YouTube has always been about building your own personal brand. Now, with more than 1 billion users across the globe, it's time to learn everything there is to know about starting a YouTube channel.
In this article we discuss all of these questions and much more. We'll also give you some tips on what content creators need to consider when making their first video or uploading their latest uploads. You don't have to become a millionaire overnight but if done right, it will pay off big-time!
Here's our guide on how to start a YouTube channel in 2021...
The biggest change that happened since 2019 was Google’s announcement regarding monetization of original content on its platform. In July 2020, Google announced that they would no longer accept advertising from channels who were primarily focused on "creating" rather than sharing other people’s content. The reason behind this decision was that many high quality channels weren't able to make enough money just through adverts. As such, the company decided to implement stricter policies around which types of content could be uploaded and shared on platforms like YouTube.
Google defines “primary revenue model” as any content or service where the primary objective is not necessarily to provide value to viewers, but instead to generate income. According to them, this includes services like influencer marketing agencies, affiliate programs, sponsored posts, pre-roll ads, etc., and therefore the majority of popular YouTube personalities aren't allowed to share their content on the platform anymore. However, things may still change depending on your country of residence, so it's best to check out the full list yourself.
If you're wondering whether it affects you too, here's the breakdown:
You might wonder why the policy only applies to 2021, while most of us already knew it existed. This is because the implementation phase of the policy started earlier this year — March 26th, 2021. So far, according to Google, 95% of active publishers have signed up to the terms of use. If you haven't yet received an email asking you to confirm your participation in the program, then you probably won't receive further notifications until later (the last day of November). Still, even though it’s difficult to predict exactly how it will affect you now, there are reasons to believe that you can continue to build your career without having to worry about this at least for now.
First of all, most of the top earners on the platform didn't take part in creating their content themselves. They simply helped others create theirs, meaning their main source of income wasn't directly connected to their channels anyway. Secondly, most major brands choose partners for branded entertainment products before releasing them into retail stores. There isn't anything wrong with working with brands as long as they stay within those rules, and the same goes for content creators. Lastly, there are plenty of ways to earn passive royalties and sponsorships without being labeled as a creator whose main goal is to profit off another person’s work.
As mentioned above, the new policy doesn't apply to everybody equally. If your focus is solely on hosting and sharing other people’s content, you shouldn't expect to face issues anytime soon. On the contrary, if you've built up a following based on your unique style, personality, or voice, you could potentially find yourself facing problems sooner than expected. It depends largely on how well established you were prior to the changes.
So here's what I recommend you keep in mind during this transition period:
Don't try to deceive anyone. Yes, you read correctly. While it seems unfair, it doesn't mean you should lie either. Instead, tell your truth and deliver great content in line with your principles. Don't pretend to be someone else unless you really feel comfortable doing so. That said, be careful not to go overboard and disclose information you wouldn't normally want everyone knowing.
Be honest. People deserve honesty. Even if you think something is none of their business (and honestly, sometimes it is), don't hide it just because of potential repercussions. Your fans trust you, and they rely on your expertise and guidance. When you act dishonestly towards them, you destroy their faith in you and encourage them to look elsewhere for answers. Think twice before posting sensitive material online. If you decide against it, at least wait till after the initial shock wears off.
Keep your social media accounts separate. Separate your professional from personal life on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, etc. And never mix two different kinds of followers. Some people tend to forget this simple rule, especially when they see huge engagement numbers coming from both sides. But regardless of how tempting it may seem, avoid getting involved in drama between strangers on social media. Stick to one account per platform, and stick to keeping your interactions personal.
Consider diversifying your portfolio. No matter what happens, you can't stop producing creative projects altogether. Keep creating regular content. Try to branch out. Join forces with friends. Look for other opportunities outside of YouTube. Just remember to remain consistent. You can't afford to lose momentum once you gain traction.
