I found there are at least seven different ways you can effectively promote your YouTube videos and channel through Snapchat.

I´ve done some research on the topic because I wanted to apply this strategy for my own business so that it could grow its viewership and fan base.

Here there are the ultimate tips to grow a Snapchat following and drive traffic to your YouTube brand.

1. Link Your Videos

First things first, you should always make available and easy for people to click on your links and go straight to your videos.

Do not make them type the name of your Channel in the search bar, do not ask for a subscription until they´ve watched your video, just send them there and provide the link.

Now, how do you do that?

Thanks to the latest update now we have the option of sharing links on our posts with much ease.

You have to open Snapchat as usual, then you can take a photo or make a video, maybe even use the thumbnail of your YouTube video by taking a screenshot at it.

Then you´ll locate the paperclip icon on the right, which allows you to click on it and paste in the link you want to add, or directly type it in.

Now you can add links to every snap that you publish. Even to your stories, a great feature with tons of value!

¡Track Your Link!

Now, if you want to take one step further and get the most out of this tool, then you can set it up like a pro and track your links.

It will show how many people are actually clicking and what are they doing next.

One way to do this is by using a service like Bitly. They provide the tracking system, which pretty straightforward and user-friendly.

Check out the website, it´s self-explanatory. You don´t need to do anything, just paste your original link and use the one they make for you.

2. Exclusive Content Ideas

You can use Snapchat by sharing little pieces of your already made content, extracting frames and an interesting section from your YouTube videos, it wouldn´t hurt really.

But, it will be much more effective and compelling to your viewers if you gave them something that´s just for them. Something that is completely exclusive.

You´ll find it´s actually a great way to make people curious about your YouTube channel and how you produce awesome content.

In fact, it can be an effective way to drive traffic to your videos if people get interested in seeing the end result of your efforts.

Behind the Scenes

One of the main factors that make Snapchat particular and unique is that any content shared within the platform actually feels more personal and intimate.

The most similar thing you could find to a 101 online interaction.

So, if you want to take advantage of that in the most effective way possible you should consider sharing some pics and videos from the background of your videos, some raw footage you´ve compiled.

It could be as simple as showing the struggles that you go through when filming, or maybe a time-lapse of how long it takes to actually record a video, or whatever you see fit.

A Day in the Office

Another great way to make your audience feel a much more intimate relationship is by showing unedited pieces of video from a normal “day in the office”.

You can share what your workplace looks like, what are the tools you use in your daily job, how do you usually make your videos, etc.

Even getting people through a day in the life type of video can be a great idea.

Meet the Team

You can present part of your team, even if you´re just two people and you are the one that´s facing the camera most of the time.

It could be literally that or just you and your buddies hanging out, trying to make fun from each other. Some lighter type of content lets say.

You can present some of your friends and/or family if you work alone. The point is to bond with your audience and make something unique and share more personal stories with them.

Something that they could relate to.

Daily Vlogging Bloopers

This must be my personal favorite.

You´ll see how many mistakes you make if you start vlogging, more so if you do it on a day to day basis.

All of that footage can be used! You can edit the best parts, the funnier ones, maybe some that were a bit interesting but are not strictly related to what you´re talking in your video.

Keep in mind that anything you can do would work as long as you keep it fun, interesting, and light for you people to watch.

The point is to make something different. Check out how many successful YouTubers use their bloopers clips at the end of a video.

That way you´ll give a more human and normal person kind of vibe.

3. ¡Use Ghost Codes!

It is simply the number one way to discover new people on Snapchat, meet who are the top influencer within your niche, and find out what´s really possible in the platform.

This cool app helps you to feature your content and creates categories where you could fit in, depending on your topic of expertise or preference.

The key is to find other Snappers that have a similar following to yours, so you can work together on something.

Find Collaborators

One of the main advantages you can get from using this app is to get in touch with other influencers that might be interested in sharing a snap or two and cross-promote content that could appeal both of your audiences.

It is a great way to grow fast and create an awesome fan base of engaged people!

Being people separated in categories makes everything much easier because you can find the right person to collab with that´s in your same niche, or that discuss a similar topic.

