YouTube vs. Instagram for Leads (And Why YouTube is the Only Platform You Need!)
Earlier this month, I took a much-needed break in Croatia, fully unplugged from my business. No laptop, no work distractions, nada. It was exactly the escape I needed!
But here’s the best part: while I was soaking up the sun, my email list grew by 437 new leads. And guess what? These leads came from YouTube! Yes, all of them. Seriously, YouTube is the only social media platform you need to focus on.
So let’s dig into HOW that’s possible. It’s time to see my assessment of YouTube vs. Instagram for leads — and why YouTube is the clear winner!
How YouTube Brings You Leads 24/7
As a business owner, you know that sales are crucial. And to make sales, you need a consistent flow of leads. This is where YouTube shines! Especially when you stack it up against Instagram.
It's the only social platform that can work around the clock to bring you new leads, even when you're not actively creating content.
YouTube combines the benefits of a search engine with the engagement features of a social platform. Whether someone is searching for the exact topic you cover or watching a related video, YouTube helps put your content in front of the right audience.
The best part? YouTube continues to work for you even when you take a break. I don't just mean vacations, though.
If you're feeling burnt out, you can step back and still get in front of new people without sacrificing growth. Unlike Instagram, where you need to be present every day to stay relevant.
Now that I've talked about WHY YouTube is the best lead generator, let me show you HOW it brings them in!
YouTube Content Has a Longer Shelf-Life Than Instagram
Instagram content is short-lived. I know that's disappointing to hear, especially after working so hard on that last Reel, but that's exactly why you need to know this.
Because of all that hard work? You could be putting it to use on YouTube instead. Rather than your content living for a day or two MAX, you could potentially see results for years!
Now, years isn’t quite the norm (but it is possible, and I've seen it happen several times). But even if that time frame is weeks or months, that's a LOT longer than two days. So wouldn't that be worth it?
I know it can seem like creating YouTube videos takes a lot of work. And I won’t lie to you — it does require some effort. But the payout is SO MUCH BETTER than what you get on Instagram.
The risk is worth the reward here.
YouTube's Search-Driven Nature Helps Leads Find You
Let's not forget that growing on social media is hard, too. It's insanely saturated—there's a ton of content, and with its short shelf life, it can feel downright impossible to reach the right people.
Are there a lot of videos on YouTube, too? Yes, but the difference is that YouTube actually helps you get your content in front of more people.
It’s the second-largest search engine in the world. So when you create content on YouTube, you have a much higher chance of being discovered by YOUR people. With YouTube, they're not just scrolling mindlessly through a feed — they're looking for something specific, which leads to higher conversion rates for YOU!
The people who are actively searching for solutions to their problems — problems your product or service can solve.
When you create the right videos, you attract an audience already primed to take action.
YouTube Content Has a Snowball Effect
YouTube content also has a snowball effect. Every new video you post can drive more views to your older videos, snowballing into more views, then eyeballs on your website, more leads, more sales, etc.
And it all has to do with YouTube's algorithm. If people are watching your content, it's going to push your videos to more people because it wants people to stay on the platform as long as possible.
With Instagram, do we ever really know what's going on with the algorithm? It seems like it changes daily, but I can't even remember the last time YouTube changed something big. YouTube is MUCH more reliable and predictable, and has much more impact with every video posted.
Need an Example?
When I was on vacation in Croatia, I had two videos go live:
Trying to Grow Your Small YouTube Channel - DO THIS: 8,633 views
Lies Small Channels Are Told on How to Grow - STOP LISTENING: 7,178 views
This ended up pushing 22,665 views to my channel. Now, tell me, has any Instagram post ever driven that much traffic to your past content? Probably not. But YouTube does!
Not to mention, these views actually went somewhere. These videos totaled 1,956 hours of watched content. Do you know how many 60-second Reels you would need to get that much watch time? A TON!
And those views are from people primed to buy from me. Even if they don't immediately buy my products, they've been introduced to them, and I can retarget them with ads at a lower cost in the future. It’s super efficient AND effective.
Bottom Line: YouTube Should Be Your Go-To Lead Gen Platform!
I've seen YouTube work for pushing leads time and time again. I’ve seen it in my own business, and in my own clients’ businesses. Whether you're selling courses, digital products, or coaching services, YouTube can be the key to unlocking steady, predictable growth that doesn’t burn you out.
Still not convinced? I have something for you…
If you want to learn more about how YouTube can help you drive leads around the clock, come join me for the Evergreen and Evermore Virtual Conference on September 25th! There, I'll show you how to attract ready-to-buy customers every day with just ONE weekly YouTube video (yes, REALLY!).
That way, you can easily knock out content, focus on what you LOVE doing in business, and even take a break every now and then!
It's time to get off the hamster wheel of content creation. Let me show you how YouTube content can help you do it!
