Do you wish to build a community of like-minded people who engage with your video content and ideas that you share passionately? Then the question of how to start a YouTube channel must have definitely crossed your mind at least once.
It’s logical for any inquisitive soul to be intrigued by the concept of starting a YouTube channel, given the ongoing expansion of the video blogging culture. It’s a fun and interactive activity that has the potential to make you into a famous online celebrity, as well as help you meet new people, get free items from corporations, and, of course, earn a decent living.
However, to be a success on YT, you should focus on the key aspects of how to start a YouTube channel, like your content strategy, target audience, analytics and SEO.
Let’s go through the basics of starting a YouTube channel which is your first step to becoming a successful YouTuber.
How to Create a YouTube Channel?
Creating a YT channel is simple if you have a Gmail account. Execute the steps below, and you will end up creating a channel of your choice.
1. Go to the YouTube website and click on Sign in. Enter your Gmail account credentials to log in. You can also log in using your email from Yahoo, Bing, etc.
2. Click on your profile icon in the top right corner and select the option”Create a channel.”
3. You’ll then be given the option of creating a personal channel or a channel with a business or other name. We’ll use the “Use custom name” option in this example, which is suggested for small enterprises and brands.
Next, you will find the options to customize your YouTube channel:
- Adding a Profile picture
- Adding a description for your YouTube channel
- Adding custom links to a website or blog and social links to Instagram or Twitter.
- Adding channel art
Congratulations, you have successfully created a new YouTube channel!
Since you have a YouTube channel, it’s time you learn about all the features and options available on the platform that you can use to engage with your audience. YT provides a plethora of mediums to create and share content. Let’s walk you through these modes one by one:
- YouTube videos: The most-watched format on YouTube is the video. There is no minimum length limit to upload videos on YouTube. However, it is recommended to make your videos at least 8 minutes long for maximum earnings, as you can include other mid-roll adverts in the film.
- YouTube shorts: Inspired by TikTok’s fortuitous short format video, YouTube Shorts is a YouTube app feature that allows artists and makers to make short videos with audio overlays. The best feature of Shorts is that it allows you to create videos using only your phone. YouTube Shorts videos are limited to 60 seconds and do not require any special effects.
- Live streaming: YouTube Live turns video on the internet into a live, interactive experience. Live streams are a method to stand out in a sea of over 500 hours of video posted every minute. You will be able to draw your target audience more effectively. Live streaming enables you to interact with your audience in real-time. You can use this feature to host online events.
- YouTube stories: Short, mobile-only videos, known as stories, allow you to connect with your audience more informally while on the go. They are only valid for 7 days. Stories are currently in beta and are only available to channels with a minimum of 10,000 subscribers.
YouTube Channel Growth Tips
Although there are many ways to grow your channel, we have highlighted the top 5 tips that will boost your channel’s videos significantly.
1. Choose a niche and plan your content accordingly. The most viewed channels usually stick to a theme like cooking, travelling, tutorials, etc.
2. Make your intro captivating. The first few moments of the video are very important to capture your audience’s attention. If your content is intriguing and engaging, there are more chances of getting higher views.
3. Connect with your viewers. As time passes, your fan base on YT also grows. You will get DM’s, comments and other messages from your fans. Make sure to connect with them by replying to their messages as much as you can. You can also reach out to someone without using the YT DM feature.
4. Optimize your videos for SEO. The more you optimize your videos from an SEO perspective, the more they tend to appear in the search results. A successful SEO strategy and highly interactive content go hand in hand to grow your channel.
5. Ignore the negative comments. When you try to grow your channel, you will come across ruthless people hiding conveniently behind their blank avatars, making negative comments and trying to bring you down. At such times, seek strength from people who value and appreciate your content and remind yourself that you cannot impress everyone.
You should also know the latest updates YouTube introduced in its monetization strategies for 2023. YouTube is no longer a hobby for creators. The massive earnings from the YouTube partnership program, brand collaborations, merchandising, and subscriptions on YouTube have transformed YouTube into an enticing career option.
However, building your brand on YouTube is not as easy as it once seemed. Initially, you would be required to do a lot of testing and trials to develop the practices that give results.
Over time, the process feels like second nature to you and growing your YouTube presence will become easier. However, the most important factor for your channel’s growth is consistency. The more consistent you are, the better results you will see.