Are you a blogger looking to take your traffic to the next level? YouTube could be the secret weapon you‘ve been missing.
As the world‘s second largest search engine and most popular video platform, YouTube offers an immense opportunity to reach new audiences and funnel engaged visitors back to your blog.
Consider these eye-opening statistics:
- YouTube has over 2.5 billion monthly active users worldwide (Source: YouTube)
- 96% of US consumers aged 18-24 use YouTube (Source: Statista)
- People watch over 1 billion hours of YouTube videos every day (Source: YouTube)
- 70% of what people watch on YouTube is determined by its recommendation algorithm (Source: YouTube)
In other words, if you‘re not leveraging YouTube to grow your blog in 2024, you‘re missing out on a massive potential traffic source. But with so much competition, how can you stand out and get results?
In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll walk you through a proven step-by-step strategy for driving blog traffic with YouTube. It‘s the exact process I‘ve used to scale my blog from zero to 500,000 monthly readers.
We‘ll cover everything from the technical basics to advanced tactics for video SEO, promotion, and conversion optimization. Plus, I‘ll share real examples and case studies from my own experience.
Let‘s get started!
Step 1: Lay the Technical Foundation
Before you dive into creating content, there are a few key things to set up for the best chance of success. Think of this as laying the plumbing to connect your YouTube channel and blog.
Create a Brand Account
First, create a dedicated Brand Account for your YouTube channel (rather than a personal account). This gives you more flexibility and allows multiple people to manage the channel if needed.
Optimize Your Channel Page
Next, optimize your YouTube channel page for discoverability and consistent branding:
- Channel Icon: Use your blog‘s logo or a professional headshot
- Channel Banner: Create an eye-catching banner that showcases your blog‘s value proposition and includes a "Visit Blog" call-to-action button
- Channel Description: Write a compelling description that clearly explains what your channel and blog are about, weaving in relevant keywords
- Channel Tags: Add up to 20 relevant tags/keywords to help YouTube understand and promote your channel
- Channel URL: Create a custom URL (e.g. youtube.com/yourblogname) to make your channel more professional and easier to link to
Link to Your Blog
The main point of driving YouTube traffic is to get viewers back to your blog. Three key places to link are:
- Channel banner
- Video descriptions
- Pinned comment on each video
In your video descriptions, include a link to the most relevant blog post within the first 100 characters so it‘s visible before the "Show More" cut-off. Briefly explain what additional value the viewer will get by clicking through.
For example, a video on "How to Start a Profitable Blog" could include a link to a free comprehensive blogging guide or blogging course waitlist.
Invest in Quality Equipment
While you can technically start a YouTube channel with just a smartphone, investing in quality video and audio equipment will help your content stand out.
At a minimum, I recommend:
- 1080p webcam or mirrorless camera
- Lapel or condenser USB microphone
- Softbox lighting kit
- Basic backdrop or green screen
- Editing software (like Adobe Premiere or Final Cut Pro)
You don‘t need to break the bank, but spending a bit more upfront will improve production value, reduce editing time, and make your videos look far more professional.
Step 2: Develop a Strategic Content Plan
With the technical pieces in place, it‘s time to plan your actual video content strategy. The goal is to create valuable, optimized videos that showcase your expertise and drive traffic back to your blog.
Brainstorm Video Topics
To start, brainstorm a list of 15-20 video topics you could create based on your blog‘s niche and target audience. The key is to focus on subjects you know your audience is actively searching for on YouTube and Google.
Here are a few strategies to generate ideas:
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Keyword Research: Use tools like TubeBuddy, VidIQ or Ahrefs to find relevant keywords with good search volume and low competition. Prioritize topics where your blog already ranks on page 1.
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Competitor Analysis: Look at other blogs and YouTube channels in your niche. Which of their videos get the most views and engagement? How could you put your own unique spin on those topics?
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Blog Analytics: Check Google Analytics and Search Console to see which blog posts drive the most traffic. Consider turning those into videos to capitalize on proven demand.
Some of the most effective video formats for driving blog traffic include:
- How-to guides and tutorials
- Ultimate resource lists
- Expert interviews
- Case studies
- Actionable tips and strategies
- Answers to common questions
- Tools and product reviews
- Personal vlogs and behind-the-scenes
- Roundups and listicles
For example, on my digital marketing blog, some top video topics might be:
- How to Do Keyword Research for SEO
- 15 Best Email Marketing Tools Compared
- Ultimate Guide to Reducing Facebook Ad Costs
- Top 10 Blogs that Make Over $100,000 Per Month
- My Exact Content Creation Process
The sweet spot is topics that provide value to your ideal reader, position you as a trusted expert, and lead naturally to a call-to-action for your blog.
Create a Video Calendar
Once you‘ve identified your top video ideas, map them out on a content calendar to publish consistently. Aim for a minimum of one new video per week—more frequently if possible.
Consistency is key for building momentum on YouTube. It trains your subscribers to expect new content regularly and signals to YouTube that you‘re an active channel worth promoting.
Tools like Asana or CoSchedule can help you plan and schedule your video workflow.
Write Optimized Scripts
For each video, write a basic 200-300 word script that covers your key points and includes your target keywords. This helps you stay on track while filming and makes the editing process faster.
Make sure to include your primary keyword in the video title, tags, description, and chapter markers for maximum SEO benefit. Aim to keep titles under 60 characters.
Step 3: Create Engaging, Share-Worthy Videos
With your topics and scripts prepared, it‘s time for the fun part—actually creating your videos! Your goal should be to produce content that educates, entertains, and drives measurable traffic to your blog.
