Lessons from a Marketing Coach & Strategist Who Actually Does the Work
I’m thrilled to introduce our guest blogger, Melissa Mitchell, a YouTube Marketing Coach & Strategist who knows all the ins and outs of creating a simple yet effective YouTube strategy.
Melissa’s passion for video marketing stems from her own journey of building the business of her dreams: Wandermint Creative. With a background in Design & Sales, she followed her curiosity and discovered the power of using videos to reach audiences. As a devoted YouTube marketer, she creates engaging videos, coaches her clients, and comes up with new ways to create a bigger impact on her audience.
Whether you’re just starting out on YouTube or looking to refine your existing approach, keep reading because Melissa dives deep into the process of creating a simple YouTube strategy that will set you up for success.

I believe that YouTube is not just a platform for sharing content; it’s a powerful tool that can transform your business. Here are some tips to help you get started and stand out from the competition:
Identify Your Ideal Audience
The first step in creating a successful YouTube strategy is understanding your ideal audience.
Who are you trying to attract?
By gaining a clear understanding of your target audience, you can create content that addresses their problems, provides entertainment, or offers value in some way.
Knowing your audience will enable you to tailor your content to their specific needs and interests. The key here is understanding specifically their fears, pains, and goals (FPGs) on a deeper level and how they are searching for the answers to these things.
I recommend conducting some market research, then setting a timer for 15 minutes and brainstorming all of your Ideal Client’s FPGs.
This blog may contain affiliate links for programs, tools, and courses that I recommend. If you purchase these programs, I could receive a small commission. Thank you! I only recommend vetted programs and tools I use myself! Please check out my tool & resources guide here.

Define Your Niche & Content
To effectively categorize your content and reach the right viewers, it’s important to determine your niche.
What kind of content will you create on your channel?
Being specific about your niche allows you to establish authority and become the go-to person in that particular area. Consider creating content pillars for generating ideas and defining the core themes of your channel.
Branding & Setting up Your Channel
Branding your channel means creating a YouTube banner, profile picture, descriptions, and so on. It’s important to have a clear and visually enticing banner to draw your audience in and tell them what to expect from your content.
You can learn more about setting up your YouTube channel by downloading my freebie YouTube channel checklist here.
▶️Related YouTube Video: How to Create a Simple YouTube Video Content Strategy in 2023
Finding your Keyword Titles
Once you have your Ideal Client and niche defined, its time to set up your YouTube channel & videos with all the right keywords.
It’s important to remember that YouTube is a search engine, not a social media platform so once you know who your Ideal Client is that you want to attract to your channel you need to determine the keywords that they will be searching for.
The key is to think about how people would search instead of what we “think” they might say
For example, you might think that your Ideal Client is searching for “how to create an Instagram strategy” when really they are searching for something more specific like “how to get my first client from Instagram”. This is why market research is so important here.
To find the right keywords for YouTube, you can use tools like VidIQ or Tubebuddy.
⚡Related Podcast Alert: How to Use YouTube as a Lead Generation Machine with Melissa Mitchell
Maybe you’ve tried different approaches, but none of them seem to work just right. With the right strategies, YouTube can become your secret weapon for expanding your brand’s reach and attracting profitable clients. Tune in as Melissa explores ways to unleash the full potential of your YouTube channel.
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | iHeartRadio
Establish a Content Schedule
Consistency is key when it comes to building an audience on YouTube. Decide on a content schedule that is attainable for you and stick to it.
Whether you choose to release videos once a week, twice a week, or once a month, maintaining a consistent schedule builds trust with your audience and helps you gain momentum in your YouTube journey.
Personally, I think starting with 1x/week is the sweet spot. Once you have a step-by-step workflow in place this becomes a lot easier as well.

