YouTube Guidelines

YouTube is a video sharing platform that allows users to post long- and short-form video content. It’s fully integrated with Google, making it a key destination for more than 1 billion users on the internet.

YouTube overview

Strengths

  • Serves as the preferred video sharing platform on the web
  • Provides the second-largest online search engine (Google No. 1)
  • Expanded time allotment allows for long-form videos to be posted
  • Enjoys better search results on Google
  • Is fully compatible across Google platforms and embeds players within Facebook and Twitter posts

Challenges

  • Makes it too easy to violate copyright law
  • Requires video equipment and editing knowledge
  • Provides no formula for making videos go viral

Audience

According to YouTube, the platform:

  • Is the third-most visited internet website
  • Has more than 1 billion users
  • Reaches more 18-34 and 18-49 year-olds than any U.S. cable network
  • Hosts more than 6 billion hours of watched video per month
  • More than half of views that come from mobile devices

Discover more about YouTube demographics

Checklist

  • Keep your videos short (2 minutes or less)
  • Keep your videos engaging and entertaining
  • Inspire by thinking content first -- not advertising
  • Deliver key messages early to counteract natural short attention spans
  • Include calls to action
  • Add strong titles and descriptions to your videos