How to Create a Successful YouTube Channel?

Creating a successful YouTube channel is a dream for many aspiring content creators. YouTube stands (for now at least) as a towering video platform in the realm of social media, offering an immense opportunity for content creators to share their passions, educate, entertain, and even monetise their video content.

However, launching a successful YouTube channel involves more than just uploading videos; it requires a strategic approach to content creation, an understanding of the platform’s algorithm, and a knack for engaging your target audience. AKA hard work. And there aren’t any shortcuts, well, sort of.

This should guide beginners through the process of creating a new channel on YouTube, from setting up your Google account to publishing your first video and beyond.

First, the mechanics of creating a channel and posting a video. Then there’s the strategic part of how to go about creating YouTube content that will grow your YouTube subscribers and rake in the big bucks. And fame.

Just remember to shout out this guide. Or not, you jerk.

Step 1: Create a channel

The first step is to use your Google account to create a YouTube account if you don’t already have one. This is your gateway to accessing YouTube’s features, including YouTube Studio, where you’ll manage your content, view your metrics, and interact with your audience.

Choose a channel name that reflects the type of content you plan to offer and is easy to remember. Your channel name and channel art (including your profile picture and channel trailer) are the first things new viewers will notice, so they should be eye-catching and representative of your brand.

Go to YouTube and search for content that you are thinking of creating and this should give you channel ideas.

Step 2: Plan your content

Before you start filming, spend time on keyword research to understand what your target audience is searching for. This will help you create video content that’s likely to be discovered via YouTube search.

Decide on the type of content you’ll create—be it tutorials, vlogging, YouTube Shorts, or another format—and use templates or look at successful YouTube channels for video ideas. Your video titles, descriptions, and thumbnails must be compelling and include relevant keywords to improve your video’s visibility on YouTube and other search engines.

Here’s a “poor-mans” approach to finding topics.

1. Go to YouTube
2. In the search bar, type in your topic. If it is Comedy, then type in “comedy”
3. You should see a list of keywords dropdown
4. Take note of these keywords and use them as a general guide for your content
5. If you fancy a specific keyword, select it and watch the type of videos around this topic.
6. Observe, take it in, learn.

Obviously, once you’ve been doing this for a while, or when you have a budget, you could invest in paid tools for better intel.

Step 3: Get familiar with YouTube SEO

SEO, or search engine optimisation, is crucial for your videos to be found by new viewers. Use tools like TubeBuddy to find high-ranking keywords related to your content and include these in your video titles, descriptions, and tags.

The YouTube algorithm favours videos with high watch time and retention rates, so creating high-quality, engaging content that keeps viewers watching is key. Playlists can also help increase watch time by organising your videos into easily consumable series.

Write compelling video descriptions and also don’t forget to edit your channel description – for the curious readers.

Step 4: Edit your videos

High-quality video editing can significantly enhance the appeal of your content. Use video editing software to cut out unnecessary parts, add music, and create engaging intros and outros. Your goal should be to make your videos as professional and polished as possible, which will help retain viewers and encourage them to subscribe.

This is the part that will eat up your time. But there’s no way around this. AI video editing tools can help you but you still have to put in the work. Learn the craft. There’s no short cut here.

Knock knock: Who’s there?

WordPress to YouTube plugin. It will automatically turn your blog into a YouTube video, a YouTube Short, Instagram & Facebook Reel an publish it automatically. You should buy it.

Step 5: Upload videos and promote them

Once your video is ready, it’s time to upload it to your channel. Create an awesome thumbnail that is eye-catching and representative of the video’s content. Thumbnails and video titles are key to attracting new viewers.

After uploading, share your video across other social media platforms to increase its reach. Engage with your audience through comments, live streams, and collaborations with other influencers to build a community around your channel.

Step 6: Monitor Your Progress

Use YouTube Analytics to track the performance of your videos. Metrics such as view count, watch time, and retention rate will give you insights into what’s working and what’s not. This data is invaluable for tweaking your content strategy to better match your audience’s preferences.

Give the people what they want. Feed the algorithm. If that’s your thing. Nothing wrong with some data to aid your creativity. You aren’t selling your soul.

Step 7: Monetise Your Channel

Once you meet the YouTube Partner Program criteria, you can apply to start earning money from your videos through ads, memberships, and more. Remember, monetisation should not be your only goal; focus on creating valuable content for your audience, and monetisation will follow.

That’s it for the mechanics. Here’s some more soft guidance.

Understand your niche

1. Identify your passion: Do what you love. There are several successful YouTube channels that started off with someone simply doing what they love. Your channel should reflect a topic you are passionate about. Whether it’s gaming, cooking, technology, or fashion, your enthusiasm will resonate with your audience.
2. Know Your audience: Understand who your content is for. Researching what your target audience enjoys, their age group, and what they are looking for in content can help tailor your videos to their preferences. Speak to them in ways that resonate.

Creating the right content

1. Quality over quantity: Focus on creating high-quality content. This doesn’t necessarily mean having the best equipment, but rather ensuring that your content is engaging, informative, and well-edited.
2. Consistency is key: Develop a consistent posting schedule. Consistency helps in building a loyal audience who will know when to expect new content.
3. Unique selling proposition: Determine what sets your channel apart. This could be your presentation style, unique insights, or the way you edit your videos.