Stay safe and smart. Make sure you follow local laws related to privacy and security. Never post private contact details publicly. Be aware of phishing scams and don't click suspicious links. Use strong passwords and enable 2FA authentication wherever possible. Also, practice good internet hygiene. Stay away from public Wi-Fi networks. Avoid downloading sketchy apps and software.
These are some basic steps you should consider taking whenever you publish content online. Whether you're using TikTok, Twitch, Reddit, or any other place, you should always treat your audiences responsibly. Remember, they trusted you with their opinions, thoughts, emotions, and beliefs. Treat them accordingly.
There are several options available for earning money via YouTube. Here are some of the most common ones:
Advertising: Sponsored Content & Promoted Videos
Many successful YouTubers today earned their living purely thanks to advertisements. These companies spend millions of dollars every month to promote certain products through influencers' videos. For example, if you have a loyal fan base, you could easily reach thousands of prospective buyers with just one advertisement.
However, since advertisers prefer to partner with bigger names, it often requires a lot of serious negotiation and hard work to land a deal. Unless you're willing to compromise, you'll struggle to get accepted by mainstream brands. Fortunately, there are alternative solutions worth exploring. One option is partnering with smaller brands that produce higher returns. Another way is promoting less expensive alternatives to premium products.
Affiliate Marketing
This type of revenue relies mostly on referral traffic. Affiliates market products and services offered by other businesses in exchange for a commission cut. Depending on the product or service, commissions vary widely.
For example, let's say you're selling makeup brushes and cosmetics. To get started, you'd offer free shipping along with bonuses like trial samples and discount codes to attract customers interested in buying your items. Then, you could refer users clicking on relevant buttons inside your description box back to the store website. Every time somebody buys something, you split half of the proceeds 50/50 with whoever sold the item.
Monetizing Offering Free Services
Some bloggers and vloggers actually run their entire careers on delivering valuable advice and helping others solve various problems. Since it takes a considerable amount of effort to write detailed guides and compile helpful lists, some of them turned to offering their knowledge for free.
Think of it this way: Imagine you had tons of experience solving specific problems and giving thoughtful recommendations. Wouldn't you charge for your help? Well, you can set up shop on Patreon and sell access to exclusive tutorials and courses exclusively to subscribers. Or you can join Fiverr and advertise your freelance skills. Sometimes it's easier to start small and gradually increase the price of your offerings over time.
Creating Original Content
It's important to note that if you plan to turn your YouTube channel into a sustainable medium, you have to invest time and energy into crafting engaging content regularly. Otherwise, nobody will come back to watch future videos.
Once you establish a solid presence, you can opt to launch your own crowdfunding campaign and collect donations directly from your audience. Alternatively, you can release eBooks, audiobooks, comics, and similar digital products. All of these require additional investment and planning, however, so it's better to approach them once the foundation is laid down.
Depending on the nature of your channel, you can ask yourself this question differently. A typical vlogger with a daily stream usually keeps each episode under 20 minutes. Vlogging couples typically shoot wedding scenes together and post clips featuring kids and pets occasionally. Other YouTubers feature multiple guests in each video to entertain viewers throughout the show.
On the other hand, hobbyists shooting tutorial series on photography, drawing, cars, DIY, cooking, fashion design, and similar topics could shoot lengthy episodes lasting anywhere from 30 minutes to 3 hours. Longer shows tend to attract more attention and grow larger audiences faster.
While lengthier content generally helps you achieve greater success, shorter videos are perfectly fine, too. After all, there's nothing stopping you from combining elements of both approaches. It's entirely up to you.
If you're looking for ways to earn money online, building up your own successful YouTube channel is one of the best options out there. And if you want to know more about what it takes to get started with this method, we've got all the answers here.
YouTube offers people the chance to make their content public so that anyone around the world (or at least within Google's reach) could watch them. This allows creators to build large audiences from almost anywhere around the globe.
