How to Become a YouTuber: An In-Depth Guide

Do you want to become a YouTuber but don’t know where to begin? You’re not alone!

Many people aspire to create engaging content, build a community of loyal audiences, and earn a living through YouTube.

Luckily, in this article, we’ll walk you through six steps to learn how to become a YouTuber and turn your passion for content creation into a thriving career!

An Overview of YouTube Streaming: A Primer

A YouTuber is a content creator who makes, edits, and publishes YouTube videos on the online video-sharing platform. YouTube creators’ goal is to create high-quality, engaging content that attracts viewers to their YouTube channel.

Typically, most YouTubers post videos about one specific niche. However, the content type can vary, from tutorials to vlogging, YouTube shorts, and much more.

Regardless of the domain, the goal of creating a YouTube channel is to attract many viewers and generate passive income.

To do that, YouTube creators engage in various activities. Here are some of the tasks YouTubers do:

• Content creation: YouTubers brainstorm content ideas, write scripts, film the videos, and upload them to their channel.
• Video editing: This includes montaging and adding effects, transitions, thumbnails, and captions.
• Channel management: This includes using YouTube SEO strategies to optimize video titles, descriptions, and tags. YouTubers also schedule uploads, organize the channel, customize the layout design, and manage the comment section.
• Engage with the audience: YouTubers engage with their subscribers by liking comments, responding to questions, and hosting a live stream to interact with the live chat to build their channel’s community.
• Promotion and marketing: Aside from SEO techniques, video content creators promote their channel through different social media platforms and collaborations.

How Much Do YouTubers Make?

It’s difficult to determine how much YouTubers make, as it varies depending on several factors. These include the number of channel subscribers, average views, content type, and monetization strategy.

Typically, YouTubers get $18-$29 per 1000 views. That doesn’t include ad revenue, merchandise sales, or affiliate marketing.

On average, YouTubers can make $60,000 annually. Top earners with millions of subscribers can earn six figures or more only from ad revenue, making this job one of the most lucrative gigs available.

What You’ll Need to Become a YouTuber [& Associated Costs]

Working as a YouTuber can be one of the best second jobs since you don’t need a specific education to start a channel. Anyone can be a YouTuber as long as they’re over 13!

As for the equipment, it can vary depending on your goals. However, any professional YouTuber will typically have the following devices:

1. YouTube Channel

Of course, to be a YouTuber, you need to create a channel on the online video-sharing platform. This process is completely free. Even if you’ve decided to join the YouTube partner program, it’ll cost you nothing.

2. High-Quality Camera

Video quality influences the audience’s reception of your content. Not only that, but high-quality videos also cater to the YouTube algorithm.

When recommending a video, YouTube doesn’t consider the content; it’s the viewers that matter.

The algorithm takes into account the audience’s history. Since most people prefer quality videos with fast performance, these types of content are likely to go viral, regardless of whether they’re engaging or not.

That’s why you should only consider the best cameras for YouTube—a decent phone camera won’t cut it. Look for a 4k-resolution camera with great zooming and autofocus capabilities.

Typically, such devices with affordable prices can cost you between $1300 and $3000.

3. Tripod

Unsteady footage can be a turnoff for your target audience. Consider investing in a tripod or a gimbal stabilizer for video stability. The former is generally more affordable, costing between $100-$300.

If your content involves moving, you should invest in a gimbal stabilizer, which can cost $300-$500 or more, depending on the specifications and brand.

4. Microphone

Like footage quality, high-quality audio can also impact the viewership of your YouTube videos. Even if your camera has a built-in mic, it could produce echo and reduce the audio quality.

You don’t have to buy something over the top; a decent recording microphone with noise cancellation costs around $100.

5. Editing Software

You’ll need video editing software to polish your footage before publishing it on the channel. Now, the price will depend on the program you choose; however, most affordable software ranges from $30 to $50 a month.

How Much Does it Cost to Become a YouTuber?

Starting a YouTube channel can cost you $0 if you rely on your current resources. However, if you’ve decided to upgrade, you can spend around $1500- $4000 on equipment and around $400-$700 on video editing software annually.

You should also take into account internet bills and studio rentals, among other optional expenses.

Is it Hard to Become a YouTuber?

No, it’s not hard to become a YouTuber. Anyone over 13 with a decent camera, video-editing skills, and a passion for a certain topic can become a YouTuber.

However, if you’re talking about becoming a successful YouTuber, that’s a different story. You’ll need to treat it as a full-time job, spend hours brainstorming content ideas, and learn about video production. 

Not to mention, you have to market your channel, come up with a monetization strategy, and stay updated with the algorithm—all of which require a lot of hard work.

How Long Does it Take to Become a YouTuber?

