Finding success on YouTube is hard but not impossible. This popular video-streaming platform has over 61 million content creators. It is overly oversaturated.
And, well, you must have heard the phrase – content is the king.
So, if you create good content, more people will watch your videos, algorithms will push you up the search engine, and BOOM! You will be performing better than your competitors.
Sounds pretty simple, right? But you’re missing an important step in this YouTube success cycle. The King’s Council a.k.a YouTube’s features.
You can’t possibly stay on top of the ladder without the council’s help – especially when it comes to the Community tab. This feature exists for a very important reason, and if you unlock its true potential, it can work wonders for your channel’s growth.
So, in today’s post, let’s talk about what the Community tab is on YouTube and why you should use it to connect with your audience on a deeper level. Let’s dive in!
Table of Contents
What is the Community Tab on YouTube?
Introduced in September 2016, the Community Tab is a vital tool for creators to go beyond video uploads and connect directly with subscribers. It is a dedicated space within a channel where you can interact with the audience through various types of posts.
You can use it to:
- Post Updates
Share text updates, announcements, or behind-the-scenes glimpses to keep subscribers informed about channel-related news, upcoming events, or content releases.
- Create Polls
Gather opinions and feedback from the audience through polls. This enables creators to involve subscribers in decisions regarding future content, collaborations, or channel direction.
- Share Multimedia
Post images, GIFs, or short video clips to provide additional context or sneak peeks related to upcoming videos or projects.
Basically, its purpose revolves around enhancing audience engagement and building a sense of community. You can use it to communicate anything to your audience. And since it’s located on the main page, you can also pin a particular post for the new channel visitors.
However, note that the Community tab is not accessible to all. It has an eligibility criteria that changes with time.
Initially, the Community tab was only available to creators with 10,000 subscribers. As of 2023, you must now have access to advanced features by having sufficient channel history, valid ID, or video verification.
Watch this video to learn more about using Community Tab:
Why Should You Build a Community on YouTube?
Building a community on YouTube is totally optional. You are not required to get the Community tab and focus on interaction at any stage of your YouTube channel. But if you choose to do this, it can unlock a whole new level of growth and success.
Here’s how:
1. Engagement and Loyalty
A dedicated community fosters deeper connections with your audience. When viewers feel engaged and valued, they’re more likely to become loyal fans. This means they will regularly consume your content, participate in discussions, and even advocate for your channel.
2. Sustainability
A thriving community provides a stable foundation for your channel’s longevity. Building a loyal following creates a sustainable viewership base. This reduces dependence on external factors and algorithm changes.
3. Feedback and Improvement
Engaged communities offer invaluable feedback. They provide insights into what resonates with your audience. Thus, helping you tailor your content to meet their preferences and improve continuously
4. Increased Visibility and Reach
YouTube’s algorithm favors engaging content. A vibrant community that interacts with your content, leaving comments, likes, and shares, signals to the algorithm that your videos are valuable. This can lead to increased visibility and recommendations to a broader audience.
5. Collaboration Opportunities
A strong community opens doors to collaborations, partnerships, and sponsorships. Brands often seek creators with engaged audiences, which presents monetization opportunities beyond ad revenue.
6. Support and Advocacy
An active community acts as your advocate. They’re more likely to share your content, recommend your channel to others, and support you in endeavors such as crowdfunding campaigns or merchandise sales.
So, it’s fair to say that building a community transforms your channel from a mere collection of videos into a dynamic and interactive platform where viewers become active participants in your creative journey.
How to Build a Supportive & Loyal Community on YouTube?
It doesn’t matter whether you have 50 or 5000 subscribers. Building a supportive and loyal community takes a lot of time, patience, and dedication. You can’t expect your audience to become interactive overnight. You need to put in the work.
Here are 5 simple steps to help you kickstart this journey:
1. Consistent Quality Content
Creating consistent, high-quality content tailored to a specific niche is the cornerstone of building a loyal YouTube community. This means you need to focus on 3 important aspects when creating content:
- Upload Regularly
Maintain a predictable schedule that your audience can rely on. Whether it’s weekly, bi-weekly, or another frequency, sticking to a schedule helps create anticipation and expectation among your viewers. When they know when to expect new content, they’re more likely to return for it.
- Produce Quality
Quality content isn’t solely about using expensive equipment. It’s about delivering value to your audience. This could mean various things depending on your niche: informative, entertaining, inspiring, or a combination.
So, focus on offering something that resonates with your audience – whether through storytelling, in-depth analysis, humor, or practical advice.
- Be Relevant
Understanding your niche is key. Tailor your content to align with what your audience expects and enjoys. For instance, if you’re a tech reviewer, your audience expects detailed reviews or comparisons of gadgets, not gardening tips.
Remember, staying within your niche ensures you attract and retain the right audience. If you produce videos on a lot of different topics, you won’t attract new people. But you will lose the existing subs too!
2. Engagement is Key
Actively engaging with your audience is vital. If you don’t respond to the comments, initiate discussions, or ask for their opinions, the audience won’t feel heard. It will become a one-sided conversation that will eventually prompt your viewers to leave.
So, make sure to listen to your audience and interact with them like friends. This will foster a sense of community that turns passive viewers into active community members.
3. Utilize Community Features
Make use of YouTube’s Community Tab and features like polls, updates, and behind-the-scenes content. These tools provide additional touchpoints for interaction beyond your videos. So, with their strategic use, you can strengthen the sense of community and make your audience feel more connected and involved in your channel’s journey.
4. Create a Unique Brand
Developing a unique brand identity for your channel is crucial. This includes a consistent style, tone, and niche that distinguishes your content from others. A cohesive brand makes your channel more memorable and helps viewers identify with and remain loyal to your content.
You might question the need for a brand when you aren’t selling a service or product. But let’s not forget that you are uploading content that gets monetized by YouTube. So, in a way, you are selling a product, and a brand is necessary to become recognizable.
Crafting a unique brand for your YouTube channel means defining your channel’s look, style, and message. This can be easily done by being consistent in how your videos look and sound, using the same colors, logos, and tone of voice.
Once you start doing this, viewers will recognize your content easily. Your brand will communicate what your channel is all about and attract people who like what you stand for. It’s like a badge that helps your audience feel like they belong, building a loyal community around your channel.
5. Show Appreciation
Regularly express gratitude and appreciation to your audience for their support. You can do this by celebrating milestones, showcasing fan-made content, hosting giveaway events, or offering shoutouts to loyal viewers.
This will strengthen the bond between you and your audience. They will feel special, encouraged, and valued. As a result, they will interact with the content more and show unwavering loyalty.
Final Note:
All in all, building a community on YouTube is something that all content creators should focus on. This positive connection with your audience is a long-term investment for your channel. It will help promote your channel because the people will:
- Regularly watch your videos
- Interact with your posts
- Share about your channel with others
You can further benefit from this community by selling your merch and directing them to your social media accounts. The people will get high-quality content that resonates with them, and you will get their support. It’s a win-win situation!
However, make sure to be consistent. If you’re creating high-quality content and using the Community Tab, but you aren’t being regular, the growth would be very slow. You won’t get those mind-blowing results that you deserve.
So, remember the 3 words; Quality, Consistency, and Relevance. This applies to all aspects of your YouTube career!
