YouTube Community Posts: How to Boost Growth and Engagement
The YouTube Posts tab (formerly the community tab) is one of the most underrated tools for growing your YouTube channel. It offers an effective way to engage with your audience, boost video views, and strengthen your brand presence. But how can your brand use it to keep subscribers engaged with your channel, even when you’re not putting up new videos? And when is the best time to post for your YouTube community?
In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know to drive channel growth using YouTube community Posts
Understanding the YouTube Posts Tab
YouTube Posts allow you to interact with your audience beyond video content. It appears on both desktop, and mobile, in users' home page, subscription feed and in your channels Posts tab.
Unlike videos, community posts don’t require extensive production but still keep your audience engaged daily. They offer a low-barrier way to maintain engagement, making them a key tool for brands.
Why Community Posts can Boost your Channel
By creating regular content for your community of subscribers, you can keep your brand’s audience involved and encourage them to stay active on your channel. The more they interact, the stronger your community becomes and the more favourable your channel becomes to the YouTube Algorithm!
Here’s a few things YouTube looks out for:
Engagement: Community posts can get quick likes, comments, and shares which the YouTube algorithm loves!
Viewer Interaction: If someone engages with your posts they are more likely to be served your content again. So, getting people involved in community posts will mean your videos show up for them down the line.
Posting Consistency: Regularly posting keeps your content visible in the feed and builds trust between you and your audience.
4 Types of YouTube Community Posts for Engagement
The best YouTube community posts encourage interaction between you and your subscribers and show your brand's personality!
Here’s some ideas for when you want to create a community post that you can use to drive engagement:
1. Polls
Polls generate massive engagement because they’re easy for users to interact with. Use them to:
Get feedback on video ideas - Ask what your next content should cover to keep your audience invested.
Ask fun or trending questions - Tie them to your brand, like how our client Audible did on World Book Day!
Increase audience participation - Quiz your subscribers about your content to spark engagement, like in this example.
2. Image and GIF Posts
Visual content attracts attention in the feeds. Try using:
Behind-the-scenes images.
Memes or images of relatable content.
GIFs to entertain and engage.
3. Text Updates and Announcements
Keep your audience up to date with your brand news. You can share:
Video teasers.
Brand and Channel updates.
Personal stories to connect with your audience.
4. Video Links and Playlists
YouTube loves it when you keep your audience on the platform. Share links to:
Your latest uploads.
Playlists to increase watch time.
Your sister channels.
When’s the Best Time to Post on YouTube’s Posts Tab?
The timing of your posts is just as important as the content itself. To maximise engagement, aim to share content when your audience is most active. Use YouTube Analytics, in your YouTube Studio, to help pinpoint the best times for your particular audience.
5 Best Practices for the YouTube Posts
Consistency is Key
Regular posting builds momentum and trust with your brand. Whether it’s once or twice a week, keep a steady rhythm, but avoid over posting. Aim for quality content that aligns with your audience’s interests and builds reliability, so your subscribers know what to expect from you.
Use Different Content Types
Polls, images, and text updates can all work well, depending on your audience's interests.
Encourage Interaction
Start conversations by responding to comments quickly, running Q&As, and asking for input on future content. Building a thriving community is all about generating engagement and making your audience feel heard.
Don’t Ignore Insights
Use your YouTube insights to inform and then optimise your posting strategy based on performance and audience activity.
Optimise your SEO
Just like optimising your YouTube video metadata, the Community Tab is a great place to strategically include keywords and hashtags relevant to your niche, helping boost discoverability and engagement.
Final Thoughts
YouTube Community Posts are a great part of your toolbox for audience engagement and channel growth. By optimising your posts, sharing at the right time, and making use of the best content types, you can increase reach and engagement for your brand's channel.
Optimise Your YouTube Channel
If you’re ready to maximise your Posts tab for better engagement, start with a clear picture of your channel’s overall health. Take our FREE YouTube Health Check to assess your channel’s performance and get tailored recommendations to improve your strategy.
