Utilizing You Tube--It's Big

Compliments of Edie Melson

By Laurie Epps

As writers, it's easy to overlook video as an option for getting our name and platform out there, but since You Tube is still #2 most popular form of social media, it's something we shouldn't overlook. 

Edie has been in a number of You Tube videos and usually about social media. So we're going to continue to talk about social media in her book, Connections: Social Media and Networking Techniques for Writers.


She's going to walk us through the most basic of basic information. The nuts and bolts of creating your own You Tube videos. This can be the difference of working or not working because it gives your work a face and person behind the work.

Info-movies bring forth information you may have on cutting edge technology, or your up and coming works. There are also a lot of vendors who will produce your videos professionally at various writers conferences, but it's not always necessary to put your name on the grid.

Some of the same rules that apply to every social media site, also apply to the usage of You Tube. The most important one of these is: keywords still rule.

Keywords and SEO is how your public finds you. Your brand name is how you market yourself as a writer. So be consistent. Don't be afraid to use the exact same keywords, so that your readers and followers can still find you.

Your Title Can Mean Everything. The difference between success and failure can be your title. If you just leave it blank, or give it an ambiguous title like "untitled," then you're not going to have a very good reach on the Internet.

Include your title in your video voiceover. They're still evolving including your voiceover as part of your SEO. By not stating your title in your opening, you're not cross-referencing your topic that you're addressing, and you might miss out on some of your viewers.

Upload your own captioning. By uploading your own material, you're in control of it's content. To get exact information on how to do this, see page 94 of your text.

Connect Activities:

• Create your own You Tube Channel. This is easier than it sounds. If you've created your own videos, use the same concepts that you use for other social media sites and publicity. Upload your videos by date or day of the week, and be consistent.
• Add new videos to your channel like you would for a website or blog. 
• Respond to any comments about your videos. This is essential to open up the conversation and form relationships virtually.
• Look for ways to link with other sites. This will give you a new crosshairs of readership. Example: See the video below.

The following video is an example of something you can create with your laptop. I selected this one because they're talking about the Blue Ridge Christian Writers Conference, and it's a conference I highly recommend. This particular conference happens later this month in the beautiful mountains of North Carolina. For more information, click here.

Laurie Epps is a recent graduate of Anderson University majoring in Creative Writing. Already Laurie is most published as a feature article writer, essayist, and poet. A seeker of beauty and world traveler, Laurie hopes to grow into a career in travel writing illuminating the many stories that make us human despite our differences. Currently, Laurie also has a Thoughtful Thursday column dedicated to the fine art of poetry.