SandSeven7
Loving YTtalk
While FB and Twitter, are the most mainstream sources Social Media (SM), there are great alternatives. I never considered myself to use much social when starting my channel; however, it's exactly how I started it. I just didn't use the common perception of what is considered a Social Media Outlet (SMO). Forums, while predating the term, are social media. Also any type of chat application that your following might use, are great SMOs to interact with fans.
The benefits of SM are also more than sharing your videos and gaining followers. I've found they are an amazing source of video ideas, materials, and much more. The key is to spend the time and effort to use them properly. As a YouTuber, you will be privy to a vast amount of information from your followers, if you let them bring it to you.
Using Forums to Grow a Channel
I have always been a forum addict since it is the best source of relevant information on any particular game. DO NOT JUST POST VIDEO LINKS, make them relevant or better yet be helpful. I started my channel by posting needed information in the form of videos. Answering questions, tutorials, especially information on updates, and anything people would want to see. Now I can post pure entertainment without any worries about being seen as shamelessly promoting.
Be sure to become a member of the community. The more you contribute in a forum, the more people will be likely to not only check your video out, but give positive feedback on your videos. The way my channel has grown has taught me, YT growth is a snowball effect. If you can get past the first step of getting that initial following, the growth only speeds up after that. Another nice perk is having links to your videos helping you in the google search rankings.
Since I have an inherent need to be a like *****
, that is the perception I used on the forums to initially advertise my channel. Be careful because forums are the home of negative comments. People use forums as an outlet for their anger on all things under the Sun, so learn to appease them or fuel their fire with hate. If you don't mind being hated, that works too to get your name out there.
Alternatives to FB and Twitter
I don't use either FB or Twitter and have them because I wanted to have that little link on my YT page. In the future I will utilize them; however, right now I have very good alternative sources of SM. I only post on one game currently and it happens to be a mobile game. After finding out how useful chat apps were for the game, I started spending quite a bit of time there.
The amount of video material and information I have had brought to me on chat apps the last two days gives me an advantage my competing YouTubers won't be able to touch. I have created a group chat for my followers, helped move most of the forum addicts from the game I post on to the chat app, and I answer every message I get. I will drop the link to a new video that is unlisted in the group chat, so my followers get it first.
Now that means spending an hour or 20 there, but the benefits make me want to spend even more time interacting with my following. I received an account to giveaway for free that has had more than $1000 spent on it in a game that is free to play (f2p) but pay to win. I was able to reward a f2p player with an account type he would never have experienced.
Conclusion
I never understood the role of social media until I realized how I was using it to grow my channel. Any form of social media you can interact with your following or gain one needs to be a priority if you want to maximize growth. I now know I have to start figuring out how to use FB and Twitter to my advantage. The more mainstream SMOs will further speed my growth and provide me access to interact with more of my following.
The benefits of SM are also more than sharing your videos and gaining followers. I've found they are an amazing source of video ideas, materials, and much more. The key is to spend the time and effort to use them properly. As a YouTuber, you will be privy to a vast amount of information from your followers, if you let them bring it to you.
Using Forums to Grow a Channel
I have always been a forum addict since it is the best source of relevant information on any particular game. DO NOT JUST POST VIDEO LINKS, make them relevant or better yet be helpful. I started my channel by posting needed information in the form of videos. Answering questions, tutorials, especially information on updates, and anything people would want to see. Now I can post pure entertainment without any worries about being seen as shamelessly promoting.
Be sure to become a member of the community. The more you contribute in a forum, the more people will be likely to not only check your video out, but give positive feedback on your videos. The way my channel has grown has taught me, YT growth is a snowball effect. If you can get past the first step of getting that initial following, the growth only speeds up after that. Another nice perk is having links to your videos helping you in the google search rankings.
Since I have an inherent need to be a like *****
, that is the perception I used on the forums to initially advertise my channel. Be careful because forums are the home of negative comments. People use forums as an outlet for their anger on all things under the Sun, so learn to appease them or fuel their fire with hate. If you don't mind being hated, that works too to get your name out there. Alternatives to FB and Twitter
I don't use either FB or Twitter and have them because I wanted to have that little link on my YT page. In the future I will utilize them; however, right now I have very good alternative sources of SM. I only post on one game currently and it happens to be a mobile game. After finding out how useful chat apps were for the game, I started spending quite a bit of time there.
The amount of video material and information I have had brought to me on chat apps the last two days gives me an advantage my competing YouTubers won't be able to touch. I have created a group chat for my followers, helped move most of the forum addicts from the game I post on to the chat app, and I answer every message I get. I will drop the link to a new video that is unlisted in the group chat, so my followers get it first.
Now that means spending an hour or 20 there, but the benefits make me want to spend even more time interacting with my following. I received an account to giveaway for free that has had more than $1000 spent on it in a game that is free to play (f2p) but pay to win. I was able to reward a f2p player with an account type he would never have experienced.
Conclusion
I never understood the role of social media until I realized how I was using it to grow my channel. Any form of social media you can interact with your following or gain one needs to be a priority if you want to maximize growth. I now know I have to start figuring out how to use FB and Twitter to my advantage. The more mainstream SMOs will further speed my growth and provide me access to interact with more of my following.
