Youtube Tips

Creating a YouTube channel can be beneficial for developers at any stage of their career, even if you're not an expert. You don't have to know everything about a topic to teach it, all you need is an interest and a desire to learn. Creating videos can turn you into an expert and provide material to show potential employers.

1. Define Your Goals

Before starting, decide on the goal of your channel, which will impact many aspects of your content. Common goals include:

  • Helping others learn
  • Building a portfolio for career opportunities
  • Giving yourself a reason to learn
  • Promoting a paid resource

2. Choose a Channel Type

There are four main types of software YouTube channels:

  • Tutorial: Primarily features software tutorials and is suitable for those seeking a job or selling paid courses. This type is sometimes less focused on personality.
  • Informational: Provides insights, industry news, and advice to help other programmers.
  • Live Coding: Shows real-time problem-solving and is great for community building.
  • Software Entertainment: Designed for a wide audience and may be associated with a brand.

3. Content Creation

  • Brainstorming: Write down all possible video ideas and narrow them down to the best ones.
  • Research: Research the topic thoroughly, even if you're not an expert. If making a coding tutorial, write the code beforehand.
  • Recording and Editing:
    • Record the screen capture with your voiceover.
    • Transcribe the audio and edit for clarity, adding jokes if desired.
    • Re-record the audio and overlay it onto the video.
    • Edit videos to ensure smooth flow and remove mistakes, ums, pauses, and loud noises.

4. Branding

  • Channel Name: Using your name can help viewers associate you with the content.
  • Visuals: Develop a channel icon, channel art, and potentially a video watermark.
  • Intros: Keep intros short (under five seconds) to avoid viewers clicking away.
  • Consistent elements: Consider adding consistent elements such as a sign-off line or a prop to make your videos unique.

5. Video Optimization

  • Thumbnails: Create distinct thumbnails that look good in multiple sizes.
  • Titles: Use YouTube's autocomplete and Google Trends to find searchable titles. Titles are more important for tutorial channels, while thumbnails are more important for entertainment and informational channels.
  • Descriptions: Write a keyword-rich descriptive sentence in the first line of the description.
  • Tags: Tags may help the algorithm identify your channel’s pattern, though this is not as important as other factors.

6. Algorithm and Growth

  • Consistency: Upload consistently to help viewers know when to expect new content.
  • Upload Frequency: If you upload longer videos, it's okay to do so less frequently. For shorter content, consider uploading more frequently.
  • Patterns: The algorithm looks for patterns and will recommend your videos to viewers who have watched your channel before.
  • Click-Through Rate and Average View Duration: These are the most important factors for the algorithm. Click-through rate is how often people click on your video after seeing the thumbnail and the average view duration is how long people watch your videos.
  • Previous Video Popularity: The performance of your previous video may influence how quickly a new video gains popularity.
  • Subscriber count: While important, subscriber count is not as impactful as the average view time.

7. Engagement and Community

  • Live Coding: Live coding can build a community by interacting directly with viewers.
  • Be Yourself: Be genuine and have fun. Don't copy others.
  • Set a positive tone: Avoid escalating negativity.

8. Monetization

  • Job Opportunities: A YouTube channel can help get a new job.
  • YouTube Ads: While you can earn money with YouTube ads, it's not usually a primary source of income. Earnings vary depending on the video length, country of the viewer, and if the viewer watches the full ad.
  • Paid Courses: Consider selling paid courses to monetize your content.
  • Patreon: Build a Patreon page, offer rewards, and connect with your patrons authentically.
  • Sponsorships: Develop your niche, make your value clear to potential sponsors, and quantify your value.

9. Additional Advice

  • Be Passionate: Choose topics you care about to avoid burnout.
  • Be Human: Don't be afraid to be on camera, even if you feel imperfect.
  • Prioritize Consistency: Create measurable, timed, and controllable goals to stay consistent.
  • Always Expect New Viewers: Make sure every video is understandable to new viewers.

10. Content Creation Fundamentals

  • Focus on High-Quality Content: The key to growth is consistently creating high-quality content and striving to make each new video better than the last.
  • Find Your Unique Voice and Style: While it's good to take inspiration from other creators, make sure to develop your own unique voice and style. This is what will make your content stand out.
  • Have Passion: You need genuine passion for programming that goes beyond just money or internet fame. This will help you to stick with it in the long run.

11. Software

  • Video Editing: Adobe Premiere is the primary tool for combining audio and video clips.
  • Advanced Animations: Adobe After Effects can be used for more complex animations.
  • Static Graphics: Figma is a free tool for static graphics and other images. Other options include GIMP and Illustrator if you have access to Adobe Creative Cloud.
  • Templates: Video Hive offers a variety of After Effects and Premiere templates that can be used for intros, transitions, and more.
  • Stock Photography: Unsplash and Pexels are great sources for free stock images.
  • Animated GIFs: Giphy has a collection of animated GIFs. Respect the copyright of the artists when using GIFs.
  • Icons and Emojis: flaticon.com is a good source for icons and emojis.

12. Content Strategy

  • Know Your Audience: Tailor your content to your target audience.
  • Efficient Content: Try to distill content down to its most efficient form.
  • Intermediate to Advanced Level: Focus on intermediate to advanced material, omitting the basics.
  • Learn From Criticism: Take negative feedback as an opportunity to grow. Most critics want to see your channel succeed. Don't let trolls get you down.

