How to Create Valuable Content for Your YouTube Subscribers: Key Strategies

YouTube, established in 2005 is now owned by Google, stands as a prominent online video-sharing and social media platform. 

It ranks as the second most visited website globally, just following Google Search. The vast audience and extensive reach make YouTube an enticing avenue for brands to explore and potentially integrate into their marketing strategies.

On YouTube, users can upload videos, curate playlists, and create channels to showcase their content. Unlike traditional social media platforms, where users “follow” or “friend” each other, YouTube uses the term “subscribe.” 

Users, thus, become “subscribed” to channels of interest, facilitating easy access to preferred content by following specific channels. Phrases like “Click subscribe below” or “Welcome back to my channel” have become synonymous with the YouTube experience.

A notable aspect of YouTube culture is the “vlog,” short for video blog. Popular among influencers and brands, vlogs provide a means to share personal insights in video format. 

Vlogs may adopt various formats, such as a “day in the life,” travel experiences, unboxing sessions, or even casual conversations while eating, often referred to as “mucking.” It’s crucial to note that vlogs are curated, and not all YouTube videos adhere to this format.

Popular Types of Marketing Video Formats on YouTube

1. Product Demonstration Videos

Brands leverage the visual medium to meticulously showcase the intricacies, features, and benefits of their products. 

Through engaging demonstrations, they aim to provide potential consumers with an immersive experience, offering a close-up look at what sets their offerings apart.

2. How-To Videos

Educational content in the form of how-to videos serves as a immensely valuable resource for consumers seeking guidance. 

Brands create tutorials and step-by-step guides, imparting knowledge on product usage, assembly, maintenance, and various related skills. This not only adds value for existing customers but also attracts new ones seeking informative content.

3. User-Generated Content (UGC)

Fostering a sense of community, brands encourage their audience to contribute content. User-generated videos, testimonials, and reviews are shared on the brand’s channel, providing a genuine and relatable perspective. 

This not only strengthens the bond between the brand and its audience but also serves as authentic social proof.

4. Behind-the-Scenes Videos

Offering a transparent and authentic view into the inner workings of the brand, behind-the-scenes videos humanize the organization. 

Whether it’s a glimpse into the manufacturing process, the creative team’s brainstorming sessions, or day-to-day operations, these videos build a connection with the audience by showcasing the people behind the brand.

5. Product Journey Videos

Narrating the evolution of a product from its conceptualization to completion, product journey videos tell a compelling story. 

This narrative not only highlights the dedication and innovation invested in the product but also provides customers with a deeper understanding of its journey, fostering a connection beyond the transaction.

6. Cooking or Lifestyle Videos

Beyond the product-centric approach, brands explore diverse aspects of life through cooking or lifestyle videos. 

These might include recipes incorporating the use of their products, explorations of how their offerings fit into various lifestyles, or even collaborations with influencers to showcase the brand’s compatibility with different interests and routines.

Understanding the YouTube Audience

Identifying the typical audience for YouTube is vital for crafting content that resonates and engages effectively on the platform. 

According to the most recent YouTube age demographics statistics, adults aged 25 to 34 account for up to 21.5% of total YouTube users. This can be divided into 9.4% females and 12.1% males. This is also the same age group with the most YouTube users. 

While this demographic breakdown is essential knowledge, it’s crucial to recognize that YouTube boasts over 2.5 billion monthly active users, providing ample opportunities to reach diverse audiences.

Should the current YouTube demographic not align with your target audience, various strategies, such as cross-promotion and creative content, can help businesses shape and reach their desired customer base.

Four Simple Strategies for YouTube Success

1. Provide Value for Subscribers

• Engage viewers with content that enhances their customer experience.
• Consider product demo videos, how-to guides, or recipes to make your content informative and entertaining.
• Tailor content to resonate with your audience’s preferences and needs.

2. Optimize Content Quality

• Invest in sound and lighting equipment for top-quality video production.
• Utilize editing tools to refine content and create polished videos.
• Implement text-based AI videos for product overviews and key selling points.
• Focus on consistency, searchability, and optimal video length for increased brand awareness.

3. Leverage User-Generated Content

• Harness user-generated content for authentic reviews and testimonials.
• Share content from influencers, creators, and customers to build trust.
• Consider rewarding customers who create and share content with special discounts or free products.

4. Cross-Market Your Videos

• Implement cross-promotion strategies to ensure your target audience sees your videos.
• Share videos on social media, email newsletters, online communities, and partner communications.
• Utilize QR codes on packaging, stores, or marketing materials to direct customers to valuable video content.