It also means that creating a successful YouTube channel depends heavily upon having a strong brand presence. You need something unique that would attract viewers' attention and keep them interested in what you are doing — and that goes beyond just posting videos every day or two weeks.
The good news is that even though building up a YouTube channel isn't easy, it doesn't take much effort either. If you follow these simple steps, you'll soon be able to start a YouTube channel without any problems. Here they are:
To begin with, go onto YouTube and click "Create" under the big green button in the upper left corner of the screen. Then choose "Start Your Channel."
This opens up a new window where you will see three tabs across the top of the page: Home, Profiles & Lists, and Channels. Under the first tab titled "Home," you should find yourself facing a box labeled Create Account. Clicking on it brings up another pop-up asking you for some personal information like name, email address, birthday, phone number, gender, etc.
Once again, you must provide accurate details if you ever hope to use social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Snapchat, Reddit, Discord, Telegram, Skype, Twitch, PayPal, Apple Pay, and others. These accounts aren't required to log into YouTube, but using them helps us connect our profiles together better.
After completing those fields, you will then receive access to YouTube Premium. It is important to note that although most channels don't require payment, YouTube Premium does add value to your subscription because it lets users subscribe via certain other services. So make sure you pay for it!
Now that you have created a profile, it's time to start adding friends. To do that, head over towards the second tab called "Profiles & Lists". From here, you can search through different categories and select which ones interest you. Once you've done that, check off the boxes next to each category where applicable. Afterward, hit "Next."
You might notice that after clicking Next, you may not actually end up getting redirected back to this part. That's okay. Just type whatever you'd normally enter when signing up for a regular YouTube account. When done, hit "Continue," followed by "Sign Up Now."
That concludes the process of setting up your YouTube account. But before moving forward, let's talk about why you shouldn't expect instant success right away.
When you sign up to become a creator on YouTube, there's no guarantee that you'll immediately gain millions of subscribers. In fact, according to data released by SocialBlade, only 0.3 percent of creators had reached 100K subs during 2020. However, being persistent is key to making your dreams come true.
So now that you have registered your account, it's time to upload your first video. How exactly do you do that? Well, simply open up your newly made YouTube app and tap on Uploads. On the next menu panel, look down the bottom of the screen and you'll find a small blue icon with a plus symbol inside of it. Tap on it once more and you'll see four options appear. Choose Video Manager.
From here, you can upload multiple clips at once, organize them however you wish, trim them, adjust their settings, and/or rename them. Also, remember that you can always edit videos later on. So feel free to experiment until you discover what works for your channel.
As long as you put in enough work and stay consistent, eventually, you'll start seeing results. The hardest part is yet ahead of us... Which leads us to the last point...
In order to officially launch a YouTube channel in early 2022, you must meet several requirements. First, you must live in one of the following countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong SAR, India, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States, Vietnam, and Zambia. Second, you must have been active on YouTube for six months prior to launching your channel. Third, you cannot already have a channel that has received a strike during the previous 12 months. Lastly, you cannot hold an existing monetized license unless you obtained one well beforehand.
All of this boils down to having a decent amount of followers who support you financially. As such, you will probably never rank high among popular creators since many of them have hundreds of thousands of subscribers while yours barely reaches 10K. But don't give up hope just yet. With persistence and dedication, you will surely achieve what you set out to accomplish.
And finally, we conclude with a question: Is it worthwhile starting a YouTube channel in 2022?
Here are five reasons why you should consider opening your own YouTube channel:
1. Earn income passively through ads and subscriptions.
2. Gain exposure for your business.
3. Build credibility and trustworthiness.
4. Be seen as an expert in your field.
5. Get paid for promoting products and services.
Also, becoming a full-time creator gives you the freedom to focus solely on your passion while letting YouTube handle everything else. Plus, you wouldn't necessarily be competing against other established influencers anyway. Instead, you'd be joining forces with them in terms of reaching potential customers worldwide.
