The Best Way To Leverage Youtube For Your Music Release

YouTube has 2.2 billion users and it only keeps growing. It is essential that you learn to manage your YouTube Channel as an artist. This platform is also the second-largest search engine and a go-to place to find practically anything. To top it all off, according to Octiive, “every video on YouTube’s list of Most-Viewed Videos has been a music video since 2009”, which means this is the best place for indie artists to distribute their music and not only find but also retain a loyal audience. So how do you go about it? Here are some tips to make your journey easier and more exciting.

On average, YouTube users are on the site for 19 minutes each day. That equates to about 120 hours a year. Additionally, you can be sure that YouTube advertising will give you a big reach (specifically, 32.4% of the population and 51.8% of internet users), since it is the second-largest search engine in the world.

As an artist building a community Youtube is impossible to overlook. Your portfolio will be divided among a variety of streaming channels but very few of them have the carnage of discoverability as much as youtube. It is after all, more than just a streaming network, it is a search engine, influencer portal, and live content aggregator.

Youtube has key types of content formats that an artist should consider when launching their release campaign. We will explore all of these in detail throughout this playbook. Reaching out to YouTubers to promote your music or new album can be a great way to get your music in front of a large and engaged audience. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can increase the chances of success and make the most of this opportunity.

Virtual Publicist is a valuable tool that can help you organize your communications and outreach and make the process of promoting your music on YouTube easier and more effective. Start reaching out to YouTubers today and see how it can impact your music career!

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Types of Content You can Create on Youtube as a Musician

1. Music Videos:
   • Music videos are one of the most popular content formats on YouTube. These videos showcase an artist’s musical abilities and can be used to promote new music, albums, or concerts.
     • Example: Pop star Taylor Swift is known for her visually stunning and narrative-driven music videos. Her music videos for songs like “Bad Blood” and “Look What You Made Me Do” have become viral sensations on YouTube, helping to solidify her as a pop culture icon.

2. Behind-the-Scenes Footage:
   • Behind-the-scenes footage gives fans an exclusive look at an artist’s life and creative process. This type of content can be used to give fans a sneak peek of what goes into the making of a music video or album, or to share personal moments with fans.
     • Example: Pop star Ariana Grande frequently shares behind-the-scenes footage on her YouTube channel, giving fans a look at her creative process, as well as her personal life. She uses this type of content to build a stronger connection with her fans and to showcase her personality.

3. Vlogs:
   • Vlogs are a type of video blog that artists can use to share their daily lives, thoughts, and experiences with their fans. This type of content can be used to give fans a more personal and intimate look at an artist’s life.
     • Example: Rapper and musician Tyler, The Creator is known for his vlogs, which showcase his sense of humor, creativity, and personal life. He uses vlogs as a way to connect with his fans on a more personal level and to share his experiences with his followers.

4. Live Performances:
   • Live performances are a great way for artists to showcase their musical abilities and to connect with fans in real-time. This type of content can be used to promote live shows, concerts, or to share performances that are not available elsewhere.
     • Example: Pop star Ed Sheeran frequently shares live performances on his YouTube channel, giving fans an intimate look at his musical abilities. He uses live performances as a way to connect with his fans and to promote his music.
5. Tutorials and How-To Videos:
   • Tutorials and how-to videos can be used by artists to share their creative process, techniques, or to offer tips and advice to fans. This type of content can be used to build a stronger connection with fans, as well as to establish an artist as an authority in their field.
     • Example: Singer and songwriter Bruno Mars frequently shares tutorials and how-to videos on his YouTube channel, giving fans an in-depth look at his creative process and musical abilities. He uses these videos as a way to connect with fans, share his knowledge, and build a stronger connection with his followers.
6. Lyric Videos:
   • Lyric videos are a type of video that displays the lyrics of a song while the song plays in the background. These videos can be used to promote new music and to give fans a visual representation of the lyrics.
     • Example: Pop star Justin Bieber’s lyric video for his hit single “Love Yourself” has over 1 billion views on YouTube, showcasing the popularity of this type of content.
7. Album Teasers and Trailers:
   • Album teasers and trailers are short videos used to promote an upcoming album release. These videos can be used to build excitement and anticipation for the release, and to give fans a sneak peek of what to expect.
     • Example: Rock band Muse’s trailer for their album “Drones” gives fans a dramatic and visually stunning look at what to expect from the album.
8. Cover Songs:
   • Cover songs are recordings of an artist performing someone else’s song. These videos can be used to showcase an artist’s musical abilities, to pay homage to their influences, or to create unique interpretations of popular songs.
     • Example: Singer and musician Sam Smith’s cover of Whitney Houston’s “How Will I Know” showcases his unique interpretation of the classic song and his musical abilities.
9. Collaborations and Guest Appearances:
   • Collaborations and guest appearances are videos that feature two or more artists working together on a song or performance. These videos can be used to bring together different artists, to showcase new collaborations, or to create new and exciting musical experiences.
     • Example: Pop star Lady Gaga’s collaboration with Ariana Grande on the song “Rain On Me” showcases their musical chemistry and creates an exciting new musical experience for fans.
10. Behind-the-Music Documentaries:
    • Behind-the-music documentaries are in-depth look at the life and career of an artist. These videos can be used to give fans a deeper understanding of an artist’s background, influences, and creative process.
      • Example: Rapper Kendrick Lamar’s behind-the-music documentary “The Story of Kendrick Lamar” gives fans an in-depth look at his life and creative process, and provides a unique perspective on his music and career.
11. Studio Sessions and Recording Footage:
    • Studio sessions and recording footage are videos that showcase an artist in the recording studio. These videos can be used to give fans a sneak peek at the creative process, or to showcase the making of a new song or album.
      • Example: Singer and songwriter Billie Eilish’s studio session footage gives fans a behind-the-scenes look at the making of her hit album “When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?”

