As someone who has been on YouTube for four years, I can't believe all of the amazing opportunities the platform has brought me! From my wonderful fans to moving to New York City, so many things wouldn't have been a part of my life if I wasn't a content creator. So, for this week's blog, I wanted to share some of my tips and tricks for starting your YouTube channel, and make sure to check out my YouTube video for even more information!

Equipment

Tripods

Tripods are definitely not a need, but they are something that is going to help you the more that you grow. The first kind of tripod I love to use is called a handheld, and I use it whenever I am vlogging in public to help keep the footage more stable as I walk around. The second kind I use is just the standard tripod, and I use that one whenever I am filming sit-down videos or montages in the apartment.

Accessories

When it comes to filming accessories, there are multiple wants and not needs to help make creating content easier. A filming light helps control the lighting in your videos when natural lighting isn't enough, a microphone greatly improves the quality of your audio, and an external hard drive keeps your computer from being flooded with footage. I didn't start my YouTube channel with ANY of these things, but as I've grown, they’ve made my life SO much better.

Content Creation Tips

Creating Your Channel

Before we start brainstorming content ideas, the first thing you need to do is create a YouTube channel! I would recommend using your name as your username without any identifying niches so you aren't boxed in. Also, do NOT stress about the branding of your channel in the beginning because I promise it is going to change throughout your YouTube journey. Once your channel is completed with graphics and an about-me statement, it's time to start creating!

Consistency

My first content creation tip is something I know you've heard before, BUT it's THAT important: consistency! I cannot emphasize this enough: you have to be CONSISTENT. Consistency is whatever it means to you, so if you want to post once a week, twice a week, or every single day, you have to make sure you are following the goal you've set for yourself. Having a set schedule helps give your community a sense of comfort when it comes to your channel, and it keeps you accountable!

Video Inspiration

When brainstorming video ideas for your channel, I highly recommend writing them down in a journal or the notes app on your phone. Whether or not you even film that video, it might help inspire another idea that you actually will film. I find inspiration for my videos in my daily routines, so look at what you do for work or what your hobbies are and think about all the creative ways you can share your passions online. Day in the life and routine videos are simple ways to start your channel and help find what type of content your viewers like!

Ignoring Your Niche

I know a lot of content creators recommend finding your niche, but that is something I would actually recommend against. In the beginning, you shouldn't have to worry about only creating certain content that fits a defined niche. Instead, you should be experimenting with the type of content you create and make videos you are actually interested in filming. Also, I think a niche can limit the kind of sponsorships and income opportunities you can have further down your career, as only companies that match your niche will reach out.

Growth & Time Commitment

Growing Your Channel

Growth online is something that has been a little distorted by the virality algorithm on TikTok. YouTube is a completely different platform that values different things to help grow your channel and community. While growth *can* be quick, growth will only come if you are putting in the work, which can be time-consuming. YouTube can be a full-time job for some, but only for those who are willing to work hard for it!

Doing it for the Fame

When it comes to growth online, if you are doing this for fame or money, I wouldn't waste your time. Your motive for growing a channel should be creating a community where you can inspire and help your viewers. If your motive is to get famous and make a ton of money, you will be disappointed point blank, period. There is so much more value in creating a dedicated, loyal community than a bunch of faceless subscribers who don't even interact with your content.

Building Community

Growth online starts with creating a positive impact. One thing I love about YouTube is being able to have the influence and impact on matters that matter to me! I have found multiple communities in girls who do pageants, have suffered from domestic abuse, or had a cat that was diagnosed with FIP. These similarities I share with my subscribers have allowed me to create connections that keep my viewers engaged with my content and make them want to keep coming back. Your channel will grow the more you connect with your audience!

Cross-Promotion

Cross-promotion of your YouTube channel is one of the best ways I have seen growth online. It is so easy to plug your YouTube channel in your TikTok bio or even promote it in one of your TikTok videos that is similar to the content in a specific YouTube video. I also recommend promoting your other socials in your YouTube videos to help people know where else they can find you. Sharing your socials helps build that community across multiple platforms and gives viewers different views of your life.

Time Commitment

If you want YouTube to be your job, you have to treat it like your job. There is more than just filming that goes into YouTube. You have to write an outline for some videos, edit the content, create graphics in the video, make thumbnails, create cross-promotional graphics, and so much more that isn't always so obvious. I've had videos where it took me twelve hours to edit it perfectly, and I will still be filming and posting other content simultaneously. All these tasks do get easier over time, but they don't get less tedious. Be prepared to really put in the time if you want to see the results.

Income

Making Money Online

When it comes to making money on YouTube, it is not going to come immediately. There are certain milestones you must hit to apply for the YouTube monetization program, and the rules differ for regular videos and YouTube Shorts. However, it is important to note that making money through your YouTube videos can also be external through sponsorships and brand deals.

Read Your Contracts

Once you start uploading your videos, it is important to start doing email reach-outs to brands! However, before we go any further, I NEED to emphasize the following: READ YOUR CONTRACTS BEFORE SIGNING THEM. I know how exciting it can be to get your first brand deal, but I used to get screwed over at the beginning of my career because of loopholes or phrasing I missed in a contract. So always be alert and aware of what the brand wants from you and what you're getting in return.

Brand Reach-Out

When you start doing brand reach-out, do NOT DM them on social media. It is always best practice to email the company's marketing email and introduce yourself, talk about your channel, and emphasize why you and the company align for a brand sponsorship. I recommend tagging and linking products you use or wear in videos so brands see that you are an avid user of their products and have already been promoting them. It is also important to include a media kit in your pitch emails. Media kits include information about yourself and your channel, previous brand sponsorships, photos, and more. There are a ton of templates for media kits on Canva to help you create your own!

Micro-Influencers

Do not think that because you are a smaller creator, brands don't want to work with you. Micro-influencers have some of the largest impacts on their followers because of the loyal communities they have created online. Brands are no longer looking at follower count. Instead, they want high engagement rates that demonstrate the loyalty of followers that will convert to sales.

About PR

It is important to note that there is a difference between a brand deal and PR. PR is when brands send you their items for free with no expectations but an underlying assumption you will open the package on camera to help promote them. Personally, I pick and choose the type of PR I receive as I don't need a million boxes of things that will most likely expire before I use them. Also, you don't get paid for PR, so while free things can be seen as a form of payment, you really aren't making any money.

I hope all my tips and tricks give you the motivation and inspiration to start your own YouTube channel! Remember, always be the girl that just went for it, and I look forward to seeing your channels grow!