10 Tips from YouTube How to Make Money Online
YouTube, the video-sharing site, has hundreds of thousands of videos offering guidance on how to make money online. Some are more helpful than others, but they all cover some topics that can help you improve your money-making endeavors in some way or another. Use these 10 tips from YouTube to get started making money online right away.
1) Define what kind of channel you want
Before you get started with YouTube, decide what kind of channel you want to have. Do you want it to be a place where people can come and share their life with others? A fun family channel? An educational or informative one? This is important because your goal will be different depending on what type of channel you are setting up. For example, if you’re trying to build an educational channel then you’ll need to make sure that all videos are well researched and supported by reliable sources. On the other hand, if you’re just trying to share your daily life with friends and family then all that matters is how entertaining each video is.
2) Pick an appropriate platform
You may need to spend some time experimenting with different platforms before you find one that feels right. It’s important not just to pick a site where you can sell your videos, but also one that aligns with your personality and skills. For example, while video hosting sites like YouTube are typically well-known for their video communities, they can also be viewed as an opportunity for collaborating with other like-minded vloggers. If you have strong opinions or engaging commentary, or if you have unique artistic abilities, look for websites that support those types of contributions. If you’re looking to monetize through ads and sponsorships, look for sites that let you make money off your own content—sites like Vimeo Pro allow creators to charge a fee in exchange for viewers seeing their content ad-free.
3) You need a camera, not just a computer
Create a video and upload it to YouTube. It doesn’t matter what you film, just that you’re in it. That way, anyone searching for information on your business or industry can see what you look like. If they see an actual person, they are more likely to trust and follow you as opposed to if they only see a logo or brand name. You don’t need fancy equipment—you can even use your phone! Remember to speak clearly, smile often, and make sure you have good lighting. You want viewers to be able to hear you clearly so make sure there is no background noise such as music playing. The quality of your video does not have to be perfect either; just keep it simple.
4) Learn how to record with your computer or phone camera
If you can’t afford a DSLR camera, consider using your smartphone or tablet. There are a few different apps that allow you to film and edit video on mobile devices, such as iMovie for iPhone or Adobe Premiere Clip for Android. Or if you want something more professional looking, check out some of these awesome digital SLR cameras. It’s always good to have options! :) The key is just to get started with recording so you can figure out what works best for you. And don’t forget to add in any other videos/social media channels where people can find you and subscribe!
5) Decide if you want raw footage or edited content
If you’re planning on turning your videos into a money-making venture, you’ll have to decide if you want your videos raw and unedited or pre-edited with your own commentary. If you want raw footage so that you can edit it yourself, opt for one of these sites: Vimeo and Wistia. For edited content that includes your voice, try YouTube and FaceBook. If you don’t mind doing some extra work, then go ahead and post your video to all three. The more places your video is posted, the more likely people will find it.
6) Get advice about branding and social media
You might be surprised at how much you can learn about branding and social media by listening to a podcast or watching a few YouTubers. Because, for all its ills, YouTube is an amazing resource for learning how to build your brand—and there are plenty of channels dedicated specifically to giving startup advice. To find them, look up make money online on YouTube and see what shows up. Don’t just listen—comment too!
7) Find out about paid advertising on Youtube
Advertisers will pay you money to place their ads on your videos. There are a few ways of monetizing your video content through paid advertising, including Google AdSense (which is not available in every country), TrueView In-Stream Video Ads, and YouTube’s Partner Program. Here’s a guide on how to set up each option for maximum profit. It’s also important to remember that when it comes to paid advertising, you don’t have to be an expert or even have good production values. These days, people will watch just about anything—as long as it’s short and entertaining! And if they like what they see, they might just click on an ad or two while watching.
8) Add captions to your videos with YouTube's editing tools
Anyone can make a video on YouTube. All you need is a smartphone or laptop, and there are no expensive production costs like with TV shows. To add captions to your videos, open up any one of your previously uploaded videos and click on Settings at the bottom of your screen. Then, click Subtitles/CC in the left sidebar menu. Select Add subtitles or CC in the upper right corner. From here, you'll be able to select if you want your captions displayed for all users or just for yourself (if you're making a video for personal use). You'll also be able to select if you want them displayed in English only or if you'd like them translated into another language as well.
9) Update your videos regularly
Video is on fire right now, with hundreds of millions of views recorded each day. If you want to take advantage of it, make sure you’re updating your channel regularly. This will keep your viewers engaged and coming back for more—even if they can’t watch all your videos in one sitting. And don’t forget that video is still a very young platform—we’re all learning what works best here, so trial and error is part of doing business here. Just remember that people are watching your content because they like you (or something about you), so be sure to use every video as an opportunity to connect with them further. That could mean answering questions, giving behind-the-scenes footage or even just responding to comments. Just be yourself!
10) Promote yourself on other platforms like Instagram, Twitter and Facebook
You can even post on your own channels, especially if you have a large following. If you don’t have much of an audience yet, start by uploading your videos to sites like Vimeo or Dailymotion and then share them on social media. These platforms are great for building up your brand because they allow you to embed links in your video descriptions that drive traffic back to your website or channel. It will also help increase your views, which is important for building up a following. This is another reason why it’s so important to use high-quality production gear when creating videos—it will make people more likely to watch and share them with their friends!