Starting a YouTube Channel: A Beginner's Guide

So, you've decided it's time to start your own YouTube channel—fantastic! Whether it's to share your hobby or to educate others on a topic you're passionate about, launching a successful YouTube channel takes some groundwork. Just in the last week, I've started helping some friends launch brand-new YouTube channels! Now, you might be saying, "Why should we listen to you?" I'm just going to tell you what has and is working for me. At the writing of this newsletter, I'm making well over $1,000/month on my YouTube channels. It's a GREAT side hustle that I believe will help my ministry friends. So...here’s a clear and practical guide to get you started!

1. Choosing Your Channel Name

Your channel name should be:

• Simple and easy to remember: Short and catchy names are ideal.

• Reflective of your content: If your focus is lab puppies, names like "Labs at Home" or "Lab Ventures" are straightforward and clear. If someone already has a channel with the name you want, just create something similar, and don't let it bother you.

• Scalable: Ensure the name allows flexibility for future content expansions.

2. Research Your Competition

To start strong, check out similar channels and analyze their activity:

• Look for recent and regular uploads: Channels with consistent content can serve as better benchmarks than inactive ones. When searching YouTube, you can set the filter results to show recent videos and those with the most views.

• Assess popularity and relevance: Examine popular videos and consider why they're successful. Look and listen. Examine their title, thumbnail, and description.

• Learn from competitors: Use their strengths and weaknesses to guide your content strategy.

3. Content Strategy

YouTube content generally falls into one of three categories:

• Educational: Offering tips, how-tos, or insights.

• Entertainment: Fun, engaging, and shareable content.

• Edutainment: A blend of both—informative yet enjoyable. This one I learned from Sean Cannell.

4. Creating Your First Videos

To quickly create and upload initial content:

• YouTube App: Ideal for short, simple edits directly from your phone.

• DaVinci Resolve or CapCut: Free and robust editing tools for more complex edits.

• Ensure SEO-friendly titles and descriptions: Use clear, keyword-rich descriptions, include relevant hashtags, and keep titles under 90 characters.

5. Optimizing Your Videos

• Avoid Watermarks: YouTube prefers clean videos without watermarks.

• Use Relevant Hashtags: No more than 15 hashtags per video (this is actually very important); prioritize high-traffic hashtags.

• Clear Descriptions: Brief, engaging, and informative to help your video rank better.

6. Monetization Setup

• Verify Your Account: You’ll need a Google AdSense account linked to your YouTube channel. Setting up an AdSense account is free.

• Meet Monetization Criteria: 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 hours of watch time or 10 million Shorts views within 90 days.

• Consistent Posting: Regular uploads significantly boost channel growth and monetization speed. I monetized one of my channels in 3 months by posting almost every day!

7. Useful Tools & Resources

• Canva: I use Canva to produce the content for one of my channels. It's also very easy to create and edit Shorts inside Canva.

• YouTube Studio: Essential for managing analytics, comments, and channel customization.

• Book Recommendations: "They Ask, You Answer"—great for understanding content strategy and audience engagement. "YouTube Secrets, 2nd Edition"–the best book on understanding the details of how YouTube works!

• Camera Recommendations: For 2 years, I simply used my iPhone. It has an amazing camera! I recommend using what you have until you want to purchase something better. If you're using an iPhone, I recommend downloading the BlackMagic Camera app versus using the native iPhone camera app.

• Microphone Recommendations: For a budget-friendly option, I suggest the FiFine Microphone with the InnoGear Stand.

• Lighting Recommendation: The Aputure Amaran 60D is an EPIC light for the budget! Add on the SmallRig Lantern Softbox for the best-diffused look. Then purchase a light stand to hold it and you're set!

Wrapping Up

Now, launching your channel is just the start! It takes work! Stay consistent, engage with your audience, and continuously refine your approach based on analytics and viewer feedback. If you can do that, you'll have a successful channel!

Ready to dive deeper? Subscribe to our newsletter for more tips on growing your ministry or business through YouTube and other digital platforms! 🚀✨

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