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Starting a YouTube channel could be the perfect way to showcase your talents, reach new audiences and make some extra money.
With more than 2 billion active users worldwide, YouTube is one of the largest social media platforms available today. It offers an incredible opportunity for anyone looking to start their own business or gain recognition as a content creator.
But before you dive into creating YouTube videos and building your subscriber base, it’s important to understand what it takes to succeed on YouTube. In this article, we will discuss the key steps you should take when starting a YouTube channel.
From starting up your channel to choosing topics that interest viewers to leveraging SEO techniques and promoting your video content effectively, these tips will help ensure that you have every chance of success with your new venture.
Why Start a Youtube Channel?
Starting a YouTube channel can be a great way to express yourself, reach new audiences, and generate potential income.
Not only does starting a YouTube channel give you the opportunity to share your ideas and insights on topics that interest you, but it also provides a platform to network with other like-minded individuals and grow your brand.
In addition to being able to reach more people, launching a successful YouTube channel also allows you to have the potential to monetize your videos through various sources such as advertisements and sponsored content.
This means that creating quality videos that engage viewers can help you build an audience and earn money at the same time.
Some of the biggest pros of starting your own YouTube channel include:
- Ability to reach and influence a large audience
- Potential to monetize videos through various sources such as ads and sponsored content
- Flexible work schedule
- Flexible work location
- Opportunity to showcase your talents, ideas, and insights on topics of interest
- Chance to express yourself authentically and create things you love
- Potential for income growth over time
All of this sounds great, I’m sure. But before we get into how to make it on YouTube, let’s first get started by helping you get your YouTube account set up in just a few clicks.
Start Your Own YouTube Channel
The first step is to actually create your new YouTube channel. It doesn’t take long at all:
1. Sign in to YouTube with your Google account. You’ll need to create one first if you don’t have one already.
2. Click your profile picture in the top right corner and select Create a Channel from the menu.
3. Upload a profile picture and type in your channel’s name.
Profile pictures should be:
- Square or round
- 800 X 800 px
- JPG, GIF, BMP, or PNG
4. Click Create Channel in the bottom right corner.
Now, there will be banners, channel art, and branding options to play around with and you can spend some time doing that.
But before you get too far into that process, let’s cover exactly what you can do to grow your YouTUbe channel and build an audience.
Be Authentic From the Start. Be Your Own Brand.
The importance of being authentic and unique when trying to make it on YouTube cannot be overstated. It’s essential that any content creator looking to stand out from the competition and find success on the platform must have their own individual style.
Staying true to yourself and your vision is key to reaching new audiences, building an engaged subscriber base, and growing your channel.
It’s not enough to simply create videos; you need to ensure they are engaging, entertaining, and stimulating.
Understanding what resonates with viewers is a crucial part of succeeding as a YouTube content creator—and authenticity plays a major role in this. People want to watch content that authentically represents who you are as a person, so it’s important to be genuine in everything you do.
Create Unique Content
Creating unique content is also a major key to succeeding on YouTube. With millions of users on the platform, it can be difficult for creators to stand out from the crowd without having something truly original or different about their videos.
That’s why finding ways to differentiate yourself from other creators can be extremely beneficial for growing your brand and building an audience that loves you for who you are—not just what you do.
Whether it’s through experimenting with new formats, creating captivating thumbnails, or incorporating witty humor into your content, there are many ways to showcase your personality while still delivering quality work.
Simply put: if you want to be successful on YouTube, it’s crucial that you stay true to yourself and don’t copy anyone else’s style or copy and paste their approach when creating content.
By staying authentic and putting out unique videos regularly, viewers will begin recognizing your channel for its originality—which can lead them to become long-term subscribers down the line.
Find a Niche But Don’t Box Yourself In
Choosing a niche is of the utmost importance when it comes to succeeding on YouTube.
By focusing on a specific topic or area, you can stand out from other creators in the same space and create content that resonates with your target audience more easily.
However, it’s important to ensure that you don’t box yourself in when selecting a niche—especially if you’re looking to grow your channel over time.
Having a broad focus allows you to explore new topics and ideas that can help keep viewers engaged and entertained, while still staying true to the core ethos of your channel and giving them something they want to watch.
If you limit yourself too much, it can become difficult to continue finding new things to talk about, which could result in content becoming stale and viewers losing interest.
It’s also important to note that as times change, so do people’s interests—so having some ”wiggle room” in terms of what topics you cover can help you avoid missing out on potential opportunities for growth.
Being able to adapt quickly and pivot when necessary is essential for any successful YouTuber, and having multiple subjects or genres at your disposal will make this process much easier.
