By Marcel Evans

Twenty-four hours after YouTube celebrity, Casey Neistat posted his vlog “That Time in Afghanistan” about his trip imbedded with U.S. Forces, it was viewed 1,045,048 times.

Felix Kjellberg, a gamer better known as PewDiePie, has over 10 billion views and 40 million subscribers on his YouTube channel. Felix’s 10 Billion Montage video is nearing 20 million views. Compare these stats to Game of Thrones and you start to get the picture. The first season of the HBO series averaged an audience of a mere 2.5 million viewers or 9.3 million viewers per episode when repeats and on-demand viewings are factored in. This is clearly the age of the YouTube celebrity.

And fans aren’t the only ones drawn to the medium. Advertisers love YouTube celebrities because their audiences are typically well defined. In fact, utilizing YouTube in a marketing strategy makes a lot of sense.

A recent study found the following statistics:

The average number of videos viewed daily = 4,000,000,000
Number of people that use YouTube = 1,000,000,000
Average time spent on YouTube per mobile session = 40 minutes
Percentage of U.S. small businesses that use YouTube = 9%

Here are some tips to make the most out of the medium.

Develop your own channel

A robust channel can even become a second source of income. However, keep in mind that there is more to a channel than “shoot, record, and upload.” Take the time to develop a strategy and really get to know your audience.

Advertise

Which YouTube celebrities speak to your audience? Who do you think your audience would like to follow? Create a campaign that targets your audience through these channels.

The giveaway

Some YouTube celebrities, like Casey, have something similar to a “mail time” where fans and companies can send gifts and swag to be opened on video. Before sending in your merch, do some research to make sure you are sending something that is both original and engaging.