It might seem daunting to start your own YouTube channel and account from scratch, but it doesn’t have to be.
With over 2 billion monthly active users and 1 billion hours of video viewed daily, YouTube has become a powerhouse platform for content creators and businesses alike.
It has opened up endless opportunities for individuals to showcase their talents, expertise, and opinions, while also providing a lucrative source of income.
However, starting a successful YouTube channel takes more than just posting videos and hoping for the best. It requires careful planning, strategy, and dedication.
In this article, we will delve into the 21 essential things to consider when starting your own YouTube channel, from creating a niche and recording equipment to audience engagement and monetization.
Whether you’re a budding content creator or a business looking to expand your online presence, this comprehensive guide will provide you with the necessary insights and tips to kickstart your YouTube journey and stand out in the ever-growing sea of content.
So, let’s dive into the world of YouTube and learn how to start your channel like a pro.
21 Things To Consider On Starting Your Own YouTube Channel
Start your own YouTube journey is amazing, especially when you dodge the rising competition and focus on your content. Here are 21 top things you should be aware of before you start your own YouTube channel.
1. Brainstorming Ideas For A YouTube Channel
If you want to create a great YouTube channel, start with your Niche. That should be a topic or category you specialize in.
Don’t have a broad niche – that way, your audience knows what you’re trying to do and what your content is about.
Plus, a narrow niche means less competition – which means your channel can grow quickly.
Focus on who your audience is – your role, what you do, your title, or what industry you’re in – and make sure you add value to your title and image.
Don’t be too narrow – you might end up with too much content that you can’t create over time.
And don’t forget about subtopics – not every piece of content is going to appeal to everyone in your audience!
For example, if your channel is a fashion one, your subtopics might include fashion history, advice, reviews, comments, style tips, and more.
2. YouTube Channel Ideas
The following are some of the recommendations you can consider while planning for your new YouTube channel:
(i) Album Reviews:
Anthony Fantano is one of the most popular YouTubers on YouTube. He is well-known for his daily review of popular and obscure albums from different genres of music.
His videos are viewed millions of times and are relatively simple to record. You can have a massive following of people who love music and your YouTube channel will grow over time.
(ii) Baking:
YouTube’s baking videos have skyrocketed in popularity as people discover new ways to enjoy their favorite baked goods.
You don’t have to be a professional chef to share your favorite recipes, and easy or quick ones draw in viewers.
(iii) Cleaning and Organization:
YouTube channel ideas provide cleaning and re-organization ideas for both large households and individuals living alone, encouraging viewers to clean up difficult messes or disorganized clothing bins.
(iv) Comedy Sketches:
One of the reasons YouTube is so popular is because it has so many funny videos.
Successful YouTubers such as Jenna Marbles or Jimmy Tatro create low-budget content with humor and stories. Creating a low-budget comedy channel requires a funny story.
(v) Cooking:
People’s first love of cooking is what motivates them to learn how to cook and try new recipes.
Show them how it’s done by giving them recipes, and tips, and showing them the result. If you want to get the most out of your cooking, add some humor!
(vi) Dance:
Create entertaining dance videos for dancers of all levels, whether you’re a professional or a beginner, with dance choreography or freestyle choreography, or celebrate culture through Kukuwa fitness channels, celebrating fun and culture.
(vii) Fitness Training:
Personal trainers can be expensive, but free personal trainers or YouTube yoga trainers can help keep you fit. Professionals can make workout videos for weight loss, muscle building, or cardiovascular health.
(viii) Game Playthroughs:
Record game playlists on YouTube to help players decide if they want to buy the game, complete a difficult mission, or just enjoy the game like any other web series.
Even smaller channels, like Narcissa Wright, have thousands of subscribers tuning in to her weekly game playlists, making it a great marketing tool for passionate gamers.
(ix) Gaming:
The video game industry is expected to grow to a USD 256.97 billion market by 2025. With gamers of all ages, genders, and cultures, YouTube has become the go-to platform for gaming videos.
(x) Home Workouts:
By creating home workout videos, fitness can be made more accessible and achievable for everyday viewers, helping to reduce nervousness and confusion around equipment and routines.
(xi) Information-Based Gaming:
Lots of gamers turn to YouTube for gaming tips and tricks to help them ace their favorite games. If you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the channel ideas, don’t worry!
Start with simple and entertaining videos for newbies.
(xii) Minimalism:
In the past year, we’ve seen an increase in home spending, a decrease in clutter, and a rise in minimalism.
