YouTube has been getting a lot of criticism in the past week for their new comment system, but looks like they may be trying to get back on the good side of content creators with the release of Fan Finder earlier today.
Fan Finder is basically a channel trailer that can appear as a skippable True View ad. This service is being offered for free, and gives content creators the opportunity to reach an audience more likely to enjoy their channel.
To take advantage of the offer, create a promo video, upload it to Fan Finder, and let YouTube do the rest.
How to Create a Good Fan Finder Ad
Of course, the first step is creating a strong promo video. YouTube has posted some tips, but it pretty much boils down to three must-do’s.
1. Clearly represent your channel
2. Be entertaining
3. Get to the point quickly
Remember that the ad is skippable after 5 seconds, so you have to have the viewer’s attention by then. Also remember to be clear about who you are and what your channel is about. YouTube points out that a comedy channel’s ad should be funny, and a music channel should have music.
Be Cautious About YouTube’s Fan Finder
As great as this sounds though, don’t rely on it too much. YouTube isn’t offering any information on what is/is not acceptable as an ad, and they’re also not offering any information on how often your ad might run. In fact, in the fine print, YouTube writes “we are not obligated to use your content in any promotion.”
You should also be aware that your ads do have to follow copyright law, so just like with a monetized video, make sure you’re not using music or images that you do not have the rights to.
Also be aware that by participating in this program, you are giving YouTube the right to use excerpts of your content for promotional purposes. The wording leads me to believe that this isn’t just the channel ads, but all your content.
Still, a free opportunity for advertising is something you should consider taking advantage of while you still can. What do you think? Is the risk worth the potential benefits?
