Is YouTube Social Media or Digital Marketing?

YouTube is a social media platform and the second most used search engine after Google. It is the most trusted platform for finding and buying products, and any seller worth their salt would do well to see it as such. Thanks to YouTube's shopping features, such as cards, end screens, channel stores and tagged products, sellers have tons of opportunities to sell products both internally and externally through the platform. The University of South Florida defines social media as “an Internet-based form of communication”, and YouTube is no exception.

The new data from App Annie also revealed that YouTube had become the number one app in terms of consumer spending in the first quarter of this year. This ability to share information (in this case, videos) with a wide audience is another reason why YouTube should be considered a social media platform. To get the most out of YouTube marketing and drive business growth through the platform, it's important to set up your channel, your brand's “home” on the platform. Connect your account with YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, Twitter, Pinterest and WhatsApp to streamline social media management across all marketing channels.

YouTube is also one of the most popular search engines in the world, second only to its parent company Google. Brands should not fall asleep in including the platform in their marketing strategy as it offers a great opportunity to reach a wide audience. Here are some proven best practices for getting the most out of YouTube marketing and driving business growth through the platform.