Overall, these are just a few of the many types of content formats that artists can publish on YouTube. By using a combination of these formats, artists can create a well-rounded and engaging presence on the platform, and connect with their fans in meaningful ways.

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Why You Need to Start a YouTube Channel as an artist?

As the largest video-sharing platform in the world, YouTube is a hub for your music, your videos, and any kind of content that can be converted into a conversation with your audience.

Any personality that wants to increase its video marketing efforts must have a YouTube channel. You can host your videos there and share them with interested, relevant viewers by setting one up. About 87% of businesses anticipate seeing a profit from video marketing in 2021.

For you, the artist, YouTube presents a 2 fold strategy. On one end you will need it to market your music and share it to your channels. On the other, by growing your digital profile on YouTube, you become a reference to other creators that want to collaborate with you. Mastering this balance of community engagement and quality content is the best perspective to have when building your channel.

Organizing your Youtube Channel

Organizing your YouTube channel properly is important in order to grow your audience and increase engagement. Here are some steps you can follow to get started:

1. Define your niche and target audience:
   • Determine what type of content you want to create and who you want to target. This will help you focus your content creation and make it easier to reach your target audience.
2. Create a consistent brand image:
   • Make sure your channel has a consistent look and feel. This includes using the same profile picture, channel banner, and font throughout your videos and channel page.
3. Make use of playlists:
   • Playlists are a great way to organize your content into categories and make it easier for your viewers to find what they’re looking for. You can also make use of YouTube’s “Up Next” feature to suggest related videos to your viewers.
4. Optimize your video titles and descriptions:
   • Make sure your video titles accurately reflect the content of your videos, and that your descriptions include keywords that are relevant to your niche. This will help your videos show up in search results and make it easier for viewers to find your channel.
5. Engage with your audience:
   • Respond to comments, ask for feedback, and encourage viewers to subscribe to your channel. This will help build a community around your content and increase engagement.
6. Promote your channel:
   • Share your videos on social media, collaborate with other YouTubers in your niche, and run ads to reach new audiences.
7. Consistency is key:
   • Aim to upload videos on a regular schedule so your viewers know when to expect new content. This will help keep your audience engaged and increase the likelihood of them subscribing to your channel.
8. Analyze your performance:
   • Use YouTube Analytics to track your performance, including views, watch time, and audience engagement. This will help you identify what’s working and what’s not, and make adjustments accordingly.

Making your YouTube Channel

Start off by creating a professional-looking channel. This means putting in extra work or getting a designer to design your banner and logo as well as take professional pictures of you.

Joining the YouTube Partner Program is the first step toward monetizing your channel. It allows you to make money by generating income from advertisements. While you concentrate on generating music, YouTube pairs advertisements with your channel and the viewers of your videos. After that, they collect money from advertising and deposit it into your AdSense account.

Official Artist Channels are a kind of channel arrangement that allows you to select what your followers see first. The following are some of the most significant advantages:

• You can find all of your music in one location.
• The top playlist and trailer may both be customized.
• Your ‘official music’ and entire album discography show in auto-generated playlists.
• Fans will be able to subscribe in one spot.

