15 Ways To Get More Free YouTube Subscribers For Your Business
Do you know there are approximately 1.86 billion YouTube users worldwide in 2021?
18% of people use YouTube especially to follow companies and brands.
These statistics make it evidently clear that if you as a business owner are not harnessing the power of YouTube, you are losing out a LOT! Video content is the future. It effortlessly helps to expand your reach and build brand awareness. But with such cut-throat competition, how do you stand out from the vast ocean of video content that’s easily accessible?
In this blog, we have rounded up 15 useful tips and tricks to garner free YouTube subscribers to take your business to the next level. Let’s dive straight in!
1. Request Your Audience to Subscribe
As cliché as this may sound, simply encouraging your audience to subscribe to your channel can sometimes be all it takes to gain free YouTube subscribers. It’s quite similar to how you incorporate CTAs (Call to Action) towards the end of your blog posts, landing pages or other social media posts.
For example, you may begin your video by asking your viewers to subscribe to your channel if they wish to see more content from you consistently.
If you think starting a video by asking for a subscription makes you come across as being sales-y, you can do so at the end of the video. Don’t forget to demonstrate why your channel is worth subscribing to and the content you bring to the table for your viewers’ benefit. Be genuine and show them what their engagement means to you and how it helps you make the best content as a creator.
2. Create Compelling Content
This may seem like a no-brainer but still needs to be mentioned. Far too many novice YouTube creators feel they can become the next big YouTube sensation by posting average content. News flash: You can’t! The internet is flooded with videos and content of all types. With so many options to choose from, you should be able to offer something unique to your audience for them to watch your channel and subscribe to it. If not, they always have an option to move to the next best channel.
Remember to do extensive groundwork before you think of creating your next video. Rather than re-making what everyone else in your industry is making, think out-of-the-box and come up with your unique content ideas. Pay special attention to the first 10 seconds of your video as they can either lure your viewers in or put them off.
3. Be Consistent
Ask yourself. What channel would you rather subscribe to? One that posts once in a month only to go AWOL? Or, another channel that posts twice a week consistently? We all know the answer – we choose the one who is regularly updating their channel with new content for their viewers. As a creator, your audience expects you to post on time to keep them engaged and attract new viewers as well. The more free YouTube subscribers, the more free YouTube likes you gain. Win-win!
Having a schedule to post your content also keeps you organized and yields results. You don’t have to necessarily be sitting in front of a computer to go live and post it. You can use social media management tools that allow you to schedule your videos that can be published later.
4. Cross-promote Your YouTube Channel Across Other Platforms
If you already have a website, a great way to gain free YouTube subscribers is by leveraging the consistent traffic on your website. Promote your YouTube channel on your website. If you use the right plugins, your audience can simply click on a button and be directed to your YouTube page to view your content. You may also consider embedding your YouTube links in your blog posts to lure your readers to visit the page.
Another great trick is by cross-promoting your YouTube channel on other social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. Whenever you have a new video coming up, you can share the trailer or snippets of it on your Instagram story to build anticipation. If you have amassed a decent follower count on these platforms, and they love what you do, it’ll be only a matter of time before they become your long-time subscribers.
5. Add A Watermark to Your Videos
Content creators on YouTube can add a small watermark to all the videos they create. Quite often beginner content creators don’t even realize the watermark option exists on the platform. It’s a small icon that hovers on the lower right-hand corner of your videos. You can either customize it to your brand watermark or use a watermark that resembles YouTube’s default subscribe button.
Unfortunately, a lot of times the brand watermark can go unnoticed or not prompt the viewers to take any action. We suggest you stick to the red subscribe button that YouTube normally uses. This makes it easier for the viewers to notice, and they are more likely to click on it. However, if you still wish to customize, you can click Customization on the menu and then select Branding.
6. Give A Glimpse of What’s Coming Next
An excellent way to gain free YouTube subscribers is by getting your viewers excited and addicted to the content you make. Because, once they like what they see, your work will do all the talking, and they will stick around for more. A smart technique most established YouTube creators deploy to keep their audience engaged is by building anticipation for their next video.
A new music video, a new product launch, a new feature to your product, a new service, or even a surprise collaboration with a famous star! Whatever be it, remember to entice your audience by giving them a hint of what your next video is going to be about. If you do your job well enough, you can be sure your loyal viewers will be present to watch the next video with bated breath and give you free YouTube likes.
7. Create Playlists to Keep Your Viewers Hooked
Do you have a set of videos that can be organized better with a playlist? Perhaps you offer accounting lessons and cover one topic each in one video. Or, you have a set of webinars? Whatever it may be, playlists allow you to put your best foot forward by showing your viewers there’s continuity in your content. By creating a playlist, you guide them through a long-term journey and appeal to the viewer’s desire to binge.
Another benefit of playlists is that they increase your channel’s watch time. The videos keep playing on ‘AutoPlay’ mode in a predefined order. This is quite similar to how the millennial generation tends to get hooked to a Netflix series. With a YouTube playlist, you would be able to achieve the same binge-desire and result, giving your channel plenty of reasons to amass free YouTube likes.
8. Use Cards and End Screens to Promote Other Videos
End screens and cards are powerful tools that make your call to action more impactful. As the name suggests, an end screen is an image that comes at the end of your video which can be used to ask your viewers to subscribe. Or, you can even use it to promote your website or point your audience to the next video. If you want, you can go back and add end screens to old videos that are already posted on your channel. This is a great way to earn free YouTube subscribers and boost free YouTube likes.