Create a Plan
YouTube involves various moving parts, so it’s crucial to create a plan that outlines how you’ll navigate the platform.
- Assess your skills and identify areas where you need assistance.
- Consider video editing, graphic design, and copywriting.
- Invest in courses or hire professionals if needed.
- Avoid overwhelming yourself by taking on too much.
- Focus on learning one skill at a time to prevent giving up.
If you want help putting all the pieces together, you can join my coaching program: Video Marketing Accelerator. It’s a 6-Week Live Cohort to show you how to set up your organic lead generation engine with YouTube. Save your Spot for VMA here!
YouTube is a game-changer for showcasing your skills and services, and it’s an indispensable tool in today’s competitive digital marketing landscape. If you’re a skilled virtual assistant or digital marketer with a passion for creating and publishing video content, join Emily Reagan’s Digital Marketer’s Workgroup and unlock exciting opportunities to work with YouTube clients. Connect with this community of Unicorns ready to secure high-paying YouTube jobs, embrace optimization, and generate innovative ideas for clients. Apply now, doors open in June!
And if you need a contract to set up with your YouTube clients, check out Braden Drake’s Contract Vault for $30 and start with one of his templates.
Map out your Lead Engine
The key to creating more revenue with YouTube is to have a Sales Funnel on the backend of your videos. This allows you to bring in consistent leads that go straight to your offers.
Here you need to determine your:
- Lead Magnet: Create a valuable resource or incentive that viewers can use, like a freebie.
- Offers: Develop compelling products, services, or promotions that align with your audience’s interests and needs.
- Emails: Build an email list to establish direct communication and nurture relationships with your audience.
- Landing Pages: Design dedicated web pages with clear call-to-actions to capture leads and guide viewers toward specific offers.
We cover exactly how to do this inside my Video Marketing Accelerator coaching program!
Budget for Your Channel
If you’re running a small business or working with limited resources, it’s important to plan your budget for YouTube. Assess what you can realistically afford and consider making sacrifices in other areas to allocate funds to your channel.
Prioritize the tasks that require professional assistance and identify where you can maximize your own skills and resources.
Define Your YouTube & Business Goals
To grow your channel effectively, define your goals.
Do you want to monetize your channel through the YouTube partner program or generate leads through YouTube by creating a lead engine on the backend?
Knowing your objectives will help you shape your content and develop a system to achieve your goals. Consider creating a lead generation engine on the backend of your YouTube videos by creating free or paid offers that allow your viewer to continue with your brand and move off of YouTube onto something that you own, like your email list.
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Creating a successful YouTube content strategy requires careful planning and consideration.
By understanding your audience, establishing your niche, maintaining a consistent content schedule, and differentiating yourself, you can set the foundation for a thriving YouTube channel.
Now, it’s your turn. What’s your plan for YouTube this year? Let us know in the comments below.
-Melissa Mitchell
The Takeaway
YouTube is a powerful platform for promoting your business and generating leads, but it’s just one piece of the marketing puzzle.
It’s important to integrate YouTube into a broader marketing strategy. By combining YouTube with other platforms and strategies, you create a comprehensive approach to lead generation.
Consistency is key, so keep those uploads rolling, map out a plan, and budget wisely to make the most of your resources. Get ready to bring in those leads, one YouTube video at a time!
-Emily, Digital Marketing Consultant and Implementer

“I help smart women learn the in-demand digital marketing strategies and profitable tech skills to get hired as a unicorn digital marketing assistant.“
3 ways we can work together:
1. Do you need to acquire digital marketing implementation skills and build your workflows so you can solidly put yourself out there for work? Check out the Unicorn Digital Marketing Assistant School. (It opens twice a year so jump on the waitlist now!… I also share job leads with my students so it’s a gateway for anyone who wants to build a freelance business that gives them flexibility and meaningful work). You can also choose to go through the self-study program now. Enroll here.

2. Already doing the work and have clients? But need more clients and a better referral network? Apply for my Digital Marketer’s Workgroup. This is a tight-knit community of freelancers like you, supporting each other. Plus I’ve shared 1,600+ job opportunities with this community.
3. Need to hire a Unicorn Digital Marketing Assistant? Submit your job opportunity here. I’ll share with my workgroups totally free.

Further Reading
In-Demand Profitable Niches for Virtual Assistants in 2023
How To Become a Content Manager
Video Marketing that Converts with Milan Kowalewski
Yes, you really can work online.
Feeling overwhelmed and not sure how you can work from home and build your own online digital marketing business? Take a deep breath – you can do this. Start here with my list of 10 popular tasks that online businesses need help with the most!
These are the tasks that new clients are constantly asking for help with, and skills that they really need to find in a virtual assistant. Get access to this free download right now. Then make sure your own VA toolkit is up-to-date and relevant, and decide where you might need to invest in new growth and development for your biz.