YouTube is a great way to get noticed on the internet, and sometimes you can even use it for a living. If you want to create a YouTube channel, you will need to set it up using a Google account and add art, a description, and a name for the channel. Once you've created your YouTube channel, develop attention-grabbing video content and actively maintain and promote your channel to build popularity.
Steps
Part 1 of 6: Start a channel
Step 1. Choose a good name for your channel
Think of a name that not many people will use but is easy for them to remember. If it's inappropriate, you'll have a bad image. You can choose to use your real name if you want, or you can make up a good name yourself. Just remember that after deciding on that username, it might take a while for you to change it again. For example, in case you have chosen the name "Ready Calisto" and then realized that it is a bad option, you may have to wait up to 3 months to change it. So choose wisely.
Step 2. Remember to create a cool username and catchy channel name
You don't want it to be like any other channel, so get creative and come up with a completely new name that no one but yourself would come up with.
- Be aware of possible misunderstandings. For example, the word "artist" sounds a lot like "autistic." Unless both words apply to you, you may need to choose something else.
- Don't say "channel" in the name of your channel. In the same way that Star Wars sounds cooler than Star Wars: The Movie, it's best to omit the word "channel." For example, "Juan's math channel" has a less professional sound than "Math with Juan" or "Juan the mathematician."
- Try word games and rhymes. For example, if your last name is Bautista and you are an artist, you could name your channel Bautista Renaissance.
Step 3. Go to YouTube and log in with your Google account
After you have logged in, you will see your name or username at the top of the menu on the left. Click here to access your user page.
Step 4. Add a profile picture
This is a necessary part of your YouTube channel. Make sure it has something to do with the name of your channel to ensure that it is not confused with someone else's who looks like it.
Step 5. Add channel art
This is an image you see at the top of your channel page. YouTube will show you examples of how the image will appear on the website, a TV, or a mobile device. Try to focus the image on the center, as viewing your channel on a mobile device will cut off the sides of the image. You don't want only half of your face to remain.
- Choose art that grabs the attention of your viewers. It must be 2560 x 1440 pixels and must be relevant to your channel's message.
- Include the name of your channel or a message in the art. This will serve to solidify your name in the mind of the viewer.
- Change your channel art regularly. Unless you want to establish a brand image while maintaining the same art, consider changing the art of your channel regularly based on the content that you are publishing there. For example, if you're doing comedy skits, change the channel art to match the current set of skits.
- Photoshop is not required. GIMP, Picmonkey, Pixlr and Krita are examples of programs with which you can draw for free.
- Avoid stealing art. You should never take someone else's work without their permission. Use free stock photos or draw your own.
Step 6. Describe your channel
Add a short description of your channel to convey to the viewer the type of content to expect. If you want to make adjustments to the channel description, click the "About" tab in the main channel window. There, click on the "+ Channel Description" button.
- Use the description to include links to your other websites or to update the news about your channel. Talk about who appears in your videos and link to other related channels.
- Make sure the description makes sense, as it is publicly visible at all times. Most likely it should be a short description of you and your channel.
Step 7. Name the channel
Look at your description and the intended video content and use that to determine the name.
For example, in case your videos are about knitting beautiful hats, you could call it Knitted with Pride, The Infinite Weaver, or Mountains of Wool, etc
Step 8. Add some links
In case you are going to add links to your social networks from your channel, you should make sure to create a separate account for each one (for example, a Facebook page, a Twitter account, an Instagram account). However, remember that this is not always recommended.
Part 2 of 6: Developing content
Step 1. Observe what is there
The first step in adding content is deciding what you want to share with the world. People use YouTube for a wide variety of things, from watching music videos, laughing at comedy skits, learning from video tutorials, and much more. Think about what you can contribute to the public that they will not receive from anyone else.
Step 2. Determine what your strengths are
In case your friends keep telling you that you are comedian, consider making comedy videos. If singing is your thing, upload some videos of yourself singing. The key is that you create content that keeps viewers coming back for more.
Step 3. Consider criticizing
Reviews are a great way to win over viewers, especially if you're reviewing something that people are looking for. People always want to see good reviews before deciding to buy a product or service. There are several possible topics for criticism, including the following:
- new albums
- the latest gadgets
- television and movies
- video game
- books
- restaurants and other food products
- business
Step 4. Film as much as you can
Try to constantly create more content for your viewers. A constant stream of content, in addition to keeping audiences attached to your channel, will help you improve your craft as you continue to develop your style.
- Review the basic techniques for making videos. In case you are going to speak into the camera, make sure it is steady and that you speak clearly and at a good volume. You may have the funniest sketch in the world, but no one will see it if they can't hear or see you properly.
- In case you are going to make a YouTube video for a video game channel, you will need to have recording software. There are many recording software out there, with Bandicam being one of the most popular.
- With the Bandicam free trial, you can create videos of up to 10 minutes for free.
