Hi there! Many business owners struggle to make YouTube a profitable marketing tool. But what if I told you there’s a surprisingly straightforward strategy to turn your channel into a lead-generating, customer-attracting powerhouse? This is not about luck. It’s about a proven framework that will change the way you approach YouTube.
The YouTube Secret Weapon: Align, Attract, Action
Forget about randomly uploading videos and hoping for the best. A truly effective YouTube strategy revolves around three core elements: Align, Attract, and Action. These aren’t just buzzwords, they are the building blocks for a YouTube channel that actually works for your business.
Align: The Crucial First Step That Everyone Skips
Before you even think about filming your next video, you need to ask yourself a critical question: what do you want this channel to DO for you?. This is where most people go wrong. They create videos without a clear goal, leading to scattered results. To make sure your content aligns with your business goals, you should clearly define what you want to achieve with your YouTube channel.
- Grow your email list?
- Sell more of a specific product or service?
- Build a loyal audience?
- Create a community around your passion?
It doesn’t matter what your goal is, but you need to have one. The important thing is to write it down. This will become your “North Star,” guiding every single video you create. If a video idea doesn’t align with this goal, you’ll know whether it’s worth your time and resources. For example, if your goal is to grow your email list and the video idea won’t help you get email subscribers, you might want to reconsider your approach.
Attract: Stop Guessing and Start Targeting
Once you know what you want your channel to do, the next question is: who are you trying to attract?. It’s not enough to create videos and hope the right people stumble upon them. You need to be proactive and target your ideal customer. To do this effectively you must think about who your ideal customer is. Once you know who this is, you can begin to explore the type of questions they might be searching online.
YouTube is the second largest search engine in the world, and it’s owned by Google, making it an incredibly powerful tool for reaching your audience. To leverage this power, ask yourself:
- What would my ideal customer type into the search engine to find videos in my area of expertise?
- What challenges are they facing?
- What questions do they have?
Think like your ideal client. Would they be searching for a specific solution? Perhaps they don’t even know that your solution exists.
Here’s a two-pronged approach to brainstorming:
- Questions they ask when they don’t know your solution exists: These are broad questions that relate to the pain points your business solves. For example, someone struggling to scale their coaching business might be searching “how to scale my coaching business”. They may not know a certification program is the solution to this, but they are looking for something.
- Questions they ask when they do know your solution exists: These are more specific questions that directly relate to your offerings. For instance, someone aware of the value of certification programs might search “what are the steps to creating a successful certification program”.
Don’t start from scratch: Take a look at what the competition is doing in your field. What types of videos are getting a lot of engagement? What questions are people asking in the comments? Reddit is also a goldmine for market research. Spend 20 minutes brainstorming questions in each of these categories. Don’t judge the ideas yet, just write them all down.
Action: The Most Overlooked Piece of the Puzzle
You’ve got great videos, but so what? You need to guide your viewers to take the next step, which brings us to the third piece: action. What specific action do you want them to take after watching your video? This should always be tied back to the goals you identified in the “Align” phase. If you are trying to grow your email list you need to be clear about the action you want your viewer to take.
Here are some examples:
- Download a free guide or checklist?
- Register for a free training or webinar?
- Book a free consultation?
- Check out a particular program or product?
Make it obvious: Don’t leave viewers guessing. Clearly state what you want them to do, and provide a direct link in the description. Explain what the viewer will get out of taking action. Use a clear, concise call to action at the end of your video.
One call to action is enough: Don’t overwhelm your viewers with multiple requests. Asking them to like, comment, subscribe, and click on a link will only dilute your message. Focus on a single, clear action and you’ll see your results amplified. Simplify to amplify!
The Power of Consistency
The “Align, Attract, Action” framework is the foundation for YouTube success. This is the core component of any YouTube strategy because everything that happens after this, depends on what you say in the video, what you are teaching and what actions you are encouraging your viewers to take. Once you have these foundational pieces in place, the next step is to focus on creating and producing videos consistently. By doing this consistently you will see the benefits of this strategy.
Conclusion
Don’t let another day go by with your YouTube channel underperforming. By implementing this three-part framework, you can transform your channel into a powerful tool for business growth. Remember the key components: Align your content with your goals, attract the right audience with targeted videos, and guide viewers to take action. These are the steps to start seeing results. This simple approach is the key to finally unlocking the real potential of YouTube for your business.
FAQs
How do I know if my videos are aligned with my goals? Before you even start filming, ask yourself, “What do I want this video to do for my business?”. If the answer doesn’t directly support your overall goals (e.g., growing your email list, generating leads, selling a specific product), then you may need to adjust the content. It might be a great idea, but it won’t be a good use of your time if it doesn’t align.
How do I know what my ideal customer is searching for? Think about their problems, challenges, and questions. Start by brainstorming the questions they might ask when they don’t know your solution exists, and also the questions they might ask when they do know your solution exists. Use YouTube search, competitor channels, and online forums like Reddit to identify these search terms.
Is it really important to focus on just one call to action? Absolutely. Giving your viewers too many options will only confuse them. By focusing on one specific action, you’ll make it easier for them to take that step and you will amplify your results. Simplify to amplify.