How to use annotations on YouTube

Annotations are a useful tool for an YouTuber. They provide a way for you to add information to a video after you have uploaded it already. Whether you just did not have the time to cover something in a video, or if you simply forgot, annotations can fix these problems quickly. Use annotation within reason, many viewers will feel annoyed and put-off by your video if it is swarmed with text.

To begin using annotations you must:

1. first upload a video.

2. Then you must go to "My Videos" and click "Edit Annotations" next to the video you wish to add annotations to. You will be transferred to the annotations editing page, where you will see your video and an editing window.

3. Here there will be three tools for you to choose from: Add speech bubble, add note, and add spotlight.

Each of these adds something unique to your videos, and should be used in different situations.

-Speech Bubble

A speech bubble will add a bubble to the middle of your screen. You can enter the text you wish to have in the speech bubble either directly in the bubble, or in the editor to the left. You can also use the round handles to change the size and shape of the speech bubble, and by clicking and dragging, you can move it around the screen. There will be a yellow line underneath your YouTube video, this indicates at what point in your video you want the speech bubble to appear, and when you want it to end. You can change the duration by changing the numbers in the editor. Using the editor you can also add a link to your speech bubble, simply paste the link where it tells you to, you may only link to a YouTube page. To finish you must click "Save Draft" followed by "Publish".

-Note

The only difference in the note tool is the appearance. Instead of a speech bubble, it is a rectangle. It is edited the same way, and has all of the same options as the speech bubble has.

-Spotlight

The spotlight is a little bit different than the other two options. The spotlight will place an empty square in the middle of your screen, you can turn it in to a rectangle, and move it around the screen just like the other tools. You can also drag the text at the bottom of the spotlight wherever you like. The use of the spotlight is to add a click-able link around a specific part of your YouTube video. Adding the link in the spotlight is the same as doing it with the speech bubble, and again it can only link to a YouTube page.

Remember to use these tools in moderation, people are coming to your videos to see you, not to be bombarded by text. Adding some information or a click-able link is fine, but writing out a novel using annotations is not.

How to get a lot of views on YouTube

Getting more views on YouTube is a great way to potentially increase the amount of money you can make at home. As long as the content you upload is not copyrighted and is made by you, than you can start turning a profit using these tips to increase your views.

-Use clever key words in your video title. Certain key words are searched more than other, this is known as SEO (search engine optimization). Using SEO for your video titles can greatly increase your views. Instead of labeling your video some nonsensical that people will not be searching very often, try looking on Google for trending topics or most used search words and try and tie it in to your video title someway.

-Make videos relevant to what is currently going on in the media. Staying relevant means people will always be searching what you are talking about, this is a great way to increase your views because if you are always on top of what is currently happening people will subscribe to you for future updates.

-Put out videos on a schedule. Similar to television, make a schedule for your videos and always upload them on the same days. When viewers know that you are consistent with your video uploading it will make them more likely to subscribe to you, which will in turn increase the views of your new videos.

-Hold contests. Contests are a great way to get viewers. Think of the item as an investment, the money you lose giving away something valuable will return tenfold with the amount of viewers/subscribers you gain. The most effective contests for building subscribers or viewers are the contests that require you to comment on the authors video, and you must be subscribed to actually win the item. this means that everyone that comments on your video trying to win what you are giving away is also going to be subscribing to you.

-Tag your videos properly. Similar to using key words in the title of your video, take some of the more popular videos and key words and throw them into your video tags. this will make your video appear in the results when people search those terms.

-Collaborate with someone who has more subscribers than you. If you make creative videos, or you are especially talented at something you can find it easy to gain viewers by collaborating with a more well known youtuber. Just because they are getting more views than you does not mean you can't offer something to a new video of theirs. This works great because then they link back to your channel and all of their subscribers are now aware of your videos.

Once you have enough views on your videos and a big enough subscriber base you should apply for Google AdSense. This will enable revenue sharing on your videos and again increase traffic to the content you produce through YouTube. YouTube is a great way to make money if you can just follow the simple steps outlined above to increase your views.