You might not know this but YouTube is the second largest search engine in the world after Google. Given that it is also owned by Alphabet, Google’s parent company, that is very impressive. If you’re thinking of starting a YouTube channel in 2019, the stats are definitely in your favor.
With the continued growth and adoption of the internet, it’s safe to say the video hosting giant will keep growing. As a standalone search engine, YouTube is larger than Bing, Yahoo, Ask and AOL combined! As of early 2017 users were uploading more than 400 hours of video every single minute, as well as watching 1 billion hours of video daily!!
These statistics offer a golden opportunity to put your brand out there and grow it.
Why you need a YouTube channel in 2019
There are many benefits to having a YouTube channel, some of which are:
- It’s a good source of extra traffic. You can easily direct viewers to other websites and online content that you own.
- It also provides extra income in the form of ad revenue, sponsored posts, and affiliate marketing.
- Your brand grows better with video because each viewer feels like you’re speaking directly to them. You can also explain points better with video, which will make it easier to convert visitors into buyers.
- You get to engage better with your audience. This happens through the comments section and the suggestions they make. You can easily convert your audience’s ideas into more videos.
These are just some of the most visible advantages of having an active YouTube channel in 2019.
What you need to start a YouTube channel
You can start one for free so long as you have access to a computer and an internet connection. All you need is a Gmail account, which is also free. You’ll need it to log into your YouTube channel.
You also need a good camera for recording videos. Most modern laptops come with decent webcams that you can use to record yourself. At first, you can use these, but it’s advisable to invest in a better camera if you can afford it.
I mostly use a Logitech C170 webcam that I bought around three years ago. It does the job well enough, although there are better versions with full HD capability.
Smartphones also come equipped with powerful cameras, so you don’t necessarily need a separate webcam. I’ve seen a lot of YouTubers uploading content shot entirely from a smartphone.
So with these three items; computer, internet, and camera, you can immediately start your YouTube channel. As you get better at it, you can make other improvements in regards to aspects like lighting, sound, editing, and content
Focusing on content
By now you already know that content is king. You might have a computer with the highest specs, the fastest internet connection, a camera with the highest definition, but if you don’t have good content then your YouTube channel won’t succeed.
One thing you should avoid is starting a YouTube channel in 2019 simply for the sake of it. Starting a copycat channel because it worked for someone else is another disastrous approach. You should ideally start one about a topic you’re passionate about.
Because your channel will play an important role in your overall online strategy, pick a niche that will keep you inspired for the long run. Although there are hundreds or even thousands of channels covering multiple niches, you can still come up with a unique idea.
Sometimes viewers fall in love with you because you explain points better than the thousands of other people covering the same niche.
Remember, no idea is too stupid. If you have an interest in something, no matter how nondescript it looks, chances are other people in the world will love it too.
Other important tools
Starting a YouTube channel is the easy part. The hard part will come in growing it. If you easily give up, you might get so discouraged as to abandon the entire project. This is why you’re encouraged to start a channel about something you’re really passionate about.
That way, it doesn’t feel like a chore but more of a hobby.
Due to the increasing popularity of YouTube, it’s becoming harder with each passing day to grow channels. You might have the highest quality content but still, find your videos going without views. Rather than get discouraged, try to market your channel online.
You can embed your videos on popular websites and forums as a way of jump-starting this growth. If the videos are awesome, other people will share them on other online platforms. Having a viral video also does a good job of earning you more views as well as new subscribers.
To increase viewership, there are some tools you can use to your advantage. They include:
1. Editing tools
YouTube has a basic video editor that is very easy to use. If you start a YouTube channel in 2019 and are still learning the ropes, I advise you to get used to it first. You can trim your video, reduce shaking and include audio from YouTube’s library of royalty free content.
This editor is quite limiting though because it severely limits your editing options. You might find it hard to use if you have several sections of your video that you want to remove or add effects to. For more professional editing, you can use the following:
- Wondershare filmora
- Pinnacle studio
- Techsmith Camtasia
- Cyberlink Power D
irector
I’ve personally tried two and love them because they don’t have a very steep learning curve. They’re perfect for someone who just wants to edit their own YouTube videos. You also get access to helpful video tutorials that make it easier to become a master editor.
As smartphones get more advanced, it’s becoming easier to download and use these editors in form of apps.
If you’re interested in more advanced editing options, you can buy advanced editors like:
- Sony Vegas Pro
- Adobe Premiere Pro CC
- Apple Final Cut
I’d only advice you to buy advanced editors if you’re genuinely interested in polishing your editing skills.
2. Marketing tools
There are already many articles and videos posted on the web on how you can grow your YouTube channel in 2019. A good example is this one from Hootsuite. As you can see, most of these tips are free and easy to implement.
Another article that has an amazing list of awesome marketing tools is this one by Shane Barker.
If you’re looking for more advanced ways to grow viewership and subscribers, you should watch this video by Backlinko’s
3. Other useful tools
If you really want to polish your YouTube channel, there are many tools out there you can utilize. Most are premium but do a good job of increasing the quality of your videos. I will keep updating the list as I come across new ones, but for now, these are the ones I can recommend:
- Snappa and Canva
- Laughing bird’s social media graphics package
- Doodly
- YouTube
Creators ‘ Academy - TubeBuddy
Taking inspiration from successful YouTubers
As good as software might be, sometimes you only need inspiration from fellow YouTubers. It’s therefore a good idea to follow some that you admire so you can get pointers on what makes them tick.
With time, you can go further and seek video collaborations with them as a way of boosting your own channel. Just don’t make it look like you’re using them for views. You must be a real fan and interact with them genuinely before asking for collaborations.
Final thoughts
If you’re serious about growing your brand and making money online, you’d be crazy not to have a YouTube channel. Other than being free
As an added bonus, it exposes you to various ways of networking with fans from all over the world while earning dollars.
So what are you waiting for? If you’ve been thinking of starting a YouTube channel in 2019, make like the Nike slogan and Just Do It!!