19 Tips To Be Successful On Youtube
YouTube is a great platform to share your passions, interests, and expertise with the world. It can also be a great way to make money. But with over 2 billion monthly active users, it can be tough to stand out from the crowd.There’s more to becoming successful on YouTube than merely throwing videos up there and hoping for the best. It requires an organized strategy, originality, consistency, and sincere audience engagement. Just as they say, “Rome wasn’t built in a day,” so too can a successful YouTube channel. So I’m sharing my tips on to start a YouTube channel for beginners to build your own personal empire
With insights, techniques, and advice to help you succeed in the fiercely competitive world of online content production, this comprehensive list will walk you through the best content strategies for beginners. If you’re thinking about starting a YouTube channel, here are 19 tips to help you get started:
Tips To Starting A YouTube Channel For Beginners
Create A Channel Mission Statement
This is the equivalent of creating an elevator pitch but in writing. This will help your audience understand what your channel is about. And will also help you keep your “why” at the forefront of your mind when creating content.
Understanding what you want your channel to be about, who your audience is, and how you will serve them keeps your content aligned with your brand.
This can also be placed on the homepage of your channel for anyone looking to subscribe to your channel to see.
Find A Niche And Stick To It
For at least a little while. Creating content within a specific niche helps you build a strong audience base faster. When thinking about your niche consider these things:
- What am I proficient in?
- What topics can I create content on and never get bored?
- Will this niche be relevant years later?
As I previously mentioned, you don’t need a niche to be successful on the platform however, having one makes it more likely for your audience to see you as the authority on that topic based on the amount of content you create regarding it.
It makes it easier for YouTube to categorize and promote your channel so that your target audience can find you.
Choose A Memorable Channel Name
Just like choosing your niche, choosing your channel name also plays a role in how your audience finds, connects, and identifies you and if the content is right for them.
For example, if you create content about cars. It would be a great idea to use that keyword in your channel name. Names like “Tony’s Car Repair” or “Mike Specialty Car Review”. These channel names tell you what the content will be about and help you place an identity on the channel and the creator. You now know Tony is his name and he will help with car repairs. Your mind will think of Tony’s videos next time your engine starts making noise.
Make that channel name memorable.
Create A Content Schedule
This will consist of days when you are going to do multiple things. On what days will you plan your content, film, edit, and upload? No matter what days you choose, stick to the schedule. Your audience is watching! This is a great practice for building viewership. Let them know what day you will upload each week so they are anticipating your videos.
This is one of the keys to becoming successful on YouTube. You have to be consistent. Not just with uploading but with planning and organizing the content as well.
Your schedule will reflect your commitment as well as your success. If you only put in 2 hours into your job a week you will never learn how to do it effectively or get that promotion you are dreaming of. YouTube is no different.
Choose Brand Colors or Thumbnail Design
If you didn’t already know, your thumbnail is almost as important as the video content you create.
No matter how good your content is, if no one clicks that thumbnail then your video won’t reach your target audience.
When you are creating your video outline you should already have your thumbnail design in mind as well as the keywords you will place on the thumbnail. Trust me, planning your thumbnail design is in the top 2 to success on Youtube so spend time on drafting and creating it.
Think about the colors and design you want to use as well. This will make it easier for your audience to start to recognize your content on the YouTube home page.
Brand recognition will help you connect with your audience as well as stand out in and sea of thumbnails.
Research Video Titles And Keywords
To be successful on YouTube you have to know what people are searching for and what keywords to use in your video titles to help them find your content.
Doing keyword research can be very overwhelming in the beginning but I’m going to share the easiest, and fastest way to do it.
Use the YouTube search bar.
Start by entering your video title idea and type in a few keywords to see what others are searching for. This is a great starting point for learning how to properly title your videos. See the image below.
As you can see, various search terms(keywords) will auto populate for you. These are keywords your audience is searching for, use these in your video titles. This is also a great way yo get video ideas and concepts to include in your video.
