slow Internet connection and expensive bandwidth in my country slapped my enthusiasm down.

    Maybe, one day when things get better, I’ll jump back to this monster – I mean YouTube

    Thanks for sharing this with us. Hope your weekend is great
    Enstine Muki recently posted..I fired my ‘BOSS’!My Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      June 28, 2015 at 1:04 pm #

      Hi Enstine,

      I do know that in many countries Youtube is either slow or not available to people. For those countries that Youtube is available, it is a monster lol.

      It is a great way to share things.

      But video in itself, is great to have on a blog. Even if it is not part of Youtube. That “Virtual Handshake” as I call it is a great way for people to know, like and trust you.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..5 Wise BloggersMy Profile

  12. Sue Bride
    Twitter:
    June 28, 2015 at 1:10 am #

    I didn’t have any idea of how to drive traffic via YouTube, apart from using a good title and keywords. Even creating my first video is daunting let alone making so many! I look forward to the time I can produce so many, so quickly.

    You’ve given me motivation now I know more about the methods for getting videos seen. Thanks Donna
    Sue Bride recently posted..Do It Later Note-Taking SystemsMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      June 28, 2015 at 1:02 pm #

      Hi Sue,

      Yes, Youtube is great to drive traffic to your blog or just about anywhere you want it to go. Many people, including me, will search on Youtube.

      Once you get used to doing videos, it becomes so much easier. I even use them when working with my clients. They may get stuck on something technical and it is easier for me to screen-share the how to with them. Then I can upload it as a how to on Youtube.

      Glad you have motivation lol. My next post will be creating cards. Very easy to do. And I’m giving a lot of thought to doing a Youtube challenge late Summer.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..5 Wise BloggersMy Profile

  13. Edwin Torres June 27, 2015 at 7:52 pm #

    YouTube videos are so damn easy to rank! Haha thats why I love using them. The quality of traffic from YouTube is great. I’ve been really focusing on pumping out a video or two every other week or so. Its hard but I gotta do it 🙂
    Edwin Torres recently posted..My Exact Formula For Getting Your Subscribers To Buy From You Again and Again!My Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      June 30, 2015 at 1:51 pm #

      Hi Edwin,

      It is sometimes hard to do, but just like anything else, if we set our time we can do them in batches sometimes.

      When I’m doing a few, I keep them “private” until I want to blast it out generating a CTA of some sort. Keep on doing it!

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..How To Make YouTube CardsMy Profile

  14. Erika Mohssen-Beyk
    Twitter:
    June 27, 2015 at 2:49 pm #

    Hi Donna ,
    this is a great and helpful post ,like always 🙂
    I like this strategy you tell us about here and
    I think this will work out good for many .
    I too think the videos should be short and
    not too long . Yours are a good example here.
    Thank you for this very helpful post.
    Erika
    Erika Mohssen-Beyk recently posted..Fear – Schedule Your FearMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      June 28, 2015 at 12:52 pm #

      Hi Erika,

      Short videos will always do the trick. People may not have the time to listen to a 20 minute video when they are blog hopping.

      If I were to do a video on my blog that was longer than 10 minutes I would do them in sections.

      Videos on our blog and Youtube sure makes Google happy lol.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..5 Wise BloggersMy Profile

  15. Sarah Arrow
    Twitter:
    June 26, 2015 at 12:21 pm #

    Donna, I lvoe your videos (you know this, I’ve said so before) I’m so ready for your You Tube channel. You Tube and search is frightening! My daughter decided to pull her baby tooth out… she’s on You Tube looking for a video on how to do it. I can’t get a ring off, and she’s looking for a video on how to slim fat fingers (yes there’s one).
    You Tube is a whole new level of search and engagement, I can’t wait for your challenge x
    Sarah Arrow recently posted..10 WordPress Plugins for Coaches and LifechangersMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      June 26, 2015 at 1:39 pm #

      Hi Sarah,

      Youtube is wonderful and I use it all the time for searching things. Once we were stuck on a specific technical issue. Low and behold a little boy did a video and Viola! It always amazes me how much information is there. Just like you mentioned above are some examples.