If done correctly, exploring different areas within your chosen niche can also create opportunities for cross-promotion between videos, allowing viewers who may be unfamiliar with certain topics an easy way into the content they may not have otherwise seen had they only been exposed to one type of YouTube video.
This level of variety keeps viewers interested in what else the channel has to offer and encourages them to come back for more—which helps build a loyal following over time.
Ultimately, finding the right balance between specializing in one particular area without limiting yourself too much is essential for any aspiring YouTuber looking to find success on the platform.
It’s important to take risks from time to time and continually challenge yourself by experimenting with different topics or styles—this way you can keep creating content that resonates with your viewers while still staying true to who you are as an individual.
Identify Your Audience
Identifying your target audience is one of the cornerstones for success on YouTube.
By understanding who you are creating content for, you can tailor your videos to deliver a message that resonates with your specific viewers and keeps them coming back for more.
It’s important to not only think about who they are, but also why they’re watching in the first place—are they looking for entertainment, education, or something else entirely?
When determining who your target audience is, it’s essential to do your research and get as much information as possible. Know exactly what type of people you want to reach and how best to connect with them.
You can find some information on your audience insights in your channel analytics found in YouTube studio.
Examine their interests and preferences—what topics do they typically engage with? What words do they use? What kind of videos are they already watching?
All of this data will help inform how you create content tailored specifically to them.
Once you have an idea of who your viewers are, focus on delivering value through the content that you create. Varying formats and topics from time to time can help keep viewers interested, but providing relevant information that truly connects with their interests should always be prioritized.
If you can prove yourself knowledgeable in a particular field or topic, viewers may find themselves turning to you when seeking advice or knowledge—which can result in increased viewership over time.
Get to Know Your Audience Intimately
As with any other platform, it’s important to connect with your audience as much as possible.
Having an active presence on social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram can also help increase visibility for both yourself as a creator as well as any new videos that you post regularly.
Engaging with fans frequently will make them feel more connected and involved in the creative process—which in turn helps build relationships between creators and viewers that last far longer than the YouTube video itself.
Finally, it’s important not just to identify who your target audience is but also how they consume YouTube video content.
Different age groups may prefer different types of videos (such as shorter clips vs. longer tutorials), while certain geographic locations may respond better to certain types of humor or production technique than others do.
Knowing this ahead of time will help ensure that your videos reach the right people at the right time, allowing them greater potential for engagement and leading to long-term success with their channel.
Overall, having an understanding of who makes up your target audience is essential for success on YouTube.
With so many different factors at play when creating effective content, knowing exactly who you are speaking to will ensure that all aspects work together harmoniously— allowing creators to reach their full potential while delivering videos that keep viewers coming back again and again!
Find Your Competition
Finding your competition on YouTube is an important part of succeeding on the platform, as it allows you to analyze and learn from what they are doing right and wrong.
There are various ways to find your competitors, such as searching keywords in YouTube’s search bar related to your content or simply browsing through similar channels.
It is also helpful to use YouTube analytics tools like Social Blade and Kparser that allow you to track key metrics such as subscribers, views, likes, and comments.
This will give you insight into how successful the other creators are in terms of their content and audience engagement.
Once you have identified who your competitors are, take the time to analyze their videos.
Analyze Their Content and Strategies
Not only should you look at which topics they cover, but also pay attention to:
- how they structure their content,
- what language they use in their titles and descriptions,
- how often they post,
- and how much engagement each video receives.
Learning from others can help inform your own strategy for creating successful videos that resonate with viewers.
It may be helpful to identify certain trends or themes that seem popular among similar channels—and then see if there’s a way for you to incorporate them into your own work.
In addition to analyzing the content itself, it can be beneficial to look at other aspects of a creator’s overall strategy such as branding and social media presence.
Consider things like whether they have a professional website or any type of promotional material (like ads or web banners).
Seeing what efforts other creators have made when marketing themselves can help inform your own decisions when it comes time for you to start promoting yourself more strategically.
Finally, don’t forget about activities like collaboration videos or live streaming events—which can really help draw attention and create more buzz around a channel while simultaneously connecting with audiences on a deeper level.
Seeing what strategies competitors have employed in this regard can give some great ideas on how best to build relationships with viewers while still delivering high-quality content consistently over time.
Understanding who your competition is on YouTube is essential for success — and taking the time to analyze them carefully will go a long way toward helping you formulate an effective plan for reaching viewers with meaningful content that resonates with them long-term.
Doing research into their strategies will provide invaluable insight into what works (and doesn’t work) when it comes to creating engaging videos for an online audience.