To add an end screen, simply go to the left menu of Creator Studio and click Content. Choose the video you want to add the end screen to. Click the end screen box that appears on the right side of the screen. You can then choose from four different subscribe elements based on your goals.
9. Don’t Forget to Interact with Your Viewers
Getting free YouTube likes requires consistent effort on your part. It’s not easy winning new viewers given the competition we see today. A smart way to work around this is by giving your existing viewers equal attention. Allow them to feel valued and appreciated for helping you be the creator that you are. Engage with them on your posts. Reply to their comments. Get to know what they like or don’t like about your video.
When you form such meaningful relationships with your audience, it translates to long-term loyalty. When you hear their suggestions and act on them, they feel heard and relate to your content more. Remember, happy viewers can bring more viewers by word-of-mouth publicity and sharing your content with their circle of friends.
10. Consider Channel Trailers to Woo Your Viewers
Want to let your new viewers know what your YouTube channel is all about in a simple and quick way? Enter – Channel Trailers. These are like movie trailers that give a sneak-peak into what you do and the content you create for your viewers. You can use channel trailers to highlight the benefits of your channel. Remember to keep the length between 25 and 30 seconds.
The trailer can convey your brand’s story, your ambitions and what you plan to achieve through the channel. Does it need to be inspiring, funny or emotionally charged? Whatever works for you and agrees with your line of work. Make it impactful so the viewers can be converted into subscribers with ease.
11. Create Eye-catching Custom Thumbnails
A thumbnail is a preview image that acts as a cover for your video. It’s the first thing a viewer would look at when they come on your page. We all know, first impressions are the last impressions. So, put in all your efforts to create an eye-grabbing thumbnail that’s beyond engaging. Often, your video’s thumbnail becomes the deciding factor whether a viewer chooses to play your video or another one from the search result.
YouTube also creates a default thumbnail for videos by simply snagging a random screenshot from it. In most cases, this isn’t good enough to drive traffic to your video and prompt the viewer to click. We suggest you create your thumbnail. Let it be 1280 x 720px as YouTube’s guidelines recommend.
Pro Tip: A smiling face looking directly into the camera seems to work almost all the time for every video type.
12. Incentivize Viewers If They Subscribe to Your Channel
We humans love free stuff. ‘What’s in it for me?’ This becomes the reason sometimes why we may or may not do a thing. Surprisingly, this works like a charm for boosting your YouTube views as well. Want to increase your free YouTube likes or have more people comment on your post? An intelligent way is to run a contest. Tell your viewers if they subscribe to your channel and comment on your post, they get a free product. Or, a signed copy of your book, or a free trial of your software. Get the drill?
When you introduce rewards for engaging with your YouTube channel you can see a temporary increase in your subscriber count as well as overall engagement. Once you have their attention, draw them in with consistent compelling content, so they become your viewers for life.
13. Collaborate with Other Creators to Boost Free YouTube Likes
There are likely brands on YouTube that are in the same business as you. It’s also quite possible that you may have a similar audience. Why not leverage each other’s viewers by joining hands and benefiting from each other? For example, you could ask an expert in your field to do an interview with you on your channel. This would help bring their fans to your channel and grow your subscriber base. Simultaneously, your viewers who weren’t aware of the expert can subscribe to their channel as well if the content resonates with them.
Collaborating with influencers to grab more eyeballs for your channel is probably the oldest trick in the marketing book and yet never fails to work its magic. When your audience sees such collaborations, it can further trigger more recommendations or ideas in their minds. They may comment on your posts and tell you which other artists they would like to see you collaborate with.
14. Master YouTube SEO
Search Engine Optimization makes sure people can view your content when they search for it using certain keywords. For example, you have a cooking channel on YouTube. You create a video on grilled sandwiches. How will people find that video if you don’t optimize your title, description and use the relevant hashtags? SEO tools such as Google Planner allow you to know the topmost keywords that people use to find certain information.
YouTube SEO ensures you don’t make a video on a topic that no one is searching for. Or titles that no one can find. If you are unsure how to find the right keywords using online tools, study your competitor’s channel and observe which keywords seem to work. You can also use YouTube Analytics to see which keywords give you the best results.
15. Try YouTube Live
Live videos have become a trend that’s here to stay. An increasing number of apps such as Instagram and Facebook are getting this feature which is making it easier for brands to get on board. From interesting Q&A sessions and webinars to live tutorials and product demonstrations, there are countless things you can explore on a YouTube live to gain free YouTube subscribers.
The engagement levels and brand awareness that you can build in a live session remain unparalleled. Whether it is the raw and organic feel of the live video or the uncertainty and excitement of what’s going to happen, live-streaming is worth trying. Before you go live, remember to invest in proper gear and lighting so your video looks more professional.
Wrapping Up
We hope the above tips can come in handy to promote your brand on your channel and gain free YouTube subscribers. Remember, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to video marketing. It’s a learn-as-you-go process where you gradually learn what works for you and what does not. Aim to create interesting content and post it consistently to build a loyal subscriber base. String videos of the same set in a playlist to facilitate continuity. Pay attention to optimizing your video title, description and use hashtags that can draw more people to your video content.
If YouTube marketing seems too overwhelming to you and you require professional help, we, at YTpals, are at your service. We possess the tools and expertise to get you free YouTube likes by growing your subscribers using the best SEO solutions and industry-proven techniques.
Get in touch with us for all your YouTube marketing needs. Our friendly team of experts would be happy to learn about your business requirements and offer tailor made solutions that are best suited to your needs.