      Looks like I have to set up a video challenge. I will get to it sometime in August 2015.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..5 Wise BloggersMy Profile

  16. Robin Strohmaier
    Twitter:
    June 25, 2015 at 6:01 pm #

    Hi Donna,

    I’m so glad that you wrote this! I love how you put it, ” face to face video is that “virtual handshake” needed in business so people can see who we are.” You are so right. I do feel that I know you through your videos!

    I have used video marketing to drive free traffic, but I need to be more consistent. Sometimes there doesn’t seem to be enough hours in the day 🙂

    Thank you for the inspiration and encouragement!

    ~ Robin
    Robin Strohmaier recently posted..On-Page SEO Techniques: Practical Result Boosting StrategiesMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      June 26, 2015 at 1:25 pm #

      Hi Robin,

      I always call face to fact videos the “virtual handshake” because people see us behind our words. We are all curious and seeing a person satisfies that need.

      I know the feeling of doing videos. This is why I like to do them in “batches” – Setting up light, a back ground, etc can be time consuming. But when doing them a few at a time, it is a job that we can put behind us.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..5 Wise BloggersMy Profile

  17. Chery Schmidt
    Twitter:
    June 25, 2015 at 5:04 pm #

    Hello Donna, What a great article my friend, I do need to get more consistent with video marketing, It just seems like in the summer time there is just always so much going on that I dont take the time to do it.

    Could be Lazy and talking about Lazy I loved your idea of taking a look at other videos that are ranking to get titles and keywords OMG I never thought of that before.

    I also never heard about these cards before, I guess I am going to have to make me a video and check this out. HUH?

    Great Share, Thank YOU.. Chery :))
    Chery Schmidt recently posted..Exposed! Team Building For SuccessMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      June 25, 2015 at 7:33 pm #

      Hi Chery,

      Summer is here and there is so much going on. I’ve had my share of visitors an now I’m going to travel a bit.

      It is difficult to start a new project. But with the feedback I’m getting here on this post, I think the next blog will be a tutorial about using YouTube Cards.

      On Facebook, people want to do a challenge…..Hmmmm After traveling I just may start one.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..5 Wise BloggersMy Profile

  18. Renard Moreau
    Twitter:
    June 25, 2015 at 5:03 pm #

    [ Smiles ] Well, Google owns YouTube; therefore making it one of the best free platforms to drive traffic to one’s blog or get their product sold.

    Donna, I love your YouTube videos.
    Renard Moreau recently posted..I Love Tim Mason’s “Output”My Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      June 25, 2015 at 7:31 pm #

      Hi Renard,

      Absolutely! Google does own YouTube and these two search engines work wonders. Using both of them is a win win!

      -Donna

      P.S. I just came off of your latest blog post and I’m a bit winded…I was dancing lol.
      Donna Merrill recently posted..5 Wise BloggersMy Profile

  19. Miriam Slozberg
    Twitter:
    June 25, 2015 at 3:39 pm #

    I have to say I don’t do enough YouTube videos, and the truth being told is I hate creating videos. Podcasting is more my thing. But you have pointed very important things out and thanks for sharing what you have. I have to somehow move out of my comfort zone and make some videos.
    Miriam Slozberg recently posted..Business Owners and DepressionMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      June 25, 2015 at 7:27 pm #

      Hi Miriam,

      You do such wonderful Podcasts! I’m seeing that lots of people on this post have felt like you. Getting out of their comfort zone to do a video.

      I was chatting on Facebook and now I’m thinking of doing a 30 day challenge for all those who want to step up. It would have to be sometime late Summer. Hmmmm………

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..5 Wise BloggersMy Profile

  20. Donna Merrill
    Twitter:
    June 25, 2015 at 11:05 am #

    Hi Uttoran,

    Thank you so much for your wonderful input. Indeed, Youtube is another search engine. I use it often when I need to find an answer to a question I have. It is so much easier than reading through things.

    When we have a Youtube video embedded in a blog post, it really hits those search engines.

    Thanks again,

    -Donna
    Donna Merrill recently posted..5 Wise BloggersMy Profile

  21. Uttoran Sen
    Twitter:
    June 25, 2015 at 6:04 am #

    Hey Donna,

    excellent article on Youtube marketing,

    People should realize that Youtube is no different than any other search engine – it is no different than Google. What works for search engines works for Youtuble too – say keyword research, backlinks, on page seo for example description content etc. everything adds up.

