What is the Difference Between Posting Videos on Social Media and YouTube?

The short answer is that videos posted on social media are primarily used for client and lead nurturing, targeting people who are already following your page. In contrast, videos on YouTube are intended for discovery, meaning they are designed to reach new audiences and be easily found by users who may not be familiar with your content yet.

Full Explanation

When you post videos on social media platforms, the main goal is to engage and maintain relationships with your existing followers. These videos act as tools to nurture clients and leads who are already connected with your page, helping to build trust and encourage ongoing interaction.

Conversely, YouTube serves a different purpose for video content. It is a platform focused on discovery, where the objective is to make videos easily discoverable by new viewers. You want your videos to reach people who have not yet interacted with your brand, expanding your audience beyond your current followers.

Step-by-Step Breakdown

  1. Identify Your Audience: On social media, your videos should be crafted with your current followers in mind, focusing on content that nurtures and engages them.
  2. Purpose: Use social media videos to maintain relationships and encourage loyalty from your existing base.
  3. Optimize for Discovery: When posting on YouTube, aim to make your videos easy to find so new audiences can discover your content.
  4. Content Strategy: Tailor YouTube videos towards attracting viewers who are not yet familiar with your brand.

Real Examples

Social media videos might include behind-the-scenes clips, thank you messages, or updates meant to keep followers engaged and interested. These serve as reminders and relationship-builders for people already connected to your brand.

On YouTube, videos are designed for search and recommendation systems, helping users discover your content through keywords, titles, and optimized descriptions, reaching a broader audience and potential new clients.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the same video content on social media and YouTube without adapting for the different goals of each platform.
  • Failing to focus on discoverability when posting on YouTube, which can limit reach and growth.
  • Neglecting existing followers on social media by not providing nurturing and engaging video content.

FAQs

Why should I focus on nurturing on social media?

Because social media audiences are already following your page, nurturing content helps maintain their interest and can encourage loyalty and continued engagement.

How can I make my YouTube videos more discoverable?

By optimizing video titles, descriptions, and other elements to attract new viewers who are not yet familiar with your brand.

Can the same video work on both platforms?

While possible, it is more effective to tailor videos to each platform’s purpose: nurturing on social media and discovery on YouTube.

Key Takeaways

  • Social media videos nurture and engage your existing followers.
  • YouTube videos aim to be discoverable and reach new audiences.
  • Understanding these differences helps you create better video strategies for each platform.