How To Increase Subscribers On Youtube Channel Free. With over a billion hours of video watched every day, it is the world’s second most popular search engine.
But the fact that the typical watching session lasts 40 minutes is even more intriguing. YouTube has a devoted following that is still growing. As a result, YouTube should be an integral part of your marketing plan.
There are opportunities on the platform for almost every firm in every area, but you’ll need an audience to get a return on your investment. We’ll go over some ideas and tricks for growing your YouTube channel’s subscriber base, including:
- Why YouTube Should Be a Part of Your Marketing Plan
- The YouTube Statistics You Should Be Aware Of
- 12 Free Ways to Grow Your YouTube Channel’s Subscribers
Table of Contents
Why YouTube Needs to be Part of Your Marketing Strategy
You’re missing out on a great potential to reach new audiences and engage existing ones if you’re not already using YouTube as part of your marketing strategy.
The need for video material is increasing. While social media networks such as Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn have improved their native video functionality, YouTube remains the core of activity.
YouTube can assist you as a marketer in the following ways:
- Help present and potential clients and consumers get to know you and your team as people, not a faceless business, by reaching out to new audiences who are actively wanting to learn from businesses and individuals just like you.
- Continue to engage people even if they aren’t ready to buy from you.
- To expand your video presence, cultivate an active subscriber base.
- Take up more SERP real estate.
- Repurpose content you’ve already published for other platforms.
Of course, video may not have as low an entry barrier as other mediums, especially since it requires at least some basic equipment ( although a smartphone is capable of producing exceptional video nowadays).
But it’s because of this that it should be a strong candidate for your attention. Even a modest barrier to entry can deter some companies from putting out the effort, and if you can do so, you are already ahead of the game. Do you require assistance in getting started? As you work to increase your YouTube followers and social media influence, our Social Media Toolkit can assist you.
The YouTube Stats You Need to Know
These are the essential figures that should make your decision a little bit easier if you wanted to explain your increased efforts on YouTube:
- Every month, 2 billion logged-in people spend time on YouTube ( Statista)
- In the United States, 81 percent of 15–25 year olds utilise YouTube ( Statista)
- Every minute, about 500 hours of video are posted to YouTube ( Hootsuite)
- The relevance of a video’s content is 3 times more essential to viewers than whether it has prominent actors, and 1.6 times more important than the quality of the video ( Think with Google)
- Consumers want to see more video content from their favourite brands and businesses, according to 54% of respondents ( HubSpot)
- 88 percent of marketers polled were satisfied with the return on investment provided by video ( Animoto)
- More than 90% of shoppers have found a brand or product through the platform ( Think with Google)
- YouTube isn’t just for B2C marketers; 72% of B2B marketers use it as part of their marketing strategy ( Content Marketing Institute)
12 Ways to Increase Your YouTube Channel’s Subscribers for Free
For the purposes of this post, we’ll assume you’ve already set up your YouTube channel, started making videos, and began promoting it. If not, be sure to read our post on “How to Create and Promote a YouTube Channel.”
However, once your channel is up and going, it’s time to expand it. However, the question remains: how can you obtain YouTube subscribers? We’ve put together a list of 12 strategies to grow your subscriber base for free without needing to spend money on advertising.
1. Pick a Theme and Stick to It
What would you like to be remembered for?
This is a topic you should ask yourself when you develop a channel-growth strategy, and it all revolves on your potential subscribers.
Your YouTube channel, like any other social site, requires its unique identity. This entails deciding where you’ll focus your efforts on the platform.
It’s possible that you desire to be known in your field for:
- Product evaluations in depth
- Tutorials and how-to guides
- News from the industry
Build your plan around it and concentrate your efforts here, and this could be one of the most effective ways to increase your channel’s subscriber base.
2. Focus on Quality of Content over Quantity of Content
You could be tempted to devote all of your YouTube resources to creating as much video as possible in the hopes that something would stick, develop popularity, and get you a large number of subscribers.
This, however, should not be your strategy.
Prioritize quality over quantity.
When you try to produce as much material as possible, quality suffers, because viewers want to consume excellent content, not simply good stuff.
