Since part of YouTube’s extreme popularity comes from its ability to adapt to the latest consumer trends and habits, how can marketers make the most of changes to the platform? Here are three YouTube trends video marketers need to know going into 2022.
YouTube Shorts
As short-form video platforms TikTok and Snapchat have taken over the app market by storm in 2021, YouTube has been paying attention. In response, they’ve launched the YouTube Shorts platform that allows users to create videos up to 15 seconds long in the hope they’ll go viral.
Like competitors TikTok and Snapchat, YouTube Shorts lets creators clip multiple segments together and use a wide range of captions and music tracks. Shorts also provides an algorithmically generated feed for users that instantly shows them content from their favorite creators.
While the app is still in beta mode, it’s never too early to incorporate Shorts into your content marketing strategy. Think of it as a complement to TikTok and Snapchat—take what you’re doing on these platforms to YouTube and consider adapting your current and future videos to this new format while leveraging YouTube’s abundant music library and hashtags.
Chapters
YouTube is constantly evolving, and YouTube Chapters is just one of the new features that can help your brand engage your audience in exciting, innovative ways. The Chapters function helps creators segment videos into sections, each with their own unique name. It allows viewers to skip to the parts they really want to see by checking the sections in the progress bar, similar to chapters in a book.
Chapters help to position your videos as “Suggested Clips” on Google above most search results, allowing brands to diversify their traffic sources. Users can click on a Suggested Clip in search engine results and jump to specific points in the video where the answer to their search appears.
Community
YouTube has recently introduced a “Community” tab that helps creators interact directly with their audience. In the past, user and creator communication was limited to comments and likes. The Community tab has changed all that, allowing creators with more than one thousand subscribers to engage with their audience through text, images, polls, video and GIFs.
Creators can use these new features to inform their audience of the latest news, ask interesting questions and much more. It creates an experience that’s similar to a Facebook page, and YouTube even promotes these posts to mobile users regardless of whether they’re subscribed to your channel or not. The result is a bigger audience and the potential for greater engagement.
Looking to take your YouTube strategy to the next level in 2022? YouTube is always introducing new features and functions and working with a video marketing partner can help you make the most of them. Say hello to Spin Creative. Whether you want to boost your subscriber count or drive engagement with your audience, we’ll help you act on the latest YouTube trends and expand your following.
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Spin Creative is a video production company and creative agency helping marketers create winning video and creative strategies that engage, inspire and activate targeted audiences. Spin is headquartered in Seattle with offices in San Francisco and London, serving brands around the globe.
