Two weeks ago, we published an article about the best ways to leverage Instagram as an influencer. There is an ideal platform for every type of content, and understanding your own content and where it best fits in the social media world is an essential part of your job as an influencer. Today, we’re diving into another one of our favorite social media platforms: YouTube.

Compared with Instagram, YouTube is OG. While influencer marketing really started with blogs, YouTube is one of the first platforms where everyday people, like Jenna Marbles and Shane Dawson, shot quickly to stardom. But what makes YouTube so great, and what has allowed it to endure while other platforms have faded away? (RIP Vine) Let the experts at Obviously break down what makes this YouTube effective and how you can leverage it to make the most of your video content.

Authenticity

More than any other platform, YouTube allows influencers to speak directly to their followers. Videos give audiences the impression that they really know you. They get a feel for your personality. Our favorite YouTubers feel like friends who just happen to give incredible advice on everything from doing your makeup to fixing your car to finally asking that guy out. Sometimes, we even get real glimpses into people’s emotional lives. YouTube is one of the most candid of all social media platforms. YouTube influencers let us into their lives and share their personal thoughts with us. It’s kind of a big deal.

Long-Form Content

YouTube allows influencers to hold their followers’ attention for extended periods of time. While we might only look at a photo on Instagram for a few seconds, we will watch an interesting YouTube video for a whole half-hour-- or more! This makes it especially useful for how-to videos or tutorials. Viewers can follow along with you as your create a new hairstyle, build a piece of furniture, or finally beat that challenging level on your favorite video game. If what you want to share is too in-depth for an Instagram post, then YouTube is a great option. Even better, you can share a quick preview of what you are doing on your Instagram and use that to entice followers over to your YouTube channel for the full experience.

Who’s doing it well?

Audrie StormeAudrie lets is beyond charming and we’re so happy to be let into her charmed life.  Traveling with her, dressing up with her, and creating with her is so much fun, and getting to know her is even better. — **Audrie Storme**
Audrie lets is beyond charming and we’re so happy to be let into her charmed life. Traveling with her, dressing up with her, and creating with her is so much fun, and getting to know her is even better.

BeMyGuestwithDenise Denise is that friend we all desperately need but is so hard to find!  She can solve any home decor or organization problem in a snap.  And she doesn’t mind if you copy all her ideas. :-) — **BeMyGuestwithDenise**
Denise is that friend we all desperately need but is so hard to find! She can solve any home decor or organization problem in a snap. And she doesn’t mind if you copy all her ideas. :-)

Nastazsa She is queen of DIY.  Her videos are so inspiring and all of the projects are relevant and fun  Seriously, if I had the time my entire apartment would be done up like this — **Nastazsa**
She is queen of DIY. Her videos are so inspiring and all of the projects are relevant and fun Seriously, if I had the time my entire apartment would be done up like this

What kind of influencers should use YouTube?

YouTube is great for lifestyle influencers who want to expand on their blog or Instagram content with a vlog. It’s also great for anyone who has something to teach us. Personally, I’m always heading to YouTube for hair and makeup tutorials. I’d basically be lost without it. It’s also very popular with gamers and cosplayers, because of the ability to talk us through the various levels of a game and review in-the-moment as they are playing.

I’ve considered starting a YouTube channel, but how to I make the transition?

YouTube works great in tandem with other social media platforms. Many of our best bloggers and Instagram Influencers are also on YouTube. The most important advice I can give is to be consistent. If you set our promising to make two videos a week, be sure to do so. If that’s too much, try out weekly or every other week. The important thing is that your followers know when to check in for new content and what to expect from your channel. Oh- and to have fun, of course!

Stay tuned for next week, when we’ll be talking about the mother of all influencer channels: the personal blog.

Why we love YouTube