Generating traffic from social video sites like YouTube requires taking advantage of many methods that will convince your youtube audience to visit your website. In essence, though, it consists of creating provocative content that will draw traffic and providing a clear path back to your website. This can be done in several ways, and this list of methods represents severe of them. I’d love to hear what tips and tricks you’ve come up with in the comments!

Clear call to action (everywhere)

It should come as no surprise that a clear call to action is vital to directing traffic back to your website, or blog.

• It doesn’t hurt to provide a call to action, or anticipate a call to action, at the beginning of your video. “Keep watching…at the end of this video I’m going to tell you exactly how you can get a FREE _________”.
• Call-to-Action Overlay: Sign up at ads.YouTube.com to get overlays activated.
• Place a link in the video.
• Write a great headline.
• In some cases it’s appropriate to put the call-to-action in the video title.
• Create a specific call to action video for the end of your video.
• Be clear. Use step-by-step directions. 1-2-3.
• Put the call to action in the video description’s first line. (Click here now: [link]) Google has expanded the description area so there’s more space for your call to action before the “expand” button.

A traffic generating description

• Starts with a precise call to action and a short link.
• Continues with convincing ad copy.
• Take advantage of the space for placing more links to your various web properties.
• Do the best you can with text to design a nice “signature” for your descriptions.

Content that generates traffic

• Traffic flows to authority. Produce authoritative content. Authoritative content:
  • Contains useful personal insights
  • Simplifies complex issues
  • Teaches
  • Contains unique content
  • Goes in depth
  • Provides Proof
• Clearly represent your brand’s unique selling proposition, or (better yet) represent your brands story: http://thewordchef.com/category/12-days-of-branding/
• Understand what your potential traffic (customers, clients, etc.) are looking for.
• Types of video content that anyone can create that get views, shares and generate traffic.
  • How-to
  • Reviews
  • Walk throughs
  • Uniques
• New products and services.
• Showcase your brands personality.
• Quality audio and video.

Channels that generate traffic

• A YouTube channel is treated like any other website by Google so you want to treat it like any other website. If you wan to build your channel’s popularity you need to:
  • Engage on youtube
  • Ask for response videos
  • Participate in joint ventures
  • Host contests
  • Get back-links to your youtube channel

Other strategies for generating traffic from YouTube

• Turn your youtube video into text by paying for transcription with FoxTranscribe.
• Extract the audio and turn it into a podcast or downloadable mp3.
• Comment on other videos and place your url in your comments when applicable.