Everything You Need to Know About Starting a Career on YouTube

Career on YouTube
Career on YouTube

If you’re thinking of starting a career on YouTube, there’s never been a better time to give it a shot! With everyone forced to stay at home due to COVID-19, the demand for entertainment is higher than ever; and, let’s be honest, you can only binge-watch so many Netflix series before you want something different.

YouTube content creators get money from ad sponsorships, Patreon supporters, and more. In fact, some of the top earners on the platform bring in millions in revenue every year. You won’t get to star status overnight, of course, but with some hard work, dedication, and a passion for what you’re doing, you could obtain a significant subscriber base and maybe even lock in some passive income.

Here’s everything you need to know about starting a career on YouTube from the ground up.

It’s Not As Easy Or As Difficult As It Sounds 

Some people look at YouTube creators and think “oh, that’s so easy.” The fact is, running a full-time YouTube channel can be a lot of work and requires a lot of hours of filming, editing, and brainstorming new content ideas. If you want to make money from YouTube, you’ll have to be patient; building a strong enough subscriber base to start generating a livable income can take years. 

That being said, it’s also not an impossible task, as some would have you believe. After all, thousands of content creators are already making money on the platform, and those that exist in the top tier of content creators have been at it for years to get where they are. It is possible!

Start With An Idea

Here’s the thing about ideas: there’s not a lot left that hasn’t been done already at some point in time. If you come up with an idea for your channel but second-guess yourself because you’re afraid it’s been done before, you’re probably right. But that’s not what matters. Ideas are recycled every day and people enjoy them because they’re presented from a different perspective.

It’s ok to choose an idea within an already established niche. There are thousands of gaming channels on YouTube, but guess what? You can still make one and experience success with it! Viewers appreciate the individuality that comes from a genuine channel, and that’s why they watch the videos.

So come up with your favorite idea, and run with it. Don’t be afraid to do something that’s been done before, just do it your way!

Build A Strong Subscriber Base

Subscribers are the bread and butter of your channel. They’ll be notified when you upload content and are more likely to watch your videos and share them with others. The more subscribers you have, the more views you’ll have on each video. So, how do you build a subscriber base on YouTube?

Here are a few tips from this article that might help:

  • Publish longer videos when possible.
  • Use a channel icon/logo to make your content recognizable. You’re building a brand, after all.
  • Channel trailers can help draw attention from new visitors to your page.
  • You should always be promoting your channel wherever possible.
  • Quality beats quantity every time. 

These are just a few quick tips on building a subscriber base, but in reality, it’s an in-depth and time-consuming process. Focus on promotion, quality over quantity, and being genuine with your content and your viewpoint. Subscribers will follow.

Upload On A Consistent Schedule

Think of your YouTube channel as a TV show. TV shows have very specific (and consistent) upload schedules, and so should your channel. You want your viewers to know when they should expect content from you, and be able to watch it once it’s uploaded.

If you’re uploading at random times, it’s much harder to keep track of your videos, and you’ll lose watch time and even subscribers to inconsistency.

Collaborate

Viewers love collaboration videos between their favorite YouTubers. There’s no shame in reaching out to a channel you’re a fan of to offer a collaboration opportunity. The worst that could happen is they say no and you move on. The best thing that could happen? You open up your channel to an entirely new audience via the collaboration efforts. Well worth the risk, no?

Set Up A Patreon

In the early days of content creation and even after you’ve secured an ad sponsorship, Patreon is your best friend. This online patron platform allows your faithful viewers to donate toward your channel to keep it running. It’s really no different from paying for your favorite streaming service.

Patreon is designed for creators, so you’re using a platform that should be familiar to a lot of YouTube viewers. This will help you gain a sustainable income while you build your channel.

Be Confident, Be You

Remember, being genuine sells. People want to see the real you, so be genuine and consistent and confident with your content and you’ll go far. How do you think YouTubers like PewdePie got where they are today?