If I told you that by using YouTube there were specific strategies or “hacks” that could exponentially grow your business, would you use them? 

To this day, I cannot wrap my head around how many entrepreneurs refuse to utilize social media to grow their companies… 

SOCIAL MEDIA IS THE BEST FREE MARKETING TOOL THERE IS!

At the time of writing this article, I have 2.28 MILLION subscribers on YouTube alone. And to be frank, that audience has fast-tracked my expansion more than any other social media outlet. 

So today, I will outline the YouTube marketing strategies that made those numbers possible. 

If you want to improve your bottom line, keep reading to find out how to make the most of your video uploads. 

First, Here’s What I REALLY Think About YouTube…

I’m not going to keep you a mystery long — I freaking love YouTube

Not only is YouTube free exposure for my brand and ventures, but this audience also has some of the most loyal 10X’ers out there.

I believe the reason is because it takes a real supporter to continually come back and watch your videos over and over. Following that logic, you can easily see how building a strong following on YouTube could positively affect your business. 

I WOULD GIVE UP MY FOLLOWERS ON ALL OTHER PLATFORMS — A TOTAL OF OVER 10 MILLION, BY THE WAY — FOR MY YOUTUBE SUBSCRIBERS. 

And once you see the results of the best practices I’m about to share, you’ll feel the same way… 

10 Smart Hacks to Grow Your YouTube Channel

When I first started making videos, there was a lot of trial and error. I was just throwing stuff at the wall and hoping it stuck. 

Over the years, I have refined my process and figured out how to grow YouTube for business purposes.

That being said, I wanted these tips to be easy enough for anyone…

So if you’ve never filmed a video in your life or were unsuccessful with YouTube in the past, the following hacks will give you a leg up in the marketplace. 

THE TOOLS FOR POWERFUL CONTENT CREATION AREN’T DIFFICULT, YOU JUST HAVE TO PUT THEM INTO ACTION. 

Let’s dive in.

Aside from its reputation for viral videos, YouTube is the second most used search engine in the world. For this reason, SEO is important to the success of your channel. 

SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, sounds technical and intimidating. However, its fundamental principles are quite simple.  

The goal of a great SEO strategy is to improve your ranking on the platform, meaning your content shows up closer to the top of the list of results. 

RESEARCH IS YOUR KEY TO THE CASTLE FOR EFFECTIVE SEO. 

For starters, see what phrases appear most in the top videos related to your industry. Also, consider adding top keywords to your channel name.

On the other hand, don’t neglect highly-specific, lesser-used keywords. People don’t aggressively compete for these terms as much, which means you have a greater ranking opportunity. 

For example, instead of simply “dogs” (a huge topic), try a “how to care for golden retrievers” tutorial. 

This YouTube hack makes sure you get seen by the most people possible, which is a good thing.

After all, money follows attention… 

2. Improve Your Writing and Speaking Skills

Now, I can hand you a bulletproof YouTube content strategy, but all of it would be for nothing if your videos aren’t entertaining… 

There are other people selling what you’re selling. You have to set yourself apart from the crowd

The first step to improving in this regard is to plan and outline what points you want to discuss in each video. This way you’re not fumbling over what to say next. 

If you struggle with speaking in general, my advice is to practice your script several times until you feel comfortable. 

Once you nail down the basics, it’s time to insert some style into your content. After all, that is what keeps your audience engaged. Try things like: 

  • Pattern interrupts — If your video becomes monotone, viewers will tune out. To regain their attention, use pattern interrupts by varying your tone. 
  • Personality and personal stories — This is where your experiences and individuality come through. Always see if there is a way to add a bit of yourself into your videos. 
  • Social proof — Any time you can showcase statistics or other people winning with your product, do so. People believe what they see, not what they hear. Social proof establishes you as a reliable source of information. 
  • Emotions and vulnerability — Nobody is perfect 100% of the time. You know that, and so does your audience. Being honest about your mistakes and feelings resonates with others. Don’t shy away from being real. 

Nonetheless, there is something you have to do every time to actually make YouTube pay off for you… 

3. Always Use a Call to Action (CTA)

After you have provided value and entertainment to your target audience, you must ask them to transact with you! This is known as a “call to action” or “CTA” for short. 

