unknown_user0032
I Love YTtalk
Whilst there are exceptions to every rule, it goes without saying these days that YouTube is one of the most competitive media markets out there. With 24 hours of footage being uploaded every minute, it's all too easy to have your video overlooked.
I'm not an expert, but I have learned many, many things from people who know way better than me and generally from observing channels that have done well for themselves over the past year. Some of this guide also comes from things that have worked well for me.
PROFESSIONALISM - Treat Your YT Persona Like a Business or Public Figure
Be conscious of how you address people in your own comments, as well as on other videos or websites where you use your channel name or link. If you start to get big, a slanderous or outright nasty/immature comment can damage you down the line (or stop you before you start). If you must answer someone negatively, do it respectfully or ignore them altogether.
Being professional also means refraining from spamming other channels; don't PM people begging them to watch your videos, don't advertise your channel in the comments of other videos (unless that person has given you permission). It comes across as desperate and amateur.
Same goes for cheap ploys like 'sub 4 sub' and 'like 4 like', etc. All you will have is a growing number of dead subscribers. You could have 10,000 of these but it won't boost your video rankings and people will be able to tell. (Same goes for video botting, it's remarkably obvious when someone has bought video views that are not legit).
MARKETING - It's Not Just About Promotion!
Marketing goes much further than simply dropping your channel link wherever you can online. You are your brand, and your channel is your biggest advertisement. If you can, set up a channel trailer, or put your most popular/liked video as your trailer on your homepage. Make sure it's short (aim for 60 seconds or less), interesting and to the point.
Make sure you have a banner. Many people think that graphic design on a channel is no longer important now that backgrounds are abolished and everyone has a banner. The fact that this banner is your main eye-catching channel graphic, you really need to make it stand out from the crowd.
Make sure the colours blend, don't make it over complicated, avoid using really awful software like MS Paint where possible, and ensure that your channel name is on the banner. Another important thing to remember is to not let your avatar cover any of the text on the banner.
Thumbnails also play an essential role. This also falls under professionalism. Having that chick in a bikini may well draw in views, but it won't bring the respect or 'fanbase' that you want. Have fun, eye-catching thumbnails that encapsulates the video in a nutshell.
CONTENT - 'Good Quality' is Subjective, 'Good Subject Matter' is Vital
I see a lot of threads knocking about on YTT asking 'what makes a popular video?' or 'what makes a channel successful?' and many of the answers (and I know I've said this myself once or twice) include the phrase 'make good videos'.
But what are good videos? I personally find some of the most popular videos on YT right now to be downright amateur, awful and boring. But evidently someone must like them.
What makes good content is things people want to talk about, whether it's a great video or not isn't always the most important thing. Giovanna Plowman certainly got people talking. Nyan cat got people attempting to sing along. Gangnam Style got people wanting to dance. Topics that people want to share and spread to the masses on your behalf. If a video is truly good enough you won't have to promote your own material much.
My first video blog was only posted here by me, and it received about 50 views from this website. That same video just passed 3,000 views (and gained me most of my subs) in the first three weeks because it got shared independently to two sub-reddits, two other forums, Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr. Why? Because the topic (men's rights) was something that caught people's attention and really made them want to talk about it.
ADVICE - If You Ask For It, Prepare To Get It
This one goes out to all of the people who ever asked for video or channel advice and then found a way to say 'yes, but...' to all the advice they were given. Sure, there are some things we really like and wouldn't want to change, and that's fine! It's your channel! But there are also times we should listen to the people trying to help us.
If they tell you that 480p maximum quality is too low, listen to them.
If they say your mic is bad quality, they're probably not lying.
If more than a few people don't like your graphics, they are likely not very good.
If the consensus is 'your videos need major improvement', people are not being mean, they are being honest.
COPYRIGHT - Fair Use vs Infringement
Oh, what a grey area! There's so much I could blather on about here, but let me keep it brief:
Gaming: Provided the game developer allows their footage on YouTube, and you place commentary over the gameplay, then videogame footage falls under fair use. You will often find brand new games get lamped with content ID matches and/or copyright strikes. If this happens, save yourself the drama and remove the video. You cannot dispute it because apart from the commentary it is not 'your' footage. You cannot upload commentary-free video, montages, trailers or cut scene footage (certain networks permitted).