    However, it is a social site and more than search engines – it gives value to signals. If your video is good, people like it – it will start to trend and get you more views on it’s own.

    thanks,
    Uttoran Sen,
    Uttoran Sen recently posted..Web 2.0 Blogging – 7 Places to Maintain a Blog outside of your Own DomainMy Profile

  22. vinton samms
    Twitter:
    June 25, 2015 at 4:07 am #

    Hi Donna,
    I really found this article very detailed and informative and there is so much to take away from it.
    I have not been using Youtube because creating the videos is a challenge for me. I just hate it. I have created a few with my lap top camera. However, from your post, I am learning the art of using the platform to drive traffic and really, the usefulness of the platform itself. This has sent off whistles in my head and now feel compelled to give it a try once more. I am aware of the value of traffic to one’s blog or website. While paid traffic gets the job done, if one gets them free then this is a good source as well and not all free traffic is bad. Because of its nature and the interactions taking place there, Youtube is a good source of free traffic, despite my hangups.

    Thanks
    Vinton
    vinton samms recently posted..Guidelines for participation in FB Challenges, Groups, ETCMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      June 25, 2015 at 10:58 am #

      Hi Vinton,

      If you read Joan’s experience above you will see that she went through a 90 day challenge and got over her “hang ups”

      I did mine for 30 days and got over myself. You can sure learn so much about yourself while you do a video a day for 30 days. You don’t even have to post them. You can trash whatever you like until you feel comfortable.

      OR

      You could announce that you are doing a challenge so others will feel comfortable too. You will be surprised how many people, even the gurus out there have the fear of doing this.

      Your laptop camera is enough. If at first you are fearful, try doing a “about me” video on your blog and have it posted on Youtube.

      Now, especially with Youtube cards, it sure makes your rank high.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..5 Wise BloggersMy Profile

  23. Joan Harrington
    Twitter:
    June 24, 2015 at 8:59 pm #

    Hi Donna 🙂

    Loved this post! You have laid out such a great strategy for Video Marketing, thank you! I had not heard of YouTube cards, will definately need to check them out 🙂 Driving free traffic to our blogs is always a good thing and this strategy is awesome! Last year I did a 90 day video challenge and it was so much fun totally getting me OUT of my comfort zone lol I learned a lot about myself during those 90 days and realized that anything worth doing is worth doing consistently if I wanted success…….hence why I blog as I love sharing value with others that they can easily implement……..I need to get back to Video Marketing and your post has given me that little nudge to get back to it again…….It will ONLY help right? Daily Consistent Action=Results 🙂

    Thanks so much for always providing so much value consistently as well, my friend 🙂

    Big Hugs,
    Joan
    Joan Harrington recently posted..4-Step Blueprint To Guest PostingMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      June 25, 2015 at 10:54 am #

      Hi Joan,

      Glad this has given you a nudge lol. Wow after a 90 day video challenge we sure do get to know so much more about ourselves. Every time I see one of your videos you are polished and do a great job.

      A challenge is the only way to go especially for those who are camera shy. You may have heard my saying before but I see a face to face video as a “Virtual Handshake” so people can see who we are behind our words.

      There is so much questions about the cards I just may explain that in my next blog.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..5 Wise BloggersMy Profile

  24. Lolette Stephenson
    Twitter:
    June 24, 2015 at 8:25 pm #

    Hi Donna, so much wonderful information here !! Really helpful. You are fantastic for offering this tutorial on You Tube. Thank you.

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      June 25, 2015 at 10:50 am #

      Hi Lolette,

      Glad you enjoyed it and I may be describing more on this topic in the future because of the response I am getting here.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..5 Wise BloggersMy Profile

  25. ikechi
    Twitter:
    June 24, 2015 at 5:53 pm #

    Hi Donna

    Wow! This is a wonderful post and you discussed cool ways of use YouTube to gain blog traffic

    Your tips are great and I learned some much. I have heard about the YouTube Cards but since I have just one video so I never thought about it.