Step 5. Practice editing your videos
Cut out unnecessary parts of the video and add music so the viewer can't stop watching. A well-edited video will make a much stronger impression on viewers than a hastily made creation. Spend a little time learning the ins and outs of your video editing software. Find tutorials on how to perform basic editing functions.
- You can find a number of free and open source video editors online, many of which contain the same or similar elements as expensive professional editing software. If you are a beginner, feel free to familiarize yourself with the free software that comes with your computer. For Macs it is iMovie and for Windows it is Windows Movie Maker. Once you are familiar with these interfaces and the technology behind them, you can progress to more complicated and powerful software.
- In case you use music, it will need to be music that is not protected by copyright or music that has the permission of the creator.
Step 6. Make introductions engaging
For the most part, viewers will determine the value of a video in the first few seconds. Make sure your introductions are not only entertaining but also informative. The longer viewers watch your video, YouTube will rank your videos higher in search results.
- Shows a preview of clips from the video that the viewer is about to see.
- Make sure your personality takes center stage from the beginning of the video. Speak directly to the public. Present the video personally, speaking quickly about what to expect (without revealing the twist, if any).
- If you've built a brand (for example, your name or a series you're creating), make sure it's distinctive and professional-looking at the start of the video.
- If you are making a non-fiction video (for example, a review or tutorial), you need to make sure that the purpose of the video is clear at the beginning. This will prevent viewers from searching for another more informative video.
Step 7. Take advantage of the expectation
The media constantly builds buzz around events throughout the year in virtually all areas of interest. These are known as "core" events. Examine your schedule and determine the events that are central to your audience.
- Make pre-event videos to take advantage of pre-event searches. As anticipation for an event grows, more and more people will be looking for related content.
- Make videos during the event to cover it as it happens. This is great for viewers who might not otherwise be able to experience the event on their own.
- Make follow-up videos after the event. Use this time to summarize what happened and analyze the information.
- Engage with viewers throughout the process so they don't stop coming back to your channel.
- During big events, post more content to keep tapping new viewers. More content shows viewers that you are knowledgeable about the event and that you are passionate about it.
Step 8. Tell a story
All video, fiction or non-fiction, must essentially tell a story. There must be a definite beginning, middle, and end. This applies to both comedy skits and a flower care tutorial.
Divide long videos into segments that focus on different aspects of the larger topic the video addresses. This will make the content more digestible for the viewer
Step 9. Use annotations
These are text boxes that appear in the video playback. Use them to direct viewers to other videos, channels, external websites, and more.
- You can use annotations so viewers can easily subscribe to your channel.
- Use annotations on old videos to link to updated content.
- Annotations can function as an "index" for long videos, allowing you to link to specific moments in the video.
Step 10. Change things up from time to time
If you've made a name for yourself by sketching, dedicate an episode to speaking directly to the audience, answering popular questions in the comments, and talking about your creative process. This behind-the-scenes look will create a stronger bond with your audience and make them feel like they have an impact on your work.
Step 11. Post as often as possible
It's great that you post every hour, but not everyone likes to post as often. Maybe you want to upload a new video every day or every other day.
Step 12. Use good burning software, like FRAPS and Xsplit
However, in case you cannot afford them, you can try Bandicam until you have raised enough capital.
Part 3 of 6: Upload Videos
Step 1. Upload your videos
Log in to YouTube and click on the "Videos" tab on your user page. There, click the "+ Upload a video" button to start uploading your content. Click the "Select files to upload" button to browse for video files or drag them to the window. YouTube will start converting and uploading the video.
- In case you want to control who watches the video, click on the "Privacy" drop-down menu and select "Private." You can then add the YouTube usernames or email addresses of the people you want to be able to view the file. You can send up to 50 private invitations per video.
- If you want to upload videos of more than 15 minutes, you must verify your account with Google.
Step 2. Name the video
It is not possible to upload something without giving it a name. The titles of the videos are the trigger for you to have visits, "likes", comments and even subscriptions at times.
Step 3. Come up with creative labels
Tagging your videos will help them appear when viewers search for content. Make sure the tags apply to the video, though you should also make sure you don't use the same tags as everyone else in the genre.
- When coming up with tags, try to narrow your appeal to a few keywords. For example, don't tag your video as "sing" but narrow it down to the style: "sing blues", "sing country", "freestyle rap", and so on.
- You can tag your videos in whatever way you think people are going to search for them. Tags should thoroughly describe the content of the video.
- Use a mix of broad and specific labels. For example, if you are making a comedy short film about ninjas, use the tags "short film", "ninjas", "comic", "martial arts", "action", "fight", "absurd", etc..
- Tags can be used to create "bundles" of videos. Create a unique tag and then apply it to all the videos you want to keep together. This will make you have more clicks to your related videos.
Part 4 of 6: Channel Maintenance
Step 1. Keep a schedule
When recording, you should make sure to keep a schedule of what day to record so that you don't pressure yourself to record every day.