To monetise gaming videos, you pretty much need to be in a network. Certain games, like Minecraft and League of Legends, can be recorded (with commentary) and monetised via AdSense but you must check the EULA of each individual game to see if you can self-monetise on YT.
Film/TV/Commercial: Unless you have express permission, do not use it. Fair Use on YouTube doesn't do anything, and simply writing 'no infringement intended' does even less. It isn't a legal leg to stand on. If it isn't your footage, keep it off your channel (unless you have permission).
Music: Cover songs are not actually permitted, nor are remixes. Certain networks hold licences for covers, but if you're not in one of those networks then all you can upload are spoofs or original songs. Once again, remixes do not count as 'your' work or fair use. You still need permission from the original copyright holder or a specific licence, which can be purchased.
TIME - Will You Ever Get Big?
Some channels do remarkably well in a short amount of time. PewdiePie started in (I believe) 2010, and he just reached 11 million subscribers. Markiplier started in June 2012 and he is close to hitting 700,000 subscribers. Jenna Marbles started in 2010 and she's just passed 10 million subscribers.
But there are channels that have been going since 2006 that are still under the 100k mark. Some channels have been going for close to a year and have yet to reach 200.
What you have to look at is the following:
1. If my channel is growing slowly, is it likely to grow faster? Am I happy with that?
2. If my channel exploded a bit, will I mind if it slows down to a crawl?
3. Will I be happy if I never make it 'big' on YouTube?
If you constantly worry about being 'famous', wondering why your channel hasn't taken off (and believe me I've seen so many people throw in the towel because they've not made it after a year or two), either change your content or change your frame of mind. Some channels simply won't get big; it's a tough pill to swallow, but it's the truth. You may get big, but you may not. That's YouTube for you.
In simpler terms: If you start a new thread on the forum, and your intention is to ask 'why am I not growing?' or 'When will I get big?' Close the page, and look straight to your content, marketing and professionalism. That's why.
I'm not an expert, but I have learned many, many things from people who know way better than me and generally from observing channels that have done well for themselves over the past year. Some of this guide also comes from things that have worked well for me.
PROFESSIONALISM - Treat Your YT Persona Like a Business or Public Figure
Be conscious of how you address people in your own comments, as well as on other videos or websites where you use your channel name or link. If you start to get big, a slanderous or outright nasty/immature comment can damage you down the line (or stop you before you start). If you must answer someone negatively, do it respectfully or ignore them altogether.
Being professional also means refraining from spamming other channels; don't PM people begging them to watch your videos, don't advertise your channel in the comments of other videos (unless that person has given you permission). It comes across as desperate and amateur.
Same goes for cheap ploys like 'sub 4 sub' and 'like 4 like', etc. All you will have is a growing number of dead subscribers. You could have 10,000 of these but it won't boost your video rankings and people will be able to tell. (Same goes for video botting, it's remarkably obvious when someone has bought video views that are not legit).
MARKETING - It's Not Just About Promotion!
Marketing goes much further than simply dropping your channel link wherever you can online. You are your brand, and your channel is your biggest advertisement. If you can, set up a channel trailer, or put your most popular/liked video as your trailer on your homepage. Make sure it's short (aim for 60 seconds or less), interesting and to the point.
Make sure you have a banner. Many people think that graphic design on a channel is no longer important now that backgrounds are abolished and everyone has a banner. The fact that this banner is your main eye-catching channel graphic, you really need to make it stand out from the crowd.
Make sure the colours blend, don't make it over complicated, avoid using really awful software like MS Paint where possible, and ensure that your channel name is on the banner. Another important thing to remember is to not let your avatar cover any of the text on the banner.
Thumbnails also play an essential role. This also falls under professionalism. Having that chick in a bikini may well draw in views, but it won't bring the respect or 'fanbase' that you want. Have fun, eye-catching thumbnails that encapsulates the video in a nutshell.
