One platform where development may sometimes seem like a slow slog is YouTube. It must be difficult to stand out in the crowd of millions of creators, isn’t it? Well, you know what? Working together as a YouTuber? They are a major disruptive force. Gaining access to other artists’ audiences via collaboration allows you to begin reaching a wider audience.
Why Should You Collaborate?
Let us start with the obvious: why should you even bother collaborating? In all honesty, they make it easier for you to connect with folks you would not have otherwise encountered. When you collaborate with another creative, you expose yourself to their audience, and your audience gets to know them. This is a win-win scenario.
I mean, let’s take a real example. If you’re a makeup artist and you team up with a skincare YouTuber for a product review, you’re likely to get new likes and subscribers who care about beauty and self-care. But it’s not just about reaching new people. You get fresh ideas and a boost in creativity, too.
Picking the Right Partner
Here’s the deal, though: you cannot work with anybody. Choosing the correct partner is essential to success. You want someone whose audience is like yours, or at the very least, whose material your audience will find relatable. Do not choose someone based just on their following size. If their audience is different from yours, it will not assist. For instance, unless you are both offering fitness advice for travelers or something similar, a travel YouTuber and a fitness YouTuber may not be a good match.
Seek for creators in a related field, but be sure they have a sizable, active fan base. A creative with millions of subscribers may not be as accessible as one with a smaller but devoted fan base, so do not go overboard with your initial collaboration.
How to Start the Conversation
You have discovered someone, then. How do you begin? Avoid just sending them a “Hey, let us collaborate!” message in their direct messages. It is preferable to establish a rapport initially. Engage with their material to demonstrate your genuine interest in their job. You may contact them about something they did that you enjoyed, share their videos, or leave insightful comments. This kind of connection-building may help the talk flow more easily.
Before requesting to work together, a YouTuber I know began by leaving comments on other producers’ videos. She demonstrated her concern for their substance by being consistent and considerate. She developed sincere connections over time, which led to incredible partnerships.
Types of Collaborations
There is not a single collaborative style that works for everyone. You may experiment with a variety of methods. Here are several examples:
- Guest Appearances: This one is timeless. They appear on your channel, and you appear on theirs. If you are a tech YouTuber, for instance, you might ask a gamer to review the same product on both of your channels.
- Challenges: These are very well-liked. It is very shareable when you dare one another to do something absurd or humorous. Consider the widely shared “try not to laugh” problems.
- Collaborative Series: Perhaps you both want to produce a series with several episodes. You may even appear in one other’s videos or switch up the episodes. This increases your viewers’ continued involvement.
- Cross-Promotions: Sometimes, it is as easy as yelling at one another in your social media posts or videos. One YouTuber I follow, for instance, often sends links to up-and-coming producers and exclaims, “Hey, check out this amazing channel!”
- Giveaways: Another simple approach for a partnership is to have a giveaway. Both channels will see some growth as you both tell your followers about the offer.
Reaching Out: Don’t Overthink It
Be genuine when you do choose to get in touch. Clearly state your goals and the benefits you both stand to get. Suppose you are a YouTuber who focuses on travel, and you would want to collaborate with a photographer. “I love your content, and I think our audiences would enjoy a video where we explore cool places and share our tips!” is a possible way to phrase it. Just be yourself and avoid making it seem like a formal business presentation.
After the Collaboration: Don’t Forget to Promote
It is time to share the collaboration once it becomes online. It is not enough to just post it on YouTube and hope for the best. Post it on the various social networking sites you use. Encourage your followers to check out your partner by tagging them. Tell your audience how thrilled you are about the partnership, in fact. Energy is generated around it as a result.
Additionally, remember to monitor the outcomes. Have you gained additional subscribers? Was the video a success? In this manner, you may grow from each partnership and adapt to the next one.