Create a List of Videos to Create
Creating a content list for YouTube video ideas is an essential part of succeeding on YouTube.
Having a well-organized and easily accessible list will help you stay organized and avoid running out of ideas for videos.
It can also help you identify areas where there may be gaps in the current content offered, allowing you to fill those needs with your own unique videos.
When coming up with your own content list, it’s important to think about the type of topics that would resonate with your target audience.
While browsing through similar channels can be helpful in this regard (as discussed above), research into the types of videos viewers are already watching can provide even more useful insights into what kinds of topics they find interesting or informative.
You can use analytics tools like Google Trends to monitor popular keywords and topics related to your channel’s niche, as well as analyze the data from competitor channels that have already achieved success on YouTube.
You can also use keyword research tools to get ideas for what kind of content to create.
It can also be helpful to add notes next to each video topic idea that outlines any risks associated with it such as potential copyright infringement, lack of originality among other videos on similar topics, etc., allowing you to plan ahead before deciding which ones make the final cut for production.
Additionally, brainstorming ways to make each idea “your own” by adding unique twists or creative approaches could give your videos an edge against others on similar subjects.
This ensures that they stand out from the competition while still staying true to their intended purpose.
Having a detailed content list will not only save time and effort when creating videos down the line but it will also provide structure and guidance throughout the process—allowing creators greater potential for success on YouTube while still delivering fresh content that viewers love!
How Often Should I Upload Videos?
Another key factor to consider when making a content list is determining how often you should post new videos.
Not only do consistent uploads help ensure that viewers don’t forget about your channel, but regularly posting also allows you to build relationships with them over time—which could lead to long-term success with your channel.
It’s important not to overdo it though—so make sure you take breaks in between uploads if needed, and don’t feel obligated to create content just for the sake of consistently posting something new every day or week.
How to Get More Views and Get Discovered
The key to getting more views and getting discovered on YouTube is having an effective strategy for building relationships with viewers and consistently delivering high-quality content over time.
One of the best ways to do this is by using some of the tips we have already mentioned including:
- understanding who your competition on YouTube is,
- researching their strategies,
- and then using those insights to develop a comprehensive plan for reaching your target audience.
Another important strategy is to focus on creating engaging content that viewers will find interesting and want to share with their friends. This can include a variety of different types of videos, including:
- educational tutorials,
- humorous or entertaining skits,
- informational explainer videos,
- etc.
You might also consider collaborating with other creators in your niche or promoting your channel through social media and other marketing channels.
This can help to raise awareness of your videos and generate more views, which in turn will boost your rankings on YouTube’s algorithm and make it more likely that you will get discovered by new audiences.
Filming
Creating quality videos for YouTube is essential for achieving success on the platform. Quality video production requires an understanding of the art and science behind creating engaging visuals.
This includes learning how to effectively use lighting, angles, and camera movement to capture a scene, as well as mastering audio production such as setting levels or adding background music.
Additionally, making sure that the editing process is properly done can also help make a video stand out from other content on YouTube.
Learning how to film videos properly can also help to maintain consistency across all of your productions and create a professional-looking finished product that viewers will be more likely to watch.
Paying attention to details such as composition, framing, timing, and speed of delivery can help give your videos an edge over others on similar topics—ensuring that they stand out from the competition while still staying true to their intended purpose.
Equipment
Additionally, it’s important not only to learn about filming proper techniques but also to have the necessary resources available when recording footage.
Investing in quality video equipment such as cameras and microphones can go a long way towards producing better-quality videos—especially when compared to those made with low-budget hardware or free stock footage.
Some things that aren’t always necessary to get started but that you can purchase to immediately improve the quality of your videos include –
- Camera
- Microphone
- Lighting equipment (lights, reflectors)
- Tripod and stabilizers
- Backdrop/backgrounds
Remember, some of the most famous YouTubers got started with cell phones or cheap alternatives. So make sure to get started with whatever you have and don’t let your budget stop you from making great videos.
You can also start as simple as using a ring light with your cell phone and a free telemprompter app.
Editing
Mastering the art of creating effective and engaging editing can go a long way towards keeping viewers engaged while adding the right music can help to make the video more entertaining or emotionally impactful.
When it comes to mastering editing for videos, understanding the basic principles behind transitions and timing is key.
This includes:
- learning how to use different transition types such as cuts, fades, or wipes to move from one scene to another effectively;
- knowing when to cut away from a moment for dramatic effect;
- and utilizing slow motion or other techniques to create a sense of tension or urgency.
