Don’t make the mistake of thinking it’s too late to start a YouTube channel in 2021! There’s an ever-increasing appetite for video content and YouTube remains one of the best platforms. YouTube has a staggering 2.3 billion monthly active users, so even if you have an extremely niche channel, it’s more than possible to find an audience for your passion. So if you ever find yourself wondering if you should start a YouTube channel, the answer is unequivocally yes.
That said, YouTube is a very competitive platform, and creators need to put in the hours to find their audience, understand the algorithm, and produce content that captures attention. So, if you’re ready to start your YouTube channel, here's a list of tips to help you grow your brand.
1. Find Your Niche
To grow a successful channel, having content that’s too generic will make things more difficult. Whether you want to showcase your knowledge of a specific industry or focus on creating a certain type of content (e.g. gaming, beauty or travel), developing a consistent niche that your audience can come to know and love is vital. This way, you can establish your authority on the topic over time.
2. Invest in the Right Equipment
You definitely don’t need lots of fancy equipment to launch a YouTube channel, but you’re going to want to invest in a few basic pieces to ensure viewers don't immediately click away. For one, if you plan to livestream, you’ll want the best internet connection you can find. So, subscribing to the best broadband services and powering up your wireless coverage with networking solutions such as internet routers.
Home broadband and innovative networking solutions and deals from internet providers aside, you’ll want a great camera. Although having a DSLR or a mirrorless camera is ideal for crisp visuals, if you're on a budget, you can also shoot with a smartphone and a tripod. We’ve all seen how many creators have leveraged smartphones like the OPPO Reno5 5G to create masterpieces - we’re sure you can too!
Finally, remember to pay attention to audio and lighting. An external shotgun mic and a softbox will dramatically improve your video’s quality.
3. Optimise Your Channel
If you're new to the world of marketing, you might not have heard of Search Engine Optimisation, a.k.a. SEO. This is where you capitalise on a platform’s algorithms and user behaviour to help your content stand out. On YouTube, this means creating catchy titles and descriptions with keywords that your audience is likely to use when they're making searches. For example, a video on your favourite Korean restaurants might be: “The Best Korean Restaurants to Explore in Singapore!” You should also optimise your profile information, add video tags and place your content into the correct categories. Using tools such as the VidIQ Vision for Chrome or Firefox is one way to get stats on your video content.
4. Become an Analytics Expert
With YouTube’s in-depth analytics at your fingertips, you can determine which content performs best and whether you should abandon some past ideas. For instance, ‘watch time’ is an important metric that lets you know the total time viewers have spent watching your videos. This is especially important because YouTube’s algorithms favour content with higher watch times. Similarly, ‘audience retention’ highlights the percentage of your audience that decides to leave your channel, signalling which content works and which some people might find boring.
4. Interact With Your Audience
As your subscriber count grows and your channel receives more attention, building rapport with your audience is essential. Although you want to be careful about giving away too much private information, creating content that your fans want is bound to drive interest and generate more traffic. You can achieve this by publishing regular channel updates to help fans feel a connection with the channel. You could also engage them through comments and livestreams.
5. Share Your Content Far and Wide
When your channel is picking up steam, plenty of new viewers are going to come across your content via YouTube itself. However, you can hasten the process by building a following on other social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Reddit. Whether you choose to use them all or focus your attention on one core platform, sharing your YouTube videos and keeping your audience updated on the latest developments is an effective way to drive more traffic.
6. Ignore the Haters
Even if you create exceptional content, there will undoubtedly be people who only want to express negative opinions online. Whether these people are serious or just trolling to get a reaction, it’s best to ignore these comments on your YouTube videos. Alternatively, turn comments off. By staying true to the content that you want to create and focusing your attention on your most dedicated fans, you will inspire a positive community that makes growing your YouTube channel a rewarding experience.