Lastly, think about the future. What makes YouTube great is its ability to bring communities closer together. By providing quality entertainment alongside educational material, you help people learn things about themselves and improve their lives overall.
With the above points taken into consideration, the answer is yes. Creating a YouTube channel is definitely worth your time and energy. Having said that, it won't happen overnight. Building a solid foundation requires patience and perseverance, and it may take years before you turn your dream into reality. While it's certainly possible, it's unlikely that someone with zero experience could grow his or her channel into something huge in only a year or two.
YouTube is the world's largest streaming platform with over 2 billion users, making it one of the most popular platforms ever created. However, only a small percentage of people know that they could make money through their content on this platform. In fact, there are hundreds of thousands of channels with millions of subscribers who have made millions from their videos. If you're wondering if your kids can become YouTubers, here's everything you need to know about building a successful kids' YouTube channel in 2021.
While we've seen many adults upload videos to YouTube and earn views and ad revenue from them, children under 13 years of age were not allowed to post any video until 2018. This means that before then, parents had to use other methods to market and advertise their child's brand or business. Now, however, all young creators can build channels and monetize their content as long as they meet certain guidelines set forth by YouTube.
The first thing you'll want to consider when creating a kid-friendly YouTube channel is its name. If you plan on uploading regular updates throughout 2021, you should think carefully about what will resonate best with your target audience. It may sound silly but bear in mind that these names don't just work because "kids" like them---they also must appeal to you personally. For instance, my daughter recently started her own channel called "Ella & Mommy". The name speaks directly to our relationship with each other while still being relatable enough to attract viewers between the ages of 8 and 12.
Another important element to keep in mind when naming your channel is to pay attention to keywords. Think about what type of topics your kids love to talk about regularly (such as sports, animals, etc.) and try incorporating those into your title so that Google will easily find your channel during searches.
Once you decide on a name, you should then proceed to setting up your channel. Once again, this process varies depending on whether you're using a paid subscription service such as Studio71, which offers professional tools to help you grow your subscriber base, increase engagement rates, gain more fans and sell merchandise, or an unpaid option such as simply registering on YouTube.
In either case, once you register, you'll receive an email explaining how to access your dashboard where you can edit your profile information, add descriptions, tags, and playlists, among other things. Then you can begin editing your profile page, adding background music, choosing a header image, and changing personal details such as bio text and website link. From there, you can take some time to learn about the basic features available to new creators. As mentioned earlier, these include managing comments, subscriptions and likes/dislike ratio, along with sending messages to followers and inviting guests onto your channel.
If you'd rather skip the learning curve, we recommend using a free option such as Streamlabs OBS Studio, Loomly Studios, or Tasty Labs to get started. Although these services aren't quite as robust as Studio71, they offer similar functionality without requiring a monthly fee. Another advantage of using a free tool is that you won't need to worry about having someone else handle your payment processing.
After getting comfortable with the basics, it's time to focus on developing yourself as a creator. First, practice recording live streams and voice overs to improve your skills. Second, spend some quality time studying different types of personalities on YouTube to see how others manage their accounts. Third, give it time. Even though you might feel ready now, patience really does count! Building credibility takes time, especially since no one has heard of you yet.
Finally, stay consistent. Whether you choose to record daily vlogs or schedule prerecorded clips, stick to posting at least twice per week. Also, if possible, avoid going back and forth between two projects simultaneously, as this tends to confuse viewers.
Yes! Children aged eight and older can join the ranks of YouTube stars. All you need to do is follow the steps above to successfully start your own channel. Just remember to check out the terms and conditions of YouTube's Creator Academy, which outlines how to run your account properly.
As mentioned previously, if you prefer not to go through the hassle of setting up your own channel, you can always opt to use a free alternative instead. There are several great apps designed specifically for younger audiences. One of the biggest options is Loomly, which allows kids aged eight and up to build profiles and publish original short films, animations, songs, crafts, recipes, art lessons, and much more. Parents can even download episodes after watching them online.
