How to Make a Youtube® Channel

Everyone is familiar with YouTube®. It is a source of endless entertainment, education, and entrepreneurship. Many people have become full-time professional YouTubers by finding a niche and building an audience over time. Whether you want to become one of these professionals, make videos for fun, or use the platform to promote your business, starting a YouTube® channel can be creatively fulfilling and financially beneficial.

Plan Channel Content

The first step to making a YouTube® channel is to decide on a topic. Check out some of the examples below to get a better understanding of popular topics.

• Cooking

• Travel

• DIY arts and crafts

• Home renovation

• Gaming

• Health

Decide what information or message you want to share with your audience: are you giving them instructions, showing them something new, or trying to make them laugh?

Once you have decided on a topic, check out other videos in the same vein to get ideas and discover popular trends. There are millions of YouTube® videos for every topic, which means there is plenty of material to study. Watching other videos will inspire ideas for your channel. Make a list of things you like about the videos and a list of things you wish they had included or done differently. When it comes time to film content, consult this list for some quick ideas.

Choose your Target Audience

Another important aspect of planning content is choosing your target audience. Your videos should appeal to a specific audience. You will need to consider age, level of experience with the topic, and the viewer’s motivation for watching. When you have decided who your target audience is, make sure your content is crafted with them in mind. Maintain your focus and avoid making videos about other topics in order to strengthen your channel and attract more viewers from your target audience.

Establish a Release Schedule

Just as important as maintaining a consistent topic is maintaining a consistent release schedule. Before launching your channel, go ahead and create a schedule detailing when you are filming, editing, and releasing episodes. Just like TV shows or podcast episodes, each video should be released at the same time, on the same day. This consistency allows viewers to anticipate your videos and watch them as soon as they are released. A well-maintained schedule also shows your audience that you are a reliable source of content. When you create a release schedule, make sure it is something you can maintain. Normally channels release new videos weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly.

Inventory Production Equipment

The quality of equipment you are using to record content can make or break your channel. Even if you create the most interesting, informative video possible, no one will want to watch it if the image is fuzzy and the audio is crackling. Fortunately, these issues are easily avoidable. Most computers and smartphones are equipped with decent video and audio recording capabilities. Investing in higher-quality tools and equipment can also take your content to the next level.

• Camera

• Computer webcam

• Smartphone camera

• DSLR camera

• Mirrorless camera

• Action camera

• Microphone

• Computer microphone

• Smartphone microphone

• Condenser microphone

• Dynamic microphone

• Lavalier microphone

• Shotgun microphone

• Lighting

• Ring Light

• Softbox Light

• Umbrella Light

• LED lights

• Tripod

• Tripods

• Monopods

• Portable camera/mic mounts

• Editing Software

• Microsoft Video Editor - free with Microsoft 10

• Apple iMovie - free with MacOS, iOS, and iPadOS

• Adobe Premiere - $33.99 per month

• Blender - free

Create the Channel

If you already have a Google® account, setting up a new YouTube® channel is simple. If you do not have a Google account, creating one is the first step. Every Google account includes a YouTube® account that can be accessed with the same sign-in information.

• Sign into YouTube®

• Click on your profile picture in the top right corner

• Select “Create a Channel”

• Choose a name for your channel

• Add a detailed description of your channel in the “About” section

• Add a relevant banner image and profile picture

• Upload videos

• Create playlists and add links to your website and social media

When choosing a title and writing a description, make sure to use relevant language and keywords to ensure your channel appears in internet search results. The images you use for a banner and profile should relate to the subject of your channel, whether it is a business logo, icon, or personal photo.

Promote the Channel

Once you have created a channel and uploaded some quality videos, the next step is to gain viewers. Having a consistent topic, dependable schedule, quality equipment, and engaging content ensures viewers who find your channel will come back for more. How will they find your channel in the first place? Keywords, tags, and hashtags are critical here.

SEO stands for “Search Engine Optimization” and refers to the process of making sure your content appears near the top of a list of search results online. One way to improve your channel’s SEO is by using keywords and phrases in your video titles, descriptions, and tags. Using buzzwords, words with a high search volume, and long-tail keywords can be a good way to boost your internet presence to the general public and your specific target audience.

Sharing your YouTube® channel on your social media platforms and your website is another way to increase interaction. Include links or embed videos on Facebook®, Twitter®, and other sites. Posting short clips on TikTok® or Instagram® will make others curious and give them an idea what to expect from your channel.

Connect with Viewers

Comments provide insight into the minds of your audience and should be analyzed carefully. Engage with viewers by responding to their comments; even if replying to every individual comment is impossible, you can address them in a section of your next video. There may be a central idea running throughout all the comments, the same question being asked by multiple viewers, funny jokes, suggestions for improvements, or even ideas for a new video. The comment section is an invaluable place for engagement. Type a prompt such as “comment with your favorite place to vacation” or “comment and tell us what you would like to see in the next video,” then select “Pin” on comment options to pin it to the top of the comment section. Many viewers also read the comment section before watching a video to determine if it’s worth watching. Making sure the comments are full of fun, positive interactions is a great way to promote your channel to new people and increase engagement for repeat viewers.

As your viewership increases, you may start to receive messages asking questions about your content and schedule. Replying promptly garners respect and appreciation from viewers and creates a personal relationship with your audience.

Network with Creators

A common way to grow as a YouTuber, promote your channel, and gain viewers is to make collaborative videos with other YouTube® professionals. Inviting another YouTuber to participate in your video or taking part in another YouTuber’s video is called a “collab.” Research which channels your viewers like to watch to get an idea of people with whom you could collaborate. It doesn’t necessarily matter if the topic of their content matches yours. If you make videos in the same niche, the video could be a competition or interview; if not, they can exchange information.

Conventions provide another great opportunity to network with other YouTubers and professionals in your field. Events like Vidcon, Playlist Live, and VidSummit are excellent places to meet other professionals, learn more about the field, promote your channel, and interact with your audience.

Take Advantage of Monetization

Aside from creative and educational advancement, running a YouTube® channel can be very profitable. Some people have even become multi-millionaires just from producing YouTube® videos.

The easiest way to make money from your channel is simply to turn on the monetization feature on your videos.

• Sign into YouTube®

• Navigate to YouTube® Studio

• Select “Content” from the left menu

• Select desired video

• Select “Monetization” from the left menu

• Choose the type of ads you want

• Click save

Each video, as well as your channel as a whole, must meet Google’s advertiser-friendly content guidelines to be eligible for monetization.

Aside from using advertisements on your videos, joining the YouTube® Partner Program, finding sponsors, selling merchandise, and opening a Patreon® account or crowdfunding campaign are excellent ways to earn money from your channel.

Conclusion

Carefully planning content, investing in equipment, creating videos, networking with professionals, and connecting with viewers will set your YouTube® channel up for success. The most important part, however, is your unique flair. The best way to stand out is to be genuine and stay true to the heart of your channel. Your audience will appreciate your sincerity and you will be more motivated to work on something you care about.

Now that you have read this guide, it is time to start your own YouTube® channel and make some content! Contact The Profit Link, a small business support team based in Memphis, TN, for more ideas and assistance on how to integrate a YouTube channel into your business. We want to link your business to profit. Here are the links to our social media, in case you want to check them out: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.