How to Make a YouTube Video: 17 Tips for Beginners

So you want to get into YouTube video making? That's awesome!

You might have already started looking into it, and quickly got overwhelmed. We get it! It's a lot of pressure to figure out how to make your first YouTube video.

The good news is, we've created a list of 17 tips that will help you with your YouTube video strategy! Sound good? If so, keep reading.

With these helpful tips for YouTube video making, you'll be on your way to creating engaging content in no time. We'll explore YouTube SEO, planning your content, shooting and editing, and so much more. 

Getting Started with YouTube

To get started with YouTube, the first step is to create a Google account, which will grant you access to all of YouTube's features and services. Which brings us to our first and most important tip for creating YouTube videos:

1 - Understand what YouTube is and how the YouTube video platform works

After you create your Google account, your best next stop is the YouTube Creators Hub. Here you will find comprehensive user guides that walk you through the process of how to make a YouTube channel, including choosing a catchy and relevant name that reflects your brand or content. 

Check out our post to help you understand how to navigate YouTube studio as well.

Planning Your YouTube Video Content

Before hitting record, it's essential to have a clear plan for your YouTube content. This involves defining your channel's theme or niche and creating a content calendar to ensure consistency.

2 - Define your channel's theme or niche to guide your YouTube video ideas

To create a successful YouTube channel, you need to understand your target audience and what type of content they're interested in. Take some time to research your niche and identify the topics, styles, and formats that resonate with your intended viewers. Having a clear theme or niche will help you create focused, relevant content that appeals to your audience and sets you apart from other creators in your space. 

3 - Plan a content calendar of video ideas to make it easier to create videos

Consistency is key when it comes to building a loyal YouTube following. To maintain a regular posting schedule, it's helpful to plan your content in advance using a calendar. Decide on a realistic posting frequency, whether it's once a week or once a month, and stick to it. A content calendar will help you stay organized, ensure you have a steady stream of video ideas, and make it easier to batch your filming and editing sessions.

Creating Your YouTube Video

Now that you have a plan in place for starting a YouTube channel, it's time to start creating your first YouTube video.  

4 - Gather the right tools and equipment

To create high-quality YouTube videos, you'll need a few key pieces of equipment. 

• A camera - This can be a smartphone, a webcam, or a dedicated video camera
• A good microphone - This will help ensure clear audio
• Lighting equipment - Lighting is key to improve the visual quality of your videos
• Editing software - While YouTube offers an editor in YouTube Studio, it's not advanced enough for most YouTubers
• A computer - Let’s face it, it’s much easier to edit a YouTube video on a computer than it is on your phone

There are many affordable options for all of this equipment available, so do your research and choose the tools that best fit your needs and budget.  

Useful Tips for Shooting and Editing Your YouTube Video

If you have ever wondered, how do I make a video people will watch, these tips might help:

5 - Ensure proper lighting and sound quality when making videos

Good lighting and sound are essential for creating professional-looking YouTube videos, and can ultimately help improve watch time. When starting on YouTube, make sure your shooting location is well-lit, either by using natural light or investing in some basic lighting equipment.

Test your audio before you start recording to ensure it's clear and free of background noise, and consider using an external microphone for better sound quality.

6 - Practice good camera presence and delivery

To engage your audience, it's important to practice good camera presence and delivery. Speak clearly and confidently, maintain eye contact with the lens, and use gestures and facial expressions to convey your message. Practice your script or talking points beforehand to ensure a smooth delivery, and don't be afraid to let your personality shine through.

We also recommend you check out our post about YouTube Script Writing to learn how to write a killer YouTube script that is engaging.

7 - Record multiple takes and angles

When shooting your video, record multiple takes and angles to give yourself plenty of options when editing. This will allow you to choose the best shots and create a more dynamic and engaging final product. Don't worry about getting everything perfect in one take – that's what editing is for!

8 - Plan your title, description, and thumbnail

Before you start shooting, it's a good idea to have your video's title, description, and thumbnail in mind. These elements are crucial for attracting viewers and encouraging them to click on your video. Choose a title that's clear, concise, and descriptive, and write a compelling description that highlights the key points of your video. Create an eye-catching thumbnail that accurately represents your content and stands out in search results.

Optimizing Your YouTube Video For YouTube Search

Seasoned YouTubers know that to maximize your video's visibility on YouTube, you should follow these optimization tips when making videos:

9 -  Become well versed in YouTube SEO.

Use relevant keywords in your video's title, description, and tags to improve search rankings.

10 - Create an engaging intro to capture viewers' attention and reduce bounce rates.

11 - Incorporate visual elements

These include things like graphics, text overlays, and transitions to enhance the viewing experience.

12 - Optimize audio levels and consider adding royalty free music.

This can help improve the overall quality. According to Filmstro, the overall mix level for your audio should be -12db to -20db. You should be able to do this with most video editing software.

13 - Export your video in the appropriate format and resolution

Taking the time to confirm your video's format and resolution is correct helps to ensure the best playback on YouTube. YouTube says the best ratio for videos is 16:9. Learn more about recommended resolutions on the YouTube video resolution and aspect ratio page. 

Promoting Your YouTube Video

To get more eyes on your YouTube video, consider these promotion strategies:

14 - Share your video on social media and on your website to reach a wider audience.

We recommend using CastMagic to create blog posts about your videos, and then embed your video with the blog post on your website.

CastMagic also makes it easy to create social media content to promote your videos. Learn more about what we can do for your YouTube channel here.

15 - Engage with your viewers

You can do this by responding to YouTube comments and encouraging them to like, share, and subscribe.

 16 - Collaborate with other YouTubers

When you collaborate with other YouTubers in your niche and participate in the community, you can gain exposure and build relationships. 

17. Never Stop Improving

If you want to grow as a YouTuber, your goal should be to constantly be improving. Creating YouTube videos can be a lot of fun, but growth needs to be top of mind if you want to monetize your videos at some point. Learn about how to create the perfect thumbnail, watch videos from other YouTubers in your niche, and keep an eye on your YouTube analytics. As you continue coming up with video ideas, make it your mission to improve just a little with every video you create. A year from now, your videos will be more amazing than you could possibly imagine.