Loomly has been downloaded almost 1 million times and receives tens of thousands of downloads every month. Not bad considering it was launched less than three months ago. Other alternatives worth mentioning include Tasty Lab, a collection of easy-to-use video editors aimed primarily towards kids, and Streamlabs OBS. Both offer similar capabilities to streamline production and share finished products with friends and family.
What if my child doesn't speak English well? Or maybe he isn't interested in talking in front of the camera? What happens next depends largely upon how you structure your initial outreach efforts. Some experts suggest beginning by finding influencers within his circle of influence. Others suggest starting off by asking him questions about himself. Regardless of approach, the goal remains the same: encourage your child to participate. Don't force him to do something against his will unless you truly believe he would benefit from doing so.
Keep in mind that regardless of your child's ability, it's never too late to pursue creative endeavors. Many famous musicians began performing at a later stage in life and went on to produce hit albums. Furthermore, many actors and actresses didn't start acting until adulthood. So don't let talent hold you back. After all, everyone starts somewhere. And if anyone knows anything about film history, it's true that Charlie Chaplin got his start playing comedy roles alongside silent movies.
Absolutely! With recent changes to YouTube's policies regarding minors, ten-year olds now have the opportunity to grow their following worldwide. Since 2017, YouTube has allowed children under the age of 13 to sign up for channels. Additionally, according to YouTube's Community Guidelines, anyone can host channels containing inappropriate material, including mature themes and profanity, provided that the overall context makes sense and complies with the site's rules.
This policy change came about due to increased scrutiny surrounding the issue of bullying, harassment, and hate speech. According to YouTube's Chief Legal Officer Robert Kyncl, "We continue to update our community guidelines based on feedback from creators and our global team." He further explained, "Our updated guidelines reflect core values around respecting individuals and fostering a safe environment for discussion and debate. We’ll continue to evolve our policies as needed — particularly as part of our ongoing conversations with creators around issues related to safety and privacy."
These changes opened doors for many creators whose primary audiences included teens. Take, for example, Mia Grace, 11, who runs a channel called MimiGramma Talk Show and posts videos featuring herself singing, dancing, reading books aloud, and telling jokes. Her father, Matt Grace, helped craft the concept behind the show, which revolves around the ups and downs of parenting.
Mia said she loves sharing her thoughts with both her parent company and fellow viewers, saying "I'm glad that people watch [the show] because it gives me an outlet. Otherwise...it would just sit inside my head." She goes on to say that although she originally intended to stop filming the show after six episodes, she continues to perform because she wants to entertain future viewers.
On the flip side, other creators have taken full advantage of the new opportunities afforded to them. One notable success story includes Jake Paul, 22, who is known for hosting viral challenges involving stunts, pranks, and various embarrassing scenarios. His sister Lauren Paul, 21, has followed suit, producing her own channel geared toward a teen demographic. On top of running her own project, Lauren also manages her brother's social media accounts.
A third group of creators consists of parents who decided to jumpstart a career in entertainment after raising their families. These parents typically have backgrounds in arts and theater, allowing them to develop unique concepts and characters. They often collaborate with established producers and directors to bring their vision to life. A few examples include Olivia Jade, mother of Teen Vogue Editor-in-Chief Michelle Obama, and Dr. Sydnee McElroy, mom to former NFL player Patrick Willis.
Whether they're starring in shows or working solely behind the scenes, many successful YouTubers agree that persistence and consistency reign supreme. Remember to treat your channel like a real job, and don't expect instant results. Over time, you will notice steady growth as long as you remain dedicated. Keep in mind that if you fail, failure is an inevitable aspect of entrepreneurship. But you shouldn't fear rejection, as failure is ultimately necessary for progress. Failure teaches us valuable lessons, helping us refine ideas and hone our craft. Eventually, we will succeed if we persistently strive to reach our goals.
Just follow our battle-tested guidelines and rake in the profits.