Vlogging has become an internet phenomenon. By starting a YouTube channel and posting videos, a number of social media users are making money right in the comfort of their homes. A vlog is basically a video blog or video log that contains video content. This mainly entails creating a video with purposes of sharing experiences, thoughts, and ideas with an audience. The trend has come with endless opportunities and with the right content and strategy, it has proven to be lucrative. Vloggers earn mainly through sponsorship, advertising and affiliate marketing. However, regardless of the simplicity of this digital venture, vlogging requires effort, it calls for establishing of an outstanding channel to be able to make money off of it. Below are some tips to help you create a successful YouTube channel. Define your niche When you start a vlog, you need to select a niche. A niche, in this case, is the main theme of your vlog. You can choose to make videos about business skills, food recipes or weight loss. This is important because it will help in growing the right audience. By being specific, you are able to create a firm path to success that involves a strategy and a mission supporting the purpose of your vlog. Quality content is key Marie-France Niyonizera, a fashion vlogger, says when you upload mediocre videos people don’t watch them, “Here, I am talking about the quality of your videos. These must be clear because whenever someone opens your video and it is blurry they tend to click on the next one.” She notes that as a beginner, one may not have a camera and all the materials for a professional YouTube video, but you can use your phone if you have one with an HD camera. Also, avoid using the front camera because it has low quality. Plan your content You need to decide on the kind of video content that you want to show. Ensure to create content that people can relate to, this is how you will earn views and subscribers. Florent Ndutiye, a gospel vlogger, emphasises the need to deliver exclusive, attractive and interesting content. “It’s important for one to deliver content that can be found only at their channel, and even when someone else does have it, you can make yours unique by giving it a distinctive touch.” He says that to achieve this, one has to be original and stick to their theme. This is the best way to earn and keep viewers because they know that they can expect interesting material that they can really enjoy. Optimise video titles Another important tip for someone who wants to start a YouTube channel is to put some important keywords in the title of their video, according to Niyonizera. She explains that, when talking about a certain subject, ask yourself what the viewers will search or be looking for, and let that answer be included somewhere in the title. “For example, if you are doing a product review video, make sure you put that product name in the title so that when people search for that product, YouTube suggests your video too. If you run out of ideas, you can always check what other people did,” she suggests. Also, if you want to attract more people to your channel, you can start by doing what is mostly trending in your niche, Niyonizera says, adding that if your channel is about fitness, for example, you can start with home workout videos —these are popular. What’s important to understand is that it’s all about assessing and documenting yourself about everything going on. Be consistent Consistency is key when it comes to establishing a successful YouTube channel, Ndutiye advises. Niyonizera supplements this pointing out that if you want to have a successful channel, you don’t post one video and disappear because when you do, your subscribers will go to another channel and they may forget about you. Make a consistent plan of let’s say starting with one video per week or maybe two, but don’t do too much. The idea here is to make sure you are present and avoid inconsistency, she says. “No matter how imperfect you think your content is, it’s important that you keep getting your videos out there.” Be yourself The most important thing is to be true to yourself, all of these successful YouTubers are prosperous because they are true and real to their subscribers, don’t try to fake your life for views because as long as people notice that you lose credibility, Niyonizera warns. Look for inspiration Even the most consistent vloggers may run out of new ideas but this shouldn’t discourage you. Creating new content takes energy and as you go along, it may be more challenging to come up with fresh innovative ideas that will match the hype of your first videos. This, however, shouldn’t be cause for alarm, the best way to handle this is to look for inspiration that will arouse your creativity. Travel to new places, meet new people or even try out different activities. These new experiences are bound to spark some new ideas for your channel.
