So You Want To Start A YouTube Channel?
By Riley Rehl
Hi! I’m Riley Rehl and I started my YouTube channel in August of 2018. I’ll be the first to say that I had no idea what I was doing. Through posting random videos and experimenting with editing styles, I learned a lot about what works and what doesn’t.
So, here are my top 5 tips to starting a successful channel!
- Find Your Focus
What kinds of videos do you enjoy watching?
What’s a topic you could give an hour presentation on without notice?
What interests you?
What topic are you knowledgeable in that others would find valuable and/or entertaining?
These are a few questions to ask yourself when getting started. Personally, I love watching videos about lifestyle, self-improvement, health and wellness, cooking, and college life.
Once I figured out that I enjoyed watching school vlogs, I tried my hand at making some. One of my very first high school vlogs now has over 8 million views. https://youtu.be/tZGDCC4J2Zs
2. Content is King
You have to create content that is valuable to the viewer — it’s essential.
What value are you bringing to your audience?
Are you entertaining them, teaching a helpful skill, or giving advice on a chosen topic?
Why should they subscribe to your channel?
Even if your equipment isn’t top notch, the quality of content is the deciding factor in whether your audience will “hit that subscribe button” or not.
3. It Needs to be Searchable
It took me 5 months of posting every week to gain 100 subscribers. That was because I wasn’t making searchable content that was valuable to the viewer (example of video that wasn’t searchable: https://youtu.be/QMZ3I1cbfYM).
Ask yourself before vlogging, what are people searching for?
How can you contribute to trends while staying true to your personal brand and content style? (ex. Asking College Boys Questions You’re Too Afriad to Ask)
Make eye-catching thumbnails and a title that helps your video stand out.
4. Equipment Doesn’t Matter
I filmed my first YouTube videos on my rose gold iPhone 6s.
I used what I had and did the best I could.
There are plenty of YouTubers I know of who had major success, even though their gear wasn’t top of the line, simply because their content was valuable.
Here’s a basic list of my recommendations for when you’re first starting out, as well as the gear I currently use.
BEGINNER EQUIPMENT (a.k.a. broke college student)
- iPhone– use it to film. If you’re an android user, good luck to you, my friend.
- iMove Editing Software (free on any apple device — a.k.a. the iPad everyone gets when they come to Southern Virginia University)
MY PERSONAL EQUIPMENT:
- Vlog Camera — Canon G7x Mark ii ($500-$600)
- Editing Software — Final Cut Pro (one time purchase of $300)
- MacBook Pro — I use my MacBook to edit videos
- Epidemic Sound — music for videos (I have lost out on THOUSANDS of dollars because of copyright. PLEASE use copyright free music or get music subscription like epidemic sound)
4. Just Go For It!
My last tip is to JUST GO FOR IT!
My only regret about starting a channel is that I didn’t do it sooner.
As Wayne Gretzky said, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”
Forget about the fear of being judged or made fun of. The right people will support you and cheer you on, you’ve got this!
Good luck, my friends!
I’ll see you on my YouTube “recommended” when you become a famous YouTuber after implementing these tips. ;)
