If you want to become a YouTuber, it’s not going to be an easy road. Over 96% of people who try to start a channel won’t become financially successful from it.
However, some do. Some people go into this as a hobby because creating content is their passion, and they end up becoming very comfortable due to the income from their channel.
How do they do it? What’s the difference between someone who does well, and someone who doesn’t?
This is how to start a successful YouTube channel from the beginning.
Start Fresh
The best way to start something new is with a healthy, clear mindset. Start fresh by creating your channel and making sure it’s completely catered to what you want.
You can even delete your YouTube history (this is how: https://setapp.com/how-to/delete-youtube-history-on-mac) so that you go in and are able to see from the start what pops up when you search for certain things.
After all, you’re going to want to compare what hits the top of the pages with your content to see how you can do that too.
Decide What You Want to Do
When watching YouTube videos, you’ll notice there are many different kinds and most successful YouTubers gear themselves towards one thing. Examples include:
- Beauty
- Lifestyle vlogs
- Pets
- Pranks
- Storytimes
This, of course, isn’t an exhaustive list! It doesn’t mean you need to feel boxed in either.
You could center your channel on beauty and fashion with the occasional lifestyle vlog.
By giving yourself some sort of thing to focus your channel on, however, you’re more likely to get subscribers and viewers. There’s nothing wrong with playing around and trying out what you enjoy filming, even if you never upload those first few videos.
Invest in Equipment… But Not Right Away
YouTubers tend to have awesome cameras and editing software, right? Sure, but not at the start.
Why Not Right Away?
Good equipment for a YouTuber can cost thousands. You need everything for your career — it can really add up!
Even if you can afford this without saving, it might be best to make sure you actually enjoy filming before you buy all of this. Smartphones have decent cameras now, and are more than capable of filming a good video for you to upload.
What to Get When You’re Ready
If you’ve been filming videos and you’re sure this is what you want, then you can invest in some good equipment! You’ll need, at a minimum:
- A good camera (and might want to get a vlogging camera too)
- A tripod
- Lights
- A good computer
- Editing software
- Anything you need for the actual filming of the videos (such as make-up if you’re filming beauty)
Market Yourself Well
As a YouTuber, you have to be your own marketer. You’ll want to make sure you’re coming across well to your audience and reaching a wide range of people.
SEO
Search Engine Optimization is how people find you when they’re searching for things on Google and YouTube. Look up keywords and be sure to include them in your title and description, as well as searching for relevant hashtags.
Advertise Yourself Well
If you want to be successful, you can’t come across as a mean person!
Make sure you aren’t caught unnecessarily snarking at people on social media or focusing too much on the hate.
Engage With Viewers
Instead, engage with the nicer comments you get! Reply to people. Ask questions in your videos to encourage people to interact with you.
Even replying to direct messages, although not visible, might mean people talk kindly about your channel and encourage others to subscribe.
Utilize Other Social Media
You should also have other social media. Instagram tends to be the best for marketing your YouTube channel, but Twitter and Instagram have their merits too!
By using hashtags over there and interacting with followers on there as well as your channel, you’ll get the widest reach possible.
Reach Out to Brands
One of the ways people make money on the best YouTube channels is through sponsors. This will start out as companies that might gift you clothes or make-up or other products for your honest opinion, and will eventually turn into them paying you for a video as your channel grows!
Reaching out to smaller brands at the start and offering fair exchanges is one of the best ways to get on their radar. Even if you get turned a lot, never give up, and always be gracious.
Learn From the Best!
You should always be looking at examples of YouTube channels similar to your own and seeing how they do it! What makes them successful, and what makes them stand out from the rest?
This doesn’t, by any means, mean that you should copy everything they do. Audiences can sense something that’s not original, and you might land yourself in trouble too!
Take inspiration, but don’t copy. It can be a fine line to draw, but you’ll learn how to do it pretty naturally if you’re being yourself.
Above All Else, Be Genuine: That’s How to Start a Successful YouTube Channel
When it comes to how to start a successful YouTube channel, being yourself is the best thing you can do. There’s one thing you do better than anyone else without trying: being you!
If you enjoy what you do and you’re genuinely having a blast, people will be drawn to your channel.
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