You´ll find a ton of people willing to help you out, the competition is not as tight as YouTube, at least not yet.

It is a really good time to become Snap famous!

PRO TIP – “Posting each other’s Snapcode towards the end is the best way to share an audience since users get lazy about typing usernames, especially if they are complicated.” – CJ OperAmericano, @operamericano

4. Be a Storyteller

It is key that you start practicing your storytelling right now!

Nobody likes to see a simple snap of you eating your breakfast from time to time, you NEED to tell a story, it can be anything, the point is to have some sort of structure.

An introduction, a middle, and an end give the viewers a much more compelling way of consuming your content.

You have to start paying attention to those people who are killing it on the platform, you´ll find that most of them use this approach in one way or another.

It´s another way you can grab people´s attention as you lure them to your channel, where you should probably use the same structure!

Here are some tips to be a more effective storyteller.

• Plan your story and start with the takeaway message in mind.
• Keep it short and simple.
• Most really great stories are about challenge or conflict. Use that!
• Think of it as a movie and spark your creativity.
• Remember, practice makes perfect. Most likely you won´t get it at first.

5. Share Snaps Stories

When it comes to effective storytelling Snapchat Stories make the perfect vessel.

One of the most used ways for the story feature is actually telling one!

Having a narrative that compels your audience to go through the whole thing creates much more engagement than a cool cat pic once in a while.

However, there are other great ways you can use this tool to attract more viewers.

You can take selfies and go crazy with emojis, or maybe make a ridiculous drawing on your face, get your pet/friends/family involved in the Snap, moving emojis if you´re snapping a video looks pretty fun.

You can also be much more authentic and Snap your day to day but with creative captions.

Finally, Snap Stories are also a great way to conduct people to your YouTube videos!

As I´ve said before, you should share some exclusive content, a behind-the-scenes photo or video.

You could maybe snap that you’re having some problems to prepare the lighting for your upcoming content, or just writing the script for the shooting.

Something real, something that has the potential to grab people´s attention.

6. Getting to Pro Level

One of the first things you should closely look out is your view range, exactly at what point you´re at your peak, where your average is, and where are your lower points.

Basically is what getting to know where and how do your views tend to fluctuate.

Another important aspect of taking things to a whole new level is Branding.

You have to create a trademark, something that people can relate to you and that identifies your persona and what you´re about.

Get your followers involved, remember that Snapchat is a personal experience, ask your audience for feedback, engage with them.

You should also leverage with some social media sharing.

Find your audience wherever they may be, post on Reddit, search on Facebook Groups related to your niche/topic, go to Forums, or try to grow a Twitter account.

Try out new things, learn what´s the platform all about, practice constantly, write a script or an outline that you can rely on.

Last but not least, be authentic.

There a couple of things that make the culture of Snapchat more outgoing and less “filtered” than Instagram; people are looking for personality and presence rather than perfect curation or cool photos.

That´s why you NEED to be yourself, relax, and talk to the camera like if you were sitting in the same room with your viewer.

Don´t show a different version of yourself, don´t go editing a bunch of clips, and do not think too much about it, just go for it and thrive in the process.

7. Use Giveaways

Once you´ve started to gain some sort of traction with your daily posts and you´ve uploaded some YouTube videos you´ll want to monitor how well things are actually going so you can tweak a few things.

If your plan of actions hasn´t produced the results you wanted, or you just want to increase your following drastically one way you can cross-promote both platforms (YouTube & Snapchat) is by offering discounts or a giveaway in the other.

In other words, if you want to get more subscriber on your YouTube channel you can offer your audience a free gift, a contest, some sort of giveaway where they can get something in return for commenting on your video.

You´ll not only get more views but you´ll also get a higher ranking with your videos as you send social signals to the platform through likes and comments.

Wrapping Up

We´ve talked about how you can better perform in the platform and gain a loyal following that enjoys your snaps and content. Give the ultimate personal experience and they´ll come.

You should have fun with it, Snapchat is the closest interaction you´ll get on social media right now. Take advantage of it.

Hope this information has helped you!