Corey Jones shares some of his favorite minimalist tips for home decor, wardrobe, and gear for filming, intending to make your home more fun to live in.
You can create and post similar videos too.
(xiii) Movie Reviews:
If you’re a fan of action or indie movies, YouTube is a great place to review and let users know if the movie is worth their time.
You can find reliable YouTubers to share their experiences with the movie and get the word out about it on social media. This will give you an idea of how to do it.
(xiv) Music:
YouTube covers are a popular way for up-and-coming artists to make some money. You can make around $6 for every 1,000 views.
If you get 100,000 views and 40,000 impressions, you can make $130 after YouTube pays you. That’s enough to make you a star, just like Justin Bieber or even Tori Kelly.
(xv) Other prospects include:
- Photography
- Product Reviews
- Self Help
- Show Reviews
- Software Tutorials
- Strength Training
- Style
- Travel
- Tutorials
- Video Editing
- Web Series
- Yoga
3. Setting Up Your New YouTube Channel
To make your YouTube channel successful, research your competition and target your target audience by looking for content similar to yours on YouTube and online communities.
Create a name, a logo, and a style that matches your channel’s brand. For example, if you’re running a lifestyle channel, you’ll want to create a style that resonates with your audience.
To give an example, if you run a lifestyle channel, your name should match the style and tone of your channel.
For instance, if your channel’s name is “frugal aesthetics,” you’ll find a style that combines meme culture and dry humor with a minimalist approach to fashion.
You’ll also want to ensure you’re using the same fonts, styles, and colors in each video and Thumbnail as you would in any other video.
You’ll want your channel to be easy to spot because of the images, color, font, and aesthetics you use in each video.
4. YouTube Channel Tools To Use
The following are some of the most prominent tools you can use to grow your channel and receive more views.
(i) Davinci Resolve:
Marvel films, Star Wars, and James Bond have utilized Davinci Resolve, a free editing software, for post-production. While not as comprehensive as competitors Premiere Pro and Final Cut, it delivers top-notch results.
(ii) Uppbeat:
Find the soundtrack of your dreams with our carefully curated collection of free, non-copyright music, categorized by genre, playlist, mood, and free to download.
(iii) Pexels:
B-roll enhances video engagement but can be time-consuming and editing-intensive. Pexels offers free stock footage for a more efficient solution.
(iv) Unsplash:
Unsplash’s image library offers millions of free, royalty-free images for commercial and non-commercial use, making it an invaluable resource for creators seeking high-quality imagery without requiring permission from the photographer.
(v) Photopea:
Photopea works similarly to Photoshop and can open PSD files. Unlike Photoshop, which is a paid product from Adobe, Photopea is free to use and can be accessed from any computer.
(vi) Canva:
Canva can be used to create YouTube thumbnails and social posts, as well as intros. It has a built-in library of stock images and editing, but you may also create assets that are similar to others because of shared templates.
(vii) CoSchedule:
CoSchedule’s headline writing tool helps create engaging YouTube titles. It guides title length, tone, and emotive language, making it easier to create on-point titles that increase views and clicks. This tool streamlines the process of creating compelling video content.
(viii) Thumbs Up TV:
Thumbs Up TV lets you preview the look of a big thumbnail and a big title on YouTube so you can make any changes you want before posting.
(ix) VidIQ:
VidIQ is a free browser extension that helps you manage your YouTube channel. It provides you with daily ideas, channel audits, competitor tracking, insights for your future videos, and benchmarking.
(x) TubeBuddy:
Download the TubeBuddy browser extension for enhanced YouTube video uploading with features like Search Explorer, Tag Rankings, Tag Sorter, Keyword Explorer, and Best Time To Publish. Improve channel management, tag content, and optimize content searchability.
(xi) YouTube Analytics:
Utilize YouTube Analytics to analyze channel performance and viewer engagement, gaining valuable insights for increased views, longer viewer retention, and audience growth.
(xii) Google Trends:
Explore Google Trends to discover trending topics in your niche, gauge popularity over time, and find related queries for your next video.
(xii) YouTube Studio:
Download the YouTube Studio app for offline video monitoring, Analytics insights, and community engagement. Stay connected with the live comments feed and respond to viewers’ comments.
(xiii) YouTube Creators:
Subscribe to YouTube Creator’s channel for the latest updates, helpful guides, and trends, along with a monthly Creator Roundup for easy access.
5. YouTube CPM
CPM stands for Cost Per 1,000 Impressions, and it’s the amount advertisers pay for every 1,000 views of their ads on YouTube.
