YouTube announced this week it streams more than two billion videos EVERY DAY. Two billion! YouTube has come a long way in its five years. (Yes, hard to believe it’s been half a decade since the online streaming-video giant launched.) In fact, YouTube claims 24 hours of video are uploaded to the website every minute.

And while most users are likely viewing adorable kitten and puppy videos, watching uplinks of popular movies or TV shows, or giggling at some baby dancing, there are also tons of viewers cruising YouTube for more than just a laugh. Hence, the marketing of companies, products, services, people and places. It’s hard to think of a median where you can reach a bigger, more diverse, worldwide audience.

For a primer on how YouTube works, read this article. In a nutshell, people can upload video to the website for free. Registration is super simple—an e-mail and password—and you must abide by YouTube’s policies (no profanity, violence, copyright violations, etc.). Then you’re free to upload video.

When I blogged about YouTube nearly two years ago, a search of “self-storage” on the website generated 528 videos. Today’s search netted more than 2,500. So it seems many self-storage operators have already embraced this dynamic marketing opportunity. The videos run the gamut from funny to professional to artsy to just plain silly. Clips include site tours, manager introductions and upcoming auctions. Self-Storage Talk member Fainer posted this funny video about Access Self Storage’s moving truck. The video has garnered more than 16,000 views since it was posted.

If you’re not on YouTube, you should be. And while it’s nice to have a professionally shot, high-end video, today’s easy-to-use video cameras and computer software can help any amateur filmmaker produce a quality video so don’t be intimated by the technology. The important factor is to market your facility by any means possible—social media websites included.

Share your comments about marketing via YouTube by posting a comment below, or join the discussion on this Self-Storage Talk thread.