Hello everyone. My first site was online for about a year (early 2006 - early 2007), and only had about 400 - 500 members. I was really disappointed in the traffic, and knew it was time for a change. In March of 2007 I took the old site down, and out up a simple Vbulletin page. Its got a few add-ons installed, no big deal. In April I opened with a brand new empty site. One important add-on I installed allows embedded videos in the threads from youtube, google video, yahoo video and myspace. Now let us begin on how I increased my traffic: My site is an outdoors, camping, hiking, gardening and hunting type of site. I started making my own videos and uploaded them to youtube, google video, daily motion, myspace, and yahoo video. Everyone of the videos is watermarked with my website name and most of them have the copy write logo after the website name. I make my own videos, water mark them, upload them to youtube and embed them into the threads. Members can also embed videos, not just mods or admins. My youtube videos have been viewed over 1,000,000 times, I am averaging about 20 new members a day and over 1,000,000 page views a month. My old site went from 400- 500 members in a year, to the new site having 850+ members in 8 months. When someone from youtube subscribes to my videos, I try to post a "thank you" comment on their youtube page and ask them to "be sure to visit the website." Every week I get members that come to the website and say "I saw a video on youtube and decided to check this website out." Youtube is a powerful form of advertising that is underutilized. As of today, I have 139 of my own home made videos. 2 more were borrowed from the Center of Disease control, for a total of 141 videos. On a few occasions, a member has asked a certain question. I made the video just for that person - example: At the start of the video I said "insert name here from certain country ask....." then went into an answer that members question. This brought the "forum" experience to a new level that most people have never seen before. I got several replies back - "wow, thank you for the video." The draw back - not everyone agrees with my videos. I have had to block a lot of people because of the comments they were posting on my videos in youtube. I have been called names ranging from the polite to those are fighting words. What is happening now - some of my members have followed my example and started making their own video, posting them on youtube and embedding them in their threads. some of my members have gone as far as posting their own video blogs. One of my members planted a backyard garden and made 3 video segments about his garden. Then he planted a fruit tree, and vidoed that. The 2 most important things I did to increase the traffic to my site: 1. Install a mod that allows streaming video from youtube inside the threads. 2. Made my own videos, watermarked them and uploaded them to different video hosting sites. The videos have gotten so popular, I have added a "Member Made Videos" section in my forum. This also gives members a place to show off their videos with losing them in the mix. If you have a nitch on your site, and its something that is exist in real life. Get a youtube account, make your own videos, watermark them and get you some traffic. Some of my videos are just down right terrible, some of them I look back and ask, how could I make that much less put it on the web? But some people still love them. Its almost as if - regardless how bad I think it is, someone out there is going to like it. Examples of my recent videos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxvxpPRonrc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8Vcf3LTk58
I have a similar idea I was going to implement for 2 different websites. Glad to see the marketing side of it works. Thanks for your informative thread.
My site is ad and banner free, so I can not give you number of clicks and number of ad impressions. The site is supported through 3 different and totally separate income streams. All three income streams more then support the site, cover the server cost, pay for add-ons and have some left over at the end of the month. Income streams: Paid VIP memberships - $5 a month. Amazon Sales Adsense on the youtube videos from my youtube partner account. Does this answer your question?
Interesting post. I've had no luck with posting on YouTube. My main traffic seems to come through accidental word of mouth. I never know how it happens, so I just keep hoping more comes in. But you've utilized YouTube very successfully. Thanks again.
this thread gives me two point of thinking: 1) should make videos that will upload on youtube and all that tube sites 2) didn't know that youtube has revenue sharing program via adsense for uploading videos... thank you a lot...
I have message boards on those very same topics, with video-enabled embedding. Thanks for the great tips in this thread. It has caused me to look at some things differently as I create videos. Give me a holler if you'd like to compare sites. Thanks for the fresh perspective.
This is actually a great way to generate traffic to your site. Not only can you watermark the video before uploading it to Youtube, but you can also post a link in the description of the video. I was really surprised at how quickly I started getting views on the videos I've been uploading. Even the stuff I consider "crap" gets watched by someone and they even tend to visit the link and click my ads.
I think the major turnkey was making your own videos. Also I would recommend not to block anyone. Even they are bad comments, they are publicity; and not all bad publicity is bad after all
Tell me, how could you created those videos? By yourself? I know YouTube is a very potential website but I'm struggling with how to create a good video in my niche.
Nice I like it !! Busy site makes video promotion a lot easier . I would ry and monetize it further though .... depending on your financial situation as well I guess.
Thanks for the pointers, this is really tempting me to make some videos to promote my site a little more.
I use a sony point and shoot digital camera. You have a weight lose site? Just make some sexy work out videos. Sex sells and that goes for youtube as well. Some of the videos have adsense ads next to them- those are my ads. Several thousand people a day are seeing my ads, and its paying off. I made more money off adsense in youtube in one month then I did in 5 months with ads on my old website. Its taken a year to build up over 1,083,160 views - its one at a time. It also helps with other people embed your videos in other forums. ================================== Some more information The videos are watermarked for the entire length. If someone likes / dislikes my videos and post them on another site / forum - guess what, I get free advertising. What more could you want then for someone to post your banner on another site? In my case, its a video. So this is not just youtbe, but google indexes youtube videos and put them on the top of google searches - funny how that works out. So once the video is posted on youtube, search engines will index the video with the description and key words you put on the video. Youtube is your TV commercial outlet. If you have ever wanted to make a TV commercial for your site, but dont have the money - use youtube. Its a whole lot cheaper then TV and you will reach an international audience.
Yep.. Seen it working before as well. Keep it up. YouTube certainly have that much potential for everyone to utilize it completely.