It depends on things like the bidding price, the type of ad, and how consistent it is. YouTube only takes 45% of CPM, so creators get 55%.
CPM based on video playbacks calculates the cost for each video where an ad is shown.
Knowing CPM can help YouTube creators figure out which videos are worth more to advertisers and come up with better monetization strategies.
6. YouTube Analytics – Watch Time
Watch time is important for YouTube because it tells the algorithm which videos are more interesting.
You can see how long your videos have been watched, rank them based on how long they’ve been watched, and even group them by theme, style, and length to see which ones are the most interesting.
To figure out how long someone has been watching something, go to YouTube Studio, go to Analytics, go to Overview, and go to Watch Time.
7. YouTube Analytics – Average Percentage Viewed
The average percentage viewed is a measure of how long a video holds people’s attention and is rewarded with better search and recommendation results on YouTube.
To see it, follow the path below In YouTube Studio:
Analytics > Overview > Watch time > See More > Content > Watch time > More Metrics > Overview > Average percentage viewed.
8. YouTube Analytics – Average View Duration
The average view time is the amount of time a video is watched divided by how many times it’s been played (including replays).
It’s a measure of how engaged viewers are with the video. If the video isn’t engaging, people will quickly move on, which affects how well the video does.
To see it, follow the path below In YouTube Studio:
Analytics > See More > Watch time > More Metrics > Overview > Average view duration.
9. YouTube Analytics – Audience Retention
Audience retention is how many people watch and leave your video.
It affects your search rankings and how you plan to market your videos in the future. It helps you figure out what’s interesting and what’s boring.
YouTube has two charts that show how long people watch a video – the absolute retention and the relative retention.
It shows how effective your video is at keeping people interested compared to other similar videos.
To see it, follow the path below In YouTube Studio:
Analytics > Engagement > Audience retention.
10. YouTube Analytics – Rewatches
Re-watching a video shows that people are interested in what the video is about, as you can see in the graph of absolute audience retention.
The increasing curves mean that more people are watching the video.
To see it, follow the path below In YouTube Studio:
Analytics > Engagement > Audience retention > Absolute audience retention.
11. YouTube Analytics – Engagement
You can use comments, sharing, liking, and disliking to measure how emotional your video is, what kind of content it’s worth, and what kind of people your audience is interested in.
With YouTube’s Interactions Report, you can track how engaged people are with your videos.
That way, you can figure out what the best video topics are for your audience.
To see it, follow the path below In YouTube Studio:
Analytics > Engagement > Likes (vs. dislikes) > See More.
12. YouTube Analytics – Impressions Click-Through Rate
Impressions click-through rate is a crucial metric for determining if a video prompts viewers to watch it after being displayed on their homepage, recommendation, or trending section.
High click-through rates indicate a compelling title and relevant content.
However, as the video expands beyond its core audience, the rate declines and remains stable.
High click-through rates can indicate misleading titles or thumbnails, while low click-through rates indicate a small, engaged audience.
To see it, follow the path below In YouTube Studio:
Analytics > Reach > Impressions click-through rate.
13. YouTube Analytics – Card Clicks
Card video marketing is all about figuring out what your audience wants to do based on their click-through rate.
That way, you can place your content more engagingly.
Card clicks can help you figure out the best time, where to put your content, and how long it should be for future videos.
This could help you get more people to watch your videos and drive more traffic to your website.
To see it, follow the path below In YouTube Studio:
Analytics > Reach > See More > Impressions by Content > More Metrics > Cards > Card Clicks.
14. YouTube Analytics – Playlist Engagement
Organizing videos into playlists makes it easier for people to watch and interact with content.
YouTube has a Playlist Report that gives you info on how people are engaging with your playlist, like how many views they’re getting at each playlist start and how long they’re spending in the playlist.
If your metrics aren’t doing what you want them to, try to start with videos that have high retention rates.
To see it, follow the path below In YouTube Studio:
Analytics > Engagement > See More > Watch Time > More Metrics > Playlists.
15. YouTube Analytics – Unique Viewers
Unique viewers are the estimated number of viewers that watch your videos over a period, which provides insight into the size of your audience and the level of subscriber engagement.
If the number of unique viewers is lower than the number of subscribers, increase the number of subscribers by scheduling notifications for new videos.
To see it, follow the path below In YouTube Studio:
Analytics > Audience > Unique viewers.
16. YouTube Analytics – Views Per Unique Viewers
Per-view rates measure the average number of times a video is viewed by a single viewer, indicating that content topics that receive high per-view rates could potentially lead to higher video views, watch times, and subscribers.
