Pretty much anyone is on YouTube nowadays, whether they like it or not, so why not try to make some money as well in the process? Monetization through the famous streaming platform is something a lot of people do nowadays, as it’s never been easier to make money on YouTube.
Everybody nowadays can afford a video recording camera and a video editing program to start and maintain a successful journey. Some of those video editing software are even free to use, and Shotcut is one great example. This program can allow you to cut your videos, insert images and songs, and do pretty much anything else. You just need time and some original ideas for your YouTube channel.
You also need to be aware that the competition is huge nowadays on YouTube, which means that you also need to be creative to some degree, even if you somehow bring similar content to others. Therefore, let’s see what are the main tips to take into account when building a successful YouTube channel:
Learn video editing
You’re probably not willing to pay someone else to edit your videos when there are tons of apps and programs out there that can do all the work for you. Furthermore, tutorials about how to edit your videos in any program are everywhere on the internet. This means that literally, anyone can learn a bit of video editing, even though it may sound intimidating at first. It’s a lot easier than it sounds.
As we said, some video editing apps are free of charge, such as Shotcut. But others demand a subscription, and that shouldn’t discourage you from at least doing your research on those apps. There are plenty of powerful video editing tools, and some good examples are also Adobe Premiere Pro, Apple Final Cut Pro, DaVinci Resolve, Movavi Video Editor, Workshare Filmora, and so on.
Get the right video recording camera
Getting yourself a good video recording camera for your future channel is mandatory. You may have to invest a few hundred bucks in a powerful camera if you need to record outdoor videos. Nobody would like to watch a video that looks and sounds bad nowadays, and neither do you, right?
If, instead, you want to make a YouTube channel about video reviews on smartphones, for instance, it can be enough to record that footage with your phone’s camera as long as your device has at least Full HD resolution, especially if you plan to record those videos indoors. Just make sure to have enough light in your room for the gadgets to look good and clear. Not any youtuber needs a high-tech camera from The Jetsons, and many of those who claim otherwise are nothing but show-offs.
Focus on a specific domain
You need to establish from the start what your YouTube channel will be about. Make it clear in your description and eventually in a presentation video of your channel what your viewers will see. If you want to post videos about books, that’s great, but don’t just suddenly post something else about car tires, for instance. It’s recommended to maintain your initial plan and keep following that path.
Post regularly
Make it clear right from the start how often you will be posting your videos. A person won’t remain your follower for long if you post only two videos per month, for instance. Make sure to post at least once a week to keep your audience interested in what you have to offer.
If you lack inspiration, feel free to watch the content of other people on similar topics, but make sure to remain original! Getting inspiration from others is okay and something we all do to some degree. But copying content is absolutely unacceptable.
Interact with your audience
Too many of those who are famous on YouTube never bother responding to comments, especially if they’re being criticized. You don’t want to be that guy, as that’s a sure way to make your followers lose faith in you. You should always respond to those who comment on your content, regardless of whether they are happy with your videos or not. And when an entire planet is watching your content, you should always be ready for some hateful comments as well, regardless of how amazing and useful your content may be. That’s just how people are; they can always find reasons to criticize you.
Never stop learning
You should never stop learning about the domain you’re embracing in your videos. Nobody is an expert, and the more you live, the more you (should) learn in life. If you want to make a YouTube channel about chess, for instance, you should definitely always keep learning new things. Feel free to study different ideas and read books on the gimmicks and different strategies of chess, such as openings, aggressive play, the fastest checkmates, and so on. Feel free to invite other chess players over and play against them while you record the match. Feel free to organize interviews with them on chess topics, such as competitions and prizes. With all these experiences, you will definitely learn a lot about the mysteries and wonders of chess, which is probably the most complex and beautiful game of all.
In the end, it’s all up to you to bring your own ideas to YouTube. Although you’ll embrace a certain domain, make sure also to stay original. Don’t shy away from making a few jokes in your videos, as everybody enjoys a good laugh. But the very first thing that your future followers will be interested in is quality.
Tim M. Hill helped bring Digital-Overload from a weekly newsletter to a full-fledged news site by creating a new website and branding. He continues to assist in keeping the site responsive and well organized for the readers. As a writer to Digital-Overload, Tim mainly covers mobile news and gadgets.