Customize Your YouTube Channel for Maximum Engagement

As an independent musician, it’s important to keep your audience engaged and coming back for more. One way to do this is by carefully curating the layout of your YouTube channel. By customizing the page to suit your unique brand and style, you can attract and retain viewers more effectively.

To get started, visit the “Customize Channel” page and select the “Layout” tab from the top navigation bar. Here, you’ll find two special options: the video spotlight and featured sections.

Use these features to showcase your best content and tailor the experience for different types of viewers, whether they are subscribed to your channel or not.

You can create a seamless and enjoyable journey for your viewers from one video to the next. Maximize the potential of your YouTube presence and keep your fans coming back for more with a well-designed and strategic channel layout.

Maximize Your YouTube Strategy with Customized Viewer Options

As a musician, it’s crucial to make the most of every opportunity to showcase your talent and engage with your audience. One way to do this is by customizing the experience for different types of viewers on your YouTube channel.

For those who have not yet subscribed, consider showing them a channel trailer. This high-level overview video is a great way to give potential subscribers a taste of what your channel is all about.

For devoted viewers who are already subscribed, you can offer a special featured video. This could be one of your most popular or newly released tracks or any other video that you want to highlight.

By catering to the specific needs and preferences of your different viewer groups, you can maximize the impact of your YouTube strategy and build a loyal audience.

The choice is up to you – use this opportunity to showcase your YouTube Channel as an artist. your best content and keep your fans coming back for more.

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How to Reach out to Youtuber’s to Promote your Music

The world of music promotion has changed dramatically in recent years, with YouTube playing an increasingly important role in getting your music in front of a global audience. In this guide, we’ll cover the best ways to reach out to YouTubers to promote your music or new album, and how to make the most of this opportunity.

Step 1: Identify

Your target audience and YouTubers are essential to identify before reaching out to anyone. You need to know who your target audience is and what type of YouTubers are likely to appeal to them.

1. Use YouTube Insights to understand your current audience:
   • Check out the demographics of your existing followers on YouTube. This will give you an idea of who your target audience is and what types of YouTubers they’re likely to follow.
2. Identify the YouTubers that align with your music genre and target audience:
   • Use YouTube’s search function to find channels that cover similar music to yours and see which ones have a large and engaged following.

Step 2: Evaluate

Once you have identified a list of potential YouTubers to reach out to, it’s time to evaluate each one to see if they are a good fit for your music promotion.

1. Check the YouTuber’s engagement:
   • Look at their average views, likes, comments, and subscribers. The more engagement a YouTuber has, the better they’ll be at promoting your music.
2. Analyze their video content:
   • Make sure the YouTuber’s content aligns with your music genre and target audience. The more similar their content is to your music, the better they’ll be at promoting it.
3. Assess their relevance:
   • See how active the YouTuber is and if their channel is still relevant. You want to reach out to someone who is currently active and relevant in their niche.

Step 3: Create a Compelling Outreach Message

Once you’ve identified the right YouTubers to reach out to, it’s time to create a compelling outreach message. Virtual Publicist offers a series of templates that are curated to fit the type of request you are looking to send out. You can also write one yourself, but make sure to follow the steps below to make sure it stands out and does not bore your reader.

1. Personalize your message:
   • Make sure to address the YouTuber by name and mention something specific about their channel that you like. This will show that you’ve taken the time to research them and will increase the chances of them responding.
2. Be concise:
   • Keep your message short and to the point. Explain why your music is relevant to their channel and what’s in it for them if they choose to promote it.
3. Offer a mutually beneficial deal:
   • Offer to return the favor by promoting the YouTuber on your own social media channels or providing exclusive content for their viewers.

Step 4: Reach Out and Follow Up

Once you’ve created a compelling outreach message, it’s time to reach out to the YouTubers and follow up. The private inbox found in Virtual Publicist allows you to monitor your responses and track the replies. It also triggers a notification when a new message is waiting to be responded to.

1. Use Virtual Publicist’s database of contacts and messaging system to organize your communications:
   • Virtual Publicist is a platform that offers artists a database of contacts and a messaging system to organize their communications and outreach.
2. Reach out:
   • Send your outreach message to the YouTubers you’ve identified.
3. Follow up:
   • If you don’t hear back from a YouTuber after a few days, follow up with a friendly reminder.

Step 5: Track & Monitor

Your Results and Make Adjustments Finally, it’s important to track your results and make adjustments as needed.

