Over the past decade, we have seen YouTube explode. According to the numbers reported by the Ominicore Marketing Agency updated for 2022, 81% of adults in the United States use Youtube and 62% of Youtube users visit the site everyday! But WHY do people spend so much time on Youtube? Because there, we can find almost anything including cooking hacks, funny pranks, tips for owning  your own business, travel itineraries, etc. And since all the people are there, we business owners should find ourselves asking the question: 

Should I have a Youtube Channel to Market My Small Business?

The benefits of a small business consistently releasing a new video on their Youtube channel are many, including:

• Raising Brand Awareness
• Gaining a Following
• Reaching a Larger Audience
• Building Know, Like and Trust
• Generating Leads
• Reducing the Lead Time of your Sale
• Providing Customer Support with video answers to FAQs

But while the creating, recording, uploading and marketing of Youtube videos is manageable for a small business owner, it does require commitment and time.So before you decide to commit to this new marketing tool here are 3 questions to ask yourself:

Is your audience on YouTube?

Depending on your ideal customer avatar (ICA), you may want to create a Youtube Channel for your small business. If you know that your audience prefers to get their information via video, or they process a video better than a blog post or email, creating a channel would be best for you. Both young and older individuals watch YouTube. 

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The younger crowd has grown up with being a subscriber on YouTube, but older individuals become quickly amazed at YouTube’s endless possibilities. However, maybe your business targets a demographic that prefers written copy over an audio/visual. In this case, YouTube may not be your immediate go-to. However, you may want to have it as a backup just to target your ICA that is on YouTube.

Does your content fit on Youtube? 

Some content was perfectly made for YouTube, like “How To” videos. Anything that is a visual step-by-step is great for YouTube. Just chatting and not showing your audience anything, is still fine. But, not nearly as engaging as you showing them actual product, results, steps, etc. YouTube is great when you can show your audience your content in the flesh. 

If you feel like your content doesn’t fit on YouTube, transform it so it does! Get creative here and brainstorm why individuals would want to see your small business on YouTube, how will it benefit them? Are you using Instagram Stories or Reels? Could you transform these into YouTube videos to grow your following? 

Video content is engaging, and it’s been proven that more people prefer video rather than text. According to research done by HubSpot, “81% report that video marketing has improved their company’s bottom line”. 

Are you willing to ‘start-over’? 

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I don’t mean starting your business over, or anything like that. I am referring to YouTube being a brand new platform. As we know with most tactics, our growth may be slow at first. If you don’t have the patience to learn the ins and outs of a new platform, maybe now’s not the time to use YouTube for marketing your small business.

However, if you are excited and ready to put in the work, investing your money and time into new equipment and training can be a great way to grow your small business on YouTube.

Overall, marketing your small business on YouTube can increase your reach, engagement, leads and sales! With YouTube having so many subscribers, and it being a free resource, it’s worth it to give it a try. If you’re still unsure if your small business should start a YouTube channel, click here.