If you’re a small business owner trying to market yourself online, you’ve probably been told you need to be on Instagram. And sure, Instagram is great for engagement—but is it actually bringing you leads? Probably not.
I’ve spent years marketing on Instagram for different businesses, and here’s the truth: most small business leads don’t come from Instagram. What Instagram does do well is capture attention and drive people somewhere else—and that’s where YouTube comes in.
Let’s break down why YouTube is actually the platform that will help you land more clients and why Instagram should be used as a tool to support your YouTube strategy.
1. Instagram Is for Attention—YouTube Is for Trust
Scrolling Instagram is like flipping through a magazine—people browse, they engage, they like what they see, but they rarely take immediate action. Instagram users aren’t necessarily looking for detailed business advice; they’re just consuming content passively.
YouTube, on the other hand, is where people actively search for information. They want to know about industry trends, how to solve specific problems, or what services best fit their needs. And because YouTube allows for long-form content, you get to dive deep, provide value, and build trust with your audience.
For example, if you’re a realtor, this means:
- Instagram = Quick impressions (Reels, carousel posts, and short-form content to grab attention)
- YouTube = Deep connections (In-depth videos that establish your authority and bring in serious leads)
But this applies to any small business. Whether you’re a coach, consultant, or e-commerce brand, YouTube helps you showcase expertise in ways Instagram simply can’t.
2. YouTube Works for You 24/7 (Instagram Doesn’t)
One of the biggest mistakes small businesses make is focusing too much on Instagram’s short-lived content. A Reel might get you some traction for a few days, but after that? It disappears into the algorithm.
YouTube videos, on the other hand, keep working for you for months (or even years). Because YouTube is owned by Google, your videos can show up in search results when people are looking for solutions in your niche. This is a huge advantage over Instagram, where discovery is mostly limited to hashtags and the Explore page.
🚀 Think of it this way: You post a product demo on Instagram—it gets 1,000 views in the first 24 hours, then engagement drops off. You post that same demo on YouTube—it might start slow, but it can accumulate thousands of views over time from people actively searching for what you offer.
Bottom line: Instagram posts fade fast. YouTube content lasts.
3. YouTube Content Is More Valuable and Repurposable
One of the best things about YouTube? A single video can be broken down into multiple pieces of content across different platforms.
💡 Here’s how you can repurpose one YouTube video:
- Post the full video on YouTube.
- Cut it into short clips for Instagram Reels and TikTok.
- Take key points and turn them into a carousel post on Instagram.
- Share the video in an email newsletter.
- Embed the video on your business website.
By starting with long-form YouTube content, you create high-value, evergreen material that fuels all your other content marketing efforts.
4. YouTube Helps You Rank on Google
Unlike Instagram, where your content lives and dies within the app, YouTube videos show up in Google search results. This means that if someone searches for “Best social media strategies for small businesses” and you have a video on that topic, your content has a chance to rank—bringing in leads without you having to do any extra work.
📌 Pro Tip: Make sure your YouTube videos are SEO-optimized by using the right keywords in your title, description, and tags. This will help you rank higher in both YouTube and Google searches.
5. How to Use Instagram to Grow Your YouTube Channel
I’m not saying to ditch Instagram altogether. It still plays a role—but you should be using it to drive traffic to your YouTube channel, not as your main content hub.
🔗 How to use Instagram to grow your YouTube presence:
- Post teaser clips from your YouTube videos on Instagram Reels.
- Add a call-to-action in your captions: “Watch the full video on YouTube—link in bio!”
- Use Instagram Stories to announce new YouTube uploads.
- Create carousel posts summarizing key points from your YouTube videos and direct people to watch the full version.
The key is to get people off Instagram and onto YouTube, where they can get more value and are more likely to become leads.
Final Thoughts: YouTube = Long-Term Success for Small Businesses
If you want real, sustainable growth as a business owner, YouTube is where you should be investing your time. It builds trust, keeps working for you long after you post, and helps you get discovered by people who are actively looking for solutions in your niche.
Instagram? It’s a great support tool. But if you’re relying on it as your main marketing strategy, you’re leaving money on the table.
🔥 My advice? Start creating YouTube content now. Even if you don’t see instant results, trust the process. A year from now, you’ll have a library of videos working for you 24/7—while your competition is still chasing engagement on Instagram.
Need help setting up your YouTube? Struggling to brainstorm content ideas? Unsure how to show up confidently on video? Let’s figure it out together. Book a call, and we’ll create a content strategy that makes sense for you and your business.