Last year, I won a “YouTube Creator Starter Package” at a YouTube Kids app event at the YouTube Space in downtown Manhattan. The package included an hour-long 1:1 training with Valerie Streit, Senior Creative Insights Manager at YouTube. I want to share 15 YouTube tips for bloggers that I took away from our meeting.
General Tips
1. YouTube’s Creator Academy is a great free online resource. Most of the questions that I asked Valerie (about good sound, lighting and cameras) were already answered on the Creator Academy site.
2. Know your audience. Alas, there were no “cookie cutter” answers to my questions regarding the best days, times and frequency to schedule YouTube videos. It depends on your audience.
3. Don’t let video editing concerns hold you back from creating videos. There are video editing options for a wide variety of creators. Valerie mentioned that beginners could use the YouTube Creator Studio app to stitch together clips. Computer webcams plus their native editing programs (i.e. iMovie) are also good. When video creators are ready to advance, Adobe Premier and Final Cut Pro are both great options.
4. Consistency is key. Set a schedule and stick to it. It takes patience and dedication to build an audience so plan accordingly. While it is important to be flexible and adapt as you see your audience’s preferences, be a steady presence.
5. Leverage what you know. Make videos about what you like and on topics that you can sustain.
6. If possible, put all of your videos on one channel. It takes a lot of work to build up an audience. Even many YouTube “stars” face challenges when they attempt to add new channels. Rather, you can organize related content into various playlists. (The playlists can match the main categories on your website.)
7. When you first upload your video, make sure to give it a great title, description and keywords. It’s important to get that medata correct from the start. Make sure that your keywords are accurate and relevant to what is in the video or you run the risk of getting “dinged”.
8. Transcripts are good to include with your videos. However, they are not essential.
Branding Tips
9. Make sure that your banner and logo represent your brand well. Make sure that the images looks good across all devices – not just on your computer.
10. Include a trailer/intro video on the home page of your channel. Use it to let viewers know what to expect and when to expect new videos. Marie Forleo’s channel has a great trailer as an example.
11. Include categories on your home page. They can match the main categories on your website.
12. Feature other bloggers. Collaborations are great. Link your content and cross-promote.
13. Fill out your “About” section as thoroughly as possible. Be detailed with your “Description”. Also, be sure to include links to your website and social media accounts.
14. Think about the thumbnail images for your videos. It’s best to take an actual picture and upload it as your video’s thumbnail instead of just choosing the default video captures.
15. Be natural and authentic. Vlogging is powerful. It gives you a chance to talk to your community. Speak to your audience (not at them) and make your videos as engaging and interactive as possible. Also, ask for feedback from your audience.
In addition to the training, the prize included the following:
-A Canon PowerShot S120: This camera was recommended by YouTube star Judy Travis. It really does create high quality photos and videos. The small size makes it great for mobile vloggers – especially those of us who have kids – because it’s small enough to just throw in your purse.
-An URPOWER Monopod Selfie Stick: The thing that I like the most about this particular stick is that it has a remote shutter. (My little “tech support” Michael easily paired it with my phone.)
–Photo Basics 403 uLite 3-Light Kit: This portable lighting kit definitely bumps up your photo and video quality. This was the item that had many of my blogging colleagues salivating. 🙂
I hope that these tips and tool suggestions were helpful. If you’re on YouTube, be certain to subscribe to my channel (https://www.youtube.com/mominthecity) and leave me a comment so that we can connect. Thanks!