Starting a YouTube channel can be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be with the right piece of information. Earlier this year, I quit my 9-5 job to concentrate on my brand, which included YouTube.
Since then, I have seen much growth; every effort was worth it. Video marketing is one of the most effective ways of digital marketing. Therefore, starting a YouTube channel will help you enhance your brand visibility and get it to the right people.
Why should you start a YouTube channel?
YouTube is to video what google is to text. Ideally, when you want to search something up, you pull up your google and type what you are looking for. If you want a video answer, you are likely to search on YouTube, and if you search on your browser, the search results will redirect you to YouTube.
YouTube is a fun hobby.
The continued video blogging culture has stemmed from different reasons. Once you start your YouTube channel, you will realize that recording is one fun hobby you need. I shoot random things on the streets, and I love editing them. Whether I end up posting them on my YouTube channel or keep them on my phone, I love passing my time creating videos and editing them. It is healing to the soul.
A YouTube Channel allows you to earn passive income.
Added to the fun you will have while creating and editing your videos, creating a YouTube channel will open a door for you to make an extra income. At first, you might not earn a full-time income from your YouTube channel. Still, it is motivating to earn some extra cash from your hobby.
Also, YouTube income is a form of passive income. For example, the videos I created five months ago are still showing on my YouTube channel and generating some income. Those videos will still show a few years down the line, creating an earning potential for years to come.
A YouTube channel enhances your online presence.
A YouTube channel will help you do video marketing for your brand, which enhances your online presence. If you are interested in digital marketing, you will realize that video marketing is leveraged by B2B and B2C businesses because of its visual nature.
Sellers can demonstrate their products’ usage and showcase their features leading to people making buying decisions through video marketing.
A YouTube channel is also your online portfolio. Let’s say, for example, you create a YouTube channel that shows how to do makeup. That YouTube channel will be your resume if you want to work with makeup brands to sponsor your content or if you want to be a brand ambassador.
Steps to step of starting a YouTube channel.
Enough of why you should start a YouTube channel; let me take you through the step-by-step guide to creating a YouTube channel that makes money.
Sign up on YouTube.
YouTube makes it easy for people to sign up and create a YouTube channel. You do not have to be a tech guru to do this; within five minutes, you should have everything set and ready.
Sign In to YouTube and click the user icon on the top right of your screen. You will see a gear icon that says “create a Channel.” click on that gear and follow the prompts.
You can use the name of your YouTube account as your channel name, or you can change it to the custom name of the channel you are creating. At the icon, you can also pick a photo that you want to display as the profile photo of your channel, then press create, and viola, your channel is ready!
Once you have created your channel, do not forget to download creator studio on your phone. Creator studio is a YouTube creators’ app that helps you monitor the different analytics, edit your videos, change thumbnails, etc. I love the creator studio because I can track the performance of my videos even when I am not close to my laptop. Once you are set with your YouTube channel and creator studio, you are ready to start creating on YouTube.
Get the right gear.
I won’t lie to you; as far as the right gear for my YouTube channel was concerned, I was very confused at first. I read many blog posts that reviewed what you need to buy to start a successful YouTube channel. A few months into my YouTube journey, here is what I would advise, start with the basic, must-have items and then invest in your YouTube channel bit by bit.
You can get a good vlogging camera, but if you are working on a budget, a good phone will work. When I started, I had an Oppo A52 phone. It wasn’t perfect, especially with the internal sound, but it worked perfectly with a Boya microphone on. A few months later, after my long blogging break, I started using my boyfriend’s TCL phone. This one was close to perfect, from the sound to the lighting.
A few months ago, I got the new iPhone 13 Pro max; I love using it. It has many good features that help me make the best shots and the perfect sound quality. In short, I am saying that if you have a good phone and are on a budget, start vlogging with your phone.
You will also need a tripod from the start. Depending on whether you are using a smartphone or a camera to record, you will need a different tripod in each case. I use this tripod to record with my phone.
I already mentioned a microphone. For my first videos, I had little to no experience vlogging. I didn’t do my homework and was working with a really squeezed budget. I didn’t use an external microphone. I relied on the sound of my phone. That didn’t go well; my videos had low-quality audio, which hurt my growth, and soon, I bought a Boya microphone.
I used the boya microphone for a few months. It is perfect if you have an extra guest on your channel since it has two outlets. It is perfect for sit-down videos or if you are not doing a lot of movement.
A few months ago, my boyfriend and I were going on a trip to Italy. I knew I would be recording a lot outdoors during our sightseeing, and I didn’t want to have both of us pegged to each other by the microphones. So we got two wireless Bluetooth microphones. They worked perfectly during the trip, and I still use them for my sit-down videos.
However, one thing was missing in my gear, a stabilizer. If you are vlogging many outdoor videos, a stabilizing gimbal is essential. It helps reduce screen movement as you move.
My Italy videos have a lot of movement, which I didn’t like and suspected my audience didn’t like, so I reached out to an Instagram creator. She had talked about a gimbal I was eyeing on her Instagram stories. I wanted an honest review of how it worked for her, and she sent me a video she had created using the gimbal. Long story short, I purchased the gimbal, and I would recommend it a hundred percent, especially if you are planning to do a lot of outdoor content or content where you will be walking around a lot.
With ring lights and other aesthetics to make your video look good, you can purchase them later. In the meantime, using what you have will significantly reduce your initial cost. For example, recording your videos during the day will help you use natural light. You can also use your house lighting, or if you completely need a light, you can purchase one of my favorite ring lights.
Plan your content.
