How To Promote Your Youtube Video, Blog Or Website
The following is a step by step guide using each of the tried and true methods I have discovered over time to promote my own youtube videos, blog and website. Many of these steps should minimize the work you need to do to promote but also allow you to get the most exposure. If this sounds good read on!
STEPS IN GENERAL:
1. Share to Social networks (Add This, Ping, Pixelpipe)
2. Place on other Social Networks manually
3. Distribute to facebook pages for topic
4. Distribute to list of forums
5. Send in email from mailing list
6. Add to Links search engines
7. Post To Specialty Sites
8. Add to RSS Feeds if not done
Read more below for details on each.
Add This Button
Social Networking
Many of us already have a facebook page, possibly a Google+ page or other miscellaneous social network pages. These are key to promoting yourself for free. You could take the link to your blog, video or website and paste it on each network one at a time or you can do it my way which is much easier. After opening an account on several networks like facebook, twitter, Google+ etc, you can download the Add This browser button.
The Add this button will show near the top of your browser and when you are on the page you want to share to social networks you click the button and choose the network or networks to which you want to share. The Add This button allows you to share to a total of 330 social networks. Keep in mind you will have to open an account on each of the networks that you plan to share to and it helps to spend a little time on each networks adding friends to your list so that when you share to that network some people are actually seeing what you are posting and possibly checking it out.
Also make an account at Pixelpipe this will allow you to post to various social networks all at once. Some of the networks that are updateable from these sites are not in the Add This button list.
Additional Instructions:
On some social networks: Facebook, Google+ etc there are pages dedicated to specific topics, they have developed into communities and often allow you to post. Do this to show your work to others that frequent these pages.
RSS Feeds
RSS Feeds are again really important to continuously getting your content out there. Any page whether is be a blog, video, website usually has an RSS Feed and you can take that feed link and add it to many different RSS Feed directories out there. If the page has a feed your browser will tell you at the top of the page with a feed button that is orange (at least if you use Internet Explorer).
RSS Feed Button
This can be time consuming but keep in mind once your blog or other page is added each time it is updated with a new article, video, the RSS Feed directory updates automatically and you won't have to go onto these directories once it is added. Below is a list of popular RSS Feed directories, check it out.
- http://www.netimechannel.com/
There are many, many more as you will find if you search the internet. The more directories your in the better it is for you as it means many places will constantly being updated with your content.
Forums
Depending on what you wish to promote this is always a good idea. I often create claymation and other animation so I have developed a list of forums dedicated to animation. When I create a new short film I often upload it to youtube and then I go to each forum that I am a member of and post a little description with a link or embed to the video. It does drive a lot of traffic as it is target marketing. You know the people that frequent these forums already like animation or claymation.
If you are promoting an article this may be a little more pain staking as each time you write one if it is constantly about a different subject you will need to find forums of the same interest as you article and become a member before posting. If you often write articles of similar type this may work or if your topics are not too varied this may still work. So it is up to you to decide if this step fits your particular needs.
With websites there is often a specific topic in a forum for self promotion or a place to post if you have just launched a new site, page etc. on something related to the subject of the forum. I suggest you check for forums in this huge forum directory - http://www.thebiggestboards.com/
Specialty Websites
Depending on the topic of your blog, video or website you may want to frequent sites and possibly become members of sites dedicated to your subject. I am a member of many animation related websites as again it allows you to network with people that have similar interests. Often these sites will have a way to showcase your work and have a following that may take an interest and check out what your doing. A few sites I have found noteworthy are:
There are many others but as said search for ones specifically associated with your topic.
Additional Steps
If promoting a video from youtube or otherwise you should get the video onto video search engines such as:
- http://www.blinkx.com/rssupload
There are many others.
You can also start an email list that will allow you to send promo emails each time you have something to promote to those wishing to receive emails.
If you want to forward this article to others I encourage it. Use the facebook, twitter or Google+1, link at the top of the page or click the share button at the bottom of the page for other social networks. Hopefully it'll help others.
