What does it Take to Drive Traffic to your Videos?
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I recently uploaded a one-minute video of my laughing hysterically. In three days’ time, that video has had over 10,000 views on YouTube, and received more than 300 comments. What does it take to generate this kind of traffic? Jeff sent me an email recently, asking me what tips and tricks there are to get content to the top of search engines?
There is no one silver bullet, there are many things you can do. Not all of them will necessarily lead you down the path to success… in terms of views, attention and meeting your goals. I’ve written down three points to answer this. These are things I believe are applicable to everyone who is producing content online. Make sure you just be yourself, that is the most important.
- Survey the landscape.
- Use the resources at your disposal.
- Embrace, empower and extend the community.
For years, you had to rely on your own devices to create content and find a place for that content to exist. These days, with the advent of sites like YouTube, it’s much simpler. I produce a Podcast that can be downloaded onto an MP3 player. I know that the greater impact would be experience on YouTube, more than anywhere on the Internet. In surveying the landscape a few years ago, I realized I needed to start driving my content to YouTube. I didn’t quit my blog … I simply learned to drive traffic to the video site, to learn more about me and what I do. I knew I would get a greater amount of return with video than with written word.
The most important thing is to embrace, empower and extend the community. One of the reasons it is crucial for me to have chat inside the videos that I do is my chat room is the closest thing I have to a live studio audience. The interaction and personal exchange between the chat members adds so much to what I do. It’s all about the community. It’s a connection, whether informative or fun. By connecting with others on many different levels, you will be able to reach out wider and further, driving more traffic to yourself. Don’t treat people like they are some remote foreign object. Treat them as though they are a very important part of your life. Let’s face it… if you’re trying to gain a following, they ARE important to you.
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37 Comments
SebastianK94
April 24th, 2008
at 11:32pm
first
RainSanMartin
April 24th, 2008
at 11:59pm
This is helpful, thanks.
AmazeNYou
April 25th, 2008
at 1:23am
Wow.. that was a touch creepy..
e1ex
April 25th, 2008
at 8:02am
I laughed like three times. First,it was because he was playing his video of him laughing.Then, the mix of it.After that,it was because he slapt himself.
Professional Online Publishing: New Media Trends, Communication Skills, Online Marketing
April 25th, 2008
at 2:27pm
Chris PirilloWhat does it Take to Drive Traffic to your Videos?I recently uploaded a one-minute video of my laughing hysterically. In three days� time, that video has had over 10,000 views on YouTube, and received more … Read more… Soulskill / Slashdot
Professional Online Publishing: New Media Trends, Communication Skills, Online Marketing
April 25th, 2008
at 2:27pm
Chris PirilloWhat does it Take to Drive Traffic to your Videos?I recently uploaded a one-minute video of my laughing hysterically. In three days� time, that video has had over 10,000 views on YouTube, and received more … Read more… Soulskill / Slashdot
VistaUser
April 25th, 2008
at 7:11pm
I think that it’s a good idea to try to not only post your videos on youtube, but on other video-sharing sites or on a social networking site. This will give your videos more exposure, it makes it easier for others to find your videos.
OmniDragon
April 25th, 2008
at 7:36pm
Do a video on something that’s current and a topic that is interesting to a large number of people. I did a video on Devon Hester once (kick returner for Chicago Bears) during football season. After about a month of being on youtube, it now has as many views as an Adobe ImageReady video that I put on youtube like six months before that. Post it on your blog to add more relative content with it. Give it keywords that are actually related to the video.
Or if you want to cheat, you could always add the keyword “britney spears” to your video about a new xbox 360 game and see if that works. :P
Urban_Geek
April 25th, 2008
at 11:32pm
From what i have seen i think that a video has to be shortnsweet for people to watch it know people who get loads of video views just because they make the video look like it is about one thing when it is another.
whoknew
April 25th, 2008
at 11:42pm
This is a great video, I will take ever second into consideration. I like the part about embracing the community this in my opinion is not just a must for streamers, youtubers, but also for large corps. Thanks again Chirs.
Ruben32
April 25th, 2008
at 11:42pm
Well, Took me a bit to drive…
But i like it!
YUPnNOPE
April 26th, 2008
at 2:36am
i am in no way trying to be rude. i mean obviously you’ve been outside and your obviously very intelligent. your vocabulary is awesome, plus your married and everything. i’m just wanting to ask you whether or not staying inside for so long talking about the same general stuff, ever gets boring?
YUPnNOPE
April 26th, 2008
at 2:36am
you should try it. its fun. i used to live online, but when my computer went for repairs for 5 days and came back, i couldn’t believe how much fun things i did outside and how much more in-person social interactions i’d had while i didn’t have it. this is just a suggestion.
