On the surface, becoming a YouTube star appears simple: all you need to do is have the right camera/set-up, register for an account, and start talking to the camera. Well, not really.
So what do you need to do before starting out? How do you take those vital first steps that will put you on the right track to start and build your channel? Well, we asked QIU’s resident YouTuber Faindra Jabbar from the Faculty of Social Sciences to share his tips.
But before you do, here’s a link to his channel, which has over 4,000 subscribers and videos with over 34,000 views. Just so you know we’re not kidding about him being legit. Take it away Mr Faindra!
Figure out Your Niche
First of all, figure out what you’re trying to say and do with your videos and your channel. What are you interested in? What are you good at? Where do you stand on the issues related to your interests?
Most importantly, why should we watch you? What’s a different voice or different opinion that you can bring to the table? Answering these questions will help you find the right niche. If you’re not interested in cooking, don’t create a cooking channel because Sugu Pavitra made it look easy.
People like it when you’re being yourself. They can tell when you’re not, so stick with your niche.
Keep the Passion Going
On that note, you have to love doing this. There’s a lot that goes into making a video and you’ll pick up a lot of new skills along the way.
That’s exciting but whenever you first learn something new, it can be really tough at first. That passion will keep you going in those moments when you feel like just packing it in. Passion leads to consistency, and consistency improves quality.
When it gets tough, remember why you first wanted to do this. Keep the fire burning.
Embrace New Skills
In the process of starting and building your channel, you’ll pick up a lot of new skills and techniques. For me, this included learning more about the filmmaking and editing process, Search Engine Optimisation (SEO), video tags, thumbnails and so much more.
What’s really awesome is the wealth of information available to you for free. There are so many articles, videos and podcasts teaching you about these skills. All you need to do is get on Google and devote some time to it. But to do that, get yourself in the mindset of someone who’s desperate to learn.
It may seem like you don’t have enough time. Or you may lose interest. But those small skills will be the difference between your videos getting thousands (or millions) of views compared to just being seen by you and your cat.
Collaborate with Others
I know, your content is awesome as it is. But no one succeeds on their own. Collaboration adds a new perspective to your content. For instance, if you’re doing a movie review on the Marvel Cinematic Universe, why not invite someone else who hates the franchise? Your arguments would be great entertainment. Or if you’re doing a video on weight training fitness, invite someone who teaches a Zumba class and see what your worlds have in common.
It’s also a fantastic way to promote your channel and increase your viewers. Your fans will watch your video but so will your collaborators. If your collaboration is good enough, they’ll become a fan of yours as well. Embrace your success together.