By adopting these strategies, businesses can effectively utilize YouTube as a powerful tool for brand promotion, engagement, and customer connection. Regular analysis of video analytics will further refine marketing plans, ensuring continued success on the platform.

5 Inspiring YouTube Brand Channels Leading the Way in Video Content

The following are a few examples of brand retailers who have used video content to enhance their client experience. You can check out their YouTube channel and craft a strategy for yours by incorporating what works best.

1. Blume: Nurturing Brand Trust through User-Generated Content

Blume is another excellent example of a subscription retailer that has effectively used YouTube. Not only do they offer how-to films that help customers learn how to use their skincare products, but they’ve also employed YouTube Shorts (videos under one minute) to share client feedback. This is an excellent example of leveraging user-generated content to increase brand trust.

Key Features:

• Educational how-to videos for skincare product usage.
• YouTube Shorts showcasing concise customer testimonials.
• User-generated content contributes to brand credibility.

2. BlendJet: Crafting Culinary Delights with ASMR Magic

BlendJet‘s website features a dedicated recipe page with added YouTube videos, making it easier for customers to find recipes. 

However, they struck gold with their ASMR videos. ASMR stands for autonomous sensory meridian response, and it refers to any sound or video stimulus that causes a sensation in the body. 

By creating films using their blenders, they’ve built an entire fanbase of individuals who watch purely for the pleasing sounds.

Key Features:

• Recipe videos integrated on the website for convenient access.
• ASMR videos creating a unique audience experience.
• Demonstrations on using blenders for smoothies and shakes.

3. Sephora: Beauty Tutorials and Product Demos

Sephora, a beauty and cosmetics giant, excels in creating YouTube content with makeup tutorials, skincare routines, and product demonstrations. By providing valuable beauty insights, Sephora establishes itself as an authority in the beauty industry.

Key Features:

• Makeup tutorials and beauty tips.
• In-depth product demos and reviews.
• Collaborations with beauty influencers.

4. Gymshark: Fitness Inspiration and Product Showcases

Gymshark, a fitness apparel brand, utilizes YouTube to share workout routines, fitness tips, and product showcases. Their content not only promotes their products but also inspires and engages their fitness-oriented audience.

Key Features:

• Fitness routines and tips.
• Product showcases with detailed insights.
• Community engagement through challenges and collaborations.

5. Bokksu: A Visual Feast of Japanese Culture and Snack Delights

Last but not least, we have to mention Bokksu and how they use video to improve the customer experience. Bokksu distributes Japanese snack boxes that are culturally important, and their customers are avid followers of Japanese culture and cuisine. 

So they generated material that would appeal to these customers—their YouTube channel is full of films from Japan, culture tips, unboxing videos, and behind-the-scenes peeks into their snack production (which is all done by family-owned craftsmen in Japan).

Key Features:

• Diverse content reflecting Japanese culture and cuisine.
• Unboxing videos providing an inside look at snack delights.
• Integration of videos throughout the customer journey.

Summarizing How to Create Valuable Content for Your YouTube Subscribers

Creating great content is critical to acquiring and retaining YouTube viewers. Understanding your audience’s demands, producing instructional and engaging content, and keeping consistency can allow your channel to develop organically. 

Key techniques include completing extensive research, capitalizing on trends, engaging with influencers, and improving video metadata for increased visibility. 

This simple guide provides actionable recommendations to help YouTube producers deliver content that resonates with their subscribers, resulting in long-term growth and engagement.

Suggested read: Understanding Generation Alpha: The Future Consumer Shaping Tomorrow’s Market

Common FAQs on How to Create Valuable Content for Your YouTube Subscribers

How would one understand the needs of YouTube subscribers?

Research your audiences. Use tools like YouTube Analytics, social media, and comments to find out which type of videos do exceptionally well and identify what kind of topic or format can have more implications on its audience.

Why is video consistency important for YouTube?

Consistency instills viewer trust and keeps the audience connected. Regular uploads also tell the YouTube algorithm this channel is active; therefore, this video can get discovered.

How can you apply the knowledge of trends to content creation?

Keep an eye on what’s trending in your niche, whether it’s current events, viral topics, or popular content. Make sure to align your videos with those particular trends, infusing your unique take on things. This will do wonders for your video, bringing a lot of new eyeballs your way as well as maybe even new subscribers.