However, how does this assist you in gaining subscribers?
Very similar to the previous point.
People will share your amazing content if you generate it. They spread the word about it and use it as a resource. They might mention it in a blog post, send it out in a newsletter, or share it on social media. As a result, new audiences are exposed to your channel, and they become subscribers.
When you prioritise number over quality, though, two things happen:
- You end up creating so much stuff that no one wants to share any of it.
- The quality of your video’s content deteriorates, and viewers are less inclined to share it.
You’re more likely to attract subscribers if your top goal is creating outstanding material that stands out from what your competitors (or other content creators in your industry) are providing.
Enhance the quality of your video and audio
In recent years, creating video content has become even easier, thanks to significant improvements in smartphone camera quality.
Despite the fact that a smartphone is not a professional video recording gear, we’ll tell you something…
A ‘bad’ camera isn’t always to blame for poor video quality. The majority of the time, this is due to poor audio illumination, frame, or background. And you can do all of this for free.
We said we’d provide you free advice to help you get more YouTube followers, and we’re going to keep our word.
This means we won’t tell you to go out and spend a lot of money on lighting or audio equipment (but if you do want to improve your set up significantly, check out this guide from Vlogger Gear).
So, what are some free ways to increase the quality of your video and audio?
Make Your Lighting Better
Lighting is one of the most common reasons of bad video and may make or break the quality of your video.
Check out this video to show how much of a difference lighting can make:
But, if we’re talking about freedom, what can you do?
It’s as simple as sitting in front of a large window and filming during daylight hours to boost your video’s lighting without investing in expensive equipment.
You’ll be shocked at how much natural light can improve your films; just make sure you’re facing the window with natural light shining in your front.
Boost Your Audio
Poor audio is one of the most common complaints people have about video.
While investing in an external microphone (even a cheap one) is the greatest answer here, our top suggestion is to record in a room with little to no echo.
One of the key reasons why video audio sounds so bad is echo. Sound waves rebounding off hard surfaces like uncarpeted floors, walls, and desks generate echos.
Record in a room with carpeting, heavy draperies, and, if feasible, large things like sofas (with plenty of pillows) that absorb rather than reflect sound.
Improve the framing of your video
Tuts+ claims that “Framing refers to how you select to construct a shot for a certain scene in filmmaking. You can use framing to highlight or show emotions, thoughts, experiences, and ideas. It’s the component that gives the situation weight and emotion.”
In essence, it’s what you’ve got in your shot. Even if the video is only of oneself, taking the effort to do it perfect is crucial.
And YouTube has an excellent video lesson on how to accomplish it:
Enhance the background of your video
Your video’s background can have a bigger impact on its overall quality than you might believe.
Check out Ross Tavendale’s The Canonical Chronicle as an example:
The background adds flavour to the video and ensures that it is consistent from one to the next.
However, this has been carefully considered.
For another example, have a look at this tech gear review channel:
There is no such thing as a bad background, yet being creative does not have to be expensive.
Before you film in front of a white wall, consider whether it will be boring to your viewers and whether it will actually engage and encourage them to subscribe.
4. Create Better Channel Trailers
YouTube claims that “To all unsubscribed visitors to your channel, you can show a video trailer. The trailer for your channel is similar to a movie trailer. Use it to give viewers a taste of what your channel has to offer so they’ll want to subscribe.”
YouTube channel trailer and PUMA sneakers page
This is your chance to convert non-subscribed viewers into subscribers to your channel. So you’d best make it fun!
Another significant benefit of having a trailer is that when a video is being watched in the trailer area, no advertisements will appear for the duration of the video.
Make a trailer that truly stands out and persuades anybody who sees it to subscribe, taking into account:
- People who have never heard of you or are unfamiliar with your company are the target audience here.
- To make an effect, keep it brief and sweet.
- How to grab viewers’ attention in the initial few seconds
It’s now or never to get those subscriptions!
5. Collaborate with Another YouTube Channel
Even if you’ve spent time promoting your channel and have a sizable subscriber base, collaborating with another channel is one of the most effective (and free) methods to grow it.
This entails locating a complementary (but not rival) business or channel with which to collaborate on projects, with the primary goal of participating in each other’s videos.