The time it takes to become a YouTuber can vary depending on your niche, effort, and competition, among other factors.

To start generating money, you need to gain at least 1000 subscribers and have 4000 watch hours within 12 months. That can take an average of 3-6 months.

How to Become a YouTuber in 6 Simple Steps

While it can be overwhelming at the beginning, becoming a YouTuber doesn’t have to be challenging. Here’s a simple guide to help you get started with your YouTube journey:

Step 1: Choose a Niche

Before you jump into the video-making process and channel management, you need to decide your niche first. Choose a topic you’re passionate about that also aligns with your skill set and knowledge.

Having a clear focus will help you determine and attract your target audience.

Having said that, your content should only align with YouTube guidelines. YouTube bans any video that promotes the following:

• Sexual content and nudity
• Violence and child harm
• Dangerous acts. This also includes content about hacking, promoting eating disorders, and life-threatening challenges.
• Misinformation
• Regulated goods

Step 2: Set Up Your Channel

Now that you’ve chosen your domain, all you need to do is set up your channel. Here’s how:

1. Create a Google account.
2. Go to YouTube.
3. Click on your profile picture.
4. Choose “create channel.”
5. Decide on your channel’s name and confirm.
6. Add a profile picture and channel art to grab the viewers’ attention.
7. Write the description and add links to your social media accounts.

How to Choose YouTube Channel Name

Here are a couple of tips to keep in mind when choosing a channel name:

• Make sure to choose a simple name that’s relevant to your niche.
• Use a name generator to give you ideas.
• Steer clear of inappropriate or confusing words.
• Avoid using the word “channel” in the name.
• Incorporate puns and rhymes to make it catchy.

Step 3: Plan Out Your Videos

Sure, it can take months or even years to establish your YouTube channel and go viral. However, posting regularly can help you achieve the former in a short time. You can upload content daily, weekly, or monthly—whatever suits your schedule best.

For that reason, make a publishing calendar each month. Plan out your videos ahead and mark their upload dates.

You can use a Google spreadsheet, calendar, or social media dashboard to help you organize your upcoming uploads and stick to the deadlines.

Step 4: Create and Publish Your Content

After planning your month, all you need to do is record your videos. You can search competitor channels to gain ideas. Of course, make sure not to copy the content itself; only use it as an inspiration for your next topic.

Once you’re done recording, edit the videos and add the thumbnails to make them ready for uploading.

Step 5: Promote Your Channel

Several ways can help you gain more exposure and promote your channel. One such method is to link your channel to many social media platforms. You can also consider blogging and attaching a link to the relevant video.

Once you start generating some revenue, create an ad campaign to promote your videos using Google Ads.

Aside from that, make sure to engage with your audience and encourage them to leave their ideas and thoughts. Ask them to like, subscribe, and share your content in the description box.

Step 6: Use YouTube Analytics

Monitor your results using analytic tools like YouTube Analytics. The former helps you identify which content generated the most views.

Not only that, but you can learn which video formats and lengths are the most popular on your channel. You can use this data to create similar content and, thus, generate higher revenue.

Reasons to Consider Becoming a YouTuber

Aside from being one of the hobbies that makes money, working as a YouTuber has many perks. Those include:

• Flexible working hours: As a YouTuber, you have the flexibility to work on your terms. When thinking about the benefits of setting your own schedule, you’ll find many, including setting achievable deadlines and having a great work-life balance, among other perks.
• High potential income: There’s no limit to how much revenue you can make when working as a YouTuber. The more ads and views you get, the higher your income.
• Community building: Aside from money, YouTube fosters the creation of communities around shared interests. You get to help and connect with people around the world, which can be fulfilling.
• Personal and professional development: YouTube gives you an excellent creative outlet where you can express and share your creativity with the world. Aside from that, you gain several professional skills, including affiliate marketing, video editing, and content creation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Still have some questions? Check out the following FAQs:

Similar Gigs to Check Out

Here are similar gigs that require similar skill sets as becoming a YouTuber:

• How to Become a Twitch Affiliate: Create a Twitch account, choose your niche, and get the necessary equipment. Reach 50 followers, stream for 8 hours on 7 different days, and reach an average of 3 views to join the affiliate program.
• How to Become an Influencer: Identify your niche, establish your online presence through different social media platforms, and engage with your audience to expand your reach.
• How to Become Famous: Identify your passion, develop your skills, and leverage social media and online platforms to showcase your talents.

Wrapping Up

Becoming a YouTuber is an exciting journey that allows you to nourish your interests while earning a substantial income.

By following the steps outlined in this article, you can learn how to become a YouTuber and help people with the same interests.

Let us know your thoughts and experiences in the comment section, and feel free to share this article with others who might find it valuable.