In regards to YouTube best practices, there are two types of CTAs you should include in every video. 

  • Engagement CTA — This is where you ask the viewer to comment and like the video, then subscribe to your channel. An engagement CTA builds your channel and keeps your audience active. 
  • Offer CTA — An offer CTA is where you ask the person to buy your product/service/ticket. While engagement CTAs are common on YouTube, I feel that many are reluctant to make the offer variety, which makes this hack so powerful. 

A little bonus tip here. If you are reluctant to say your CTA in your video, you can include it in the description section, pop-up video cards, pinned comments, and your end screen. 

Whether you plan to monetize your content through the YouTube platform — which requires 1,000 subscribers and over 4,000 hours of watch time — or directly through your business, call-to-actions are vital. 

REMEMBER, YOU MISS 100% OF THE DEALS YOU DON’T ASK FOR. 

4. Optimize Every Thumbnail

Like it or not, YouTube users will judge you by how good or bad your video thumbnail is…

Essentially, it is your first impression with viewers, so you have to make it count. 

Even if you’re working with a professional graphic designer, you should be aware of what an effective thumbnail looks like. 

Keep in mind that more and more people watch YouTube from their mobile devices. As a result, any text on your thumbnail should be large, descriptive, and attention-grabbing. 

Next, using bright and contrasting colors has been a proven method of top YouTubers for years. They draw the eye to your videos over ones with subtle color schemes which fade into the background. 

ALWAYS AIM TO BE SEEN. 

Last word on this topic… 

Another old-school YouTube hack is to have a shocked or smiling expression on your face as well as some action in your thumbnails. Again, this tactic generates interest from the person searching. 

The next thing I’m going to talk about is in stark contrast to every other bit of advice you’ve been told — social media or otherwise. And that’s exactly why it works…

5. Focus on QUANTITY Over Quality

In the modern marketplace, quality no longer beats quantity — especially when it comes to YouTube. One great video is not going to beat 20 low-quality uploads. 

For those of you who are just getting started, this should be an encouraging statistic. If you are uncertain about the quantity-first concept, think about it like this…

On this platform, you’re trying to build a community. A strong relationship is what translates into gains for your business. 

Based on this line of thinking, ask yourself… 

Have you ever built a meaningful relationship based on ONE interaction? 

I didn’t think so. Therefore, it is far better to have many, less edited videos on a variety of topics than one that looks professionally produced. 

VALUE PRODUCTION OVER PERFECTION. 

With that in mind, you should also make the most of all the content you produce…

6. Maximize Your Video Content

If you are like me and are truly passionate about your product or service, you can talk about it forever. However, your YouTube audience may not feel the same. 

The solution to this problem is to take the longer-running content and cut it into shorter videos that are easily digestible. And, ideally, solve the viewer’s problem quickly. 

For example, you can take an hour recording and chop it into several segments that deal with different topics…

What about creating a highlights reel or a short listicle video? 

The possibilities are endless. In the process, you’ll also have endless opportunities to repurpose any piece of content you create.

To take advantage of this YouTube hack to the fullest extent, I want to go deeper into another related tip… 

7. Pump Out YouTube Shorts

In recent years, another video platform exploded on the scene… 

TikTok. 

Its viral popularity gave other social media outlets a run for their money — and scrambling for a way to compete. YouTube’s solution was YouTube Shorts

On TikTok, you can only upload clips up to three minutes long. The same is true for videos following the YouTube Short format. 

The advantage of these “shorts” is that they are pushed to more people via the YouTube algorithm. Therefore, you can cut up longer content like I suggested above — and YouTube will make sure more eyes get on it

This YouTube hack turns their problem into your advantage. 

Another YouTube best practice is to create and properly utilize instant subscribe links. This feature will bring someone to your channel with a pop-up prompting them to confirm their subscription

Instant subscribe links are great to:

  • Send directly to friends and family
  • Attach to emails
  • Add to your website and other socials
  • List in your YouTube video descriptions

Not only are instant subscribe links fantastic promotional tools, but they are incredibly easy to make. You’re just going to go to your channel’s page and copy the URL. Then, add a little code to the end… ?sub_confirmation=1

That’s all there is to it. 

