The Business Side of Youtube

Youtube.com has been growing in popularity for years now. From a vast collection of music videos, to video blogs, help videos, movie trailers or even full-length movies, to a wide array of other videos imaginable to users, Youtube seems to have it all. I first became familiar with Youtube when looking up music videos to see what my middle school friends were talking about, to using Youtube to learn Excel within my internships or to figure out how to solve a complex algorithm in my Calculus class.

I find Youtube to be relatively easy to navigate and appreciate the Facebook-esque about the site in terms of being able to “like” or comment on another fellow user’s videos. By far one of the most beneficial aspect of Youtube is the little sidebar that tells you what is recommended for you to watch based on your previous choices or what is similar to what you are currently watching. This sidebar feature allows for viewers to gain access to videos they may otherwise not have clicked on. This feature is also great for businesses looking for visibility.

Initially, I thought there was a lot of business interaction on Youtube, primarily from the advertisements that play at the beginning of videos and the little pop up screens that contain advertisements. I was keenly aware that businesses placed their ads on Youtube, however, I was not aware of how many hits, or views, these advertisements got until I searched for commercials.

The unique aspect of Youtube is that it is similar to a “first impression” tool for businesses. The videos and advertisements a company makes give the business a “face”, allowing customers to have a visual understanding of core values, missions and products a company offers.

One thing I’ve noticed with several companies on Youtube such as Dove, Apple, Ford and insurance companies is that they create commercials with a story line that focuses on highlighting one or two aspects of their product and then showing a story that encompasses company values. While researching effective marketing strategies on the internet, I saw that the website http://www.business2community.com/video-marketing/8-youtube-tips-business-marketing-0946716#vXlyHWvfrAaBUCHj.97, encourages businesses to entertain rather than oversell the products. This kind of advertising is not only appealing to customers because it is refreshing compared to most advertisements, but is also captivating.

I find Youtube a highly effective tool for social media, as a “face to the business” and a “redirecting” tool for viewers for the business. It allows significant interaction with the customers and provides entertainment at the same time.