Maximising Your Reach: How Student Housing Companies Can Utilise YouTube Shorts
YouTube is the world's most popular video-sharing platform, having been around since 2005. With over 2 billion active monthly users, it's a platform that you can't afford to ignore. While YouTube has traditionally been known for longer-form content (3-30 minutes), the platform has pivoted to short-form content in response to the rise of TikTok, with consumers now preferring to consume content that's under 3 minutes long. With over 84% of people under 25 using YouTube daily, it's a great time for student housing companies to start incorporating YouTube Shorts into their digital marketing strategy.
What are YouTube Shorts? YouTube Shorts are short-form videos (15-60 seconds) that can be easily consumed on mobile devices. With users considering short-form video content 2.5 times more engaging than long-form video content, YouTube Shorts are an excellent tool for brands and creators to reach new audiences and drive engagement. In the first quarter of 2022, views of YouTube Shorts videos hit 30 billion per day, which is four times more than in Q1 2021.
What are the benefits of YouTube Shorts?
One of the key benefits of YouTube Shorts is that they make it easy for users to subscribe to your channel while watching your video. This makes it easy to grow your audience quickly. Additionally, almost half of YouTube "watch time" is generated from mobile devices, making YouTube Shorts a cornerstone of any YouTube channel's digital strategy.
What content works best for YouTube Shorts? The key to creating effective YouTube Shorts is to create engaging, snappy content that provides value. This could be anything from educational content to behind-the-scenes footage to viral trends. To create content that resonates with your audience, it's important to find your hook and communicate it quickly to grab their attention.
So, what kind of content would make good YouTube Shorts for student housing companies? Here are some examples:
"How to Interior Style Bedrooms" - Helping students make their bedrooms look great with tips and tricks on interior design. This could include affordable ways to decorate their rooms, creating cozy spaces, and making the most of limited space.
"Looking After Your Mental Health at Uni" - With the rise of mental health issues among students, this is a topic that's relevant to many students. Your Shorts could offer tips on how to cope with stress, loneliness, and anxiety while living in student housing.
"Making Friends in Student Halls" - Making friends in student housing can be challenging, but it's also an exciting opportunity. Your Shorts could provide tips on how to meet new people, join clubs and societies, and make the most of your time at university.
Best practices for creating YouTube Shorts:
Get straight to the point - Make the first few seconds count by jumping straight into the relevant content.
Keep it short and sweet - Restrain yourself and keep it snappy. Play with different cuts and edits to keep your audience engaged and entertained.
Optimize for replays - YouTube Shorts are played on a replay loop, so think about how your content will look in this format.
Keep your audience keen - Find the hook that will keep your audience coming back for more and encourage them to subscribe.
Consistency is key - Have a content plan in place so that you never run out of ideas or inspiration. Take a look at your competitors and see what works for them.
Optimize your Shorts - Optimize the title of your video with a strong title and use of hashtags.
Get Help with Your YouTube Shorts Strategy.
If you need assistance with your Shorts strategy, the Glow Digital Marketing team can help with advertising campaigns, performance tracking, and account management. Contact us today to get started!
