Gary Vaynerchuk's Thoughts on IGTV and Its Potential

Gary Vaynerchuk, a renowned entrepreneur and social media expert, shares his perspective on the new Instagram video platform, IGTV, and how it compares to YouTube.

• He believes that IGTV's launch could be a major move by Instagram to capture a piece of the mobile-first long-form video market currently dominated by YouTube.
• While he acknowledges IGTV's potential, he cautions against making hasty predictions or assumptions about its future success.
• He emphasizes that while IGTV is a new platform, it's still too early to have a definitive opinion on its impact and potential.

IGTV: A Mobile-First Approach to Long-Form Video

IGTV, a standalone app with a discovery feed integrated into Instagram, allows users to upload vertical videos up to an hour long. This mobile-first approach is a direct challenge to YouTube, which is known for its desktop-centric interface.

• Gary points out that YouTube, despite its popularity, is not particularly mobile-friendly.
• He believes that Instagram's mobile focus, including the use of vertical videos, could give IGTV a significant advantage.
• However, he also highlights that IGTV's success will ultimately depend on its user experience and how well it integrates with Instagram's existing features.

Gary's Content Strategy: A Focus on Value and Patience

Gary's approach to content creation is based on the idea of providing value to his audience and being patient in terms of building a long-term strategy. This approach applies to his thoughts on IGTV.

• He believes that simply creating content for IGTV because it's a new platform is not a sustainable strategy.
• He emphasizes the importance of understanding a platform and its potential before jumping in with a fully-fledged content strategy.
• He suggests waiting until he has a better understanding of IGTV before forming a definitive opinion and recommending it to his followers.

Content Marketing: A Balanced Approach to Social Media

Gary's content strategy is a combination of traditional marketing principles and modern social media practices. He uses various platforms, including his blog, Instagram, and YouTube, to reach his audience and deliver value.

• He believes in the power of consistency and creating high-quality content that resonates with his audience.
• He doesn't rush to adopt new trends, but rather waits to understand their potential and how they can fit into his overall strategy.
• He encourages his followers to do the same, focusing on building a long-term strategy that delivers value to their audience.

Gary's Thoughts on YouTube's Mobile Interface

Gary, who has not owned a computer for three years, highlights the shortcomings of YouTube's mobile interface. He believes that the platform needs to improve its mobile user experience to stay competitive in the increasingly mobile-first world.

• He sees IGTV's mobile-first design as a potential advantage in this regard, giving it an opportunity to appeal to users who prefer to consume video on their mobile devices.
• He believes that YouTube's lack of focus on mobile could ultimately hinder its growth and make it vulnerable to competitors like IGTV.

The Potential of IGTV: A New Frontier for Mobile Video

Gary believes that IGTV represents a significant shift in how people consume video content. He sees it as a potential platform for reaching a younger audience that is more mobile-centric and less inclined to watch traditional television.

• He believes that IGTV's focus on vertical video content aligns with the viewing habits of mobile users.
• He sees the platform as a potential alternative to YouTube, offering creators a new way to reach their audience and build their brand.