Disclosure: This content is reader-supported, which means if you click on some of our links that we may earn a commission.
With the rise of video blogging culture, more and more young people are entering the wave of starting YouTube channels - after all, it's a fun and interactive hobby that has the potential to make you a popular online personality, help you meet new people, get freebies from sponsoring companies, and of course earn a significant income.
However, if you want to steadily increase your following, or at least post content that gets a lot of views, then you need to do more than just become a contributing member of YouTube.
Here are some useful tips to ensure that you make the most of the resources you already have to enter the field of video blogging and content creation and make your own YouTube channel a success:.
1. Develop content plan
Before launching your YouTube channel, you may have already determined the type of content you want to post. The best way to increase viewership and gain followers remains to keep the video content fresh, interesting and engaging; the more relevant it is to the viewer themselves, the more they will want to click through and watch to the end.
Sticking to the same theme is also useful, and many successful YouTubers run dedicated channels for travel, teaching, or their own daily lives. Many viewers enjoy watching other people's lives, so let them know what to expect and provide interesting material that makes it enjoyable.
2. choose the right equipment
Of course, using a smartphone is an acceptable way to record video, but if you want your viewers to enjoy your content, you should buy the right equipment. Most YouTube users use DSLR or mirrorless cameras, as well as other necessary accessories for photography, such as tripods, lenses and studio lights. Mirrorless cameras, sports cameras, and a good monopod or handheld gimbal stabilizer are common equipment for people who shoot video on the go frequently.
But remember, a good camera is not the whole story. If you ignore other factors such as sound quality and lighting, the audience may lose interest in you within the first few seconds and then never come back.
Purchase a quality microphone that can be mounted on your camera. Also be aware of the conditions of your recording and make a habit of checking that the audio is clear enough. For the best audio results, use a microphone designed to pick up sound primarily from the front, which eliminates noise from the sides and back of the microphone.
3. Looking for inspiration
As you run your operation, try to come up with fresh content that matches your previous videos, it can be challenging, but rest assured that even well-known YouTube web stars sometimes run into the same dilemma. The secret is to look for inspiration everywhere, even when you're out and about, so you can stop and record. Make a list of your ideas, watch other videos, and then finish your own based on the ideas of others.
Avoid comparing yourself to others and please focus on your own channel. As long as you enjoy and present your own concepts, the audience will sense your sincerity and love for the craft, which will pique their interest, and in the meantime, take every opportunity to improve and develop, exploring more advanced shooting techniques, editing styles and presentation methods.
4. Every second counts
It is also important that you produce high quality content and remove all the clips that you think may not improve the quality of your video, meaning that most of the clips may be useless, and select only the best moments in order to keep the viewer interested and engaged with your entire video.
Once you accumulate more followers, you may have more freedom to include shots with an artistic (or ridiculous) touch, but always remember: think like an audience and create what you like.
5. Start with simple editing software
Just because a video is being created doesn't mean you need advanced editing software (such as Adobe Premiere Pro), they don't necessarily improve video content, especially if you need to do a lot of processing in the first few weeks.
If you are not familiar with video editing, then you may do better with a simple program like Windows Movie Maker or Apple iMovie.
- The best video editing software recommendations
6. video optimization
Another secret to getting more views on your videos is to optimize your content to rank higher in YouTube's search results. After uploading your first video, take a good descriptive title, which viewers are likely to write down on the search bar, and make sure to include the main keywords.
Also, be sure to use tags to help place the video in multiple relevant categories, and if in doubt, determine the competitive range and check which tags other similar videos are using. Finally, write an informative description using at least 200 words that includes targeted keywords, synonyms, long-tail keywords, etc. This will not only help viewers understand exactly what your video is about, but will also result in better rankings on the search results page.
7. Build your network
While not necessarily categorized as a social networking site, YouTube is all about connecting, sharing and collaborating with other users, so to be successful you need to work on building networks, which is especially important in the YouTube community, as collaboration between creators has proven effective in helping channels grow and attract new subscribers.
Connect with other creators, make friends, and don't be afraid to communicate with famous YouTubers to inquire about possible collaborations. It's definitely daunting, but unless you try hard, it will be a cinch!
8. Connect with the audience
As time passes, you will slowly gain followers, more comments will accumulate below the video, and eventually, you will receive messages on your personal social media accounts, and maybe even some fan mail if you decide to share your email.
Take the time to connect with your audience whenever possible. Your social media accounts are an extension of your YouTube channel, so try to share glimpses of your life on popular social platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, etc. Just as important, try to read and respond to all tweets, comments, and other messages you receive.
Such interactions are important, they help fans learn more about you and help you build a sense of teamwork and online camaraderie within your own small community. They like your content and must also like you and the overall experience with your channel, but that's not enough.
Finally, interacting with your audience can also help you gain new creative inspiration, or at least they can encourage you to keep going when things get tough in the future.
9. Ignore all negative comments
No matter how good your channel is, there will always be negative comments. After all, YouTube is a hotbed of cold-blooded animals and keyboard warriors who relentlessly hide behind blank avatars, and no matter how great your content is and how hard you work on your channel, there will always be people who make nasty comments and try to overwhelm you.
Don't let the bad guys get to you, because you can't please everyone, and don't forget those who appreciate you and look to them for the strength to shake off the negativity and continue to create better content for the people who like you.
10. upload videos regularly
No matter how imperfect you think the content is, it's important to always put the video out there, just as you would in a podcast.
Some creators post videos once or twice a week and they let viewers know the schedule (usually at the end of each video) so that viewers know when to come back, which gives the channel a better chance of getting consistent traffic, especially if it has a large and active following. Once you settle on a schedule that works for you, stick to it!