How to go viral on YouTube
Creatives have long wondered how to game the algorithm to build and audience, YouTube told Sludge Mag exactly what they should be doing
We recently attended YouTube's first ever Avenues event outside the United States. The event focused on helping creators from Black and Latin backgrounds was packed with gems emerging creatives should be focusing on to boost their content and we've compiled what we think are the most useful nuggets of advice for our community members...
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Music videos are still very much worth the effort. YouTube's figures show they are one of the most effective ways of boosting listenership. Music videos also give artists the opportunity to create a visual identity alongside their sonic output. As revenue streams for musicians become harder to find, the potential for brand partnerships has become key to making a living as an artist. Having a visual identity is crucial to attracting brands who want clearly defined audiences before investing in an artist.
Making the video and posting it isn't enough. YouTube encourage artists to set up premieres for everything they drop. This builds hype and also gives artists another opportunity to make sure everything on their channel is visually cohesive. Music video take time and effort to create and deserve to be treated like the big occasion they are. Make people invest in the occassion.
Think about your channel overall. Like a carefully curated Instagram, a professional looking YouTube is key to ensuring viewers take you seriously. The banner feature can be used to promote upcoming videos, house press shots or social media handles.
Pre-release and post-release determine how successful a release is going to be overall. As well as premieres which we have previously mentioned, make sure to utilise other social media platforms, YouTube's live chats and email marketing are effective ways to engage your audience.
YouTube advise that release day is a crucial day to ensure your channel is optimised. Make sure the new official video is the main featured visual on your channel, shelf related content (like lyrics videos, dance trends or live performances) towards the top of the channel and make sure the new release is part of any playlists on your channel.
YouTube shorts have become a mammoth for the platform since their inception and the numbers speak for themselves. If you are looking to expand your reach quickly on YouTube they are essential. Some artists struggle with how inauthentic skits or dance trends may feel to their artistry. Remember: a short is just a format, it can contain anything. If you have a full music video on the way, you have several shorts. Content from gigs, BTS from recording sessions, anything can be a short and you don't even necessarily need to create new content. Just make sure you're posting them consistently.
Stay tuned for more insights into how to make strides in the creative industry!
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