With YouTubers able to earn around $5 for every 1,000 views on their videos, it’s little wonder why so many people are quitting their day jobs and attempting to make it on their own in the world of influencing. UK vlogger Zoella has built a multi-million dollar fortune out of her YouTube channel, whilst the hilarious Ryan Kaji, nine, reportedly earns $29.5m a year, making him one of the highest-paid YouTube stars of all time. Yep, vlogging is uber-lucrative!
Although it can be tempting to give up your career and focus your efforts on content creation full-time, it’s important to remember that the industry is jam-packed and in order to stand out from the crowd, your videos will really need to pop. Below, we’ve put together some tips…
A quality microphone
It doesn’t matter whether you’re planning how-to tutorials or ASMR videos, it’s vital that your videos are complemented with good-quality audio. If you record 4K camera footage, you can’t afford to skimp on poor quality audio. In fact, research shows that people are more likely to turn off a video because of poor audio quality than they are video quality. Built-in microphones on cameras and laptops simply won’t cut it – investing in a good-quality mic is the key to standing out. From a freestanding USB mic to a boom mic, it’s wise you do your research and find the right mic for your needs. The more you spend, the better the quality.
InVideo
Although video editing tools like Final Cut are great for putting together raw footage, it’s also a good idea to have access to a video creation platform where you can access templates, stock images and videos, as well as a way to quickly cut, trim, crop, and edit your videos, applying brand presents to speed things up. If that sounds like something for you, InVideo is the tool you need. It’s packed with more than 4,000 stunning templates that look great on YouTube and social media, and its free plan doesn’t feature a watermark which is great news if you’re trying to create a professional, fully-branded channel with original content.
A ring light
It might seem cliche, but there’s a reason why YouTubers and vloggers opt for ring lights; they emit light around the person, eliminating shadows and making you look as attractive as possible. Although they’re common in the beauty and makeup world, anyone can benefit from a good-quality ring light to light up your face and remove the shadows that can highlight blemishes and marks. There are dozens of fluorescent lights on the market, and the good news is that you don’t have to spend a lot of money. If you’re on a budget, filming in your bedroom window is a more cost-effective solution, though you’ll need to rely on the weather.
TubeBuddy
TubeBuddy is a free browser extension that integrates with YouTube and allows you to perform tests on your content to maximise its reach. Open up the program and you can test your tags, titles, thumbnails and descriptions, and quickly work out the best ones for your audience. If you’re serious about YouTube and want to ‘game the algorithms’, TubeBuddy tracks rankings and compares you to fellow channels; it’s ideal for brands and agencies.
Social Blade
Finally, consider signing up for Social Blade, which tracks data from YouTube, Twitch, Twitter, and more. The site allows you to track your subscribers and view counts over time, and even estimates how much you should be earning for each of your videos. Comparison tools can give you some food for thought for future content, and you can find out whether a creator is part of a multi-channel network, which is pretty useful as you grow your channel.
Do you have a YouTube channel? Share it with us on Twitter @CelebMix and check back soon for more advice on creating the very best content for your audience. Now, time to vlog!