How to Start a YouTube Channel – Everything You Need
Have a unique idea for a video, but not sure how to start a YouTube channel? What every beginner needs to know, and the tools to invest in.
So, you want to be a YouTuber. You have a story to tell. Or, maybe a hack to share or a recipe to demonstrate. Maybe you just want to share your thoughts, expertise, and/or lifestyle with the world.
But, you might not have any idea how to start a YouTube channel. Well, whatever your goal, you have our support. After all, we have a YouTube channel, too.
YouTube is a fantastic tool for connecting with others, building a community, and maybe even making a little money. But, what’s the best way to start your content creation adventure? Don’t worry, we’ve got you. Welcome to “How to Start a YouTube Channel 101.”
Basically, you need gear. You need graphic and motion assets. You need quality music. But first, and most importantly, you need a point of view.
First Things First: Establish Your Point of View
Female YouTuber shooting a cosmetic video from her phone on her couch
Start by sharing your passion. Image by paulaphoto.
So, what’s your point of view? What’s the purpose of your YouTube channel? Are you passionate about this purpose? Because passion’s going to help.
Passion comes through to potential subscribers. Even better, a passionate point of view is going to keep you engaged when your YouTube channel is no longer new. So, make sure your topic—whether it’s travel videos, filmmaking video essays, gear hauls, you name it—matters to you.
Whatever you decide your Big Idea is, work to keep it your singular focus. Support that focus with consistent title graphics and music cues.
You’re building a brand here. With so much noise in the world, a clearly presented brand vision can only help keep viewers interested in your offering. Define your point of view as definitive and tell your story like only you can—your subscribers will follow.
Gearing Up for Your New YouTube Channel
YouTube channel gear on a wooden table
Make a list of what you think you need, as well as what you already have. Image by Sutipond Somnam.
Fact: You don’t have to spend a lot of money to start a YouTube channel. As you’ll see below, it’s possible that you may not have to spend any money.
You definitely need gear and creative assets for sure, but you don’t need to rush out and buy a professional studio’s worth of brand-new gadgets.
Simply identifying your needs on a video-by-video basis is a reasonable way to get through your first few uploads, and it’s an approach that promotes smart spending.
So, let’s take a look at some gear options—some of them free, some of them almost-free, some that are a little more “wish-listy,” and some you might already own.
1. Camera
You’ve got some options here. First of all, you likely have a high-powered camera in your pocket right now, and there are plenty of tips and tutorials out there to help you capture solid footage with your smartphone.
If you want to get a little fancier, it’s never been easier and more affordable to start shooting 4K footage with the array of quality cameras on the market.
When you’re picking your camera, just remember to keep versatility top of mind, and understand that your camera is only a means to get your story to the people. So, brush up on some cinematography tips, take a look at the cameras the pros prefer, and shoot away.
If you do have additional budget available, and want to capture better quality video, let’s have a look at some recommended cameras on the market today.
Sony ZV-1 ($749-$849): Vlogging
This camera has excellent autofocus, a hot shoe mount and input for external mics, plus video stabilization. An ideal choice if you plan on creating a vlogging channel. As it’s compact, you can easily keep the camera in your pocket, and vlog when needed.
Screenshot of Sony’s ZV-1 Camera and GP-VPT2BT Wireless Shooting Grip on a white background
The Sony ZV-1 camera and GP-VPT2BT Wireless Shooting Grip. Image via Sony.
Some retailers also bundle the GP-VPT2BT Wireless Shooting Grip with the camera. This grip allows you to flawlessly record yourself without having to awkwardly hold the camera.
Additionally, the grip has several function buttons, so you don’t have to bring the camera back to adjust the settings.
Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III ($749): Live Stream
If you intend on creating a live-streaming channel, perhaps for gaming, you’re going to need a setup that allows your camera to feed into the computer, but also a setup that broadcasts your camera footage at high quality.
Screenshot of Canon’s Powershot G7 X Mark III on a white background
The Canon Powershot G7 X Mark III. Image via Canon.
That can be costly as you need a video capture card to do so, and because of the pandemic, many are in short supply with an extended preorder time.
Instead, you can look at the Canon Powershot G7 X Mark III, which allows you to livestream (with no cables) straight to YouTube!
Sony DSC-RX100 VII ($1,299): Everyday Tutorials
If you’re looking to create everyday content, perhaps tutorials about surfing, or maybe just documenting the local surf scene, the Sony RX100 Mk VII is a solid choice.
Screenshot of Sony’s RX100 Mk VII on a white background
The Sony RX100 Mk VII. Image via Sony.
With its articulating screen that faces forward and down, a wide 24mm lens that can extend to 200mm, and a lengthy record in 4K (whereas most cameras at this price range shut off after ten to fifteen minutes), it makes it the perfect shooting camera before you step into the advanced mirrorless market.
