It's not easy to get started on YouTube. You can need more than nebulous pieces of advice and inspiring stories to get started with something. You'll need a strategy. That's why I'm making this series for you, showing you how to get started on YouTube with no subscribers or views.
We've built this step-by-step guide to help YOU launch your channel and/or expand the one you already have based on our experience working with hundreds of clients, our deep knowledge of the YouTube social media industry, and our personal branding and business experience.
THESE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT BEGINNING ON YOUTUBE:
1.) The three most critical factors to consider before launching a channel.
2.) A step-by-step guide to locating and identifying your niche.
3.) What a UNIQUE SELLING POINT is and how it will help you succeed on YouTube.
STEP 1: DETERMINING YOUR Intent
Your WHY is the reason you've decided to start a YouTube channel. The importance of your channel to your audience will be determined by your WHY. What is the reason for your videos and content?
STEP 2: FIND OUT WHAT YOUR NICHE IS.
This is the point at which people get trapped. When you go to YouTube, you'll find thousands of beauty and fashion-related channels. Today's rivalry is FIERCE. I don't say this to discourage you; rather, it's to encourage you to focus on the niche you want to pursue.
DO YOU Really Need A NICHE?
Let's say someone looked up "how to take care of dry skin" in the search bar. They ended up watching two videos on the subject, one from Ellen and the other from Michelle. They start by watching Ellen's video. It was a nice video with useful information.
That person decided to take a look at Ellen's other videos and her YouTube channel as a whole. Hmm, she speaks about her dog, there are a few makeup tutorials, and one about how she lost weight, hmm. She seems to be nice, but I'm not sure I need all of that; it doesn't seem to be serving my needs right now. I'll move on; that one video provided everything I needed.
They then proceed to watch Michelle's video. It was a fine, quality video with relevant details, just like Ellen's. They see Michelle's video and say to themselves, "Hmmm, this girl knows a lot about skin." Allow me to take a look around. I like the look of her channel; yeah, she talks a lot about skin care, which is super helpful; there's a lot of useful information there! I'll subscribe. You don't just need views, you need to build an audience and conversions.
If you make videos on a variety of subjects, you run the risk of not having enough people interested in all of them. People can watch your video to learn about specific topics; do you want them to watch it because they like your whole channel or only that one video?
PUT EFFORT INTO CONTENT THAT PEOPLE WANT TO SEE
Concentrate your efforts. Every content creator should be solving a problem at its root. People come to you for a reason. What problem are you trying to solve for them? Make a name for yourself as a thought leader and the go-to resource in your field. Create content that your target audience enjoys, and it will be easier for the RIGHT people to fall in love with your channel.
It's easier to get those people in if you concentrate on that one particular subject. It becomes simpler to produce reliable and usable content as well. You're not considering the whole beauty and lifestyle industry; instead, you're considering particular topics to film about.
Finally, if you speak about fewer topics, you will reach a lot more people. You should experiment with different types of videos after you've built up an audience and established a reputation, and your audience would most likely WANT to see other facets of who you are. However, being more precise about your content from the start is the best way to create an audience.
HOWEVER, WHAT ABOUT...?
What about those YouTubers with a million subscribers but no specific niche? They discuss anything! Consider that many of those YouTubers have been doing this for a long time and have built up a loyal following who wants to see what they have to offer. OR, the YouTuber might have a one-of-a-kind SUPERPOWER (explained later) that sets them apart.
HOW TO FIND YOUR NICHE?
There are two distinct types of niches. There is either a SUBJECT niche or a DEMO niche.
A subject niche is a niche for someone who is interested in a particular topic. Someone might, for example, create a channel dedicated to clear skin. The channel is for anyone who is interested in clear skin, whether they are men or women, of any race or skin form. A subject niche could be about working as a makeup artist, for example. You produce content that has to do with working as a makeup artist. All of the videos will be on that one subject and for people who are interested in that topic.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HAVE A DEMOGRAPHIC NICHE?
For a demographic niche, you have a particular user in mind, an avatar, who would be interested in learning more about various subjects and how they relate to them. What exactly is an avatar? You make a figure that represents a particular individual. So, maybe your “avatar” is a woman in college with curly hair who is on a budget.
You can personalise your avatar even further by giving him or her a name, a birthplace, and a backstory. The more descriptive you can be, the better. You make things with that person in mind every time you make something. Will this video/post be useful and important to my avatar? This keeps you on track with your niche and allows you to build content that your avatar can enjoy.
WHERE DO YOU GO TO FIND YOUR NICHE?
There are three distinct parts to the puzzle. To begin, think about what you're passionate about. What do you like to watch, read, or listen to? Second, what abilities do you possess? What do you excel at in your life? What kind of skills do you possess? Third, what are people's needs and wants?