Write An Effective Video Description
In the same way, you have to use keywords in your video titles, you also have to use keywords in your video description. This helps your viewer know what the video is about, what to expect, and any important information about your video you want to share.
Make sure you use those keywords.
Not only in the title but in the video description and on your thumbnail. YES, your thumbnail too. The video description is where you explain what the viewer will see and learn from watching. Use this space effectively.
Use Video Chapters
When creating content that is lengthy or has a great deal of information timestamps are a way of breaking down your video for a better viewer experience. Using video chapters can help organize a video in sections. You can organize your content so the information is more accessible for the viewer and so that you can link people to direct information at your leasure. This is great for video tutorials and vlogs.
Here is a wonderful video tutorial explaining how you can add video chapters to your content, here.
Add Product and Service Links
One of the most asked questions I get asked about regarding starting a YouTube channel is, “How can I start to make money”? There are various ways of making money on YouTube however, due to YouTube requirements this may take some time to become a YouTube partner. If you would like to start to make money on YouTube fast you must utilize your video description and add product links and services.
You do this by joining affiliate programs below I will give you some of my favorite affiliate programs you can use, but these are ways of using specific product links and when your viewers click and purchase from those links, you earn a percentage of the sale. This is one of the fastest ways to earn money from your YouTube channel.
My current favorite affiliate programs for beginners are Magic Links, and Amazon.
Create Scripts and Video Outlines
You will have to find your niche, and search for keywords, and video titles. Now, you have to organize your videos so that it is engaging for the viewer. One of the ways to make sure you have a cohesive, and entertaining video is by creating a video outline and writing a video script. This will include creating bullet points for your videos to make sure you include all relevant information and also this makes it easier when you are editing your video in post-production.
I find that when I create a video script it makes my filming days easier and I don’t spend as much time in post-production editing to remove unnecessary content from the video. Scriptwriting is also great so that you don’t have to guess what you’re going to say or when. Oftentimes when the camera comes on the nerves kick in and we forget everything we wanted to say. Writing and organizing ahead of time helps alleviate any issues you will face while recording.
Use Default Upload Video Settings
The way I’ve been able to create contact more efficiently is by using the default program in settings already available to me on YouTube. One of those settings is the default upload. This allows me to have certain things preset in my video description that I will need to include for every video. These are things like, my social media handles, most of my affiliate links, direct links to my website, and products or services. Because these links never change, using the default settings, I don’t have to enter this information every single time that I post to YouTube. See the image below on how to find the default settings on your YouTube account.
Channel Tags
Another default setting within YouTube that you should utilize is your channel tags. Your channel tags are a way for YouTube to categorize your channel. If you will be creating a vlog channel about beauty and fashion for example, you can use default tags that will be uploaded with every video so that it makes it easier for your audience to find you based upon the keywords you use for your channel tags. I highly recommend that you add them to your channel, and update these tags as your channel grows, and if you decide to change your niche later on.
Create Channel Playlist
If you are undecided on what type of video content, you want to create and decide you want to make a multi-faceted channel I highly recommend you utilize a video playlist. This is an effective way to organize your videos on your channel so that your audience will be able to find the content they are looking for easily.
Because content may vary and your channel may change over the next few months or years you want to be able to organize your channel in a way that your audience, whether new or old can find the content and it is a great way to advertise content to new viewership. If you are known for creating video tutorials, creating a playlist with vlogs may be a great way to introduce new content to your previous audience.
Repurpose Content For YouTube Shorts
Do you want to grow on YouTube? Shorts are a great way to grow your audience. Re-purposing your long-form content into YouTube shorts can draw new eyes to your channel. These are people who may not have seen it in its longer form and will be introduced to you in a new format.
A great way of doing this is by taking a long-form video and selecting a few clips to use as video shorts. This works well for video tutorials and informational-style videos. You can grow your audience by giving them information in a fast and efficient way.
You can also repurpose content from different videos to make one video. I have made new videos from subcategories of other videos. If I’m talking about haircare and mention a product or technique. I will take that same information and video clip to add to a new video about that topic. This is how you recycle and reuse content.
