Book Mention: YouTube: An Insider's Guide to Climbing the Charts

YouTube: An Insider's Guide to Climbing the Charts
Alan Lastufka and Michael W. Dean
O'Reilly, 2009
Paperback, 281 pages
ISBN 0596521146

Learning how to use video media to help promote your business or organization is increasingly important as the Internet and television continue to merge. This book isn't really written for business people, though we can learn from it. Essentially, it explains how to get your videos shot and published on YouTube, and then seen by the maximum number of viewers.

Most of all, the authors explore what goes into making a viral video, one that is picked up by Internet "word of mouth" and rapidly spread from one person to another. Fortunately, they're honest enough to admit that viral marketing isn't a science. "But viral marketing," they say, "is something that can be given a good chance of happening. It can be 'incubated.'"

In addition to video and YouTube basics, the authors explain copyrights and fair use, as well as participation in the YouTube community, hacking the system, promotion, and monetization.

I found a lot to like in this book. It would best be used by someone under 35 who isn't trying to be "conventional" in his marketing approach. A good and honest introduction on how to use YouTube to get the word out.

At this writing the book was available through Amazon for US $19.79, Canada CDN$18.89, UK £12.03, Germany €26,99, France €25,51, and Japan ¥3,403.