Combine the three elements: your passion, your abilities, and what people need. Consider your life so far. Consider your hobbies, schooling, and job experience to see what you've gravitated toward. When you think about those things, you'll most likely discover your abilities and passion. Consider your gut feeling.
What topics do you want to make videos about? What do you excel at or have work/personal experience with in your life? Maybe you have a marketing degree or a psychology degree. Alternatively, maybe you spent years working in a department store and have a unique perspective on how the retail industry operates.
You'd be shocked how everyday events can be viewed as a specific talent and knowledge that can be used to build YouTube content. For example, not everyone has worked in a retail store, has a psychology degree, or has run a business before.
Finally, decide whether you want to target a demographic or a subject niche. You can narrow down a subject niche even further and build an avatar for that topic. I would probably advise you to take that route. If your talent is that of an esthetician, and you're starting a channel about clear skin, you should niche down and start a channel about clear skin for teenagers. It doesn't mean that every video has to be tailored to certain individuals, but it will aid you in reaching out to a larger audience within that niche.
Be careful not to create a lifestyle channel that is too big for your demographic niche; you need to focus in on your avatar and get precise. A demographic niche is also beneficial, but it can be too wide at times. The more focused your goal is, the better.
Keep in mind that you do not know what your niche is right away. It's fine to begin without understanding. Read it and think about it, but the most important thing is that you get started on YouTube. After a few months, you may find yourself gravitating towards something.
You may also have a better idea of which aspect of the method appeals to you. THAT'S OKAY. Take your time, but set a target for yourself to figure out your niche in the first six months.
STEP 3: WHAT KIND OF UNIQUE SELLING POINT DO YOU HAVE?
The last piece of the puzzle is your UNIQUE SELLING POINT. As previously said, UNIQUE SELLING POINT should not be confused with talent. Your ability is something you've acquired or gained from practise. Your USP is a natural talent that you were born with.
This UNIQUE SELLING POINT may have been honed and refined through your work experience and/or schooling, but it was a naturally occurring and inherent curiosity and predisposition you already possessed. YOU WILL HAVE AT LEAST ONE
Consider the following question: What am I really skilled at? What is it about the process of creating content that I really enjoy (assuming you've already started a channel)? Even, what am I not fond of? Do you like giving lessons in front of the camera? What about the brainstorming process for new video ideas?
Why don't you try editing? Perhaps you enjoy the musical aspect of videos? What about the technological side of things? Consider which aspect of the process excites you the most.
Consider the part of the process that is the easiest for you, that takes the least amount of time but still produces excellent results.
You should also consider which aspects of the process you dislike. After you've asked yourself those questions, you'll most likely discover your UNIQUE SELLING POINT. Alternatively, if you haven't started a platform yet, look at aspects of your own life and see what you think you would want.
SO, NOW THAT YOU KNOW YOUR UNIQUE SELLING POINT, WHAT DO YOU DO About IT? WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?
You can build your content with your USP in mind once you've determined it. You can also concentrate on the forum that allows you to demonstrate your USP the most easily. Create videos that showcase your editing skills if you are a fantastic editor who enjoys that part of the process.
Perhaps your specialty is makeup reviews from the viewpoint of a Sephora employee, and you're a fantastic editor who dislikes speaking in front of the camera. You may create reviews that highlight the products and provide a voiceover, all while creating a visually appealing review that highlights the products and packaging.
Or maybe you're a single mom who is very creative and has a graphic design background who wants to highlight her life as a single mom with her baby in a beautiful artistic way but doesn't have the time to create videos or learn how to edit.
You determine that Instagram is the best platform for you and concentrate on it with a website/blog instead of a YouTube channel when deciding your USP. Finding your USP will help you figure out which platform to concentrate on and which aspects of that platform to really accept.
ADDING IT ALL TOGETHER - LET'S MAKE A CHANNEL!
So, now you have your three components.
Why
Niche
USP
Make a list of those three and build content around them. Every piece of content you create should represent your why, be tailored to your target audience, and highlight your USP. Build a content strategy based on your niche and USP once you've determined your why.
It's also a good idea to say it out loud in your videos. Your audience should understand why you're doing what you're doing and what your niche is. The USP does not need to be announced or vocalised; the viewer will notice it when watching your videos or scrolling through your feed.
STEP 1: Figure out why you're doing it.
Why do you want to start a YouTube channel, an Instagram account, a blog, or something similar?
STEP 2: Identify Your Niche
Can you focus on a specific subject or a specific demographic? Develop a detailed avatar for both a population and a subject niche.
STEP 3: Find out what your USP is.
What is one aspect of the creative process that you truly adore and excel at?
Each piece of content you create should incorporate all three elements. All else will fall into place once you've mastered this. It's easy to overlook this step and simply move on with your channel. Those who take the time to consider why they want to start a channel and develop a strategy focused on a why, niche, and USP will see results!
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