1. Use YouTube Insights:
   • Use YouTube Insights to track the views, likes, comments, and subscribers on your channel to see if the YouTuber’s promotion has had a positive impact. In Virtual Publicists future updates, these statistics will be accessible from your dashboard, enabling you to see all of the insights in one place.
2. Analyze your audience growth:
   • See if the YouTuber’s promotion has attracted new followers to your channel and if they’re engaged with your music.
3. Make adjustments:
   • If you see a positive impact, reach out to more YouTubers and offer similar deals. If you see a negative impact, adjust your approach and try again.

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Maximize Your Online Presence, Connect your YouTube Channel as an artist to the rest of your social media profiles

As an independent musician, it’s important to connect with your audience across all your social media channels. Make sure to link your profiles on YouTube, as well as in your video and channel descriptions.

It’s crucial to present a professional and cohesive image, so invest in quality thumbnails, art, and content that showcases your unique style and talent.

Use calls to action in your videos and descriptions to encourage viewers to explore your social media profiles and digital portfolio. The goal is to create a seamless journey from one site to the next, so make sure access to your other profiles is easily visible.

In addition to promoting your content on YouTube, consider investing a few dollars in advertising to reach a wider audience. This can be especially effective if you are consistent in delivering new content on a regular basis.

Manage your time effectively. Set deadlines for yourself to post regularly and research the best times to post based on your audience demographics and activity patterns.

Staying organized and delivering fresh content on a consistent basis, you’ll keep your fans engaged and coming back for more.”

8 quick tips for Creating a YouTube Channel as an artist

1. Identify your target audience:
   • Before you start your promotional campaign, it’s important to identify who you are trying to reach with your music.
   • Consider factors like age, location, and musical interests to help narrow down your audience.
2. Create a YouTube channel:
   • In order to promote your new song on YouTube, you’ll need to have a channel set up.
   • Make sure to include a catchy banner, profile picture, and links to your social media accounts.
3. Create a promotional video:
   • A promotional video is a great way to get people excited about your new song.
   • Consider creating a lyric video, music video, or behind-the-scenes look at the making of the song.
4. Utilize social media:
   • In addition to YouTube, be sure to promote your new song on other social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
   • Use hashtags and tag relevant accounts to increase visibility.
5. Use influencers:
   • Partnering with influencers or music blogs can help you reach a wider audience.
   • Consider reaching out to influencers in your genre or those with a large following who may be interested in promoting your music.
6. Target your crowd:
   • Use YouTube’s targeting options to ensure that your promotional video is being seen by the right people.
   • You can target based on location, age, and interests to ensure that your video is being shown to your ideal audience.
7. Engage with your audience:
   • Encourage comments, likes, and shares by asking for feedback and responding to comments.
   • This will help build a community around your music and keep people engaged with your content.
8. Keep promoting:
   • Don’t stop promoting your new song once the initial campaign is over.
   • Continue to share it on social media, collaborate with influencers, and find other ways to get your music in front of new listeners.

10 Steps to Setting Up YouTube Ads – find more on our Medium Page –

1. Go to Google Ads and create a new campaign, choosing “Create a campaign without a goal’s guidance” and the “Video” campaign type.
2. Choose a campaign subtype that aligns with your objective, format, and ad goal. Options may include Custom video or Drive conversions.
3. Select your bid approach, which may be Maximum CPV or Target CPM.
4. Choose the network(s) for your campaign, considering whether to include Video partners on the Display network.
5. Decide on the content you want to exclude, such as Standard or Limited inventory.
6. Add related videos from your channel or opt-in to display product cards from your Google Merchant Center feed.
7. Select your target audience using the available categories and contextual options.
8. Create your advertisement and upload it to YouTube, making it “Unlisted” if you don’t want it to appear on your channel.
9. Set your bid and launch the campaign.
10. Monitor your performance using reach and efficiency metrics, such as impressions, views, clicks, cost per view, and view-through rate, and consider conducting a Brand Lift study if you spend a significant amount on YouTube ads.

With over 2 billion monthly active users, it offers a massive platform to showcase your music and connect with fans. Integrating YouTube into your music release strategy is crucial for growth, as it can help you reach a wider audience and build a loyal fan base.

Creating your own content on YouTube can help you establish your brand and differentiate yourself from other musicians. By producing music videos, live performances, and behind-the-scenes footage, you can give your fans a glimpse into your creative process and build a strong connection with them. These types of videos also have the potential to go viral and reach millions of people, helping you grow your audience and expand your reach.