Imagine growing your nonprofit's reach on a social media platform that not only drives awareness but also generates support and leads interested donors to your website. If that sounds like a dream, it's time to start building your nonprofit’s presence on YouTube.
YouTube Keyword Research
Before you can post about the topics that matter most to your mission, you need to consider which topics are gaining traction. One of the best ways to research trending video topics with low competition is to use a keyword tool specific to YouTube. VidIQ is an excellent keyword research tool that integrates directly with your YouTube account. When you integrate VidIQ, you'll see various statistics, including video competition, suggested keywords, hourly view statistics, and even tag rankings. Keywords Everywhere is another tool you can use to see metrics for popular YouTube topics, which can also be useful for other platforms requiring search terms like Google.
Eye-Grabbing Content Ideas
Creating the perfect content for your YouTube channel involves a few key steps. First, ensure you’re confident in your ability to create a video on the chosen topic. Second, check if the topic has a monthly search volume of at least 1,500. Third, evaluate the competition for the topic. Avoid researching terms or ideas that don't interest you. For instance, if your channel focuses on advocacy work, you don't need to create videos on unrelated trending topics. Your video topics should align with your mission and values. Use the keyword research tools mentioned above to narrow down those topics and couple them with your unique branding to create a channel worth subscribing to. To enhance your branding and increase the likelihood of attracting viewers, make sure your YouTube thumbnails are appealing, well-framed, and that the text is eye-catching.
Video Branding
Like any other social media platform, your YouTube videos should be easily identifiable in comparison to your brand. Don’t be afraid to mention that you have more to offer beyond your YouTube channel. While it's essential to save time as a content creator by reusing content across platforms, posting the exact same content regularly on every platform can deter people from subscribing to all of them. Include your branding, but don’t forget to offer a variety of content to your followers. Branding your content creates regular viewers and grows your subscriber list—hopefully on all of your social media platforms!
Consistent Engagement
Unlike other platforms, a small subscriber count does not equate to low viewership on YouTube. Consistent engagement with your audience can significantly increase your visibility. Share your posts in local networking groups to build organic reach and engagement. Find Facebook groups that support each other's accounts through likes, comments, and follows. The more engagement your posts receive, the more likely Facebook (and YouTube) will show your content to a wider audience.
Offering Value
Remember to offer value in your interactions. Whether it’s responding to comments, engaging with other creators, or offering exclusive content, providing value, awareness, and education to your audience fosters loyalty and encourages more people to support your cause. You may even consider hosting a podcast on YouTube to amplify your storytelling. In fact, you can read our previous article “10 Reasons Your Nonprofit Should Start a Podcast in 2024.”
Conclusion
Growing your nonprofit's presence on YouTube is about more than just posting videos; it's about creating meaningful content that aligns with your mission and resonates with your audience. Thousands of people visit YouTube to find answers to their questions, and it doesn’t matter what niche your nonprofit operates in—there's an audience eager to learn and support your cause. Have you started your YouTube channel yet? Now is the perfect time to begin!
You may even consider hosting a podcast on YouTube. In fact, you can read our previous article “10 Reasons Your Nonprofit Should Start a Podcast in 2024.”
