Boosting traffic is a common marketing objective for advertisers of all sizes, and SEO is one of many ways to help achieve it. Marketing, like sales, is partially a numbers game. What you say and how you say it are both extremely important, but also important is to how many people you say it to, and how often. When focusing on boosting traffic, the goal is to tell more people your message.
For this discussion we’re going to focus on YouTube SEO vs Google SEO in getting your message to the most people in the most effective way.
Where Does The Audience Look?
To make a wise decision on where to allocate resources – to YouTube SEO or Google SEO – there are several questions that are helpful to ask. The first is, “where is your audience looking for answers to their questions?”
When The Answer is YouTube
If the question is “how-to” in nature, such as “how to make crème brûlée,” being able to watch someone demonstrate the process is extremely helpful. This makes YouTube the go-to source for these types of queries.
When The Answer is Google and Other Search Engines
If the question is “what is” or “what are” in nature, such as “what is a crème brûlée?” or “what are the ingredients in crème brûlée,” watching the answer might be less helpful or less efficient than being able to quickly read about it. For these types of queries, Google text results do a splendid job.
A Practical Word
If you aim to convey that following you will enhance someone’s processes or skills, prioritizing YouTube SEO is a logical choice. On the other hand, if your goal is to establish yourself as a leader in your specific industry or vertical, directing your focus towards Google SEO is advisable.
What Are You Good At?
The second question to ask is “what are you good at?” This question is in regards to the kind of content you can skillfully create. Not everyone can get in front of a camera and talk about something interesting for any length of time (technically anyone could, but I don’t know that anyone should), and not everyone can get behind a keyboard and write engaging and informative articles.
Although you can boost traffic regardless of whether your content is actually good, I recommend asking this question to yourself so that you can benefit fully from the boosted traffic.
Being Good at Video Creation
If you have talent for story telling, and a very personable quality about you, then you’re winning half the battle. If you can couple that with great video quality, and stellar sound, then you’re on your way to becoming a star. If, on the other hand, you find it difficult to articulate your thoughts out loud, and all you have to shoot video is a low megapixel camera with a built in microphone, then you may find it difficult to get any number of people excited to engage in your video content.
Blogging and Google
If you’re the next Hemingway, or if large language models educate themselves after your writing, then blogging and writing articles will be in your wheelhouse. Even if you’re not that good, but you can adequately express your ideas in written form, then blogging will still be a cinch.
Another Practical Word
You cannot execute YouTube SEO without video content, and optimizing your videos for SEO would be ineffective if the content lacks watchability. Similarly, Google SEO requires written content (except for local SEO), and poor-quality written content will likely drive visitors away from your site in search of better alternatives.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the pursuit of boosting traffic through effective marketing strategies is a multifaceted endeavor, with search engine optimization (SEO) playing a crucial role. Understanding where your audience seeks information is paramount in deciding whether to focus efforts on YouTube SEO or Google SEO. For “how-to” inquiries, YouTube’s visual format excels, while textual queries find their answers more efficiently through Google search results. Moreover, aligning your strengths with the content format is essential for success; compelling video content requires storytelling prowess and technical proficiency, whereas engaging written content demands articulate expression.
Ultimately, a balanced approach that leverages both platforms can maximize reach and engagement. For those capable of providing high-quality video and blog content, investing in SEO for both platforms is highly recommended. This comprehensive strategy ensures broader visibility and accessibility to a diverse audience, thereby enhancing the potential for sustained growth and increased brand recognition in the competitive digital landscape. By prioritizing strategic SEO efforts across multiple platforms, marketers can effectively capitalize on the strengths of each medium while delivering valuable content that resonates with their target audience.