How To Promote YouTube Videos With Google Ads
Want to promote YouTube videos with Google Ads? Here's how to do it, straight from the experts:
Published January 31, 2025.
If you’re creating videos on YouTube, you should absolutely promote them.
YouTube is the second-largest search engine in the world, with billions of users and countless hours of content uploaded daily. To ensure your videos stand out and reach the right audience, you need to actively promote them. Simply creating and uploading great content isn’t enough. Without promotion, your videos may get lost in the sea of uploads.
Promoting your YouTube videos increases visibility, attracts more viewers, and helps grow your channel. More views can lead to higher engagement, a stronger subscriber base, and even better rankings in YouTube’s algorithm. In other words, whether you’re a business, content creator, or marketer, promoting your videos is essential to unlocking YouTube’s full potential.
We asked the best Google Ads experts and here's what they told us:
What counts as views on YouTube (and why should you care)?
Before diving into promotion strategies, it’s important to understand what counts as a view on YouTube. A view is recorded when a user watches your video for at least 30 seconds. If the viewer rewatches your video or shares it with others, those can count as additional views. However, repeated views from the same user within a short period may be filtered out to prevent artificially inflated numbers.
Caring about views is crucial because it shows how many people are engaging with your content. Views are a key metric for growth, as they influence your video’s ranking in search results, recommendations, and overall visibility. More views also mean more potential for likes, comments, and shares, which further boost your video’s performance on the platform.
21 tips on how to kickstart your YouTube video promotion
Promoting your YouTube videos effectively requires a mix of strategies to maximize reach and engagement. Here are some practical tips to help you get started.
Share it on all of your socials
Social media platforms are powerful tools for promoting your YouTube videos. Share your videos on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and TikTok. Tailor your posts to suit each platform’s audience and style. For example, use Instagram Stories or Reels to provide a sneak peek of your video, or tweet an eye-catching teaser to generate curiosity.
Make sure to include relevant hashtags and tags to increase discoverability. Encourage your followers to check out the full video on YouTube and link directly to it. Consistent sharing across your social channels can drive significant traffic to your videos.
Create a YouTube badge for your website
Your website is another great place to promote your YouTube channel. Add a YouTube badge or button to your site, linking directly to your channel. This makes it easy for your website visitors to find and subscribe to your YouTube content.
If you’re a blogger or business owner, you can also embed your latest YouTube videos within relevant blog posts or pages. This not only boosts video views but also keeps visitors engaged on your site for longer.
Allow embedding
Speaking of embedding, make sure your videos are enabled for embedding. This allows other websites, blogs, and social media users to share your videos directly on their platforms. When your video is embedded across different sites, it reaches a wider audience and can attract new viewers who might not have found your channel otherwise.
Include product information
If you’re reviewing products in your videos, always include relevant product information. Mention details such as pricing, features, and where to buy the product in your video. Additionally, add direct links to the product in your video description. This not only helps viewers but also boosts your video’s credibility and usefulness.
For affiliate marketers, this strategy can be a significant revenue driver, as it encourages viewers to make purchases through your links.
Interact with your audience
Engaging with your audience is one of the most effective ways to promote your videos. Reply to comments, answer questions, and acknowledge your viewers. Building a sense of community encourages people to keep coming back to your channel.
You can also ask questions at the end of your videos or invite viewers to share their thoughts in the comments. This level of interaction boosts engagement and signals to YouTube that your video is valuable.
Turn on the comments
Comments are a key part of YouTube’s social aspect. Make sure your videos have the comments enabled, as this allows viewers to share their opinions and feedback. A healthy comment section fosters engagement and encourages others to join the conversation.
Monitor your comments regularly to remove spam or inappropriate content, but don’t shy away from constructive criticism—it can help you improve your future videos.
Use video descriptions and banners wisely
Your video description is prime real estate for promotion. Include a brief summary of your video, relevant links, and a call-to-action (CTA) encouraging viewers to subscribe or watch more of your content. Use keywords to optimize your description for search engines.
Similarly, use YouTube banners and channel art to showcase your branding and promote your latest content. A clean, professional design helps make a strong first impression.
Employ YouTube SEO
Search engine optimization (SEO) is vital for increasing your video’s visibility. Use relevant keywords in your video title, description, and tags to help your content appear in search results. Tools like Google Keyword Planner or TubeBuddy can help you identify effective keywords for your niche.
Additionally, consider including closed captions or transcripts in your videos. Not only does this make your content more accessible, but it also improves SEO by providing more text for search engines to index.
Make your titles really pop
Your video title is the first thing viewers see, so make it count. Craft titles that are clear, engaging, and relevant to your audience. Use numbers, questions, or power words to grab attention.
For example, instead of a generic title like “How to Cook Lasagna,” try something more engaging like “5 Easy Steps to Make the Ultimate Homemade Lasagna.” A compelling title increases click-through rates and boosts your video’s performance.
Make sure your thumbnail is attractive
Thumbnails are another critical factor in attracting viewers. Design custom thumbnails that are visually appealing and represent your video’s content. Use bold text, vibrant colors, and high-quality images to stand out.
Avoid misleading thumbnails, as they can frustrate viewers and hurt your channel’s reputation. Instead, focus on creating thumbnails that build curiosity and entice users to click.
Create playlists
Playlists help organize your content and keep viewers watching longer. Group related videos into playlists to provide a seamless viewing experience. For example, if you have a series of cooking tutorials, create a playlist titled “Delicious Recipes for Beginners.”