Batching Content
Batching content simply means creating content in bulk. We know that sometimes life can get in the way and to remain consistent we have to plan in advance. So filming multiple videos at a time is a form of batching content.
In the past, I have created 4 videos in one day and spent the rest of the week editing and preparing it for YouTube. I then schedule the content to go live so I can relax and focus on creating other forms of content.
This is how I can have so much content going live during the week because I create in bulk and edit and schedule to move on with my week.
Use FREE Software
One of my favorite tips to start a YouTube channel is sharing free resources. When it comes to YouTube people believe you have to spend money on equipment and fancy software to have quality videos. This is far from the case. You can get started creating content with your cellphone and natural sunlight. You can also find free resources to help you.
You can create great videos with free editing software and apps on your phone. No computer is needed.
My current favorites are Canva, Capcut, and VideoLeap.
I use Canva for %65 – %75 percent of my post-production editing. Canva is great at creating Youtube intros, thumbnails, channel banners, video pop-ups and so much more.
Use Close Caption
The goal of YouTube is to reach a broader audience, and using close captions in your videos allows for a great user experience for everyone. I find that the videos that I integrate close captions have a wider viewership and demographic, than some of my most popular videos.
Focus on the total viewer experience and watch your channel grow.
Become A Student Of YouTube
Of all the things, I wish I had done in the beginning when starting my YouTube channel was to learn my channel analytics. YouTube analytics is the back office of your channel. This is where you will get all of the vital information you need to successively create content for your audience, as well as to learn, what works and what does not work. You can read more on how to study your channel analytics here.
Understanding who your viewer is what type of content they like to watch and even how long your viewers are watching your videos is vital in the creative process. As you learn to create content and have a variety of videos on your channel, utilizing video analytics will allow you to understand what successful videos look like for your channel so that you can replicate that content.
Also as a student of YouTube get in the habit of watching videos as well. Learn what captures your attention, what editing styles you like, and what formats you can incorporate into your videos. Once you watch other creators you will be inspired to create better quality videos.
Master The 15 Second Rule
Did you know that the first 15 seconds of your YouTube video are the most important? Why, you may wonder? You have 15 seconds (give or take) to capture your viewer’s attention so that they don’t exit out of your video. When you are planning out your video content understand that the 15 Second Rule is the number one thing you should focus on before scripting your video.
Make that first few seconds count.
If you learn to master number #18 quickly, you will be able to look at your video analytics and see where your viewership starts to drop off for your channel. Many times you will notice in the beginning that your viewers do not watch past the first 15 seconds. This is because people love to integrate long videos, intros, and special editing a fix that does not capture the audience and quite frankly is a waste of time. The first 15 seconds of your video is your elevator pitch. Capture their attention and let them know why they should continue to watch the video in its entirety.
Once your channel starts to grow and your audience learns more about you and quite frankly cares about you, then you can give them more personality and fancy graphics because they will be familiar with you and your content.
I know that starting a YouTube channel can seem daunting at first however, it doesn’t have to be. The tips I’m sharing with you today are a wonderful starting point to create a successful channel in no time. With each video you become more proficient, as well as utilizing the tools and tips I’ve shared in this post, it will make creating content fun and accessible to all. Be sure to save this post as I will be updating it frequently and introducing any free creator tools that may be of help to you in continuing your YouTube journey.
19 Tips To Be Successful On Youtube
- Create A Channel Mission Statement
- Find A Niche And Stick To It
- Choose A Channel Name That Is Memorable
- Create a Upload Schedule
- Use Brand Colors For Thumbnail Design
- Research Video Titles And Keywords On YouTube
- Write Effective Video Descriptions
- Use Video Chapters
- Link Products and Services For Monetization
- Write Video Scripts and Outlines
- Use Default Upload Options
- Incorporate Channel Tags
- Organize Videos Into Channel Playlist
- Repurpose Content for YouTube Shorts
- Batch Create Content
- Use FREE Editing Software
- Use Close Caption
- Study Your Video Analytics
- Learn the 15-Second Rule
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