Many people believe that becoming successful on Youtube is a thing of the past. There are already too many self-made millionaires who have had their time and luck on the site, and it seems as though there’s no more room for anyone else. But that isn’t actually true. Marketers just need to learn how to adapt to the ever-changing audience environment. And by doing so, Youtube can still be an awesome outlet you can use to share your voice with the world.
Below are just 12 simple steps that you can take to become successful on Youtube.
1. Define Success
When people think of success, oftentimes the mind refers to money. But in reality, success is so much more than a paycheck. Ask yourself if you would be happy long term at a job that you completely despise. The answer is probably no. So figure out a goal besides just making money - whether that be a higher view count, a certain amount of followers, or monetization. Create content that you actually enjoy to make, and watch the rest fall into place.
2. Branding Yourself
Now although it’s important to have fun, you also need to remember that Youtube is a job. As you start your channel, think about how you’re going to define your voice and the content you share. When branding yourself, give your channel a certain personality that attracts others. The easiest thing to do is just be yourself. But if that’s something you want to shy away from, then you need to remember to keep the same persona you’re playing throughout all your videos. Figure out what kind of videos you want to share - whether that be cooking, make-up tutorials, or DIY videos. Then, figure out how you can make those videos different from anything else already out there.
3. Plan It
Now that you’ve figured out what you want your channel to be about, it’s time to plan it out. In a way, it’s like a business model. Some of the things that should be mapped out ahead of time include any and all equipment that you will need to make quality content, any people that you want included in or behind the scenes, and any production costs that may need to be accounted for. Build yourself a structured timeline that you’re able to refer to during the process, and stick to it as best you can to give yourself the easiest time.
4. Be Welcoming
Considering that Youtube is mainly a visual outlet, it’s important that your channel looks appealing and welcoming. It doesn’t look cute or professional when your profile is incomplete or your images and videos are the wrong dimensions. Also consider your thumbnails, do they follow a consistent look or are they sporadic? Figure out what best suits your channel style and roll with it.
5. Search Engine Optimization
Proper SEO for your Youtube videos is crucial. Now that you took all this time branding yourself and creating high quality video content, the last thing you’d want is for your videos to flop because you didn’t use the right keywords in your title. Figure out what keywords your competitors are using, and what keywords are the most popular and incorporate them in a way that is still different. For example, change up the order.
6. Consistency
This is the most important step of all, because without consistency you have nothing. It doesn’t matter what kind of content you’re producing if you don’t stick to a schedule. Posting on the same day around the same time lets your audience know when they can expect from you. It also gives you a timeline to follow to keep yourself more organized.
Consistency is not just meant for a schedule either. It’s also meant for the type of videos you post. For example, if you follow a beauty guru where you receive all your tips and tricks on how to create your favourite make-up look and then without warning that Youtuber posts a video on dogs, it will leave you feeling confused and somewhat disappointed if you weren’t expecting it. Always keep your audience informed about any changes you’ll be making. Even if you don’t have a high following right away, adopting these habits early will only help you, not hinder you.
7. Keep It Concise
No one likes overly drawn out intros for something that will only take 30 seconds to show on camera. If you intend on having a long intro regardless, then let your viewers know right in the beginning what exact minute and second they can skip ahead to to watch the actual content in your video. If intros are too long and boring, people will usually leave before the video even finishes and nobody wants that for a video they worked really hard on.
8. Stay Informed
The riches are in the niches. When choosing your niche, make sure it’s something you’re very knowledgeable about. This includes staying up to date with things that are changing in your niche’s community. Research your competitors' videos and study the points they make so you’re not behind on your own. No one wants to watch a video from someone who claims to be an expert but they’re not up to date. The last thing you want is for your audience not to trust you.
9. Treat Your Audience Well
The main way to be successful on Youtube is by having a high following. With that being said, it’s important to treat your audience well because they are the reason for your success. There are lots of things you can do as a content creator that will remind your audience of your appreciation for them. Some examples of this are to hold live Q and A’s with your audience and talk to them. Your audience are your fans, and who wouldn’t want to talk to their idols.
Another thing you can do is hold monthly or yearly contests where your audience can have the chance to win something from you. It doesn’t need to be expensive, something as simple as a signed shirt could suffice especially in the beginning.
10. Have A Website
If your main content is on Youtube, it’s often difficult to redirect your audience’s attention to other platforms. Of course you should post through as many different outlets as possible, but the most useful one of all would be to have a professional website for your audience to check out. This website should be accessible through your Youtube page for easy access. A professional website always elevates your brand!
11. Keep Growing
Even if you’re doing amazing, there is always room to grow and improve yourself, whether that’s in your personal or professional life! Analytics can tell you a lot about who’s watching your videos and it allows you to narrow down your demographic and study what interests that group of people to make even better content.
12. Learn From Mistakes
Just like in everyday life, no one is perfect and you’re bound to make mistakes in your personal and professional career. The main point is how you choose to get over that mistake and how you choose to make up for it and grow from it. People won’t always forgive and forget but as long as you forgive yourself then that’s all that matters.
- By Jessika Molnar
Although it comes with challenges, becoming successful on Youtube is still very much realistic. Do you have what it takes?
If you need further help creating your own marketing videos, we offer video production services that will help you elevate your brand!
We look forward to being a part of your success. Contact us here to get started.