This benefits both channels in the following ways:
- exposing you to someone else’s audience and allowing you to share your specialist knowledge or entertain their audience. It’s an excellent approach to get in front of an audience that may not be familiar with you.
- It might be reciprocal, with both of you introducing the other to your respective audiences.
Consider how you can add value to an audience and reach out to initiate a conversation. Everyone wants to increase their subscription base, and if you can achieve this by working together, everyone benefits.
6. Publish Longer Videos
It all boils down to the strategy of producing high-quality content.
Longer videos, on the other hand, rank higher in YouTube searches and keep viewers engaged.
And a viewer who is engaged is much more inclined to subscribe.
However, be sure you’re not just making extended videos for the sake of it. Instead, make lengthier films that add value and give you a lot of information in every second.
7. Reply to Comments
Isn’t it straightforward?
However, you’d be surprised at how many comments placed on YouTube videos go unanswered. And it’s a chance to gain new subscribers that has been squandered.
If someone has taken the time out of their day to leave a comment on your video, they deserve a reply. Replying to comments on your videos can help to increase your subscribers because this encourages engagement. When viewers see you take the time to respond, they are more likely to leave a comment in the first place, too.
YouTube themselves even state that:
When creators take the time to interact with their loyal community, it can encourage audience participation and ultimately result in a larger fanbase.
You can also go one further and heart comments, and the viewer who left this comment will be notified.
8. Use Better CTAs
Ever wondered why you hear so many YouTuber’s and creators asking viewers to subscribe to their channel? That is because it works.
If you have seen a video and the creator invites you to subscribe to their channel, you are more likely to do it then than at any other moment. Why wouldn’t you want to see more content like the video you just watched if you enjoyed it?
Strike while the iron is hot and include a request in your video to hit the subscribe button. It sounds simple, but you will thank yourself for doing this when you see those subscriber numbers continue to rise.
9. Promote Videos on Your End Screen
Someone is more likely to subscribe to your channel if they view more of your videos.
As a result, one of your objectives should be to ensure that anyone who watches one of your films continues to watch others. You can achieve this by using an end screen to promote additional videos.
These are additional video recommendations that appear at the end of one of your videos.
And, as long as they are related and relevant, they constitute a critical next step for someone who is watching. These can be added using YouTube Studio’s templates.
10. Add a Watermark
Have you ever noticed a watermark in the bottom right-hand corner of a YouTube video?
You might have, but the problem is that most merely use a brand’s logo, which isn’t particularly attention-grabbing or action-inducing.
But now is the time to get more knowledgeable.
Add a watermark to your videos, but instead of including your logo, include a’subscribe’ button, as we do on the SEMrush channel:
CTA to Subscribe Watermark
You’ll be surprised at how many more subscribers you get as a result of this.
11. Promote Your YouTube Channel to Your Existing Audience
Again, it may seem obvious, but you’d be shocked how many individuals do not consider using their existing audience to grow their subscription base, particularly when they initially establish their channel.
Consider sharing your YouTube video with those who already follow your company and are connected to you, with the following options being the most straightforward:
- In your company newsletter, announce your YouTube channel (and continue to share videos). Your most recent videos might even become a permanent fixture.
- Make your own YouTube videos and embed them in your blog entries or on a ‘videos’ page of your website.
- Share the videos you post on your other social media channels to get more views from those who follow you on other platforms.
12. Master YouTube SEO
Increasing the amount of people who watch your videos in the first place is perhaps the finest and most effective strategy to gain new YouTube subscribers at scale.
And this usually implies that you need to make sure that these are prominently shown when a user searches for videos on the same topic as yours.
Enter YouTube SEO and Aleyda Solis’s recent webinar:
While you can use advertisements to raise the amount of views on your videos and subscribers to your YouTube channel, you don’t have to. There are additional strategies to improve your channel’s subscriber count.
One of the benefits of YouTube is that if you focus on generating and marketing high-quality video, you can gain true organic traction, develop your channel, and increase your followers without spending any money.
For many firms, this is an untapped opportunity, and we hope you will take advantage of it!