Engagement and Community Building

1. Interact with Your Audience: Respond to comments, ask for feedback, and consider audience suggestions for future content. Engagement increases loyalty and community feeling.
2. Collaborations: Collaborate with other YouTubers. This can help you reach a wider audience and bring new perspectives to your channel.

Learning and Evolving

1. Stay updated: Keep up with the latest trends and changes in the YouTube algorithm. Adapt your content strategy accordingly.
2. Continuous learning: Learn from other successful YouTubers and adapt their strategies to fit your style and audience.

Examples of Successful YouTube Channels

1. PewDiePie: With millions of subscribers, PewDiePie (Felix Kjellberg) started as a gaming channel and diversified into vlogs and comedy. His success lies in his relatable personality and engagement with his audience.
2. T-Series: An Indian music video channel that has gained immense popularity globally. T-Series is an excellent example of how catering to a specific niche (Bollywood music) can lead to massive success.
3. 5-Minute Crafts: Known for its DIY and life hacks content, this channel grew rapidly due to its highly shareable and engaging content. The simplicity and usefulness of their videos have attracted a wide audience. This channel does produce some questionable content so please research the videos before trying out the hacks.
4. MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson): Known for his extravagant challenges and philanthropy, MrBeast has grown rapidly due to his unique content that often involves large sums of money, donations, and intriguing challenges.
5. Dude Perfect: A sports and entertainment channel known for their trick shots and comedy videos. Their high-quality production and family-friendly content have garnered a massive audience.

Top 10 successful YouTube channels & their origin story

Granted, some of these have mega corporations backing them, but there are some that were just passion, and sweat. Yeah, get that incorrect image out of your head.

1. T-Series: With its inception on March 13, 2006, T-Series, an Indian music and film production company, leads as the most subscribed channel with captivating Bollywood music and films. It has grown to become a global phenomenon in the music industry.
2. MrBeast: Known for his philanthropic stunts and challenges, MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson) started on February 20, 2012, and has become the second most-subscribed individual on YouTube, known for engaging content and massive giveaways.
3. Cocomelon: Established on September 2, 2006, Cocomelon specialises in educational content for kids, including nursery rhymes and educational videos, making it the third most-subscribed channel on YouTube.
4. SET India: Sony Entertainment Television India, launched on September 21, 2006, provides a variety of entertainment content from the Bollywood industry, ranking fourth.
5. Kids Diana Show: Featuring Diana and her brother Roma, this channel, which started on May 12, 2015, has become a favourite in the kids’ entertainment category, offering a mix of live performances and educational content.
6. Like Nastya: With content focusing on children aged 2 to 8, Anastasia Radzinskaya, known as Like Nastya, started on December 6, 2016. The channel features entertaining and educational videos, making it one of the most beloved channels for kids.
7. PewDiePie: Felix Kjellberg, better known as PewDiePie, joined YouTube on April 29, 2010, and has become one of the most iconic figures in the gaming and entertainment community, known for his humour and varied content.
8. Vlad and Niki: This channel, which began on April 23, 2018, features two brothers, Vladislav and Nikita, offering content that combines entertainment with educational themes, making it highly popular among children.
9. Zee Music Company: As one of India’s leading music channels, Zee Music Company, which joined YouTube on March 12, 2014, offers a wide range of Bollywood music, catering to the tastes of over a billion music enthusiasts worldwide.
10. WWE: The World Wrestling Entertainment channel, started on May 11, 2007, has captured a vast audience with content featuring wrestling superstars, live events, and shows like Raw and SmackDown, making it one of the most engaging channels on YouTube.

These channels have not only achieved success through a consistent supply of high-quality content but also by adapting to the evolving landscape of YouTube and its algorithm. Their strategies, ranging from engaging with trending topics to leveraging social media platforms for promotion, provide valuable insights for new content creators aiming to carve out their niche on the platform.

So yes, while some are conglomerates, you can still study their systematic approach to growth. It might take you years to curate your videos, but you’ve got them. Right? Even if you are like 50 or something.

Creating a successful YouTube channel requires hard work, dedication, and a continuous effort to get better. It’s about finding the right balance between what you love to create and what your audience loves to watch.

With a step-by-step approach to planning, creating, editing, and promoting your video content, you can grow your channel, attract more subscribers, and perhaps even turn your passion into a career. Remember, every successful YouTube creator started with just a single video, so don’t be discouraged by the challenges along the way.

Automatic blog to video

If you are a prolific blogger and you’d like to easily convert your blogs into videos, then WordPress to YouTube plugin will do the heavy lifting for you. If you have zero, 1000, or more blogs then you can have all of them turned into videos without you lifting a finger.

They will also be published to your YouTube channel and even Facebook & Instagram. So, launch a new revenue stream. Repurpose your content, and become a publishing tsar.

Some common & not so commonly asked questions.

The most important question I get asked:

Q: Why the heck is this in British English?
A: Deal with it.