    I do have one question and it’s about presentation slides. I have some presentation in slide share. Can I use them on YouTube? Do I need to add audio on them?

    Thanks for sharing. Have a nice week.

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      June 25, 2015 at 10:49 am #

      Hi Ikechi,

      Presentation slides are wonderful to put on Youtube. If you don’t have audio it’s fine, just put them up, use keywords and link to a blog if you have something to link to.

      You can also either leave them free standing or you can write a blog around it. As long as you put what it is in your description box, you will be fine.

      I have visited many presentations without sound. Sometimes I Google how to do something and these slides sure help me out.

      Remember Youtube searches are similar to Google! So go for it lol.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..5 Wise BloggersMy Profile

  26. Donna Merrill
    Twitter:
    June 24, 2015 at 10:59 am #

    Hi Enock,

    Welcome to my blog. It is nice to know you have been reading my blog for a while and commented so we can get to know each other.

    I would say get used to Youtube then plan a strategy. By this I mean, put a short one minute Youtube video on your blog. Get used to it so when you have your strategy in place, it will come with ease.

    Go for it!

    -Donna
    Donna Merrill recently posted..5 Wise BloggersMy Profile

  27. Enock Machodi
    Twitter:
    June 24, 2015 at 9:06 am #

    Hey Donna,

    I’m so happy to leave a comment here for the first time, though I’ve been reading posts from your blog.

    Anyway, I’m so humbled to learn about youtube traffic, and I can’t wait to plan a strategy on how to utilize youtube.

    I will take time, work on it and see where it takes me.

    Thanks for the insight though!
    Enock Machodi recently posted..How To Overcome Blogger’s Block By Leveraging PLR ContentMy Profile

  28. Adrienne
    Twitter:
    June 23, 2015 at 6:49 pm #

    Hey Donna,

    I applaud you for keeping up with doing videos. I haven’t, I guess it’s all those bad hair days that I’ll never get over. LOL!!! Yep, living in Texas and my hair growing so fast I have a certain period of time where it looks the best and the rest I just have to deal with the Texas weather.

    No excuse I know and I keep telling myself I need to implement more video marketing into my plan but with the direction I’m going now and the things I’m looking at doing and revamping things it’s one of those things I have to seriously just do instead of continuing to make excuses.

    Okay, thank you for that kick in the you know what my friend. I can always count on you. 😉

    ~Adrienne
    Adrienne recently posted..What Cruising and Building Relationships Have in CommonMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      June 24, 2015 at 10:56 am #

      Hi Adrienne,

      Every time we had a hangout on Google+ you looked absolutely beautiful. I once did a video with a bad hair day to show others it really doesn’t matter.

      Yes I know how the bad hair days feel and how it can be a darn good excuse not to face the camera. But..as long as we know it is an excuse, we can overcome it.

      As you do your revamping, implementing your pretty smiling face will do so much good. It just takes a little practice. So when you look into that camera pretend you are talking to someone like a client or a best friend. Soon, after a while, it will come easy.

      Just look at the one I put in here…I was having a bad hair day and didn’t put make up on lol. I put on my glasses.

      So my friend here is a kick for you! Love ya gal.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..5 Wise BloggersMy Profile

  29. Sherman Smith June 23, 2015 at 6:27 pm #

    Hey Donna,

    You know it’s a good idea to keep your content diverse and using YouTube is a great tool to keep your audience interested.

    As far as driving traffic, it’s a goal I plan on implementing into my marketing plan. I like to put videos in one of my subscribers lists in my autoresponder and go from there.

    Besides that I’ve used YouTube to kind of break out of my shell. I wanted my audience to see the person behind the blog and I thought YouTube would be perfect to use.

    Thanks for sharing Donna! I’ll keep your routine in mind. It’ll give me a great head start!
    Sherman Smith recently posted..My Top 6 Blog Posts For May and June: Short Videos, Google Analytics, Monetize Blog, Guest Post Traffic, Research Next Blog Post, Long Tail KeywordsMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      June 24, 2015 at 10:52 am #

      Hi Sherman,

      Youtube is great for our blogs, emails and especially for marketing. Seeing a person behind those words sure makes a huge difference.

