3 Reasons Smosh May Be the Best Video Marketers EVER

By Matthew Yeoman

When most people think of Smosh's YouTube channel they think of silly, stupid, borderline dumb comedy videos. To be fair, that's what I think of first too! The biggest reason they're one of the most successful YouTube channels out there is thanks to their hilarious videos. There are no tricks or tips to make something that's terrible be sustainably popular.

But I also look at them as some of the best video marketers in the online world, and I'm going to look at three reasons why in this article. Let's look at the serious business behind Smosh's fun YouTube channel so that you can improve your own YouTube audience numbers, and get more views.

Why Smosh are Exceptional video marketers

1: Thumbnail game on POINT

YouTube thumbnails are the most often overlooked aspect of video marketing from unsuccessful channels. Most people are so caught up in creating great videos that they forget how people are going to initially find them in many cases – search. And the most important aspect of search, after you get your video SEO techniques down, is getting people to actually click on your video.

These thumbnails from Smosh show exactly why they get so many people clicking on their videos – they just look GREAT when you find them:

If you're not doing this barebones technique you're really missing out on views! You can try taking images from the video itself, but you'd be better off taking actual photos. Get a real camera and snap a few images during filming, then edit them in your favorite photo editing software for the best results.

You don't have to be a Photoshop expert, a simple tool like Pixelmator will work fine.

2: Locking down views with video outros

At the end of every YouTube video there is ...well... more YouTube videos. The YouTube suggested videos at the end of every video, and the auto-play videos they've added recently, are nice for Youtube users who want their videos decided for them.

For video marketers, like Smosh, they're awful. Much, much too often these end of video suggestions from YouTube lead to other channels. How are you supposed to make any money on YouTube, and be YouTube famous, if people keep leaving your channel to watch someone else's videos?!?

Check out the end of this video to see how Smosh get around this with their own custom video outro. It gives fans a chance to click and watch more of their videos, and even pushes them to subscribe so that they'll come back again and again!

Here's a screenshot since video embedding isn't working on Endgadget:

That little push with an auditory and visual call to action at the end may be the best way there is to get more YouTube subscribers, and views.

3: Their branding techniques enhance their abi ...Shut! UP!

Having a catchphrase that you're known for is one of those little things that people don't think about, but latch on to all too easily. Where would your favorite shows be without their catchphrase? Try to imagine:

  • Barney without his "Legen – wait for it – DARY!"
  • Homer Simpson with no "D'oh!"
  • Sheldon never once having a "Bazinga!" over on the gang.
  • The Soup Nazi having soup for everybody instead of "No soup for you!"

Each of these shows caught on thanks in large part to their excellent episodes. But what can't be missed is millions of people all using those lines themselves over and over again. These catchphrases are how they went from being shows inside a television and instead became parts of your everyday life.

Smosh may not have known it when they add their famous "Shut! UP!" to the beginning of all their videos, but this is exactly what they have done. Out of the thousands of videos they've uploaded only 10 don't have this catchphrase – and that was the first ten! Since then they have used it and you'll never mistake a Smosh video with anyone else's.

To demonstrate even further how important this is, many other YouTubers of note have catchphrases:

  • Pew Die Pie has "Stay awesome, bros."
  • Epic Meal Time have "Next time we eat a ____."
  • Philip DeFranco has "S'up, Nation?" and "I love yo faces."
  • An oldie but a goodie is the famous =3 refrain: "I'm Ray William Johnson, and I approve this message."

Start working on your catchphrase to help your channel become something more than just something people watch when they're bored. Create something that will be taken out of the YouTube world into the real world. Comment below with your ideas and let's have some fun making them better so that everyone online will be watching you.

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