You have to plan from the get-go on the type of content you are planning to upload on your channel and have a content calendar. There are so many planners out there that you can leverage to stay up to date with your creation schedule. My favorite planner is google calendar since it is free and has all the features I need to run my creating business successfully.
When do you want to upload your content? That is a good question to answer since it will allow you to stay consistent, something that the YouTube business appreciates. Consistency on YouTube will help you create trust with your viewers and leave a lasting impression on when they should expect content from your YouTube channel.
For example, I upload every Monday and Wednesday at noon. All my subscribers know when to expect new content.This doesn’t mean I do not miss a day of my uploading days. I sometimes do, and what I do in that case is upload a picture or something on my community tab to let my subscribers know that I am still around.
I have found that when I treat my YouTube as a 9-5 job where I have a boss, I can stay consistent. My subscribers are my bosses, so I like to remain accountable to them.
Make Catchy Thumbnails.
There are a dozen graphic design apps that can help you create a beautiful thumbnail for your videos. Personally, I use Canva. Canva has a tonne of beautiful free templates to make thumbnails. It is also very affordable if you want to upgrade it for more functionalities.
Thumbnails help you create the first impression to someone scrolling through YouTube. Think of the number of times you clicked a video because it had a beautiful thumbnail. That is what other people on YouTube do as well. Draw people in with a beautiful thumbnail, and do not forget to accompany it with a catchy video title. Over time, try out different thumbnail designs, see what works best for your audience, and stick to that.
Join YouTubers’ Facebook groups.
Community in your YouTube journey will prove to be very vital. There are so many YouTuber groups on Facebook that support newbies. On those Facebook groups, you will learn a lot of dos and don’ts from people that have been doing the YouTube business for a while. You will also know when YouTube changes something in its terms and conditions since creators often discuss such issues in groups.
Some of the most valuable insights I gained were from Facebook groups, and recently, I read a few Reddit threads from YouTubers.
Market Your YouTube Channel.
You probably know that starting a business and not marketing it is as good as winking at a girl at night. Your YouTube channel is not a secret to be kept; make noise about it! Let people know that you exist on the YouTube space. Here are a few ways in which you can market your YouTube channel:
Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Yes, SEO is not for bloggers only; YouTubers, too, need to learn how to optimize their videos for search. A search engine is what makes people see your content when they search for something. For example, if you are making recipe videos for a vegan diet, you have to optimize your title and video description with the relevant keywords for the vegan diet. Make sure you tag your videos with the appropriate tag names and hashtags that people might be searching for.
Social media.
Social media is a huge part of marketing, and you cannot afford to ignore social media. Try out different social media platforms to see which works well for your YouTube. I have found TikTok especially helpful with my YouTube channel’s growth. Instagram also follows closely. This might be different for you, but try out your various ones until you see what works best for you. Also, encourage your audience to share your videos with your social connection, as that will help you leverage free marketing from your audience.
Embed your videos on your blog content.
If you own a blog, embedding your videos on your blog is one way to drive traffic from your blog to your YouTube channel. This especially applies if you are writing around the same topics you vlog about.
Engage with your followers.
Have you ever walked into a store and couldn’t find someone who works in the store to help you? How was that experience? In most cases, when this happens, buyers feel ignored, and they might leave the store without buying what brought them there in the first place.
In the same way, do not ignore your followers, whether they are two or one million. Engage them. Read and respond to their questions. Let them feel seen. That way, they will keep coming back to watch and maybe recommend you to their circles.
Avoid being a snob on the internet!
Monetize your YouTube Channel.
Once you create consistent, good-quality content, you will reach the minimum threshold required to be a YouTube partner. A YouTube channel can earn money in different ways, like getting ad revenue from YouTube. You can also sell physical or digital products to your subscribers or get brand partnerships.
You probably won’t get any money on your first month of creating on YouTube, but if you stay consistent, you will get monetized. For some, it takes months, and for some, even years. Stay consistent and create good content. That’s the only secret.
Frequently Asked Questions on Creating a YouTube Channel (FAQs).
How much does it cost to create a YouTube channel?
It costs $0 to sign up on YouTube and create a YouTube channel.
When does YouTube start paying you?
There are minimum requirements to start getting paid on YouTube. You must have 1000 subscribers and 4000 watch hours to qualify for the YouTube partner program.
How many subscribers do you need to make money on YouTube?
The minimum number of subscribers you will need is 1000 to qualify for the YouTube partner program. However, subscribers are not the only ones that count when it comes to getting monetized on YouTube. You have to have 4000 watch hours to qualify.
How many views do I need to get paid on YouTube?
Ideally, the number of views does not count to qualify for the YouTube partners program. However, we cannot ignore getting views because the number of views you get contributes to the watch hours. You must attain 4000 watch hours to qualify for the partners’ program. So, to ensure you qualify is to encourage your viewers to watch your videos to the end. Create engaging content so they stay to the end and encourage your viewers to subscribe.
Where does YouTube get its money from?
YouTube mostly gets its money from advertisements. However, they also sell other services like YouTube premium, which earns them money.
How do I deal with hate on my YouTube channel?
YouTube, just like anything online, will have supporters and haters. It doesn’t mean there is anything wrong with you, though. Do not take anything haters say to heart. You are the brave one, so keep creating. I like to delete hate comments, and it has worked for me so far.
Finally,
Do not let the fear of what might happen to keep anything from happening. Start a YouTube channel today! It will be tough at first, but it keeps getting better! Most importantly, stay on the path! Keep showing up for your YouTube channel and set a small achievable goal for it that will keep you motivated.
If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to ask in the comments below or contact me, I will be more than happy to help!
Happy YouTubing!