If you’re a business looking to promote online using videos, you’ll probably have your eye on YouTube. It is a free, fast, easy way to get your business videos out to a massive audience. But how can you do it effectively, without overstepping the community’s boundaries?
YouTube, like many websites, has a number of rules and restrictions. It is not only important that you know those rules, but that you follow them, as there are a number of consequences for not. Accounts can be terminated at their discretion, so it’s important to keep their Terms of Service in mind when approaching them as an avenue for marketing.
A few rules you’ll want to live by as a YouTube user:
1. Use your comments the right way.
Whenever you leave comments for a YouTube video, you should use your best judgment and remember it reflect your image and your business. Negative feedback or blatant spam can easily make other users avoid you. If you spam or leave foul language on a video, other users have the ability to report you.
2. Don’t spam, period.
There are a ton of ways to abuse the YouTube system. Don’t do it. While it’s OK to promote yourself and your YouTube Channel, it’s also against the rules to post large amounts of untargeted, unwanted or repetitive content, including comments and private messages.Steer clear of spamming with videos and links. If you want to attract a usre’s attention, post a video as a response instead. Spam and foul language will likely not only get your message revoked, but you may also have your account suspended.
3. Use your own content.
Don’t be offensive or “borrow” content from user without permission. While many users do this on a regular basis for their videos, it’s not going to fly for a business. Somebody will probably come after you – and then the liability transfers from the website to your company. Don’t use copyrighted music unless you hold a license to do so. (If you’re having trouble finding music, do a search for Creative Commons music on Google. Make sure the music is attributed properly.) Before using music clips, television clips, or movie clips, you need to get permission to do so. If you fail to get permission, you are, essentially, stealing someone’s work.
4. Don’t be misleading.
It’s unprofessional and against the rules to use misleading descriptions, tags, titles or thumbnails in order to increase views. While it’s OK to promote yourself and your YouTube Channel, it’s also against the rules to post large amounts of untargeted, unwanted or repetitive content, including comments and private messages.
The above mentioned rules are just a few of the many that you may be expected to follow when using YouTube. It is a fun community with room for everyone – business owners, MLM’ers, affiliates, and, of course, individual users. It’s best to stick with your gut if you feel that your videos or behavior may be against their policies. Protect your business and your reputation by following and respecting the rules of conduct. And enjoy being part of the YouTube community.. youtube likes