YouTube is a very sensitive platform and can be difficult for cannabis and psychedelics industry folks to navigate.

Some people, in the search for freedom of language, have given up the dream of monetization just to be able to post what they want, while others are still dancing Google’s dance. Both are valid tactics, depending on what your goals are (though we should mention that being illegible for monetization results in decreased reach and recommendation on YouTube).

There is a long list of things you cannot say, which you can find here. Some of them may seem harmless, but, hey! We don’t make the rules 🤷‍♀️

Other than the obvious things you shouldn’t SAY on YouTube, there are a few things you should never DO that you may not know about if you 

a) have never uploaded before or
b) have only been uploading for a short period of time

Let’s get into it.

NEVER use unlicensed music

Unfortunately, you can't use just any music you want on YouTube, especially if it's a song by a well-known artist.

Most music labels have teams that scour the internet for the use of music, and if your videos are found with unlicensed tracks, at best, your video will be demonetized.

At worst, the platform will mute the audio for your video or you could be forced to delete the video entirely.

When you accumulate too many of these strikes, your channel could be removed from the platform. You don’t want to have to start over after all the hard work you put in, so it’s best to avoid this altogether. 

There are a lot of websites where you can pay a small fee to access music licensed for commercial use on YouTube. If you want our recommendation, artlist.io is a good option.

DO NOT have long intros

Get straight to the point in your videos, especially if you're a new channel. Any intro over a minute or two runs the risk of losing viewers before you’ve even grabbed them.

Start with one or two sentences to introduce yourself and the topic of the video. You might even throw in a hook question, like “Have you ever found it difficult to____?”

Then get right into the meat of the content.

If your title is enticing enough, that'll be why the viewer clicked on your video, so don't disappoint them by rambling on. The title should be explained in the first 30 seconds to keep the viewer’s attention.

DON’T ignore your analytics

Believe it or not, a lot of people don’t actually use their analytics, even though YouTube’s Creator Studio offers a pretty robust look.

Make sure to thoroughly read and get a grasp of these metrics so you can understand your audience and make videos they want to watch.

YouTube’s analytics will tell you what your viewers are searching for, where they live, their age, and their interests. This information is free, so take advantage and use it to brainstorm future video ideas and title your videos in a way that will grab more viewers.

Also, DON’T give up! Consistency is crucial.

Whether you’re posting daily or weekly, sticking to a schedule will greatly impact your channel. YouTube’s algorithm loves consistency, and regular uploading keeps viewers on their platform.

YouTube rewards you for this. It’s a good idea to have 5-6 videos edited and ready for upload before you start your channel— that way, you won’t feel rushed to make content under pressure.

Hope this helped!

We’ve worked with YouTube channels before, and we can tell you that the main thing that really matters more than anything, is making quality content. The market (and audience) will decide for itself what it wants, and sometimes, you’ve gotta answer that call with high-quality, well-thought-out videos with effort put in.

Wanna know more about Sofie Does Everything Inc? check out our website here and hit us up to chat if you’re looking for a social media agency that, well, does everything.

Thanks for tuning in. See ya in the next issue of High Notes!

-Cass Zingone

YouTube Channel Manager @ Sofie Does Everything Inc.