Get Started Making Money On YouTube
Over the past few years, YouTube has become very beneficial to those people who want to start earning money from home. By posting videos on YouTube, not only can you earn money from the videos directly, you can also use them to promote your other ventures. With millions of people spending hours on YouTube each day, it is the prime location to get you or your new business noticed.
There are several ways that you can make money from YouTube, including:
- Advertising on your videos
- Sponsors
- Patreon
- Promotion
If you would like to learn more about the ways to generate money from YouTube, you can check out our other post here. No matter which way you choose though, there are some things that you need to do in order to make it successful. By following the tips below, you’ll be well on your way towards making money on YouTube.
Pick A Niche
First off, you need to decide what your videos are going to be about. A video channel that spans topics is going to have a harder time drawing a consistent audience. If your videos are going to be about how to repair cars, don’t post videos of you covering your favorite song. You don’t have to limit yourself on the types of videos you make, but try to separate them into different YouTube channels at the very least. Sticking to one niche and becoming a trusted source on it is a key first step to generating income through YouTube.
Get Proper Equipment
While it is certainly possible to post videos on YouTube that you shoot with your cell phone and have them become popular, higher quality videos are more likely to attract visitors. Once you can afford it, invest in a decent handheld camera that will allow you to shoot HD video, with clear images and a crisp sound. If your videos do not require you to move around, then invest in a tripod as well to steady the camera as you film. As you get further along, some lighting equipment will help, but this isn’t necessary when you first start out. Good equipment can go a long way towards giving your videos an air of authority, so if you are serious about making money from YouTube, it is a worthwhile investment.
For more information about the type of gear you’ll want to create your videos, check out this list.
Learn Video Editing
Chances are, during the recording of your videos, you’re going to make some mistakes. You’ll say things that are not necessary, forget the point you are trying to make, or think of a better way to explain something. Rather than re-shooting the entire video, you can simply record that section over again, and edit it into your video. To do this, you’ll have to learn a little bit about video editing. By learning video editing you will not only be able to correct your mistakes, but you’ll be able to add in other video clips, pictures and audio to enhance your videos. Once you’ve mastered the skill of video editing, your videos will seem more professional, and provide better information and content.
Learning video editing is not incredibly difficult, and you can learn the basics easily online. You’ll have to invest in some video editing software – although there are some free options out there – and then look for tutorials on how to use it. Here is a quick guide to picking a video editing program, and learning how to use it. Learning to edit videos is a good use of your time, and a skill that can be used outside of your own video creations if you want to look for additional freelance work.
Interact On Social Media
Once you’ve created your video, you need to let people know about it. People who have subscribed to your YouTube channel will see that you’ve uploaded new content, but for everyone else, you need to let them know. The best way to do this is through social media, which allows you to reach hundreds, thousands, or even millions of people all at once. Post links to your various social media accounts – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram – and let your connections know you’ve created something knew.
Social media is also a great way to find new followers. For example, if your new video is about learning to decorate a cake, you can find other Twitter accounts that talk about the same thing. Send them a message with a link to your video, and ask them to share it with their followers. Through methods like this you can greatly expand your social reach, and bring in new followers.
Lastly, as you begin to build up followers due to your videos, it is a good idea to interact with them. Answer their questions, thank them for compliments, or give them advice related to your expertise. This will help you to build up credibility, and allow people to see that they are actually interacting with another human being. This article goes into more depth about how to promote a vlog using social media, if you are interested.
Stick With It
Lastly, if you really want to get started making money on YouTube – or anything really – you need to stick with it. More than likely your first video is not going to make you any money – or even your first few. Money really starts to come when you are consistently providing new content, and bringing in new viewers from other sources, such as social media. Once you’ve built up a following, and your videos are getting a decent amount of viewers on a consistent basis, then you can start thinking about earning some money from them. So stick with it, focus on providing quality videos, and the money will take care of itself in the future.