How to Get Started and Become a YouTube Vlogger
Have you ever wished you could be a successful YouTuber? We’re going to take a closer look at how to start a vlog channel on YouTube, and we’ll be focusing on:
- The specific skills you need to be a vlogger
- How to figure out your purpose and audience, as well as the importance of consistent content creation
- A basic how-to for starting a YouTube channel of your own
Vlogging, or video blogging, is just one of the many new careers that have emerged as the online world becomes increasingly present in our day-to-day lives. Professional vloggers are earning six and seven figures, enjoying a highly creative career that pays incredibly well.
But if becoming a vlogger was easy, everyone would be doing it. There is a lot of work that goes into every big-time YouTube channel. You need a specific skill set to make the videos themselves, not to mention getting your videos in front of the right people at the right time. When you think about how much effort is required for just a single viral video, you can see why vlogging can be a full-time career.
We’re going to break down what you need to know to start your vlogging channel on YouTube, including key skills and useful tips to use along the way. And if you find yourself feeling excited about the prospect of a job as a vlogger, then you might just want to consider enrolling in a program for social media – but more on that later.
What are the Skills Needed to Be a Successful Vlogger?
You may be surprised at just how many skills are needed to craft engaging, high-quality videos that will capture your audience’s attention. It’s not quite as easy as pressing the record button on your smartphone.
You need a mix of technical, creative, and practical skills for vlogging, including:
- Video production (filming and editing)
- A good on-screen presence
- Clear communication
- Social media
- Marketing optimizations
The process of making a vlog is probably more complicated than you’d expect. From coming up with creative ideas for videos to making sure you’re reaching your ideal viewers, it’s a complex process from start to finish – but it’s also one that’s a lot of fun.
Define Your Channel’s Purpose and Find Your Target Audience
Before you film anything, ask yourself these two questions:
- What kind of channel do I want to have?
- Who am I making videos for?
Once you can articulate answers to these questions, you’ll have a better idea of the purpose of your channel and your target audience. What will you do and say in your videos, and what will it all be about?
For example, someone who wants to have a beauty-centric channel might plan to create high-end product review videos specifically for makeup enthusiasts with a considerable amount of experience with products and techniques. Both the purpose and the audience is clear.
How to Create a YouTube Channel
Don’t launch your first video just yet, because you still have to set up a YouTube channel. Here’s how.
Do your research. You’re going to be a part of the vlogging community, which means that you should understand it. Watch a wide variety of videos produced by the vloggers you enjoy, closely observing their style, interactions with the audience, and other factors.
Get set up with basic vlogging equipment. So, exactly what equipment do you need to start a YouTube channel? Depending on your budget, you can go all-out or keep it simple, but you should plan to purchase a few necessities:
- A good camera (or at least a camera phone with good video quality)
- A computer with relatively good specs and speed
- Video editing software, such as iMovie or Windows Movie Maker
- A microphone
Think about how to make money on YouTube in a way that works for your goals
One of the most common questions about vlogging is, “How many subscribers do you need to get paid on YouTube?” And while there isn’t necessarily an easy answer, building a solid subscriber base is a good way to boost your earning potential.
The easiest way to make money with blogging is with display advertising on your videos. Simply sign up for an account with Google AdSense, and you can qualify to receive income. There are other options for using vlogging to make an income, but this is one of the most straightforward.
Sign up and get set up. With just one click, you can start creating your channel. You’ll need a channel name, plus art for your channel icon and page. Then, you’re ready to start sharing.
Be Consistent with Vlogging
As you gain new subscribers, you have to stay consistent with your uploads. Otherwise, you’re at risk of losing their interest (and their following). Additionally, YouTube rewards consistency by placing channels with the most uploads higher on the search results list.
If you’re wondering, “How many YouTube videos should I post every week?” we don’t have an exact number. Your best bet is to create a content calendar that plans out regular videos to make it as easy as possible.
Interact with Your Audience in the Comment Section
Once you finish a video and post it to your channel, the work is done, right? Wrong.
Creating a sense of community is an ability that only the best vloggers tend to have, and it makes all the difference in growing your number of subscribers. YouTube is designed to be an interactive social media platform where users can engage with each other in various ways. So when a vlogger doesn’t participate, they’re dropping the ball on their end.
When the day comes that you receive a negative comment, remind yourself that once it’s online, it’s forever. That means that if you have an unprofessional interaction in the comments, everybody will see it, and you can never truly completely erase it. So, even though it can be tough, do your best to be professional on social media.
Our social media courses can arm you with the strategies and skills you need to stay on track with your career goals. We’ll teach you how to create interesting, unique videos, as well as how to navigate conversations and feedback on your platform.
Learn How to Become a Vlogger with Social Media Training Now
Even just a handful of years ago, being able to create a career based on sharing videos on YouTube would have sounded far-fetched. But today, there are many YouTube vloggers and online content creators, don’t just do this as their full-time job but also make an incredibly lucrative (and fulfilling) living doing so.
If you can envision yourself captivating an audience, engaging with fans, and challenging yourself creatively daily, getting a job as a vlogger might be right for you. But it’s a competitive industry out there, so you’ll need to be ready to set yourself apart. Video production programs and social media training can help you break into the industry and become a successful vlogger – and you’ll have a professional advantage that not all vloggers do.
Students build and practice the skills needed to start vlogging at the Beonair Network of Media Schools with campuses located in Miami, Chicago, Colorado, and Ohio. Depending on your goals, you might enroll in our broadcasting program to improve your on-camera presentation, or you could decide to learn it all as a student in our Digital Media Production program. Here, you can shape an education that suits your dreams.
Start working towards your goal of becoming a vlogging star when you apply to enroll at one of our schools today!
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