How to Start a Youtube Channel
Starting a new YouTube channel can be one of the easiest things at first but It will also be one of the hardest things you do. Many people start off with a simple name for their YouTube channel name that they like at first and then end up changing it. I have even done that with my page. I went from Mcshwack Gaming to just Mcshwack. In this blog, I will be telling you what I have learned when it comes to making a new Youtube channel.
Now for me, the hardest part was this first step: What are you going to call yourself? What do you want to be known as? This could be just your name, it could be a nickname, or it could be known as your channel's purpose. Most vlogging channels use their regular name. Their first and last name or their name followed by the word vlog. Its crucial to take some time to figure out what you want to use as a name because it will become who you are known as. For example Tyler Toney most people won’t recognize the name but if you see a picture of him people say “Oh, the Dude Perfect guy!” this group of guys call their channel Dude Perfect and it is now how they are known. They are more commonly known as the guys on Dude Perfect before they are known by their real names. I am known as Mcshwack because it is my channel’s name, but that is not my real name Joseph Silva. So if you decide to use a nickname or a name for the channel, keep in mind that it will be who you are known as, so if you want to be known as your real name, it’s better to use your real name for your channel.
Let’s move on to what you want your channel to be known for. This is probably one of the most important steps to making your channel and I’ll admit it, I learned this one the hard way. You need to know what your channel is known for and if you’re not sure, it’s okay, this can always be developed over time. My channel originally was known as a gaming channel and I used it to show all my gameplay videos, then over time I became known for games and vlogs and podcasts. This, to this day, is still what I would like to be known for but it is making things harder because I am trying to please a large crowd. I am now shifting my channel from the gamer to help you achieve your dreams of being a YouTuber. It’s better for you to find one thing you want to be known for and stick to that. Use it to find a smaller audience so that you can build better relationships. If you want to be a cooking channel, what do you want to be known for, the best at seafood, smoking, grilling, or baking? Pick one thing and go from there. Another good way to make a cooking channel known is picking a reason for people to watch. Be the cooking channel that makes dinners in video games or shows like Rosina Pansino in Nerdy Nummies. If you want to be a vlogging channel, pick something that will help define you. Maybe you could be an expert on cheap travel or show people how to travel the world by car, even just being a channel about culture in one particular area of the world is a lot better than saying “I make travel vlogs”. Whatever your channel is going to be about, think about what it is you want to be known for.
Now that we have a name and we have what you are known for, it’s time to start filming. I recommend making 3 videos that support the idea of what you will be known for. If you are going to be the best hip hop dancer channel, then make a video on what you can do as a hip hop dancer, a video on how to do the basics to hip hop dancing, and a video on what you could become if you become an expert dancer. Doing this will really help what you will be known for and it provides 3 videos for your viewers at the start of your channel. If you have 3 videos that support what you are known for at the start of your channel, it will: 1) Help drive traffic to your channel, 2) Keep the interest of new viewers, and 3) Help drive the idea that people can see more if they subscribe. Three videos is plenty to get you started before you have an upload schedule because people are always going to want more. Filming three videos do drive traffic to your channel and let them know what you can do.
Now that we have a name, a purpose, and three videos, it’s time to start refining everything and keep posting. I recommend a welcome video for all of your new viewers and make sure you add your “About Me”. New viewers want to know what they will be experiencing if they join your channel, and the two places they will look first is your welcome video and your “About Me” page. Your welcome video should be used to connect to the viewer on an emotional level and have fun as well. You want to use this to get them excited about your channel. Tell them what they will experience, what kind of person you are, how they benefit from watching, and more importantly make them feel welcomed, make them feel good about joining. Your “About Me” can be a little more on the dull side, use this space to really drive what you do as a creator and at the end, add in about who you are if you choose.
At this point, there is only one thing left to do, keep making awesome content and stay focused on your purpose for the content you create. You will have a very successful channel if you keep pushing to be great at what you do as a creator and when you feel like you are the greatest, push even more. Keep pushing and keep being the best you can be.
-Stay Awesome-