Playlists also appear in search results, giving your channel more opportunities to be discovered.
Create series of videos
Series are a great way to keep viewers coming back for more. Break down a larger topic into multiple videos and release them as a series. For example, if you’re a fitness creator, you could create a “30-Day Workout Challenge” series.
Include links to other videos in the series within your descriptions or end screens. This encourages viewers to watch the entire series, boosting your overall watch time.
Use data and listen to your audience
YouTube’s analytics tools provide valuable insights into your video performance. Pay attention to metrics like watch time, audience retention, and traffic sources. Use this data to refine your strategy and create content that resonates with your audience.
Additionally, listen to viewer feedback through comments, polls, or social media. Understanding what your audience wants helps you create videos that keep them engaged.
Encourage engagement
Engagement is key to growing your channel. Encourage viewers to like, comment, and subscribe at the end of your videos. Use CTAs like “If you enjoyed this video, don’t forget to hit the like button and subscribe for more content.”
The more engagement your videos receive, the more likely they are to be promoted by YouTube’s algorithm.
Schedule in occasional live streams
Live streaming is a fantastic way to connect with your audience in real time. Use live streams to host Q&A sessions, share behind-the-scenes content, or cover trending topics. Live videos often receive more engagement than pre-recorded content, making them a valuable promotional tool.
Use YouTube Shorts
YouTube Shorts are short, engaging videos designed to capture attention quickly. They’re perfect for promoting your longer content or experimenting with viral trends. Use Shorts to share highlights, teasers, or quick tips that link back to your main videos.
Cross-promote in other video descriptions
Leverage your existing content to promote new videos. Include links to related videos or playlists in your video descriptions. For example, if you’re posting a tutorial, link to other tutorials that might interest your viewers. This keeps your audience engaged and increases watch time across your channel.
Target Google’s search too
YouTube videos often appear in Google search results, so optimizing your content for Google can expand your reach. Use relevant keywords, create detailed descriptions, and include timestamps for your videos. This makes your content more likely to rank on Google, driving additional traffic to your channel.
Run contests and giveaways
Contests and giveaways are great for boosting engagement and attracting new viewers. For example, you could ask viewers to comment on your video to enter a giveaway, or create a contest encouraging them to share your content.
Make sure the rules are clear, and choose prizes that resonate with your audience. This strategy not only promotes your videos but also strengthens your community.
Collaborate with other creators
Partnering with other YouTubers introduces your channel to their audience and vice versa. Collaborations can take the form of guest appearances, joint projects, or shoutouts. Choose collaborators whose content aligns with your niche for maximum impact.
Run paid ads
If you have the budget, consider running YouTube ads to promote your content. Ads can help reach new audiences and increase brand awareness. Use targeting options, like demographics or interests, to reach the right audience for your videos.
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How to promote YouTube videos with Google Ads
Promoting YouTube videos with Google Ads is an effective strategy to reach a broader audience and increase engagement. By leveraging Google Ads, you can strategically target users based on demographics, interests, and online behavior. This ensures your content reaches the right viewers who are likely to resonate with your message or product.
Benefits of using Google Ads for YouTube videos
Using Google Ads to promote YouTube videos offers numerous advantages that can help grow your channel and reach your target audience effectively.
eEnhanced targeting to reach specific demographics and interests our content
Increased visibility for your videos on the platform
Ability to measure performance through detailed analytics
Scalable campaigns that fit various budgets
Options to retarget users who have previously engaged with y
Types of YouTube ads available
Google Ads provides various ad formats to suit different campaign goals.
For instance, skippable in-stream ads allow viewers to choose whether to engage with the video, giving advertisers the chance to communicate their message upfront. Non-skippable ads ensure full viewer retention for the complete duration, making them ideal for concise and impactful messages.
Additionally, bumper ads and discovery ads offer unique formats to capture audience attention in creative ways (but to consider the fact that viewers may be able to skip these ads).
How to set up a YouTube ad campaign
To start promoting your YouTube videos with Google Ads, follow these steps:
Create a Google Ads account or login if you have an existing one.
Link your Google Ads account to your YouTube channel.
Choose the video you want to promote and create a new campaign in Google Ads.
Select the appropriate target audience, budget, and bidding strategy for your campaign.
Set up ad groups and choose the type of ad format you want for each group.
Write compelling ad copy that entices users to click on your video.
Launch your campaign and monitor its performance through Google Ads analytics.
Best practices for promoting YouTube videos with Google Ads
Use engaging visuals and relevant keywords in your ad copy to capture viewers' attention.
Keep ads short and impactful, as audiences have a shorter attention span for ads compared to organic content.
Test different ad formats to see what resonates best with your target audience.
Continuously monitor and analyze the performance of your campaign to make adjustments based on data.
Utilize targeting options effectively to reach the right audience for your videos.
By following these best practices, you can maximize the impact of your YouTube advertising campaigns and effectively promote your channel and its content.
Conclusion
Promoting your YouTube videos through various channels and strategies is crucial for growing your channel and reaching a wider audience. From utilizing social media to running paid ads, there are many ways to effectively promote your content and engage with your viewers.
Experiment with different approaches and find what works best for your channel and audience. And if you need help, don't hesitate to contact Mayple -- we'll match you with one of the best Google Ads agencies in the world, perfect for your needs.
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