It’s self-explanatory why getting more subscribers on YouTube can significantly boost how many people see your videos. But, like any social media platform, the tactics for getting more followers change over time. In 2021, branding, engagement, and video length are critical to a successful YouTube channel.
It’s a worthy goal, too, because video marketing isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. According to Wyzowl, 86 percent of businesses use video as a marketing tool in 2021, an increase of 41 percent since 2016. What’s more, it’s an effective marketing and sales strategy:
- 86% of marketers say video marketing has increased traffic to their website
- 84% say video has helped them generate leads for their business
- 78% say video marketing has directly helped to boost sales
YouTube, of course, is a popular video platform where a substantial amount of video content is published and consumed. According to Wyzowl’s data, 87 percent of marketers say YouTube has been an effective channel for them. If you want to join their ranks and keep up with the competition, growing your YouTube audience is key. Read on to learn how.
9 Ways to Get More Subscribers on YouTube
Follow these tips to learn how to get more subscribers on YouTube in 2021 and beyond.
1. Brand Your Channel
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From your channel’s banner art to its trailer, everything on your channel should be tailored toward your brand. Change the description to let people know more about you and what they can expect from your channel. Design an icon for your channel that uses your brand colors, logo, or something else that will stand out from others. Create playlists that focus on specific topics you cover. You can even create a channel trailer to convince non-subscribers to click the button finally.
2. Shoot Longer Videos
According to a Backlinko study of top YouTube ranking factors, videos that are 10+ minutes long tend to be the ones that rank on the first page of YouTube’s search results. On average, videos on the first page are 14 minutes, 50 seconds long, proving that short videos aren’t always the way to go.
To upload videos longer than 15 minutes, you’ll need to verify your account. To do this, head to www.youtube.com/verify and follow the steps.
3. Turn Really Long Videos Into Shorter Videos
So, longer videos work well on YouTube. But videos that run 30+ minutes long might be a bit too long for non-subscribers to stick with. When you have super long videos, consider pulling key elements from them and turning them into shorter videos to make a more digestible series.
You’ll see fitness gurus doing this often. They’ll take a long workout and break it up into 5-minute workouts. New viewers get a taste of what the channel is about by watching or following along with the shorter workouts, making it easier to decide whether to subscribe. Explainer videos also tend to be short, between 60-90 seconds long. If you have a lengthy tutorial video, break it down into short clips, each focused on a single feature or benefit.
4. Convince Your Viewers to Like, Comment, and Subscribe
You’ve probably seen more and more YouTube creators hopping on the bandwagon of asking viewers to like or comment on videos or subscribe to their channels before ending the video. That’s because those who have been around a bit know that more likes, comments, and subscribers can lead to better rankings in YouTube’s search algorithm. Better ranking=more subscribers (generally).
Look at how some of your favorite YouTubers set up their outro to convince people to like, comment, and subscribe. Formulate your own that fits into your branding and start adding it to future videos.
5. Engage with Commenters
Are you more likely to subscribe to a channel whose creator takes time to read and respond to comments? Probably! The simple task shows that you care what your viewers think, and it could be just the thing that encourages them to subscribe. Bonus: It also shows YouTube that you’re engaged with others, which could boost you up in its algorithm.
6. Make Thumbnails Look Cohesive
We mentioned the importance of branding your channel, and video thumbnails are essential parts of your branding. Cohesive thumbnails that are different but include similar elements can make your channel catch someone’s eye the moment they visit it.
A good thumbnail can cause users to click your video instead of a similar one in search results, simply because it looks put-together. Cohesive thumbnails pull everything together on your channel for a more recognizable brand, which can only do positive things for your subscriber count.
7. Let Viewers Know What’s Coming Next
YouTube has a fantastic tool known as the End Screen Editor. In the editor, you can add other videos that someone watching your video might want to see. The result? The person stays on your channel longer, realizes how much they love your content, and clicks the subscribe button. Never miss an opportunity to promote other videos on each of your video’s end screens.
8. Consider Collaborating
Plenty of YouTubers have incredible subscriber counts without ever doing a collab with another YouTuber. However, it doesn’t hurt to transition into the collaboration game. Consider reaching out to other YouTubers you love to see if they’d be interested in having you on their channel or vice versa. Promote the collab, and you’ll both benefit from a whole new audience seeing your video.
9. Have a Consistent Posting Schedule
The ideal goal for a new YouTuber is to post a new video at least once a week. If that’s all you can handle, great — but make sure you’re consistent. Your subscribers count on seeing your new content when it’s time to arrive.
If possible, shoot for even more videos each week, but prioritize quality over quantity. Each video should feel like the same amount of time and effort went into it as any other video on your channel.
Don’t forget also to add the YouTube follow button to your website to bring in more subscribers. It takes just minutes to install on your blog or website, and your visitors can follow you on YouTube with just a single click. It’s a totally free and effortless way to start growing your YouTube audience today.
