Creating YouTube Videos: 5 Tips to Get You Started

Lights, camera … now what?  

Creating YouTube videos is something that all brands have probably considered at one point in time, but where do you start?  

There’s no denying that YouTube is an incredibly competitive space. Where the platform was once home to independent content creators trying to make their mark online, it’s now dominated by established brands and giant corporations. 

But that doesn’t mean success on the platform is impossible.

If you’re only just dipping your toes into the world of content creation and video marketing, you might be wondering where to start or in which elements of YouTube you should be investing your time and money first. 

Let’s take a look at five tips to help you set you off in the right direction and create better YouTube videos. 

1. Take a look at what your competitors are creating 

If you’re at a loss for where to begin with your YouTube videos, one of the best ways to start is with a bit of competitor research. When you’re not sure about implementing videos into your marketing strategy, why not see how the businesses around you are already doing it? There’s no harm in taking some creative inspiration from others. 

By doing a competitor analysis on YouTube, you may also discover a few areas that aren’t being covered. Finding a gap in the market like this is an excellent way to give your content a boost and fill a need. 

A great way to see what your competitors are doing and what’s popular on YouTube is to use the search bar. Google owns YouTube, so its search engine works much in the same way. Simply start typing an idea for a video and let YouTube’s suggestions lead you in the right direction. 

2. Write a script

From time to time, we love winging it as much as the next guy. But when it comes to posting a video on YouTube, you want to come across as a professional and like someone who knows what they’re doing and talking about.  

Sitting down and writing a script is an invaluable skill to have as a content creator. The scripting process will help you trim the fat from your content well before getting to the actual editing stage. 

3. Invest in lighting and audio first 

One of the most common misconceptions people believe when producing video content for YouTube is the need for an expensive camera. While a nice camera and some expensive lenses will undoubtedly improve things down the road, investing in your lighting and audio is where you should focus your money first. 

Nowadays, it’s easier than ever to film content using your smartphone, especially if that content is you speaking directly to a camera on a tripod. While you want the quality of your video to be of a high standard, people are more willing to forgive less-than-perfect video. Investing in a basic lighting set up is an easy way to elevate your video from a visual standpoint. 

However, the one thing that people won’t be able to look past is poor audio quality. Have you ever tried to watch a video with terrible sound? We’re willing to bet you didn’t last too long, right? 

If you’re going to spend any of your hard-earn money on some new production gear, we recommend investing in a few decent microphones and some lights. 

4. Optimise your thumbnails 

Like it or not, YouTube is all about following trends, and one of the most important trends you can follow is how to optimise your video thumbnails properly. 

They may seem like clickbait or even cringe-worthy from time to time, but there’s a reason that the majority of content creators on YouTube all have a similar style of thumbnail: they work. 

Tools like Photoshop and Canva are great resources to elevate your thumbnail game. 

5. Don’t neglect your video description 

While it may seem a bit strange for a video platform, what you write is almost as important as what you upload. 

When you do them the right way, your YouTube video descriptions can help you get more views, give you an SEO boost, and increase your all-important watch time. 

Your video description serves a few purposes on YouTube: it helps you tell viewers what to expect in your video, it helps with SEO, it allows you to include links to other channels, and so much more. 

If you’re someone who uploads longer content, why not try including timestamps in your video descriptions? 

Take a look at the example below: 

At first glance, this might seem excessive for a video description. In most cases, it probably is. However, it illustrates the flexibility and opportunity that the humble description box has to offer. 

Well, there you have it! You’re now ready to venture out into the online world of YouTube. Grab a camera, do your research, write a script, and hit record. 

And if you’re still a little lost, check out our 15 ways to promote your YouTube channel.