Additionally, mastering basic editing software like Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro can also go a long way toward producing a high-quality finished product.
Music
Music plays an important role in any video production. The right choice of music can provide context for the story you’re telling and enhance its emotional resonance with viewers.
When selecting music for your YouTube videos, consider using royalty-free libraries if you’re on a budget.
You can also take advantage of services like Youtube’s library which provides free access to tracks from various genres that you can use without needing permission from their creators.
Thumbnail
Finally, an engaging thumbnail is essential for making sure your video stands out amongst its competition within YouTube search algorithms.
It should accurately reflect the subject matter of your content and draw viewer attention with an eye-catching design and relevant keyword phrases in the title.
Experimentation with different designs and ideas is key here—create several versions before settling on one that works best for your project.
By mastering editing techniques, selecting quality music that fits with your production’s tone and message, and designing engaging thumbnails for each video project—You will be better equipped to reach a wide audience and make your videos stand out amidst others online.
Get Passionate about Storytelling and Providing Value
Finally, if you want to be successful on YouTube, it’s important to approach your work with a passion for storytelling and a drive to provide value to your viewers.
Whether you focus on creating short comedic skits or longer-form educational videos, having the right mindset is key when it comes to ensuring that you are engaged in what you do and committed to providing high-quality content over the long term.
Even with all of the different strategies and tactics available today, YouTube is first and foremost about providing value through great content.
So whatever type of videos you create—whether they are tutorials, reviews, vlogs, or something else entirely—remember to stay true to this core principle in order to succeed as a creator on YouTube.
Posting Your First YouTube Video
Publishing your first video on YouTube can be both exciting and a bit daunting. Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to make sure the process goes as smoothly as possible.
1. Create an Account.
In order to create a YouTube channel, you’ll first need a Google account. You can use a personal account or create a new Google account just for your business (recommended).
Once your channel is created, you’ll be able to customize it with different themes, channel art, and design elements so that viewers can easily identify who you are and what your channel is about.
2. Write a Script.
This part may seem intimidating if you’re not used to writing scripts, but it’s essential if you want your videos to flow well and make sense to viewers.
Try breaking down the video into scenes and list out the dialogue or points that need to be made in each one. This will help keep things organized during the editing process later on.
3. Get Your Equipment and Setup
You don’t need any special video equipment to record your first video. You can use your cell phone to start out with as long as it has a good camera (most do these days).
The one thing you might want to invest in is a good microphone:
- We use and love the RODE NT-USB, but it’s a little on the pricier side.
- The Samson Technologies is a great budget option.
Make sure to film your videos in an area that has great natural lighting or invest in lighting equipment.
Even if you don’t have access to professional-level gear just yet, there are plenty of affordable options available online that can still produce quality results.
4. Edit Your Video.
Now that all of the pieces are coming together, it’s time for editing!
You can start out with free software like iMovie or Windows Movie Maker. If you want a professional upgrade, you can opt for Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro.
Don’t forget to add music, sound effects, or other graphics to make things more engaging for viewers.
5. Upload Your Video.
Once everything looks good on screen, save your project file as an MP4 and use YouTube’s uploader tool (found under “My Channel” once logged in) to transfer it from your computer onto the web platform itself!
Here you can add additional details like a title, description, and tags (keywords) that accurately reflect the content of the video—all of which will help draw traffic from search engines like Google.
6. Promote Your Video
Once uploaded onto the platform itself, it’s important that new creators promote their videos across various social media accounts in order to reach potential viewers—think Facebook groups/pages related to topics covered in your video; Twitter hashtags; Reddit threads; etc.
7. Consider Ad Campaigns
Additionally, consider investing in paid campaigns on platforms like Google Ads or YouTube Ads Manager for added visibility (this should only be done once content starts performing well organically).
These seven steps should put aspiring YouTubers well on their way toward creating high-quality content within their respective niches—but remember that consistent effort over time is key here!
The more videos you create with passion and dedication towards storytelling and providing value; while also keeping track of analytics and feedback from viewers over time—the more successful and engaged your audience will become!
Final Thoughts on Starting on YouTube
Starting a YouTube business is the perfect opportunity to leverage cutting-edge technologies and strategies for creating engaging content.
By using the tips and tricks in this article and combining them with an understanding of basic editing techniques, selection of quality music that fits with your production’s tone and message, as well as designing captivating thumbnails for each video project, you can be sure to make your videos stand out amongst others online.
Most importantly, however, it is essential to approach your work with a passion for providing value – only then will you truly succeed on YouTube.
So if you have something valuable or entertaining to share with the world through video content, now’s the time!