2. Lights
No matter what you’re pointing your camera at for your new YouTube channel, lighting matters. A thoughtful approach to lighting can instantly up your production value and help your clips stand out.
If you’ve never experimented with lighting, don’t fret. Even beginners can lock down the lighting basics in no time at all.
Just check out the video below. With a little light reading on color temperature and go-to lighting techniques, you can create professional looks with ease.
Lighting is another area where you don’t have to spend a bunch of money. Sunlight is free, after all. And then, there are the countless almost-free lighting options, like holiday light strands and paper lanterns from your local party supply store. It’s even possible to shoot in near-darkness with only one light.
Additionally, the internet is filled with tutorials for building DIY lighting rigs that’ll only cost you a few bucks and a couple of hours in the garage.
Ultimately, just remember to keep an eye on shadows and space. Search for the lines and borders created by light sources and consider how they impact your scene. Learn how to shape, redirect, and alter your light with diffusers, gels, and flags. Understand that you simply must illuminate the things you want your viewers to see.
With just a little intention and time before you start shooting, you’ll discover how even minor tweaks to your lighting setup can make the footage appear more vibrant and natural-looking. And really, in the beginning, the fact that you’re even thinking about lighting is a step in the right direction.
However, if you did have additional budget available for lighting to give your visuals that extra kick, here are two compact, low-budget lights we recommend.
Elgato Key Light Air – $200
This is an industrial-grade LED that can cycle through a color temperature range of 2900-7000. And, to boot, the light connects wirelessly to your PC, Mac, Android device, or iPhone. These lights are especially useful for those creating video game content on YouTube.
Aputure MC RGBWW LED Light – $90
On the box, it states,
The Aputure MC RGBWW LED Light is part of the Aputure M-series of lights, and features RGB LEDs, as well as both tungsten and daylight-balanced LEDs, creating a full hue of controllable LED that emits up to 95% of the BT 2020 color gamut.
Aputure
So, what does that mean? Essentially, you can change the light to appear as near enough to every color possible. This is perfect if your channel has a specific theme.
In most cases, you’d require more than one of the recommended lights, but just one light is a step up from none.
3. Audio
Perhaps one of the more overlooked elements when starting YouTube is audio. In the world of filmmaking, audio can often be more important than visuals. After all, the audience can subconsciously forgive a visual intrusion, such as a crew member in a shot or a break in continuity.
However, poor audio is immediately noticeable. And, the same can be said for YouTube. Someone presenting in a room with an echo makes for a poor viewing experience.
You may be tempted to just use the microphone built into your camera. After all, it’s there for a reason, right? However, they’re often omnidirectional, meaning they pick up audio from all areas of your room or location. Not ideal if your cat is scratching his stomach while you’re making a video.
Therefore, it’s recommended to also purchase a microphone to place on top of your camera. Now, we don’t need to give you a list of microphones to choose from—although we do have some ideas. However, for nearly ten years, there’s has been one consistent brand that has supplied inexpensive microphones for content creators: RØDE.
Blurred Youtuber in the background – RØDE VideoMicro in the foreground
The RØDE VideoMicro in action. Image by fizkes.
Their main content creator mic, the RØDE VideoMic, has several variations to fit your need.
RØDE VideoMicro Ultracompact ($59): For smaller cameras
RØDE VideoMic GO ($99): For cameras and portable recorders
RØDE VideoMic Pro Camera Mount ($229): The all-star original
RØDE VideoMic NTG Hybrid ($249): Premium quality
4. Studio and Location Gear
Camera and lighting: Check! The rest of your gear needs really depend on your topic and your goal for your channel. Our friends at PremiumBeat agree in their thoughtful look at how to prioritize your gear investments. The first step they mention? “Define your ideal projects.”
Shooting product reviews in a studio will require a different setup than capturing travel footage in the desert. Fortunately, it’s easy to find gear roundups that focus on numerous specific situations that YouTubers, videographers, and filmmakers often encounter.
Of course, there’s some equipment that can be considered standard, “nuts and bolts” type of gear that’s useful and handy no matter your goal. If you feel the need to spend money at the start of your YouTube journey, spend it on these items. They’ll help you stay agile and ready to shoot as your new YouTube channel gains traction and subscribers.
Take the humble C-stand, for instance. It’s a simple, affordable device made of metal rods, arms, and fasteners that can rig lights, hold up diffusers, or even support a boom pole.
Other gear to put on your wish list: basic audio gear that ensures easy-to-understand dialogue. A nice stash of memory cards. A drone or two, and an assortment of lenses. And, don’t forget to stock up on the YouTuber’s most valuable tool—gaff tape.
5. Editing Software
It’s time to pick a non-linear editing system, or NLE. If you’re new to videography: NLE = editing software.