To see it, follow the path below In YouTube Studio:
Analytics > Audience > Unique viewers > See More > Average views per viewer.
17. YouTube Analytics – Demographics
According to YouTube’s demographics report, audience segments are broken down by age, gender, and location, which can help you determine the most active audience segments and target audience segments, as well as suggest pivoting video campaigns to target specific audiences.
To see it, follow the path below In YouTube Studio:
Analytics > Audience > Age and Gender.
18. YouTube Analytics – Subscriber Growth
With insights from YouTube’s Subscribers Report, businesses can target new subscribers and build engaging content.
By focusing on the needs of their subscribers, businesses can create content that resonates with their audience, boost watch time, and boost search rankings, ultimately increasing brand loyalty.
To see it, follow the path below In YouTube Studio:
Analytics > Audience > Subscribers.
19. YouTube Analytics – Traffic Sources
Get a better understanding of how people found your videos with the Traffic Sources report.
It’ll show you the most popular ways people found your videos and help you make the most of your video promotion.
To see it, follow the path below In YouTube Studio:
Analytics > Audience > Subscribers > See More > Traffic Source.
20. YouTube Analytics – Keywords
The Reach Report on YouTube displays the most common queries that direct viewers to videos.
If these queries are different from the topic of the video, the content may need to be updated, keywords added, or new videos may be created.
To see it, follow the path below In YouTube Studio:
Analytics > Reach > YouTube Search terms.
21. Important Tips On Running A Successful YouTube Channel
Here are some of the most important tips to start your own YouTube channel and grow it efficiently.
(i) Choose The Right Video Equipment:
To achieve success on YouTube, use the right gear like a DSLR, mirrorless camera, tripod, lens, studio lights, action cameras, and high-quality audio and lighting, including multiple microphones.
(ii) Get Started With Easy Editing Software:
Video editing doesn’t require advanced software like Final Cut Pro; simple, user-friendly programs like Windows Movie Maker or Apple iMovie are better for beginners.
(iii) Plan Your Content:
To increase views and followers on YouTube, keep content engaging and relevant, sticking to a theme like travel or daily life, and allowing viewers to live vicariously through the content.
(iv) Seek Inspiration:
Creating fresh content and YouTube channel ideas can be challenging, but finding inspiration, building upon others’ ideas, and avoiding comparison can help. Focus on your channel and explore new techniques.
(v) Nail Your Intro:
YouTube video introductions should grab people’s attention and keep them watching. If you want to teach people something or inspire them, give them a sneak peek to keep them interested.
(vi) Streamline Your Videos For Search Engine Optimization (SEO):
Make your YouTube videos stand out by giving them a catchy name, using the right tags, and writing a great description.
Use YouTube’s autocomplete feature to find the right keywords, and think about what your competitors or inspiration accounts are doing.
Make sure your keywords match your content so it stands out.
(vii) Build Your Network Through Social Media:
YouTube is a platform for connecting, sharing, and collaborating with other users.
Building a network is crucial for success, and collaborations among creators can help grow channels and subscribers. Cross-posting to other platforms also benefits visibility.
(viii) Engage With Your Audience:
Engage with your YouTube followers on social media platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat to build community and encourage engagement.
(ix) Disregard All Negative Comments:
Negative comments on YouTube are inevitable, regardless of channel size or content quality. Recognize that not everyone can please you and seek strength to overcome negativity.
(x) Increase Your Content Diversity With YouTube Shorts:
YouTube shorts, shot in vertical orientation and 60 seconds or less, offer a casual viewing experience similar to Instagram Reels and TikTok posts. They can be incorporated into channels for easy viewing.
(xi) Promote Your Videos:
Promote YouTube videos across multiple platforms, using effective descriptions, titles, keywords, and thumbnails to attract users and attract new viewers from social media and blogging channels.
(xii) Engage in Monetization:
YouTube offers opportunities to generate extra income through video creation, partnerships, sponsored content, licensing, merchandise sales, direct payments, and crowdfunding campaigns.
Related Content: 21 Ways To Make Money Online
Final Thoughts
Starting a successful YouTube channel takes time, effort, and careful consideration.
By following the 21 essential tips outlined in this article, you can set yourself up for success and stand out in the competitive world of YouTube.
With a defined niche, quality equipment, and an engaged audience, you can turn your passion into a thriving online platform and potentially earn a steady stream of income.
So, what are you waiting for? Start planning and creating your own YouTube channel today!
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