Now, once you get all those subscribers, you gotta keep them active… 

9. Engage with Everyone

To be successful on social media, you have to be social. And in YouTube’s case, that means constantly engaging with your audience to keep the dialogue going

Maintaining an online relationship with so many people can sound like a daunting task. Although it is real work, it is not as difficult as it seems. 

The first hack to keeping your YouTube audience engaged is to make community posts. You can add these types of posts right from the Community tab on your channel’s profile. 

With this type of post, you can poll your audience, make announcements, and keep your viewers up to date in general. In this way, your community knows what’s happening and feels like they contribute to your channel. 

Next, we’re going to talk about comments — from your viewers and ones you make. 

You should like all viewer comments. That is the least you can do to acknowledge their engagement. 

Additionally, you should reply to all relevant comments, such as questions or successes from your content. Another pro move is to comment and engage personally with other big dogs in your field. 

These tactics will help get your name out there and put you on the map, but this next piece of content strategy will keep you there… 

10. Be Consistent Over Time

I have touched on this earlier, but now I really want to hammer it home… 

THE #1 SECRET TO SUCCESS ON YOUTUBE IS CONSISTENCY. 

First off, the YouTube algorithm favors channels that post regularly. Plus, consistent uploads keep you on your audience’s radar — which is the most important. 

Even more, it takes a LOT of practice to become great at creating successful videos. Uploading frequently will level you up from amateur to professional at a quicker pace. 

Now, how do you bring everything together with the rest of your promotion? 

How Can You Integrate YouTube into Your Overall Marketing Strategy?

By now, I hope you are coming up with some creative ways to integrate these YouTube hacks into your marketing strategy. However, if you’re still struggling, don’t worry. Your Uncle G has your back…

Right out of the gate, I would suggest you create a marketing and content calendar to stay organized and consistent. 

Aside from regular YouTube uploading, consider reposting content on other social media platforms. TikTok and Instagram Reels are some great examples. Note that these will have to be shorter clips. 

What about attaching a “how to” video from YouTube to a promotional email? These are just a few of the strategies that have skyrocketed me to a 10 million following across social media — which I share in my 10X Marketing System

Not only do I go deeper into YouTube, but I lay out what works across ALL platforms — and how to make it work for your business. 

At the end of the day, promotion is how your business grows and stays solvent for years to come. 

Take advantage of all the tools at your disposal. 

Otherwise, your peers will. 

Promote, dominate, and be Great,

Grant Cardone

Disclaimer: This content is intended to be used for educational and informational purposes only. Individual results may vary. You should perform your own due diligence and seek the advice from a professional to verify any information on our website or materials that you are relying upon if you choose to make an investment or business decision. Investment, real estate, and business involve great risk and there is no guarantee of performance or results.

We are not attorneys, investment advisers, accountants, tax professionals or financial advisers and any of the content presented should not be taken as professional advice. We recommend seeking the advice of a financial professional before you invest, and we accept no liability whatsoever for any loss or damage you may incur.

Previous articleThey Laughed When I Said I Would Become a Billionaire
Next articleHow I Champion ALL the Roles in My Empire
Star of Discovery Channel’s “Undercover Billionaire,” Grant Cardone owns and operates seven privately held companies and a private equity real estate firm, Cardone Capital, with a multifamily portfolio of assets under management valued at over $4 billion. He is the Top Crowdfunder in the world, raising over $900 million in equity via social media. Known internationally as the leading expert on sales, marketing, and scaling businesses, Cardone is a New York Times bestselling author of 11 business books, including “The 10X Rule,” which led to Cardone establishing the 10X Global Movement and the 10X Growth Conference, now the largest business and entrepreneur conference in the world. The online business and sales educational platform he created, Cardone University, serves over 411,000 individuals and Forbes 100 corporate clients throughout the world. Voted the top Marketing Influencer to watch by Forbes, Cardone uses his massive 15 million plus following to give back via his Grant Cardone Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to mentoring underserved, at-risk adolescents in financial literacy, especially those without father figures.