Your edit is where the magic happens. It’s where your story comes together. A solid grasp of editing techniques is a definite “level up” for anyone interested in living the YouTube life, so watch every video tutorial you can find.
Again, you’ve got options here. Shooting on your phone? Edit on your phone. Want a more robust editing experience? Master your chops in a tried-and-true standby like Adobe Premiere Pro, or dig into one of the many free and almost-free NLE alternatives.
Hot tip: Check out DaVinci Resolve from Blackmagic. Pretty much anything is possible with Resolve: editing, color grading, compositing, animation—it even has a “boring detector” that can help you keep your cut energetic and moving forward. Another strong selling point—it’s not for sale. DaVinci Resolve is totally free.
No matter where you land, take the time to experiment with your NLE. Get used to the interface, learn shortcuts, and keep practicing until using the software is second nature. Learn how to make sure the story that’s unfolding in the editing process is actually the story you want to tell. Remember, editing is where your story takes shape.
6. Music
The value of music for YouTube projects can’t be overstated. Excellent visual storytelling depends on sound. When employed thoughtfully, music completes the narrative experience you’re sharing, of which footage is only half.
Visionary director David Lynch explains it best, “The sound, picture, and ideas have to marry. If an idea carries with it a mood, sound is critical to making that mood.”
What do the musings of a surrealist filmmaker have to do with your new YouTube channel? Everything. Specifically the part about “making that mood,” which is just a Lynchian way of saying, “Build a soundtrack that supports what’s unfolding onscreen, and create moment-by-moment moods that hook potential subscribers.” Sort of.
When it’s time to build your YouTube channel’s soundtrack, Shutterstock’s got your back with our new annual music subscription that gives you the freedom to download as many tracks as you need, whenever you need them, for one low yearly price.
Unlimited song downloads make it a breeze for YouTubers like you to keep music beds and background tracks fresh across numerous episodes and uploads.
The moment you subscribe, you get instant download access to thousands of songs, all of them covered by our popular Standard license that’s perfect for YouTubers. You’ll never have to worry about your content getting flagged—all of Shutterstock’s music is 100% safe for YouTube.
Remember, it’s tough to build an audience if people can’t find your videos, and using the latest Billie Eilish hit is a fantastic way to guarantee that your video gets yanked for copyright infringement the moment you upload it. Royalty-free music to the rescue!
7. Extra Footage
Even the greatest YouTube cinematographers need a shoulder to lean on sometimes. Many times, that shoulder is stock footage.
It’s quite the undertaking to shoot and edit an entire video, much less to do it monthly or weekly, as many YouTubers try to do. Luckily, stock footage is a seamless and on-demand way to fill the gaps in your video. Find establishing shots and transition shots, location shots and people shots, and all those in-between clips that get your story told.
Our five clips/month video subscription was made with YouTube creators in mind. We know that you need stock here and there to tie together an edit, but you don’t necessarily have the budget or need for a high-volume plan. With this smaller subscription, you get the assets you need without the risk of over commitment.
Pay annually, or go month to month with no contract.
7. Downloadable Assets
The section heading says “downloadable assets,” but “icing on the cake” would have worked just as well. Your cake is the footage, music, and edit. Downloadable assets—like light leaks, film grains, blockbuster LUTS, text tools, sound effects, and more—are the delicious frosting that pushes your cake over the top. (Fun fact: every asset linked in the previous sentence is totally free! In fact, here—have a few hundred more freebies from our buds at PremiumBeat.)
Motion graphics assets are commonly associated with After Effects, but don’t believe the hype. Whether they’re free assets or paid video elements, most of them are easy to simply drag and drop into the NLE of your choice. (Of course, if you want to learn how After Effects can help your YouTube channel, that information is easy to find.)
Time Needed
The way YouTube values its content creators can be confusing at the best of times. Many assume that a viral video that garners millions of views will put the creator in YouTube’s spotlight. And, while obtaining an obscene number of views is a perfect boost to your channel, engagement—more specifically, watch time—is what YouTube values.
Outside of creating awesome content, how do you keep your engagement high and the channel growing? Well, by regularly uploading content.
Recently, YouTube introduced a new feature where you can see your subscribers grow over time. In 2017, I decided to step away from my personal YouTube for a while to focus on growing other ventures. Whether or not that was for the greater good, it’s clearly reflected within the growth of my channel.
So, what do you need to do to keep your channel going?
First and foremost, a publishing schedule. Look to set out a schedule for when you think you can publish a video and, most importantly, keep to it. Try not to be too rigorous at the start of your YouTube journey, and perhaps give yourself some leeway instead of sticking to an individual day.
But, if you think you can publish four videos per month, look to release them the same day each week. This consistency will give your audience a familiar time of the week to expect your videos.
However, videos don’t appear out of thin air, so you also need to set aside time to create the video. Let’s look at one of our tutorials to see how many days it took to produce.