[PODCAST] Why Your Business Should Have A YouTube Channel

Should your business have a YouTube channel? As you work to grow your business, you're likely doing anything and everything to make it happen. Of course, you're active on the social channels where your buyer personas hang out. And more so, you know you have to be actively producing video content to get ahead of your competition.

But, before you can even look over the fence and see what your neighbors are doing, you have to look at your own small business first and assess whether you would benefit from a YouTube channel. Gord Isman visited The Digital Slice Podcast to discuss the benefits of a YouTube channel for your business.

The Pivot To Video Creation

Gord Isman, an internationally known authority in the creative world of video creation and marketing says, “I just love being a creator.” He used to be in the corporate world but, after getting laid off he pivoted and chose to work at something he truly loved. Gord explored other worlds in the digital realm, but he simply fell in love with video. He worked on it for years, and his video skills developed and blossomed to a point where he now works to share his expertise with small business owners so they too can benefit from its creative power.

Gord understands it's often a challenge to take the first step. The challenges include fear of the camera or the technology or not having the time or the skill to do it. Some argue these aren't challenges but excuses. Gord can help business owners create video from scratch, coach you along the way, or create done-for-you videos. Gord explains the process saying, “Basically, I meet the client where they’re at, find out what their strengths are, what their goals are, and we figure out a solution to bring them forward to where they wanna be.”

Why Video And Why YouTube

There's no stopping netizens from consuming huge amounts of video content on the Internet. Video consumption is only increasing, and it is strategic for you as a business owner to take advantage. Gord says you can either let your fears consume you or choose to level up in the same way many other companies have, including your direct competition. In fact, he has observed, “A lot of companies now are investing in getting more involved in social media and trying to have a presence on different platforms whether its Facebook Live, YouTube Live, or prerecorded video, podcasting, video podcasting.”

Videos are useful in so many ways for your business when you are trying to magnify your online presence, building brand awareness and trust, demonstrating your capabilities as a company or establishing yourself as an authority in your particular industry.

In particular, YouTube, being the second largest search engine, is a go-to resource for most people when they are gathering information about products or services to meet their needs. Most people go to YouTube and type in some keywords and browse over their search results looking for you even if they don't know they are looking for you.

YouTube provides your business with round-the-clock access to a worldwide community. People can discover you at any time and give you the opportunity to offer up your solution to their problem. Whether it's some how-to videos, FAQ videos, or videos to help educate your customers, YouTube creates the opportunity for people from everywhere to connect with you and your brand.

YouTube Above The Rest

Gord explains, “Video goes into other forms, not just posting on a video site for the sake of publishing it to be found via search.” And there are more special things about YouTube that make it stand out from other video platforms.

YouTube is a free platform where you can spread your wings even outside of YouTube itself to help you reach more people and do more. It is a very viable source to help you generate traffic to your company website or blog.

It is a way to create lead magnets and build your email list. You can place links in your videos which direct your audience to opt-in and give them access to a something you've prepared to keep your audience actively engaged. It's also great for affiliate marketing or posting about events or your speaking engagements. At the end of the day, it's meant to help you reach out, engage customers, and nurture relationships.

Tools And Tips

Depending on your skill level, editing your videos can be a daunting task. Fortunately, there is different editing software available to work with. But Gord advises, “You can go crazy with the tech, but the best thing is to get started and evolve.” So, remember, you have to start somewhere. Take it from there and continue to evolve. He has had clients who have been preparing to do it for years but never got to publishing any of their content on YouTube. With Gord there to help them keep things going, in just a month, they were able to go live, and it took off from there.

There are any number of editing solutions to choose from. Apple’s iMovie is a popular choice. As for Windows, Camtasia is Gord's editing tool of choice. If you want the higher-end stuff, Adobe Premiere Pro could work for you and it allows you to use third-party plug-ins which allows you to do all kinds of creative stuff. Premiere Pro is a smart choice with its integration with the rest of the Adobe Creative Suite and its special effects, transitions, and multi-track capabilities. The first step in choosing the video editor best for you is to determine what you really need. What you want to do should determine what solution is for you. Gord says, “Get the right kind of solution for where you’re at and where you’re trying to go.”

Be sure to listen to this episode of The Digital Slice Podcast to get the scoop on YouTube! And, if you like it, leave a rating and a review!

Please note: The Friedman Group is an inbound marketing agency based in Denver, Colorado, and we work with professionals and business owners across the U.S. Our digital marketing services include: inbound marketing, social media marketing, email marketing, and digital marketing strategy and implementation.