Unless you’re a celebrity, cracking jokes for a living, or have a super cool lifestyle blog like our Digital Marketing Manager, Sherita, your video views might be a little… well, underwhelming. But here’s the good news: You don’t need to go viral to rack up serious results on YouTube. Let’s dive into some tricks that will supercharge your traffic.
Step 1: Leverage the Power of YouTube Shorts
YouTube Shorts are where it’s at right now. TikTok did it, Instagram Reels followed suit, and now YouTube is giving us vertical, bite-sized videos up to 60 seconds long. If you’re not on the Shorts bandwagon, you’re seriously missing out on brand awareness and some fun, fast content creation.
Pro Tip: Shorts work just like TikTok. Your video gets tossed into an endless stream of content. If people watch it, YouTube shows it to more folks. More views = more traffic. And the best part? You can link these Shorts to your longer videos, driving even more eyeballs to your main content.
Step 2: Add Clickable Links (Yes, You Can!)
Here’s a cool hack: Add clickable links inside your videos to guide viewers to more content. Imagine talking about a new topic and then boom, an on-screen link pops up pointing to another one of your videos. You can even give your audience a heads-up, like, “Hey, watch out for that link on your right!” It’s interactive, fun, and keeps people hooked.
How to Add Clickable Links:
- Head to YouTube Studio.
- Find your video and hit Edit.
- Choose Add Cards (aka the magic button).
- Select Add Link and paste the URL to another video or playlist.
- Upload a snazzy image for the card, add a teaser text, and save. Done!
Step 3: Don’t Forget the End Cards!
End cards are like the grand finale of your video—the last chance to tell your viewers where to go next. If you haven’t been using them, now’s the time. YouTube’s got a handy “Best for Viewer” option, where it auto-selects a video that’ll keep your audience engaged. Or, if you’re feeling bossy (which we love), handpick your next playlist or video you want them to view.
Bonus Hack:
Already posted a bunch of videos without end cards? No worries. You can go back and add or change them anytime!
The Bottom Line: You Don’t Need to go VIRAL!
YouTube is more than just a platform for viral videos. With the right mix of Shorts, clickable links, and end cards, you can create a content strategy that drives real traffic and boosts your ROI. And don’t forget to check out our video that shows you exactly how to make these tricks sizzle.
Need help creating short-form video for YouTube shorts? That’s what we do at Idea Decanter.
