So, you’re thinking of starting a YouTube channel, eh? YouTube is a great place to add an additional layer of content to your brand and either drive traffic to or from that channel to your place of conversion. I say “Go for it!”. However, even before we get into the specifics about how to technically start a YouTube channel, there’s a little bit of pre-planning and forethought that needs to be done. Here are 7 action steps to take or think about before creating your channel.
What are you going to be talking about? What are you an expert in? As entrepreneurs or professionals, most of us come to the table with something that we know a lot about or that we have a passion for and need to tell others about. Our industries can cover a wide array of topics that others are wanting to know about. Think of three categories that are all related to each other within your industry and try to keep your YouTube channel within those areas.
Who is your audience? It’s really important to think about the people who will be watching. Typically, how old are they? Are most of them located in one geographical location? Are most of them married, single? Do they have children? Answering these questions ahead of time will help you get to know them, what questions they have, and what problems you can solve for them through your YouTube channel. If you already have an audience, let them know what you’re doing. For example, promote your YouTube channel with the other social platforms that you have.
Make a list: The next thing that you want to do is create a list of several, like 50, different YouTube topics that you think would be interesting to your audience. Although, if you’re not quite sure what kind of YouTube topics your audience would be interested in, there are places to look.
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- 1. Check out answerthepublic.com This is an awesome tool that helps you identify the specific questions that people are asking when they do searches. All you have to do is enter a keyword or keyphrase.
- 2. Check with your current client base if you have one. Perhaps you already have clients and you talk to them on a day-to-day basis. What kinds of questions do they typically ask you? Where do they want to get started? What do they want to know? Do they want to know just some tips and tricks, how to’s, steps to do something?
- 3. Read the comment section on YouTube, or engage with Facebook groups. Search for and watch videos that are already out there. Read the questions that commenters are asking. Get a good feel for whether or not this is being answered on YouTube, already.
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What gear and software should you use for your YouTube channel? Try out different pieces of equipment to see which you like. But, know that you don’t need to spend thousands of dollars on video equipment. When your first starting out, you can just record with an iPhone or an Android. Do some research on a video editor. A great one for Mac is iMovie or Apple Final Cut Pro and one that works for both Windows and Mac is Adobe Premiere Pro. If you don’t have time to do this, just ask Loud Canvas! We have a team of professionals that can help you get your content out in the way you envision!
Set your expectations low: It’s going to take some time and consistency to grow your channel. Don’t let initial low views get you down and stop you from moving forward. So, on that note make sure you have a driving force besides bringing additional traffic to your site or to make money. The “why” behind your videos will play into the success of your videos. The passion that you have for getting the information out there will play out in your videos. So, set your expectations low and ask yourself why you’re doing this. Is it your love of the topic, your love of helping others? When the chips are down, these are the things to focus on.
Plan it out: Like everything, there is a process. So, understand and respect the process to complete your task. Honor the process! You’ve already made your 50 topics, pick one, write down a few points that you’d like to make about that topic and then pick a day that you’re going to video yourself talking about it. You may want to retake several times or just do it once. Give yourself a week to edit the video and plan to upload that video the following week. Plan to do at least a video a week and plan to have the ideas behind the video ahead of time. This will help you eliminate the procrastination that will occur if you’re not firm with yourself about uploading on a specific day. When you give yourself a deadline, you’ll be less apt to not complete it! Pick your topic, write out your points, pick a day and stick with it, no matter what. Then move on to the next topic.
Have fun, be authentically you! My last suggestion is to have fun with it and be imperfect. Show your personality, give examples and have fun with the camera, pretend it’s your client or friend that you’re helping. Don’t be that 7th-grade science teacher who reads unenthusiastically from the pre-written notes. Boring! A little bit of preparation will go a long way in helping you feel comfortable in front of the camera. Do you love what you’re doing and have a passion for it? Let that show in your energy, confidence, and stories. Don’t worry about getting caught up in being perfect. It’s the imperfections that people fall in love with and notice. If you combine these suggestions with the other 6, you’ll be well on your way to laying a great foundation to your YouTube channel.
Not everyone has the time to strategize, plan out, video and edit! We’d love to help you market your brand efficiently and effectively. This is our passion. Questions? Contact us!