YUPnNOPE
April 26th, 2008
at 2:36am
you dont get out much do u? lol. you sit in the same chair, in the same room, wearing almost the same clothes, and talking about the same stuff almost 24/7. does it ever get boring? do u ever wonder what the outside world must be like while your sitting there? and i don’t mean on the screen. i mean do u ever wonder what you physically going outside must be like?
ecachucho
April 26th, 2008
at 5:53am
I wish my videos would get 10000 views in three days!
Love watching “Cris-casts”
hichez
April 26th, 2008
at 7:51am
tanks for this. I think the most important tip is audience that your appealing too. I will defiently use these tips once I start youtubing.
Branhower1
April 26th, 2008
at 10:33am
I would think that video got so many views because his laugh is so freaking ridiculous!
RouletteMoney
April 26th, 2008
at 11:34pm
how-to-make-money-easily com
ppjeremy
April 27th, 2008
at 5:45am
Thats stupid
mIchael berba
April 27th, 2008
at 3:56pm
Chris,
I need your help…
I cant get remotebuddy with iphone to work over the edge network.Seems, like no one can help. Got anything for me. Its a killer app, I’ve been using it for access to itunes via wireless connections. But no luck over edge(cant access server error)
Heres my setup .Two machine, (imac and macbook pro) on local network with 500 gb time capsule. I cant figure out how to port forward.
Love the ustream.
Help,
michael
YUPnNOPE
April 28th, 2008
at 12:45am
your stupid.
jedaqia
April 28th, 2008
at 1:47am
He does. Don’t worry.
Glitchezz
April 28th, 2008
at 6:14am
so is your mum
82quatro
April 28th, 2008
at 7:48am
It takes a lot of spam.
pimpsahoy15
April 29th, 2008
at 8:21am
add * as your only tag and you can get on the top of the search list no matter what
Mangospork
April 29th, 2008
at 10:50am
Amen. Youtube=awsomeness
ucsdrake
April 29th, 2008
at 11:47am
I had a huge problem generating traffic on the internet for my gaming website back in the day, never seemed to get it right lol, too bad this video wasn’t around back then.
RapDumpTk
April 30th, 2008
at 11:57am
ur a loser
YUPnNOPE
April 30th, 2008
at 2:35pm
thats not what your mom said.
frasercjackson
May 1st, 2008
at 3:22am
do they sell chris balls you can punch would love to meet this guy in my local pub with his 6 apple macs and 3 laptops he wouldnt last 3 seconds
frasercjackson
May 1st, 2008
at 3:23am
to live a life around youtube and live stream is beyond me
frasercjackson
May 1st, 2008
at 3:25am
the video name will drive traffic to this ****
you need to burn somewhere in hell
this is so **** you burped
Admir Redzematovic
May 2nd, 2008
at 5:55pm
Hello Chris. I am very familiar with your youtube page and live.pirillo.com. I enjoy watching your videos and your live stream is great! I have lots of fun talking with the folks in the chat room. I have subscribed to you page since you first up and running on youtube. This machine you HP is giving away is very compact and nice. Hp always makes the best of media experiences and packs their machines with all the good stuff! All of my pc’s are HP. I’ve been a HP user for quite a while. This machine you are giving away looks brilliant! I love it! Its going to be great for the whole family. And now i’ll be able to play some of those high anticipated games. I am definitely a pc gamer and this machine would totally crus the one i am currently using. Windows vista is a great operating system and will go perfectly with the power of this machine. A good tip in using all the hp machines is to always back up your files. Hp Recovery for example is a great utility to back up your files and keep them safe in case of system restore. Chris Continue your great work you are really successful in your career. Best luck to you.
Admir
Matt Smith (mattstech)
May 2nd, 2008
at 6:54pm
I started out in the blogosphere about a month ago, opening my blog “Matt Smith Tech” on Lockergnome. I began to post content, but was not getting near as many hits as I was hoping for. I got involved on YouTube, and gained a small audience for my videos, and in turn, the blog. I may not have a huge band of followers (yet), but at least the comments I do have are generally intelligent and informative. I’ve even started discussions a couple times between viewers.
The way I see it, if you post interesting content on a regular basis for a long time, you will eventually become known not just for one video, but for your online identity. Then, no matter what you post, people will follow you.
Linux Fanatics
May 3rd, 2008
at 1:18am
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Adriaan Mulder
May 3rd, 2008
at 7:04am
I once posted a video of a soccer player who had a laser shawn in their face. Turns out nobody else saw it, and I was the first to post it. 3 days later it had 400 000 views. If you show people what they want to watch, they’ll watch it.
skaterdude10001
May 7th, 2008
at 8:51am
i was watching this live and there was 4000 people watching live! no joke