Whether you’re an entrepreneur, blogger, or someone looking to express themselves through video content, starting a YouTube channel can be an exciting adventure. However, the process of setting up a YouTube channel can be daunting for beginners.

This guide will put you through the various steps involved in creating a YouTube channel, from setting up your account to optimizing your content for maximum engagement.

What is a YouTube channel?

Just the way we have many social media platforms, YouTube is one on the list.

A YouTube channel is simply a registered account with YouTube. It gives you access to upload videos, comments, and suggestions, engage other users across several countries, and make playlists.

Without a YouTube channel, you remain insignificant on YouTube. Signing in gives you a public presence and avails you more access to the App's benefits.

Interestingly, you can own more than a channel. Just the way you can sign in on other social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn, it is completely free to use.

Importance of creating a YouTube channel

Establishing your brand: Creating a YouTube channel can help you establish your personal or brand's online presence, allowing you to reach a larger audience and build a following. You can use your channel to share your story, showcase your products or services, and connect with your fans and customers.

Increased visibility: YouTube is the second largest search engine in the world, after Google. Having a presence on the platform can greatly increase the visibility of your brand or personal brand, making it easier for potential customers to find you.

Building trust: Sharing high-quality and informative content on your YouTube channel can help you build trust with your audience. People are more likely to trust and engage with a brand or person that provides valuable content and information.

Boosting your SEO: By creating engaging and relevant videos and optimizing your channel, you can boost your website's SEO and drive more traffic to your site. This can lead to increased visibility and more conversions for your business.

Creating a community: YouTube allows you to engage with your audience and create a community around your brand or personal brand. You can respond to comments, ask for feedback, and create a sense of community among your fans and followers.

Sharing your expertise: If you have expertise in a certain area, creating a YouTube channel can be a great way to share your knowledge and reach a wider audience. You can create educational videos, tutorials, and other content that showcases your expertise and helps others learn.

Generating passive income: YouTube allows you to monetize your channel through advertising, sponsorships, and other means. This can be a great way to generate passive income and support your brand or personal brand.

Improving customer engagement: By creating engaging and relevant videos and responding to comments, you can improve your customer engagement and build stronger relationships with your fans and customers.

Offering behind-the-scenes access: YouTube is a great platform to give your fans and customers a behind-the-scenes look at your brand or personal life. You can create videos that showcase your team, office, or daily life, giving your audience a more personal connection with your brand.

Staying ahead of the competition: By creating and sharing content on YouTube, you can stay ahead of your competition and stay on the cutting edge of your industry. You can showcase your products, services, and expertise, and establish yourself as an industry leader.

Reaching a global audience: YouTube has a global audience, allowing you to reach people from all over the world.

This can be especially useful if you have a product or service that is relevant to a global audience. Also, YouTube provides analytics and insights that allow you to track your channel's success and see what's working and what's not. You can use this information to improve your content, reach more people, and grow your channel.

II. Identifying your niche

When starting a YouTube channel, the first step in niche discovery is identifying your niche. To do this, you need to ask yourself some fundamental questions, such as:

- What am I interested in?

- What do I know a lot about?

- What do people come to me for advice on?

- What are my passions?

Once you have answered these questions, you can start narrowing down your niche. The more specific your niche, the easier it will be to target your audience.

You don't have to be an expert in your chosen niche, but you do need to be passionate and knowledgeable about the topic. Look at your hobbies, skills, and interests to find a niche that fits you. Additionally, think about what type of content you want to create, whether it be educational, entertaining, or informative. Narrowing down your focus to a specific niche will help you stand out and attract an audience that resonates with your content.

Choosing a topic

Once you've identified your niche, it's time to choose a topic. Brainstorm content ideas that align with your niche and think about what type of videos will engage your audience. Research popular topics within your niche and create a list of potential video ideas. Before creating content, ask yourself if the topic is relevant, interesting, and unique. You want to create content that stands out from the competition and adds value to your audience.

Identifying your target audience

Next, identify your target audience. Understanding your audience's age, gender, location, interests, and behaviors will help you create content that resonates with them. Use tools like YouTube Analytics to analyze your audience and gain insights into their preferences. Additionally, look at your competitors' channels and their audience demographics to find gaps in the market. Creating content that fills a gap in the market will help you stand out and attract a loyal following.

Researching your niche

After identifying your niche and target audience, it's time to research your niche. Familiarize yourself with the latest trends, news, and developments within your niche. Join online communities and engage with other content creators within your niche. Additionally, consume content from your competitors to see what works and what doesn't. Conducting ongoing research will help you stay up-to-date and relevant in your niche.

Identifying the competition

As a YouTuber, it's important to know who your competition is, what they're doing, and how they're performing on the platform. Here are some tips and tricks for identifying your competition on YouTube and staying ahead of the game.

Use keyword research to identify your competitors

Keyword research is an essential part of any YouTube strategy. It helps you understand what your audience is searching for and how you can optimize your channel to attract them. It also allows you to identify your competitors. Use tools like Google Keyword Planner or TubeBuddy to find keywords related to your niche. Then, search them on Youtube to see who is ranking on the first page. These channels are your competitors. Analyze their content, engagement rate, view count, and audience demographics to see how they're performing on the platform.

Use YouTube analytics to monitor your top competitors

YouTube Analytics is a powerful tool that allows you to track your channel's performance and monitor your competitors. Go to the "Traffic Sources" section of your Analytics to see where your traffic is coming from. If you're getting a significant amount of traffic from other channels, take a closer look at them. Click "View More" to see the top channels sending you traffic. These channels are your top competitors. Analyze their content, engagement rate, view count, and audience demographics to see how they're performing on the platform.

Use social media to discover your competitors

Social media is a great place to discover new YouTube channels and influencers in your niche. Search for relevant hashtags or keywords on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn to find people talking about your industry. Follow them, engage with their content, and check out their YouTube channels. Analyze their content, engagement rate, view count, and audience demographics to see how they're performing on the platform.

Use TubeBuddy to compare your channel to your competitors

TubeBuddy is a powerful YouTube tool that allows you to analyze your channel's performance and compare it to your competitors. Install TubeBuddy on your browser, go to your YouTube studio, and click on the "TubeBuddy" button. Then, click on "Competitor Scorecard" to analyze your competitors' channels. TubeBuddy will show you their engagement rate, view count, subscriber count, and audience demographics. Compare it to your channel to see where you stand and find opportunities to improve.

Use your competition as inspiration

Your competition isn't always your enemy. They can be your source of inspiration. Analyze their content to see what's working and what's not. Be creative and think outside the box. How can you do better than your competitors? How can you offer more value to your audience? Use your competition as a benchmark to improve your channel.

We'll update this guide each month over the next six months to provide a fully comprehensive guide to starting your own YouTube channel, so do check back regularly for more help and tips as we publish them.

^ Back to top

Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.

Already a member? Sign in here