Alternative Uses for YouTube

The video-sharing phenomenon, YouTube, has made its mark on computer screens around the world. Now everyday people are getting in on the filmmaking action posting videos of varying quality. A random look at a recent day's most-viewed videos on YouTube includes topics ranging from "A Sloppy Drunk" and "A Guy Goes Shopping with a Stocking on His Head" to "Healthy, Quick, and Easy Recipes" and "An Interview with Bruce Willis".

Whether users are after their fifteen minutes of fame or are using the site to share videos with family and friends, YouTube does have a variety of uses that go beyond mere entertainment. For example, one often overlooked use of YouTube is in conjunction with eBay or other online marketplaces.

For example, if you are selling an item online such as a car, RV, or boat, consider posting a video of it on YouTube and providing a link in your online description. This gives buyers the opportunity to fall in love with your item by seeing it in much greater detail than mere photos can provide.

Another YouTube use is for sharing videos of the family with grandparents. This offers immediate gratification of seeing the little ones in action without the need for shipping off tapes or DVDs. You can even make your videos private by going into the My Videos section and choosing the Edit Video Info button. Simply find the broadcast section and click the option that says Private.

Use YouTube when planning a family reunion. Ask family members from around the globe to post short videos showing a little bit about their lifestyle before the reunion. This allows everyone to get reacquainted beforehand and makes a terrific icebreaker. It also allows family members to show off their homes and hobbies as well as reveal a little about themselves that otherwise might not get shared.

Another terrific use for YouTube is for storing your video of your home inventory for insurance purposes. Videotaping the contents of your home has long been recommended to assist you in proving your possessions in the event of an insurance claim. In the past, you had to store the videotape in a location away from your home because you didn't want the tape to get destroyed along with the other contents of your house. Now, you can simply upload the video to YouTube. You will want to make this video "private" so that strangers can not access it. Should you ever need to, you can show the YouTube home inventory video to your insurance adjuster immediately, no matter where in the world he is.

Get creative and dream up new uses for video-sharing on YouTube. You too can YouTube.