Tag Archives: YouTube

Guest Post: Why Writers Should Have YouTube Channels, by Web Design Relief

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This article has been reprinted with the permission of Web Design Relief.  Whether you’re just starting out or a best-selling author, Web Design Relief will improve your existing website or build you an affordable, custom author website to support your author platform, boost your online presence, and act as a hub for your social media outreach. Web Design Relief is a division of Writer’s Relief, a highly recommended author’s submission service. Sign up for their free e-publication for writers, Submit Write Now! Visit the site today to learn more.

As a writer, you may think YouTube isn’t a worthwhile platform for reaching out to your readers and building an audience. Think again—your readers love to watch videos! The media experts at Web Design Relief know that YouTube has over a billion users, and it’s currently the second most popular platform after Facebook. Here are more reasons why writers should have YouTube channels.

Why More Writers Are Creating YouTube Channels

More Exposure: The more times you show up in an Internet search, the better! Along with your social media platforms and author website, having a YouTube channel helps you reach a wider audience and makes you more findable by literary agents and editors. Since YouTube is owned by Google, it also sends traffic to YouTube channels. If a potential new reader conducts an online search for your topics or writing style, Google will display your YouTube channel in the search results. Be sure to keep your content fresh and interesting so visitors to your channel choose to become subscribers! Here are innovative ways to increase your visibility on YouTube.

Better Engagement: Readers who visit your YouTube channel are actively searching for your specific type of content, so your videos will command more of their attention and generate more responses and interaction. Plus, unlike posts on social media that can be buried under other posts and lost forever, YouTube videos will always pop up in a search if the topic is relevant. Visitors who watch your videos are obviously interested in you and your writing, so asking your YouTube audience to sign up for your e-mail list or newsletter is another great way to connect and grow your fan base.

Increased Readership. If you provide quality content on a consistent basis, your regular readers will be delighted with your channel and new readers who browsed in for one topic may stay and watch your other videos. Visitors who enjoy your content and subscribe to your channel will receive notifications whenever you post new content. Viewers who watch your YouTube channel are more likely to share your content with other booklovers and literature fans, bringing you and your writing to the attention of new readers—and potential new subscribers!

Joining Is Free: There’s no cost to create your YouTube channel and start posting videos. You can build your readership, become more visible in online searches, and engage your followers without spending lots of your hard-earned cash. YouTube does offer the option to purchase ads, but it’s not necessary to pay to play.

Bonus: Once you develop a substantial following on your YouTube channel, you can choose to monetize your videos so they can generate income for you! And while making a living from YouTubing is rare, you may bring in enough money to buy that new journal you’ve had your eye on.

YouTube Videos Can Be Reused: You can take the videos you create for your YouTube channel and embed them on your author website and into blog articles, as well as feature the videos on your Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts. Since videos are popular on social media platforms, you’ll capture your followers’ attention more effectively in their feeds.

A YouTube channel is a great way to connect with your audience and grow your following. And you don’t need to have expensive video equipment or expert camera skills to get started! You can read some of your published work, answer questions about your writing process, give writing tips and advice, and much more. It’s a great way to stand out and be noticed!

Question: Which authors do you follow on YouTube?

Video of the Week #262: Creative Encouragement

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Disclaimer: Use good judgment! Some of the activities pictured should not be attempted by amateurs.

Kids Making Music

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Kids Making Music

Back in the day, I was an elementary general music teacher. It gives me great pleasure to see kids having fun making beautiful music.

I’ve been a little bummed out, what with being confined to home. It’s affected my blogging life in that I just don’t feel excited about writing about stuff. I couldn’t come up with an idea for today’s post until I thought, What could be better or more life-affirming than kids making music? So I headed to YouTube. (Oh, yeah, like you haven’t been watching cat videos while stuck at home.)

A six year old at Carnegie Hall:

Three year old drummer:

Kids making music with found objects:

A six-year-old accompanies herself on ukulele:

Kids from all over the world cooperated to make this video. My students used to do this cup thing.

Seven year old guitarist:

You’ll recognize the three pieces in this medley played by nine- and ten-year-olds:

Hey, don’t you have an accordion stored under your bed? This would be a good time to pull it out and practice. . .

Video of the Week #184: Transcendence​

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More about Lindsey Stirling.

More about the Landfill Harmonic.

I’d Rather Be Dancing This Christmas

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I’d Rather Be Dancing This Christmas

For your holiday season pleasure, here are some YouTube videos featuring Christmas-themed dances.

A family’s Christmas tradition, making a yearly dance video:

Several short offerings from a dance academy:

College students get in the spirit:

The first part of this is so original:

This SO reminds me of my daughter Carly’s first dance recital…

The dog’s not impressed, but I am:

Rockettes chorus line:

What does it take for the Rockettes to dance with such precision?

The Waltz of the Snowflakes from The Nutcracker:

Rest in Peace, Glen Campbell

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Rest in Peace, Glen Campbell

April 22, 1936 – August 8, 2017

Video of the Week #102: Ringtone Variations

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Video of the Week #102: Ringtone Variations

Have you taken the ARHtistic License Survey yet? Help me make this blog a place you want to visit often.

Video of the Week #78: The Christmas Story

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Video of the Week #78: The Christmas Story

Video of the Week #57: Opa!

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Video of the Week #57: Opa!

Beautifully performed Greek dance.

Video of the Week #52: Rocking Out Under the Sea

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Video of the Week #52: Rocking Out Under the Sea

This is an annual event in July. If you have to be in Florida in the middle of the summer, you may want to attend.