The YouTube Evolution - Start Using Video Now

There are a lot of reasons you need to start using video in your marketing efforts right now. Look up “YouTube business statistics” and you’ll find a ton of blog posts all belching out some staggering figures. Things like:

50% of all YouTube users, and 75% of business executives watch business related videos on YouTube at least once a week.

80% of site visitors will watch a video, but only 20% will read a full blog post.

90% of business buyers say that videos help in the buying decision.

And by 2017, 74% of all Internet traffic will be video.

These statistics alone make a strong case for getting on the video bandwagon. But I think these are all indicators of something bigger.

YouTube is much more important than you know

We all know Google is the #1 search engine, but did you know YouTube was #2? And do you know who owns YouTube? Google. So that means Google is effectively the #1 and #2 search engine.

Because Google owns YouTube, web sites that have video on their home page are 50 times more likely to get listed in search results than web sites without video. Not 50% more likely, 50 times!

We all remember the old YouTube where people could watch funny cat memes and post vacation videos. Putting business videos on YouTube wasn’t all that professional only a few years ago, but it was free.

Today’s YouTube is a serious broadcast hub, with amazing tools in place to help any CEO or entrepreneurial spirit make a name and profitable business for him- or herself.

Lessons from Netflix and Amazon

Way way back in the early 2010s, Netflix was a great little service to get DVDs delivered to your home. Nearly overnight, they became a reckoning force in new entertainment content.

First of all, technology caught up with our desires. Rather than needing to watch movies on DVDs, home Internet connections became powerful enough to stream HD video content in real time. This opened the door to new streaming services from Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, and others.

YouTube has always been poised to be a major player in this game. Except, instead of needing to create capricious relationships with major TV and movie makers, YouTube already has an army of sophisticated and talented filmmakers, videographers, and experts in various fields to create unique content for them.

As quickly as Netflix transformed, YouTube also metamorphosed from a haphazard collection of silly videos, to a curated collection of professional quality video channels - each one providing value in as many different styles and formats as there are topics.

This transformation is not over

Looking at YouTube’s trajectory over the past couple of years, I would predict that YouTube will remain the dominant force in online video.

If the statistics above hold true, particularly into 2017 and beyond, then the day is quickly coming when video is an absolute necessity.

Those who get their channels set up now - and take this early time to get a foothold, find their voice, and connect with their audience - will have an easier time of it. Those who wait will be wading in when the system is saturated, and the precious attention of your audience is even less available.

It can be overwhelming

Incorporating video into your marketing mix can definitely be overwhelming. The costs are unknown, and can vary greatly depending on what you want to create and accomplish. Equipment and experience may be an issue for you. And of course, there’s time.

If you would like to talk with me about how you can successfully incorporate video, please call me at 631-413-7680, or email me at [email protected].