Nail the Intro
The first 15 seconds of your video are critical for hooking viewers‘ attention. Start with a quick preview of your video‘s purpose and why it matters to the viewer.
For example: "In this video, I‘ll show you how to get your first 1000 email subscribers in the next 30 days…even if you‘re starting from scratch. Stay tuned."
Use pattern interrupts, like jump cuts or B-roll footage, to keep people engaged and watching.
Provide Actionable Advice
Focus your video content on delivering clear, actionable takeaways, not just high-level fluff. Give viewers specific strategies, tips, tools, and examples they can implement right away.
The more valuable your advice, the more likely viewers are to like, comment, share and visit your blog for more.
Encourage Comments and Shares
Speaking of engagement, directly ask viewers to like, comment and share each video. YouTube‘s algorithm heavily favors videos that get more engagement, so this is key for expanding your reach.
Ask a specific question to spark discussion, like "What‘s your biggest struggle with [topic]? Leave a comment below and let me know!"
Create Clickable Thumbnails
Your video thumbnail is often the first thing people see, so it needs to stand out and entice clicks in a crowded feed.
Best practices for click-worthy thumbnails:
- Use close-up, expressive facial shots
- Include bold, contrasting text that hints at the video‘s content
- Stick to 2-3 colors max
- Make text and images clear at small sizes
Spend time split testing different thumbnail styles to see what gets the most clicks.
Step 4: Promote and Optimize for Maximum Reach
Creating great content is only half the battle. To drive results, you need to get your videos in front of as many people as possible, both on and off YouTube.
Publish at Strategic Times
The first 24-48 hours after publishing a video are crucial for gaining traction. YouTube‘s algorithm heavily favors videos that get more engagement in this initial window.
Typically, the best time to publish is weekday afternoons in your target audience‘s time zone. But use your YouTube analytics to see when your specific viewers are most active.
Promote on Other Channels
Don‘t just rely on YouTube‘s algorithm for exposure. Actively promote your videos on your other distribution channels:
- Embed the video in a relevant blog post
- Share on social media multiple times
- Include in your email newsletter
- Promote in relevant online communities (Facebook Groups, Reddit, forums, etc.)
- Run targeted YouTube ads
Optimize for Watch Time
The total amount of time people spend watching your video is a key ranking signal for YouTube‘s algorithm. The more watch time your video accumulates, the more it gets promoted in search and suggested videos.
Some tips to improve watch time:
- Hook viewers in the first 15 seconds
- Create a compelling thumbnail and title
- Use jump cuts and pattern interrupts
- Add chapter markers
- Engage with comments
- Include cards and end screens
- Create playlists to encourage binge watching
Invest in SEO
YouTube is the second largest search engine, so video SEO is crucial for discoverability. Beyond putting your target keyword in key places, other important ranking factors include:
- Title and description CTR
- Watch time and retention
- Likes, comments and shares
- Number of subscribers
- Use of tags, chapters and closed captions
Do in-depth keyword research, study what‘s working for competitors, and continually optimize based on your analytics data.
Collaborate with Other Channels
One of the best ways to expand your YouTube reach quickly is to collaborate with other bloggers and channels in your niche. This taps into their existing audience and helps you gain credibility by association.
Types of collaborations:
- Guest appearances and interviews
- Joint tutorials or vlogs
- "Collabs" on shared topics
- Shoutouts and product reviews
Reach out to channels with a similar audience and pitch a win-win collaboration idea.
Step 5: Convert Viewers into Blog Readers
The final piece of the puzzle is turning casual viewers into loyal blog readers and email subscribers. The key is making it as easy and enticing as possible to visit your site.
Include Strong Calls-to-Action
Every video should include multiple calls-to-action to visit your blog for more information. This could be to download a freebie, get a content upgrade, join your email list, etc.
Place these CTAs both verbally and in clickable links in the video description and comments. For example:
"Want my proven step-by-step system for landing your first freelance client? Head to blogname.com/freeguide to download my free cheatsheet now!"
Optimize for Email Signups
Getting viewers onto your email list is the best way to build long-term blog engagement. Once subscribed, you can nurture them with your best content and offers.
Some effective ways to drive email signups:
- Gate premium content upgrades
- Run free email challenges or mini-courses
- Offer an exclusive discount or bonus
- Create report/whitepaper downloads
- Host giveaways and contests
Test different email incentives and optimize your signup forms for the best conversion rates.
Retarget Viewers with Ads
Finally, use YouTube and Google ads to retarget people who‘ve viewed your videos with relevant offers. This is a highly effective way to convert interested viewers into subscribers and customers.
Upload your subscriber email list to create lookalike audiences, and run ads to your most popular videos. Continually monitor and optimize your ad spend for ROI.
Conclusion
Growing your blog with YouTube is not a quick or easy process—it takes significant time, effort and experimentation to see results. But if you consistently publish valuable, optimized videos and promote them strategically, you can tap into a huge new source of traffic and readers.
To recap, here‘s the proven 5-step strategy:
- Lay the technical foundation with an optimized channel and blog links
- Develop a strategic content plan focused on searchable keywords and topics
- Create engaging, share-worthy videos that educate and entertain
- Promote and optimize your videos for maximum reach, watch time and SEO
- Convert viewers into loyal blog readers and email subscribers
None of these steps are rocket science, but they require dedication and patience to master. Start implementing them this week and commit to the long game.
Need some extra guidance and support? Check out my YouTube for Bloggers course at [link] to go behind the scenes of my entire process.
Now get out there and start creating!
