Starting a YouTube channel might seem overwhelming at first, but it can also be a lot of fun. Still, you need to be realistic, do your research, and put in the work if you want your channel to succeed. I’ve started a YouTube channel and done a lot of research on video growth, so here are my tips for starting your own YouTube channel.
The key to starting a successful YouTube channel is for other people to see your videos.
The YouTube algorithm determines whether or not other users will find your video. YouTube recommends videos based on users’ interests or the videos they’ve watched before.
For people to find your YouTube video, it needs to rank well in the search results. When you type a keyphrase into the search bar and scroll through the results, you’ll probably only watch the videos that are near the top of the list, which rank high in search results. That being said, it is not easy to rank high in search results as a new YouTuber. You’ll have to know Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and include popular keywords in your titles, descriptions, and tags. Even the keywords can be tricky, though, because if many other videos use the same keywords you do, those keywords automatically rank lower for you. Also, more successful YouTubers with more views and subscribers may have posted the existing videos, so those videos may have more engagement. Basically, if the competition is high, you will most likely rank low.
If you optimise your video for search results, though, you may be able to rank higher than the videos that YouTubers didn’t optimise for search results at all. Depending on how popular your topic is, you may even be able to get on the first page. If your video doesn’t come up in the search results, there is a chance that your video may be suggested following another video. If you’re looking for more views, you need to target topics that haven’t been covered as often. After all, people will find your videos if they’re unique.
To rank higher and develop a fan base, post videos that relate to a specific niche.
In other words, your channel needs a “brand” that’s out-of-the-box but popular enough for users to search for it. For example, gaming is currently the most oversaturated niche on YouTube, so not many people would discover your gaming channel. However, if you started a photography channel with camera reviews and tips for taking better photos, people are far more likely to follow your content.
If you’re hoping to monetise your YouTube channel, though, I have some bad news for you.
To earn money from your channel, you need to have 1000 subscribers and at least 4000 hours of watch time over a one-year period. That means that viewers must have watched your videos for a total of 240,000 minutes in 365 days. To put this in perspective, if you post a 5-minute video every week over a one-year period, you will need over 900 views on each video with 100% audience retention to be monetised. Unfortunately, achieving 100% audience retention is extremely difficult because most users don’t watch videos all the way through. Even if you do earn from your videos, it will take a long time before you can rely on YouTube to be your only source of income.
Still, if you want to start a YouTube channel, go for it!
Just be aware that if you want to grow your audience, you’ll need to spend a lot of time optimising your videos. If you want to become a YouTube star, do the work, upload videos frequently and consistently, and remember that success will take time. If you ever want any additional assistance, MangoMatter’s hosting reviews can be a great resource!
Featured Photo via Pexels