CONTENT - 'Good Quality' is Subjective, 'Good Subject Matter' is Vital
I see a lot of threads knocking about on YTT asking 'what makes a popular video?' or 'what makes a channel successful?' and many of the answers (and I know I've said this myself once or twice) include the phrase 'make good videos'.
But what are good videos? I personally find some of the most popular videos on YT right now to be downright amateur, awful and boring. But evidently someone must like them.
What makes good content is things people want to talk about, whether it's a great video or not isn't always the most important thing. Giovanna Plowman certainly got people talking. Nyan cat got people attempting to sing along. Gangnam Style got people wanting to dance. Topics that people want to share and spread to the masses on your behalf. If a video is truly good enough you won't have to promote your own material much.
My first video blog was only posted here by me, and it received about 50 views from this website. That same video just passed 3,000 views (and gained me most of my subs) in the first three weeks because it got shared independently to two sub-reddits, two other forums, Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr. Why? Because the topic (men's rights) was something that caught people's attention and really made them want to talk about it.
ADVICE - If You Ask For It, Prepare To Get It
This one goes out to all of the people who ever asked for video or channel advice and then found a way to say 'yes, but...' to all the advice they were given. Sure, there are some things we really like and wouldn't want to change, and that's fine! It's your channel! But there are also times we should listen to the people trying to help us.
If they tell you that 480p maximum quality is too low, listen to them.
If they say your mic is bad quality, they're probably not lying.
If more than a few people don't like your graphics, they are likely not very good.
If the consensus is 'your videos need major improvement', people are not being mean, they are being honest.
COPYRIGHT - Fair Use vs Infringement
Oh, what a grey area! There's so much I could blather on about here, but let me keep it brief:
Gaming: Provided the game developer allows their footage on YouTube, and you place commentary over the gameplay, then videogame footage falls under fair use. You will often find brand new games get lamped with content ID matches and/or copyright strikes. If this happens, save yourself the drama and remove the video. You cannot dispute it because apart from the commentary it is not 'your' footage. You cannot upload commentary-free video, montages, trailers or cut scene footage (certain networks permitted).
To monetise gaming videos, you pretty much need to be in a network. Certain games, like Minecraft and League of Legends, can be recorded (with commentary) and monetised via AdSense but you must check the EULA of each individual game to see if you can self-monetise on YT.
Film/TV/Commercial: Unless you have express permission, do not use it. Fair Use on YouTube doesn't do anything, and simply writing 'no infringement intended' does even less. It isn't a legal leg to stand on. If it isn't your footage, keep it off your channel (unless you have permission).
Music: Cover songs are not actually permitted, nor are remixes. Certain networks hold licences for covers, but if you're not in one of those networks then all you can upload are spoofs or original songs. Once again, remixes do not count as 'your' work or fair use. You still need permission from the original copyright holder or a specific licence, which can be purchased.
TIME - Will You Ever Get Big?
Some channels do remarkably well in a short amount of time. PewdiePie started in (I believe) 2010, and he just reached 11 million subscribers. Markiplier started in June 2012 and he is close to hitting 700,000 subscribers. Jenna Marbles started in 2010 and she's just passed 10 million subscribers.
But there are channels that have been going since 2006 that are still under the 100k mark. Some channels have been going for close to a year and have yet to reach 200.
What you have to look at is the following:
1. If my channel is growing slowly, is it likely to grow faster? Am I happy with that?
2. If my channel exploded a bit, will I mind if it slows down to a crawl?
3. Will I be happy if I never make it 'big' on YouTube?
If you constantly worry about being 'famous', wondering why your channel hasn't taken off (and believe me I've seen so many people throw in the towel because they've not made it after a year or two), either change your content or change your frame of mind. Some channels simply won't get big; it's a tough pill to swallow, but it's the truth. You may get big, but you may not. That's YouTube for you.
In simpler terms: If you start a new thread on the forum, and your intention is to ask 'why am I not growing?' or 'When will I get big?' Close the page, and look straight to your content, marketing and professionalism. That's why.
Really informative!!!
