Google-owned video sharing website YouTube reported on Tuesday that it topped 1 trillion views in 2011, as more users than ever headed to the site to watch video content. In its official blog, YouTube Trends manager Kevin Allocca said that the uses for the site have grown as well, with people using it to watch comical videos, music content, news packages and more.
Allocca also detailed the most popular videos viewed on the website by users around the world. Viral musical video “Friday” by Rebecca Black was the most frequently watched video, aside from those produced by major music labels.
As usual, commercials and videos of animals were also quite popular in 2011. But marketers should take note that they don’t need to create video ads to generate views on the site; one of the top videos was a how-to clip that many brands can learn from.
Gawker.com’s women’s interest website Jezebel claimed one of the top spots with a video showing women 25 different ways to tie scarves. The spot “25 ways to Wear a Scarf in 4.5 Minutes!” was posted on April 1, 2011, and has received more than 8.2 million views since.
For marketers, the increasingly large audience for web video content demonstrates the value of the medium to integrated web marketing campaigns. The chance that a video goes viral is small, but complimenting a web marketing strategy with an informative, engaging video can help companies boost their appeal.
Brafton reported earlier this month that more than 183 million Americans watched video content on the web in November alone. The figures represents unique viewers, and most of them watched multiple videos each month, the study found.
