Equipment for Starting a YouTube Channel
If you plan to make money off your YouTube channel, you need to create professional-quality videos.
Viewers are automatically turned off by bad sound and video quality.
You’ll need to invest in some equipment to ensure your videos are of sufficient quality.
Fortunately, video production equipment is cheaper than ever before.
It’s often advised to start with equipment that fits your budget but still gives you decent quality.
As your channel earns money, you can invest in better equipment.
What’s the Best Audio and Video Equipment for Starting a YouTube Channel?
Below are the best types of audio and video equipment for starting a YouTube channel.
Audio Equipment
A camera microphone isn’t the best for recording sound.
The audio equipment you need will depend on the types of videos you’re producing.
For videos where you’re talking directly to the camera on a quiet set, a studio mic is best.
An on-camera shotgun mic is great for shots where the camera is moving.
If you are tracking someone and need to hear their voice, a lavalier mic is beneficial.
In certain instances, you may want to get a boom mic, if you have scenes where it may be hard to hear your speakers but don’t want them to wear a mic.
Video Equipment
For many YouTubers, one of the latest smartphones is enough for filming.
The latest phones have decent video quality.
A GoPro is a good option if you have a lot of action shots and a DSLR is quite an investment but will produce the highest-quality video.
You may want to get a tripod to give you extra stability.
A lighting kit or even a ring light can also improve video quality.
Finally, you’ll need to use video editing software.
Many content creators find iMovie to be sufficient.
However, as your channel grows, you may want to consider Adobe Premiere or Final Cut Pro.
Before Starting, Keep These Tips in Mind
YouTube has been around since 2005, and it has videos that have over a billion views.
Starting a channel can feel daunting, as the platform is so established. However, it can be done.
You simply need to follow the proven process that so many other channels have followed to get yours off the ground.
Choose a Niche
Find a niche that suits your interests and personality with profit potential.
Many types of YouTube videos have the potential to be successful.
You just have the find the type that works for you.
Once you’ve chosen a niche, dedicate your channel to it.
Don’t try to upload many videos that have no connection to one another.
Channel Page Is Important
Your channel icon, background, trailer, and other customizations are important.
You can make your channel look unique and professional, which will get you subscribers.
Quality Over Quantity
Viewers will click away if your production quality is low.
Take your time to script a video and film it the right way.
Use editing to keep your video moving along and remove mistakes.
Aim to make high-quality videos over uploading as many videos as possible.
Be Consistent
While quantity isn’t as important, you do need to upload consistently for the YouTube algorithm and for your subscribers.
Whether you post once every three days or once a week, set a posting schedule and stick to it.
Optimize and Market
Make sure that all of your content is optimized for YouTube and Google.
Be sure to use keywords in your video, titles, and descriptions.
Share your videos on your social media channels and anywhere else where people may be interested in your content.
How Do You Set Up Your YouTube Channel?
Setting up a YouTube channel is a simple process and shouldn’t take too long.
As you get more in-depth with your posting, you can then customize your channel.
Creating a Personal YouTube Channel
You’ll only need to follow a few simple steps to create a personal YouTube channel.
Create a Google Account
You’ll start by creating a Google account if you don’t already have one.
Go to the Google account signup page.
You’ll enter your name, a username, and a password and then create an account.
You can also enter a phone number or alternate email for account recovery.
Once you’ve created an account, you have access to Gmail, YouTube, and the Google Play store.
Create a YouTube Account
To create a YouTube account, start by going to YouTube.
Click “sign in” at the top and log in using your Google account.
When prompted, select the option stating that you’re creating the account for yourself.
A YouTube account lets you like and subscribe to videos and channels.
You can also save videos to watch later and access your viewing history.
After signing in, you’ll then be able to create a channel.
You’ll need a YouTube channel to post videos and create playlists.
Customize Your YouTube Channel
If you want your YouTube channel to feel professional, you need to customize it using the YouTube Studio feature.
There are three basic ways you can customize your channel.
Basic Info
Under basic info, you can change your channel name and write a channel description.
Using YouTube SEO here can help others find your channel.
Branding
It’s essential to be consistent in your branding on your YouTube channel.
If you already have a website or social media platforms, ensure that your branding is in line across all channels.
Under branding, you can change your channel icon or profile picture, which is the small picture that shows up next to your channel name.
You can also create a banner for the top of your channel page.
You can add a video watermark as well.
Layout
The layout option lets you organize all of your channel content.
You may wish to put a trailer at the top of your channel page.
You can select a featured video and organize your content into relevant playlists.
Upload Your First YouTube Video
You’ve now reached the most exciting moment in your YouTube journey: uploading your first YouTube video!
Before uploading, you’ll need to spend time creating a video.
Creating high-quality videos is the first and most crucial step if you want to make your YouTube channel into a business.
To upload a video, you’ll go to the create button.
It’s usually located near the top of every YouTube page and looks like a video camera with a plus sign in the middle.
When you click, you’ll have the option to upload videos or go live.
Choose “upload videos.”
Ensure that your video is in one of YouTube’s accepted formats and select the file to upload.
While your video is uploading, you’ll be able to add a title and description.
You can also add tags to help others find your video and set whether you want the video to be private or public.
Once uploaded, it can take a few minutes before your video is live.
Make Your YouTube Channel Discoverable
If you want to make your YouTube channel into a business, you need to make your channel discoverable.
Otherwise, users won’t be able to find you when they’re browsing around the platform.
To make your channel discoverable, just be sure that you’ve set all the videos you want others to see to “public.”
Creating a Business YouTube Channel
If you own a business, you may want to create a YouTube channel under your business’s name.
If all content will be devoted to your business, creating a business YouTube channel instead of a personal channel makes sense.
When you create your YouTube account, choose the option that you’re creating the channel for a business.
You’ll register using your business name.
YouTube may require verification of address.
They’ll send you a card in the mail, and you’ll enter the code from the card.
Once entered, your account will be up and running.
You can customize your business channel the same as you customize a personal channel.
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