YouTube: How to get people to watch your video

I think while watching Youtube videos that the videos with better quality and overall graphics and images along with the right music makes a great youtube video.  There are so many youtube videos uploaded each day.  Most of the time you don't know what youtube video to watch but now a days you can see which videos are better than others by checking their rating and veiws.  I have uploaded a few videos for high school classes.  Only about 50 people watched it but it was quite interesting to see that there was other veiwers out there.  Since I was in high school I wasnted very interested in getting more veiwers but if I was to do things differently today I would put a lot more time and effort into the video.  I made a video that was about 4 minutes for my spanish class speaking in spanish with costumes and props.  I also made a music video along with me singing a 5 minute song rewritten with my own lyrics. The class enjoyed it.

Usually simple and funny things draw people's attention. At least this is the case when I see viral successes mentioned in online articles (typically on Yahoo). Whether it be young kids doing something that is unexpected or a creative approach when it comes to advertising through a video, I think it doesn't necessarily take something that is complex or over the top to draw people in - not to say those things don't. I have never personally recorded/uploaded a video but I can't imagine it's too difficult with the appropriate devices. YouTube seems pretty straight forward, it's just a matter of creating a clip worth sharing that I would struggle with. As for getting more views on a video...I believe that these things usually happen organically. First the creator shares it with friends and family who then might find it amusing enough to pass on or share via social media in which case (if good enough) it will continue to be shared. If generic enough it might easily be retrieved in basic searches as well. The concept of "word of mouth" has evolved with technology but I think it is still a primary tool when communicating a message.

I have never created my own videos on YouTube. However, I have a friend on social media that is an aspiring singer. She used her social media networks in order to create buzz about her new music video. This May she shot her summer music video and started promoting the song at this time on social media. She released just the audio, then some sneak peak photos from the shoot and finally, she released the video. By creating buzz before she released the video she got people interested in watching the video. She released the video on July 11th, 2013 and has 12,760 views on the YouTube video. In addition to her online activity she has also promoted her music video on the radio and some tv shows. However, this provides an example of successful use of social media to promote a video. 

Check out her video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4HPacY3BzQ

I personally have never created a video and uploaded it to YouTube, but like millions I have watched many YouTube videos in my day. I think what makes videos stand out on YouTube is the way they present themseves or what they are trying to show. I love watching funny videos and I know many others do too so comedy catches a lot of people attention. If someone is trying to advertise something they need to spice it up and add a little comedy to their video. Add some cool music and make things look exciting. Nobody wants to watch a boring YouTube video that looks like an infomercial with a monotone voice. Spice things up and be different and millions of people will watch.