Given the proliferation of online video, it’s a safe bet your target consumers are on YouTube, and that your brand is there already in some form. But too many brand channels are half-baked or under-utilize the power of the world’s biggest video site. To take your YouTube presence to the next level consider these 7 best practices:

1.    Create real-time connections through event-driven video
YouTube’s new Live offering supports web broadcasting that can drive user interactions into a real-time environment. Taking advantage of this capability can make you brand channel a time-sensitive destination point during your campaign, not just a repository of content.

2.    Re-market and track users across the network
YouTube enables a wide variety of analytics and measurements, with remarketing capabilities that target users across their ad network to encourage repeat engagement and cultivation of long-term loyalty. Leveraging these programs can help you make sure your channel is a place people come back to again and again, not just come for a quick content “snack.”

3.    “Gadgetize” the user experience
YouTube enables brands to customize much of their channel’s user interface, including the creation of 3rd party navigation “gadgets” that add features and functionality that make your experience stand out from the crowd.

4.    Cross-pollinate content and delivery across your entire ecosystem
YouTube is a superb video delivery platform, but to ensure that your content receives maximum viral lift, use the channel in tandem with your other touch points (Twitter, Foursquare, etc.) to drive traffic and engagement. Conversely, cross-distributing the same video on your YouTube channel to other places where your brand lives (Facebook, brand site, etc.) ensures maximum coverage.

5.    Channel-specific interactive content and functionality
Brand channels should post more than 30-second spots from a broadcast campaign. Web-specific video content with interactive overlays can live alongside repurposed cross-media clips. One interesting use of this overlay best practice is e-commerce link overlays within demonstration videos.

6.    Encourage user-generated contributions
Since YouTube is already heavily populated with user-generated content, incorporating dialogue by favoriting and/or reposting consumers’ uploads leverages the promise of social media and helps the audience see themselves in your brand. By moderating this active engagement you can build deeper connections with your audiences.

7.    Filter and customize for geographic markets
While the need for additional brand channels for each new commercial campaign is debatable, geographic specific channels can be created for a custom experience highlighting local product, language, and culture.

What other YouTube tips and tricks can you share for folks looking to take their brand channel to the next level?

Matthew Loebman is a  Senior Contributor, Strategy at Organic