One Way to Use Someone Else’s Video Content to Drive Traffic
...Without Stealing!
There are hundreds of creative ways to drive traffic to your website or blog — and spread that traffic to others!
Over the last couple of weeks, we talked about “How To Use Someone Else’s Blog Post Ethically,” and “Creative Tips and Tricks for Using Video to Drive Traffic to Your Website or Blog (even if you don’t have your own video content).”
Here’s an example of how you can use someone else’s video content on your own blog — with care.
First, either look through YouTube for videos that inspire a blog post, or come up with a post first and then find a video on YouTube to illustrate it.
Three Important Tips:
1) Always use their video in a flattering way, to illustrate something that will bring positive attention to their video.
2) Don’t affiliate their video with anything offensive, obscene, or anything that would make them angry or upset, or put them on the defensive.
3) Never use anyone else’s content to sell anything.
The best case scenario is to find a video by a person who’s very active on social media, especially Twitter and Facebook. Ask permission to use their video in your post, thank them in the post itself (with links to their website and social media profiles), and be sure to give them a big shout-out on the social media platforms they use.
In other words, make it worth their while to have their video featured on your website or blog.
Let’s get creative!
What kinds of blog posts could you write around videos like THESE?
Shotover Jet – The World’s Most Exciting Jet Boat Ride
Baby Laughs Hysterically While Ripping Up Daddy’s Job Rejection Letter
Dog Walking on Treadmill in Office
Now It’s Your Turn! Write a post that’s relevant to your audience, and then find a video to illustrate it, using the tips I shared above.
Special thanks to Shotover Jet and Solid K9 Training!
Shotover Jet’s YouTube Channel
Shotover Jet’s website
Solid K9 Training’s YouTube Channel
Solid K9 Training’s Website
Thanks to Larry Rutter, RIYachtBroker on Twitter, for sharing Shotover Jet’s video on Twitter!
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It never occurred to me to ask to use a video I found on YouTube. While I would never use someone’s content without permission, aren’t people giving permission to use the video by placing it on YouTube and enabling embedding? In fact, most of the time isn’t that their hope – that their video will get shared all over the place? Notification and links would probably be appreciated, but I would think people would be surprised to be asked permission.
Hi, Linda! I actually added that “ask permission” after I wrote the post, because it occurred to me that there are some litigious people out there who might just decide to sue you because they want money. If your website is an income producer, and you’re using their video to drive traffic to your website, someone might just want a piece of that pie — even if you don’t have any pie. The video producer is the one who put the time and energy into making the video, and they can use that in a court of law, just to get a couple of thousand dollars out of you. There’s nothing more aggravating and nerve-wracking than being sued. Even if you know you’ll win, the time and energy you have to put into your defense isn’t worth it.
The permission can be as simple as asking them on their Facebook, and then saving an image of the page when they say “Yes!”
I agree that the fact that they’ve enabled embedding would be a tacit approval of use. But we live in a litigious society. I imagine someone could say, “I didn’t know I could disable embedding!”
All about due credit, asking if you can. Another thing Michelle, that I am just starting to do: YouTube channel. Create one, personalize it with details, playlists specific to keywords. (Need to update mine, but it’s started at least.)
I’ve used a few videos in my posts, like an @OldSpice ad for one on advertising so it’s saved under my ‘favorites’ or whatever. I’ve used – with credit – a video for a presentation, same sort of thing.
For these vids: babies are cute, not sure what I’d write; sadly I’d want to call the SPCA or something, get that puppy to a park; and for the boat ride, it’s making me 1) wish I was that adventurous and 2) want to reach for the Dramamine, can’t even watch the whole thing. ;-)
Davina, kudos to you for using YouTube more intentionally!
For the vids:
1) Baby video — I see this title :”Rejection Letter? Their Loss!” with a post about turning your passions into a business while you’re waiting for someone to give you a job. And who knows? You may end up being the one hiring!
2) Dog on treadmill — “Tired of Going Through the Motions? How to Get Off the Treadmill and Start Living” with a post about making time each day for the things in life that count. I also see a post about working for someone else when you have an urge to break out on your own — what you need to do to make it happen.
3) Boat ride — “When is Risk too Risky?” with a post about the risks we have to take to be entrepreneurs and start our own businesses, and how people who are afraid of risks have to be willing to put their fears aside and just go for it. Stories about risk-takers, their failures, their successes.
Thanks for popping in! I love your blog!!
Some good ideas Michelle, and you’ve given me one of my own. “Stumped for content? Put your goofing off on YT to work.” Actually, I may use that to tweet this post tomorrow. ;-)
Thank-you, Davina!!