      It is a good way to break out of your shell. I’ve done it myself doing a 30 day Youtube challenge. Of course the first ones I did I kept private then deleted them…it was a bit of a mess lol.

      But now, as you can see, I pop in front of the camera with a bit of ease.

      Go for it Sherman!

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..5 Wise BloggersMy Profile

  30. Sylviane Nuccio
    Twitter:
    June 23, 2015 at 5:03 pm #

    Hi Donna,

    Now, I thought that you could have only one channel on YouTube, have I been under a rock that bad? How do you get several channels?

    Anyways, yes, YouTube is a great avenue to get traffic and yes, it’s very important to put plenty of keywords and link to your blog in the description, because YouTube sure come sup high on search engines, especially Google.

    Great job with all the details you’ve given us here 🙂

    ~Sylviane
    Sylviane Nuccio recently posted..5 Tell-Tale Signs That You Don’t Have A Clue About How To Promote Your BusinessMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      June 23, 2015 at 8:21 pm #

      Hi Sylviane,

      Yes we can have a few channels on Youtube. I have two. As we have to give them our name too, it can be a business channel and so on.

      The more I use Youtube, the better Google’s search engines like me. lol.

      It is also great to have a small video on our blogs. It really helps our readers see who we are.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..5 Wise BloggersMy Profile

  31. Corina Ramos
    Twitter:
    June 22, 2015 at 5:18 pm #

    Hi Donna,

    I love, love this post. Your weird follow through sounds a lot like mine. I have a YouTube channel and have just about given up on it too. But, I realize I’m not utilzing it correctly…the main reason though is I don’t feel comfortable in front of the camera.

    I love the suggestions you shared here today. It’s true, I can only focus on short videos, unless it’s a tutorial or how-to then I’ll read it no matter how long it is.

    Thank you so much for sharing this. I love your videos and how comfortable you are. What tips can you share for helping me get comfy in front of the camera?

    Thanks!

    Have a great day and week my dear!

    Cori
    Corina Ramos recently posted..She Shed ShenanigansMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      June 23, 2015 at 12:54 pm #

      Hi Corina,

      The best tip I can give you about being comfortable in front of the camera is to do what I did a while back. Give yourself a 30 day challenge. Get in front of that camera for 30 days straight. You won’t be satisfied until midway. I promise!

      I am the biggest camera shy person in the world…but because it is needed for my business I had to get over it. The first few times I did it, I had to learn lighting, and had tons of make up on. I still am not satisfied the way I look, but I’m over it!

      Now I can shoot a video like I did above with no make up on…just lipstick and my glasses. I don’t have the time to do all the girly stuff anymore.

      It is all about getting comfortable. Another tip is when you look at the camera, pretend you are talking to a friend. Don’t even think about anything else.

      Try it..and you can even put it on Youtube as “private” so no one can see it. When you are done, you can teach others how you overcame that camera shyness.

      If you do it, let me know, I would love to see you in progress.

      -Donna

      P.S. Please know that you are such a beautiful woman. I see your pics on Facebook and you always look great, so don’t get a girly attack lol.
      Donna Merrill recently posted..5 Wise BloggersMy Profile

      • Corina Ramos
        Twitter:
        June 25, 2015 at 12:57 am #

        Hi Donna,

        Thank you so much for these tips. I am definitely going to give the 30 day challenge a try. I know I’ll be obsessing over my hair and makeup but I can’t wait to get to the point where I’m comfortable going natural and just focus on what my video is about :).

        Pretend like I’m talking to a friend…got it.

        Thank you for these tips. I think I’m going to do this come July. No better time to start and it gives me a couple days to plan what I want to do and how I’ll track my progress.

        This would make a great post, I’m sure there are a lot of folks out there in my shoes :).

        Aw, you are too sweet for saying that. Thank you. This self-image issue has been with me since my ex would talk down to me…it’s hard to let that go but I’m trying :).

