Matthew Bellavia’s Youtube logo.
According to a recent article from digtalnativesconetent.com, “Today’s teens are more interested in YouTube stars than the biggest names in television, film, or music.” In our society we put YouTube celebrities on a high pedestal, but rarely take a moment to think how they rose to their prestigious positions of power. Have you ever wanted to create your own YouTube channel? I think you’ll find it much simpler than you might believe!
I uploaded my first Call of Duty commentary over 18 months ago, and since then have gained over 9,000 Subscribers and 600,000 total video views. I may not be the next Pewdiepie or Ryan Higa, but my fan base is always growing and I’ve learned a few tricks that just might help you out. Here’s my step-by-guide for becoming YouTube famous.
- Enjoy what you do. Too many people start a YouTube channel on whatever they think will be their fastest ticket to fame and fortune. The somewhat harsh truth is that very rarely do channels blow up overnight. It takes WAY more time and dedication than I or anyone thinks to be successful. However, you cannot look at YouTube as a chore or a job. If you’re uploading something you love, you’ll always find the time and motivation to keep at it, no matter the views or subscribers you’re currently receiving.
- Be consistent. Think of any TV show, magazine, or even YouTube channel that you follow. When each new addition or video comes out, do you have a general idea of what to expect? For people to subscribe to your channel, they should have an idea of what you’re going to be uploading. This doesn’t mean you’re always locked into playing one game or speaking on one topic, but try to stick to a common overall theme. I personally began my channel off of Call of Duty, but later found I better enjoyed and succeeded in the survival game genre, therefore that is what I typically upload. However, I still upload Call of Duty on occasion, because I find it fun, and that’s OK! Also, try to be as consistent as possible in uploads. Over the summer, I have been uploading everyday at the same time, 11:00 AM PST. The exact time is irrelevant, but you want your viewers to be able to expect when a video will be coming. Maybe you have a very busy schedule and can only upload once a week, no problem! But try to choose a specific day and time of the week and stick to it. Be sure to check out YouTube’s scheduling options, rather than me explaining how it works, why don’t you go checkout my tutorial on it here!
- Engage with your viewers. No matter what kind of videos you make, chances are someone else out there is making similar content. You need to find some way to distinguish yourself! A great way to stand out is by building connections with your viewers. Take the time to respond to comments and listen to your fans! Use YouTube’s card features to make polls and ask your viewers what they want to see. People can enjoy your content, but there is always gonna be even better content somewhere else. However, you personally cannot be found anywhere else, so let your fans subscribe to you!
- Seek out help. One of the coolest things about YouTube is that you have the freedom to do whatever you want, with essentially no guidance. However, many people don’t know where to start. Ironically, almost everything I’ve learned on YouTube has come from other YouTube videos! Let’s say you don’t know how to make a Thumbnail for your video, all you have to do is look it up on YouTube, and there’s countless tutorials to help you! Even if you don’t want to make one yourself, there’s plenty of artists on YouTube who would make one for you in exchange for a shout out if you asked. Seek out collaborations! If you and another similar YouTuber work together, you can both double your fan bases and make a friend! Just be careful and aware of who you are talking to online.
- Don’t get discouraged. No matter how many subscribers you are gaining, or views you are getting, don’t let it stop you from uploading! Everyone hits YouTube “slumps” at some point, but the best way to get out of them is by making more videos. I think of each video as in investment, because they’ll always be receiving views and subscribers long after I upload them, therefore you’ll always keep growing. Just remember, slow and steady always wins the race. It’s better to consistently make two videos a week for a year than two videos a day for a week!
To conclude, I hope you enjoyed reading this guide. I truly think if you follow each of these tips you can reach my level of subscribers or even higher. In case you’re interested, feel free to checkout my channel here, and good luck with your channels!
