Attracting More Views For A YouTube Video

Sharptack

Hey all, I have a strange situation I could use some advise on.

I'm taking an Internet-based sociology course at my university, and one of the primary assignments for the class is to create a YouTube video that attracts as many views as possible.

What are the best methods of boosting awareness and views for a YouTube video? Note that the video has already been made; I haven't posted it here to avoid shameless self-promotion.

I appreciate any help you guys can provide.

Dorkman

Perhaps posting flyers or pamphlets around computer labs on campus with the name of the video and saying to check it out on Youtube.

Other then that, getting a Youtube "celebrity" to link to your video may get some views, if you can convince one of them to do so.

Kyougu

Using social media such as twitter and facebook are usually the way I see most youtube videos. That route could work.

Lail

If it's awesome, people will find it.

If it's not awesome, you need to spam it anyway you can.

Example, it should be in your signature.

Also, as was said, share it on Facebook and Twitter.

Iruka

Stumble Upon. Anything that will throw it into a random mix for bored people can start a chain of it getting linked to others. If its long or not funny, though, it may not catch like wild fire.

admanb

Facebook. Twitter. Stumble. Digg. Reddit.

saint2e

Not the most elegant way to do it, but you could trick people into clicking it by doing one of those "OMG you won't believe what this wife did to her husband when she found out!!!!" Like groups on Facebook where you have to "Like" something to view the video.

That "Like" automatically shows up in that person's newsfeed and it gains momentum from there, from what I can see.

Aumni

Like was mentioned, bring it up in a chat conversation. Link it in your sig, your twitter, your facebook.

The type of video for best views:

A) If you're a hot teen girl, anything. Just talk in front of the camera with a t-shirt on or something.

Something funny.

C) Anything involving Justin Bieber

D) Something clever that hasn't been done before [or often or well] Like using an Iphone attatched to a balloon to spy on people from above [Has been done].

E) Really fucking annoying yet catch song. (BADGERBADGERBADGER SNNAAAAAAKEEEE!!! AHHH SNAAAAAKE BADGER BADGERBADGER...)

F) Very cute animals doing cute things.

admanb

Aumni wrote: »

Like was mentioned, bring it up in a chat conversation. Link it in your sig, your twitter, your facebook.

The type of video for best views:

A) If you're a hot teen girl, anything. Just talk in front of the camera with a t-shirt on or something.

Don't forget to name it something that involves lesbians.

CygnusZ

The best method is to put up something that people actually want to see. Do you really think that the "Will it Blend" guy has to actually advertise his videos? It's interesting, so people watch it and he gets the publicity for his product.

You can spam if you want, and your video may get some "views", but it it's not genuinely interesting the popularity of your video isn't going to pick up, nor are people actually going to watch it for more than five seconds.

kyleh613

Aumni wrote: »

F) Very cute animals doing cute things.

This seems to be the best way to get views. I'm not sure i've ever seen a cat video with under 1,000,000 views.

Rent

tags

make sure you tag a lot of things, especially anything involving hot girls, you'll get into more related videos lists that way

response vids to popular videos, assuming you can get on a popular video, is another good way

"duping" is another popular way; insert a still at the exact middle of your vid of a hot girl and you're guaranteed more views (the still will show up in the preview screen for the video)

"music videos" which consist of a popular song and stills are great for views as well if people want to listen to a specific song for free on yt

Sharptack

Thanks for the tips all!

Unfortunately, we weren't allowed from using any animals in our videos, nor could we do parodies of any kind, which really limited our immediate appeal. :P

I added the video to my signature, and I'll follow some of the advise here and see how it goes. Perhaps I'll hit up digg and the like as well.