12 Steps to Start A YouTube Channel
Ever since its inception in April 2005, YouTube has become the second most visited website. Second only to, well, naturally Google Search.
Now, if you are thinking of starting up your own YouTube channel then you are most likely already aware that thousands of people around the world share the same objective. The growing number of YouTubers out there rightfully intimidates a beginner.
It is terrifying to think of starting a channel when millions of people are already in the field, working for years. The magnitude of this large community discourages beginners. Hence, we, at Work Online Forum, have broken down the code for you in these 12 steps:
Now Is The Time!
First things first, if you are thinking of starting a YouTube channel, don’t hold it up while you polish your skills. Make it NOW! There are millions of people making channels, catering away your potential audience. Don’t expect your videos to be faultless. No one is perfect from the start. You are bound to err along the way and this is all a good experience.
Go For A Specific Topic
Don’t bite off more than you can chew. Decide on a specific topic from the outset and stick to it. There are a variety of videos on YouTube. You just need to find your area of expertise and build a setup accordingly.
Know Your Target Audience
Once you have decided on a topic, start researching the appropriate audience for that. Pull up similar videos to your topic and see the viewer’s response to them. Write down the do’s and don’ts. Try to find out that:
- What type of people are going to subscribe to your channel?
- Why would they do so?
- What they would be expecting from your channel?
Consult Your Peers
It is always a good idea to talk to a person already in the field that you are dipping your toes into. If you know any YouTubers around, Sit down and discuss with them. There are a few things that you can learn only from a person who has first-hand experience.
Maximize Your Content’s Lifespan
Things are developing at a lightning speed. It has become challenging to create contents that’ll stay relative for a long time. Try to find ways in which your content will be relatable for a longer period.
For example, talk about future possibilities and potential theories about “Man going to space”, if you are talking about the current astronautical activities.
Learn To Be Better
You, obviously as a beginner, would have to learn the rudiments of how YouTube works. But with time you should work on making your videos better. This incorporates all the technical stuff like:
- How to efficiently edit your videos?
- How to write a good description?
- How to create captivating thumbnails?
- How to do keyword research?
- How to avoid copyright claims? and much more.
Look For The Right Equipment
Have you ever closed a YouTube video midway because of the bad audio or video quality? That’s your cue. Audio and video quality affect your overall watch experience. Look for the appropriate equipment to make sure your viewers don’t cut your videos off midway.
Make a Custom Video Template For Your Channel
Making a prior template for all your videos will make your life so much easier. It will save you from worrying about the introduction, editing (most part), and the ending. Plus, it will give your channel an aesthetic boost. Sounds like a win-win to me.
Work On YouTube Analytics
Used to hate math in school? Well, it’s high time you jump to the other side of the fence ‘cause you will be dealing with NUMBERS here. There are a lot of metrics to keep up with like
- Watch time
- Average percentage view
- Average view duration
- Thumbnail click ration
- Search engine traffic ratio
These metrics will determine how clickable your thumbnails are and how captivating is your content. You can work on your weak areas if you keep tabs on the analytics. It will help a lot in growing your channel.
Engage with Your Audience
Keep an eye on your comments section. Make sure to always reply to your dedicated viewers. A well-replied comment can get you a valuable subscriber. Similarly, an ignored comment can result in the loss of a dedicated channel user. Make sure to be generous and click on the like button on every positive comment your receive. It doesn’t cost you anything, does it?
Your comments section also reflects the user opinion about your videos and your entire YouTube channel. This can help you in improving your overall content quality.
Never Deceive Your Audience
Be realistic when creating your video thumbnail. Your thumbnail contents should be taken from your video. Do not include any irrelevant image inside your video thumbnail just to attract public attention. This can give your video some temporary boost but it will destroy your YouTube channel’s repute in the long run. How will you feel if you buy potato chips from the market and end up finding candies inside the potato chips wrapper? Think about that when creating a thumbnail.
Respect the Copyrights
Remember! a copyright strike is the fasted way to get your YouTube channel completely banned. Never copy content from any other website or YouTube channel. Doing so can get you a copyright strike which you certainly don’t want. Although it takes time to create original content it will benefit you in the long run. Copy pasted content can get you a quick video as well as a quick ban.