        Thank you again for this advice. You are amazing Donna!

        xx

        Cori
        Corina Ramos recently posted..How to Use Twitter to Drive Positive Social TrafficMy Profile

        • Donna Merrill
          Twitter:
          June 25, 2015 at 1:29 pm #

          Hi Corina,

          I know exactly what you mean about self image. I had the lowest one as a kid and then reinforced by bad marriages in the past. (yes this is my third and best one lol) But, even so, I tried hypnosis for my self esteem and it worked pretty well.

          Now a woman my age has tons of difficulties even when that self esteem is fixed. Being in front of a camera is not easy. Yes..pretend you are talking to a friend. You can always dump the video. lol.

          Kudos to you for challenging yourself and I’m sure it will make a wonderful blog series to help others.

          I can’t tell you how much make up I had on for my first video, and I still hated it. It is all a matter of getting used to.

          Just think of people who have to get on stage. I know many “gurus” and worked with “actresses and actors” They all told me they felt sick moments before the performance.

          -Donna
          Donna Merrill recently posted..5 Wise BloggersMy Profile

  32. Mark
    Twitter:
    June 22, 2015 at 4:49 pm #

    Definitely sounds like a plan Donna!

    Videos, especially face to camera are really hot!

    And let’s face it, consumers love watching them! Much so that reading a long blog
    post.

    And thank goodness even the screen capture type I do most of the time are eve tolerable!

    While I’m clearly no expert when it comes to using Power Point,I do well
    enough that my viewers don’t mind thank goodness!

    But I certainly can benefit fro the excellent video marketing tips that you shared!Thanks!

    They sound practical and simple enough, I think even I can implement them!LOL!
    Mark recently posted..Tips To Increase Sales:Why Savvy Entrepreneurs Know And Understand There’s Big Profits In Skills!My Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      June 23, 2015 at 12:41 pm #

      Hi Mark,

      As a regular visitor to your blog, you always have a good video in yours and I’m sure it is giving you a lot of juice to your blog.

      Your screen captures are fantastic and so is your voice. You don’t make them too long, but long enough for any reader to listen to. You are doing such a great job with it.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..5 Wise BloggersMy Profile

  33. Atish Ranjan
    Twitter:
    June 22, 2015 at 4:47 pm #

    Hello Donna,

    One of the topics I always fancy about. I want to start doing videos but don’t why I couldn’t start. May be camera fear or something.

    It surely drives you free traffic for your one time effort. Video marketing is grabbing the market as nowadays people like visual content rather than text content.

    Good write up!

    Enjoy the week!
    Atish Ranjan recently posted..Tips to Generate Huge traffic to your Latest PostsMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      June 23, 2015 at 12:31 pm #

      Hi Atish,

      Video marketing or Vlogging sure does bring more traffic. Just on this post, I did a one minute video. Now I have linked it to Youtube. I also shared it on other social sites with a CTA to “read more” and it works out just fine.

      Many people are camera shy and will do videos with screen captures or use words as they speak. But I find that when I see someone behind the words, it is a “virtual handshake”

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..5 Wise BloggersMy Profile

  34. Jens-Petter Berget
    Twitter:
    June 22, 2015 at 4:08 pm #

    Hi Donna,

    That sounds like a good strategy. I have just tested YouTube with a few videos a long time ago and I didn’t get much traffic from it. On the other hand, I didn’t have a strategy. Like you in the beginning, I just published the videos and waiting for traffic to come. I didn’t do any keyword research and I’m not sure if I added the link back to my blog at the beginning or at the end of the description.
    Jens-Petter Berget recently posted..Facebook Metrics – The Two Metrics to Track for SuccessMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      June 23, 2015 at 12:21 pm #

      Hi Jens,

      If we don’t have a strategy, our videos will dangle in space. I like putting a short video on my blog like I did here. It all connects all around.

      Now, with Youtube Cards, it is more efficient. I played with it on this blog and probably will write an instructional blog post of how to use them.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..5 Wise BloggersMy Profile

  35. Marquita Herald
    Twitter:
    June 22, 2015 at 3:59 pm #

    Brilliant post and great timing Donna! Up to now the only videos I’ve created have been book trailers and even then I never took YouTube traffic seriously because every time I updated my trailers I lost the count for the people who had viewed it and lately I haven’t even bothered with trailers instead opting for SlideShare presentations. I’ll be honest that I have found I prefer SlideShare but as you’ve rightfully pointed out there is a huge video audience so it would be foolish to completely ignore it. I’ve been thinking about setting up a new channel just for training and you’ve given me plenty of ideas and fuel to get started. As I said, great timing!
    Marquita Herald recently posted..Why It’s So Hard to Learn From Our MistakesMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      June 23, 2015 at 11:03 am #

      Hi Marquita,

      Seems to me to be a great idea to set up a specific channel for training on Youtube.