Step 2. Keep adding videos
If you want your channel to be successful, you will need a constant stream of content. Try to update your channel every few weeks. Let viewers know if you will be taking a long break and when you will return.
Setting a consistent posting schedule can help build a following. Think of it like a TV show - everyone is looking forward to a new episode of their favorite show and knows exactly when it's coming out. Try to update every week or every other week
Step 3. Interact with the spectators
Try to reply to comments when you have time. This will create a stronger bond between you and your viewers. Viewers who feel the content creator cares about them will be more inclined to come back and see more content, as well as tell others about it.
- Take a few hours after uploading a video to respond to comments that viewers make about it. These viewers are your most die-hard fans, as they are the ones who eagerly anticipate new content being posted and are brave enough to comment on it. Treat them respectfully and you will see their numbers increase.
- Moderate the comments on your page as much as possible. Reading nasty comments can be comical, but they detract from your channel and scare viewers away. Remove comments that would offend others and report abusive users. This will help create a friendlier environment for your regular viewers.
- Ask viewers questions. Try to keep the questions simple (for example, yes or no questions or "vote" questions). This will keep negative comments low and promote a good discussion among your viewers.
Step 4. Repost old videos
If you have older content that newer viewers may not have seen, put it on your main page for everyone to see at the front of your channel page. This can give your old videos more traffic.
Step 5. Keep watching other channels
You should spend as much time as possible on YouTube, even when you are not actively maintaining your channel. You should watch other people's videos, interact with other users, and explore content similar to yours.
- Place links to the content of other users that you consider to be complementary to yours. This will help your channel appear in searches as related videos.
- Try to keep a schedule for adding links to other videos. Modify your linked and liked videos on days when you don't upload your own videos. This will help break the wait between your videos and keep viewers active on your channel.
- When you "Like" other videos, make sure they are videos that you think will be liked by the widest possible audience of your viewers. You don't want to scare your audience away because no one likes the video that you liked.
Part 5 of 6: Promotion
Step 1. Check your comments on previous videos
After uploading something, there is a certain chance that the video will receive views and sometimes people like to leave their opinion on the video you have uploaded in the comment section. Therefore, it is advisable to always review your videos.
Step 2. Include your viewers' videos
Try to incorporate comments and viewers' creations into your videos. Post submission guidelines (for example, require a subscription to your channel).
Step 3. Collaborate with other content creators
Build relationships with other creators in the same field. Cross-promote your channels to increase your viewers. Appear as a guest on someone else's videos and invite others to appear on yours.
Make sure your viewers can easily reach the channels you are collaborating with. They should spend their time digging into the content that your community has created
Step 4. Make your name known using social media
Link to videos and playlists from your channels on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, as well as other social media platforms. Encourage your friends, both online and in real life, to pass the links on to other people.
Do not create spam on your social networks with links to your channels. While a friendly reminder every now and then is fine, hardly anyone reacts positively to being bombarded with links
Step 5. Tell your friends and viewers to spread the word
You shouldn't force it on him but suggest that viewers share your videos if they like them. It is best to save these messages for the end of the video, after the important content has been viewed. Remind viewers to "Like" your videos.
Part 6 of 6: Protect Your Videos
Step 1. Visualize this scenario
You are popular in the community, everyone likes your videos until someone re-uploads them to their channel and passes them off as their own. That's bad. In case it somehow strikes you when you're popular enough and people are re-uploading your content, look up the names of your videos on YouTube to see if someone re-uploaded them without your consent.
Step 2. Give a warning to whoever has uploaded your videos
In case you found your videos on someone else's channel, give them a warning. There is no need for a conflict unless you don't stop, in which case you can report it to YouTube.
Advice
- In case you like to draw and you have recorded a video of yourself drawing something and it is long, try using a video editor to add a speed-up effect. You can find many free ones, just be careful with the ones with advertising.
- Always remember to do something that you know the viewer will like to see.
- Know the type of material you want to publish on your channel so that you will not be a very strange YouTuber. For example, Lifesimmer mostly plays the Sims, while PewDiePie plays a wide variety of games.
- Set default items in your channel settings as a way to have greater consistency but also give your videos a boost in the YouTube algorithm.
- When creating a YouTube channel, you need to be very careful about the name you choose. You can never change it. Choose one that is related to the content you post, that is unique and that will stay in the minds of the viewers and is different from those of other YouTubers. Check if the name you want is already used or if someone has a very similar one.
Warnings
- You are likely to get some negative feedback. Don't let them get to you and just keep doing what you do. However, avoid dismissing constructive criticism as flaming. In case someone criticizes a part of your video, use it to make the next one better.
- Make sure your videos comply with YouTube's terms. In the event that a video violates YouTube's terms, it will be removed and your account may be disabled. Be sure that everything you upload complies with the site's rules.