The Oscars just aired. Red carpet, speeches, the whole thing.

But here’s the part that caught my attention…

Starting in 2029, the Oscars leave ABC — after 50+ years — and move exclusively to YouTube. Free. Global. For anyone with internet access.

And if that doesn’t tell you where attention is going… I don’t know what will.

But here’s what’s even more interesting: people aren’t just going to YouTube to watch anymore. They’re going there to figure things out.

LET’S GO DEEPER ⤵

🎯 YouTube Is Quietly Becoming a SEARCH ENGINE FOR BUYERS

YouTube has always been a go-to for content. But now? It’s becoming a go-to for answers.

According to a 2026 Sprout Social consumer survey, nearly 1 in 4 people are already discovering new products and services on YouTube — and 30% plan to use it even more this year.

That means your potential customers aren’t just watching anymore. They’re researching. They’re comparing. They’re learning before they buy.

And here’s the shift most businesses are missing:

👉 Your next customer might not Google you… they might YouTube you.

Something we’re watching closely right now… YouTube is testing image-style posts inside the Shorts feed – think carousel content like you’d see on Instagram or LinkedIn. That tells us something important: YouTube is leaning into what already works on the other major social platforms. 

📺 YouTube on TV is BOOMING

More people are watching YouTube on their TV than ever before — yes, even beating Netflix in some cases.

Your content isn’t just on a phone anymore. It’s on the big screen. And lean-back viewing on a couch = higher trust and longer watch time. That’s a big deal when a family is deciding who to hire.

🌍 Global Reach is on the RISE

You might be a local business… but your content no longer has to be.

YouTube now auto-dubs content into 27 languages — preserving your tone and emotion — with 6M+ daily viewers already consuming dubbed content. You create it once. YouTube does the rest.

HOW THIS MIGHT LOOK IN YOUR BUSINESS

Let’s bring it home. Here’s how to apply this right now:

🎥 Answer What Your Customers Are Already Asking Think about the questions you hear all the time. Pricing. Process. “Is this right for me?” Turn one of those into a simple 60-second video. No script. No studio. Just helpful.

📱 Start Simple — Short-Form Wins Here Too You don’t need a full production setup. A quick tip, a demo, or a common mistake you see — that’s content. Remember: people aren’t looking for perfect. They’re looking for helpful.

📺 Think Beyond the Phone Your video might be playing on someone’s TV while they’re deciding who to trust. Show up like you belong there.

THE BOTTOM LINE

In 2026, YouTube is a search engine, a research tool, and a decision-making platform.

The question isn’t whether your customers are there.

👉 It’s whether they’ll find you — or someone else.

Onward,

— Corey

Want to work together?

Three ways we can help:

🖥️ Book a consulting session — we’ll map out a content strategy built around your business in one focused session.impactsocialmedia.com/private-consulting

🎤 Invite me to speak — I bring this stuff to life for teams, conferences, and company events. coreyperlman.com

📱 Done-for-you social media — we handle your content so you can focus on running your business. impactsocialmedia.com/social-media-2