      Slide share presentations are wonderful, but sometimes it is great to have a little bit of YOU before you start. Remember the old saying: “people buy people” so that virtual handshake of having yourself there is a great idea.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..5 Wise BloggersMy Profile

  36. BG Jenkins
    Twitter:
    June 22, 2015 at 12:24 pm #

    Hi Donna, You have some great ideas to follow. I’ve seen the Youtube cards, but have not used them either. I’ve even tried to put the external link from youtube in my blog, but with no success at the moment. I like the idea of copying what works for someone else. Saves you so much time. Great strategies all around. Thanks.
    BG Jenkins recently posted..Making ConnectionsMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      June 22, 2015 at 1:20 pm #

      Hi BG,

      This is my first shot at Youtube cards. It is working so well already in just one day. Maybe I’ll make a tutorial about it in my next post.

      Having a short Youtube video on your blog does pump up the insights. I don’t know what kind of blog you have, but I’m sure there is something in your back office…maybe a plugin… that will enable it.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..5 Wise BloggersMy Profile

  37. Monna Ellithorpe
    Twitter:
    June 22, 2015 at 12:16 pm #

    Hi Donna,
    I know YouTube is a great way to create interest and traffic. I’ve not had much luck with YouTube as they or someone keeps getting me shut down.

    Maybe I will take the chance and start my new channel. It’s just irritating to start one, only to have it zapped in a matter of hours or a few days.

    Thanks for the great information, if I get a chance to try it again.
    Monna Ellithorpe recently posted..Social Media Engagement and ConnectingMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      June 22, 2015 at 1:17 pm #

      Hi Monna,

      That is quite odd. I remember talking to you about our Youtube Channel. Maybe if you start a new channel, with a new name and different email address it will work.

      I would contact Youtube with a support ticket with this problem and try to get to the bottom of it.

      All the best to you,

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..5 Wise BloggersMy Profile

  38. Don Purdum
    Twitter:
    June 22, 2015 at 11:55 am #

    Hi Donna,

    YouTube has been an absolute smashing success for me!!! I love creating videos and allowing people to hear and see my voice as I share passionately my message.

    I like to use video for several purposes:

    1. To embed in my articles a summary of content that says the same thing but in a slightly different way so that it’s not identical. I also include “cards” in them with the link back to a blog article.

    2. I have gotten into the habit of creating short video messages with some Twitter followers. That has been really effective as well.

    3. Sometimes I just create a topic that is with in my message or scope and share it out.

    4. I make long videos that explain an aspect of marketing or my business. The ones that last 30 minutes have gotten some really strong views and are growing every week in viewers over the shorter ones.

    Great post Donna. Love this subject and I agree about not making a big production out of them. People like real people and it doesn’t need to be a big production for that to happen.

    Have an awesome week!

    ~ Don Purdum
    Don Purdum recently posted..Are You Creating Content for a Target Market Who Will Never Buy from You?My Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      June 22, 2015 at 1:15 pm #

      Hi Don,

      I’m over the moon with Youtube cards. Just did it for this blog and my next one will probably be a tutorial of how to use them. Already I’m getting loads of clicks from the card I attached to this one minute video.

      Being in the habit of doing short videos on Twitter is genius! As long as we tell folks here is a one minute video…. They will click it.

      Same goes for a short video on our blogs.

      I make long videos for trainings and also my Q&As. The training videos are a little over an hour and I try to keep the Q&As to a half hour.

      Indeed, we don’t have to make a big production about them. Just shoot one make it short and to the point so people can get the message. And of course, I always say a face to face video is that “virtual handshake” needed in business so people can see who we are.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..5 Wise BloggersMy Profile

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