As a racer, social media plays a huge role in developing your brand. With time, you can create a solid platform for yourself to reach fans and sponsors. In this post, I wanted to share a little about one platform I believe every racer should use for their own content in 2023…
YouTube is a well-established platform for motorsports video that only continues to see growth. From racers and race series to commentators, the motorsports community on YouTube is rich with personalities, stories, and expertise in both short-form and long-form formats.
An active YouTube channel allows you to reach new fans, amplify your career story, and provide a stronger platform for your sponsors. Your YouTube channel can support long-form video content, like vlogs, which you can easily link out to from your other social media pages.
If your 2023 goals involve getting your name out there, YouTube is the clear choice. This guide will set you up with the knowledge to take your YouTube channel (and audience) to new heights this season!
First things first: how does YouTube stand out from other social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok?
For starters, YouTube is more comparable to a search engine than a traditional social media platform. Users can search videos by title, topic, or description and discover new channels instantly. Put simply, your video content is much more discoverable to users who are searching for content related to your own, versus on other platforms.
Adding to that, long-form video immediately sets your YouTube channel’s content apart from what is found on other social media platforms. Whether you choose to produce YouTube content that runs for 1 minute or 30 minutes, YouTube has a place for it.
Why is long-form video important for racers? Long-form content can be used to create stronger connections with fans by giving them a unique perspective into their racing career. Whether you have a major announcement to make, you want to share a recap following your race weekend, or just want to give your fans a behind the scenes look into your team, this is where your creativity makes all the difference (more about this in section 2!).
You may also know that YouTube has “Shorts” as an additional content format. So, if you’re already creating Instagram or TikTok content, this format is great for repurposing those existing short videos.
Finally, several motorsports series already choose YouTube for their live event streaming. From SpeedTour in the US to SRO Motorsports Group globally, major motorsports properties use the platform to deliver end-to-end event coverage to their active fanbases. Even if your series isn’t streamed on YouTube, it’s where motorsport fans are, and where your own unique content should be, too.
The beautiful nature of YouTube is you can afford to experiment with different types of content, as the videos you post aren’t easily buried by any feed. There is virtually no shortage of content ideas that you can test out! In fact, the best way to capture inspiration when just starting out with YouTube content is taking in what others are already creating.
"Steal like an artist” is the concept at play – observe what other types of content racers are creating, evaluate what is within your means, and start transforming those observations into your own unique video content.
Here are 11 high-level content ideas to help you get your motorsports channel started:
No / minimal editing required:
Some editing required:
Audience engagement content ideas:
Especially when starting out with content creation, do not feel as though you need a full production team behind you. Your smartphone or even a GoPro is more than sufficient gear to get started with creating your YouTube content.
The principle I’d emphasize for new YouTubers: authenticity > production quality. Your content does not need to be a cinematic masterpiece for content to be “good;” instead, aim to have your personality shine and be genuine. Believe it or not, most people take some time to get used to being on video! So if it’s a little outside your comfort zone at first, just keep going – speaking to a camera on your own becomes more natural over time!
Finally, having a video produced is only half the battle. As mentioned, YouTube is much like a search engine – to reach viewers and grow your audience, you have to consider the SEO (search engine optimization) piece. Be sure that each video has title, video description, and relevant tags so users are more likely to find your content.
YouTube content is key to standing out from your competitors on-track. With YouTube as your social media backbone, you can increase your exposure, reach new fans, and take your personal brand to the next level (after all, that’s a major part of representing your sponsors!). We hope these tips will help you thrive with video content in the upcoming season.
Need help planning your video content ahead of the season, or want support in creating or editing your videos? Hit us up today and let’s chat!