13. Video Production Workflow

  • Write Code First: If you are creating a code tutorial, write and understand your code thoroughly before recording.
  • Record Voiceover: Record the audio in small chunks in Adobe Premiere before adding any visuals.
  • Enhance Audio: Use the "Essential Sound" panel in Premiere to match loudness, and add a de-esser or vocal enhancer to make the audio sound better.
  • Intro Visuals: Spend the most time making the first 60 seconds of your video visually engaging.
  • Code Snippets: Show code being added using screen recording of undo actions to display code snippets.
  • Add Graphics: Use graphics, emojis, or text to make it easy to understand what line of code you are discussing.
  • Review and Polish: Take a break and then re-watch the video critically before rendering it.

14. Script Writing

1. Define Your Goal

Purpose: What is the goal of your video? (Educate, entertain, inspire, promote, etc.)

Audience: Who are you speaking to? Understand their interests, pain points, and preferences.

Call-to-Action (CTA): What do you want viewers to do after watching? (Subscribe, like, comment, visit a link, etc.)

2. Choose a Topic

Pick a topic that aligns with your niche and audience’s interests.

Make it specific and actionable. For example:

Instead of “How to Cook,” try “5 Easy Dinner Recipes for Beginners.”

3. Research Your Topic

Gather accurate information, stats, or examples to support your content.

Check out competitor videos to see what works and what you can do differently.

4. Structure Your Script

A well-structured script keeps viewers engaged. Use this basic outline:

a. Hook (0:00 - 0:15) Grab attention immediately with a compelling statement, question, or teaser.

Example: “Did you know you can save $1,000 a year by doing this one simple thing?”

b. Introduction (0:15 - 0:30) Introduce yourself and the topic.

Explain why the topic is important or relevant to the viewer.

Example: “Hey everyone, I’m [Your Name], and today we’re talking about [Topic] because [Reason].”

c. Main Content (0:30 - End) Break the content into sections or key points.

Use clear transitions between ideas.

Include examples, stories, or visuals to make it engaging.

Example: “First, let’s talk about [Point 1]. Here’s how it works…”

d. Call-to-Action (CTA) Encourage viewers to take action (subscribe, like, comment, etc.).

Mention any links, resources, or promotions.

Example: “If you found this helpful, don’t forget to hit the like button and subscribe for more tips!”

e. Outro (Last 10-15 Seconds) Summarize the video briefly.

End with a strong closing line or teaser for the next video.

Example: “Thanks for watching! Stay tuned for next week’s video where we’ll cover [Next Topic].”

5. Write Conversationally

Write as if you’re talking to a friend. Avoid overly formal language.

Use short sentences and simple words for clarity.

Add humor, personality, or emotion to make it relatable.

6. Include Visual and Audio Cues

Note where visuals, graphics, or B-roll footage will appear.

Add directions for sound effects, music, or tone changes.

Example: “[Show close-up of product]” or “[Play upbeat music].”

7. Keep It Concise

Respect your audience’s time. Cut unnecessary fluff.

Aim for clarity and brevity while delivering value.

8. Practice and Revise

Read your script out loud to ensure it flows naturally.

Edit for grammar, tone, and pacing.

Get feedback from others if possible.

9. Use a Script Template

Here’s a simple template you can use:

**Title:** [Insert Video Title]

**Hook:** [Grab attention in the first 10 seconds]

**Introduction:**
- Introduce yourself and the topic.
- Explain why the viewer should care.

**Main Content:**
1. [Key Point 1]
   - Supporting details/examples.
2. [Key Point 2]
   - Supporting details/examples.
3. [Key Point 3]
   - Supporting details/examples.

**Call-to-Action:**
- Ask viewers to like, comment, subscribe, or visit a link.

**Outro:**
- Summarize the video.
- Tease the next video or thank viewers.

**Visual/Audio Notes:**
- [Insert cues for visuals, music, or effects]

15. A Roadmap for Creators

So, you want to be a successful YouTube creator? It's an exciting goal, and with the right approach, it's definitely achievable. This guide will walk you through the key steps to set yourself up for success and reach monetization by 2025. The most important thing is to get started!

1. Laying the Foundation

Before you even think about recording your first video, you need to build a solid foundation.

  • Passion is Paramount: Choose a niche that genuinely excites you. What topics make you lose track of time? What knowledge do you love to share? Your passion will be your fuel as you create content. Remember, you might spend hundreds, if not thousands, of hours making videos for free at the start, so it needs to be something you love.
  • Verify Your Total Addressable Market (TAM): Make sure there are enough people interested in your niche. You need an audience to watch your videos. For example, a channel focused on vegan desserts has a larger potential audience than one about vintage typewriters. If you have a smaller niche and you are okay with a potentially smaller audience, that's fine as long as the topic is something you love.
  • Find Your Unique Angle: What makes you different? What unique knowledge or experience can you bring? What's missing in your niche that you can provide? Maybe it's high-quality thumbnails, or a unique perspective you can offer. You could even take video ideas from other niches and adapt them to your own. The goal is to find a gap that you can fill to stand out from the competition.

2. Know Your Audience

Understanding your audience is essential, and is described as the "most important part" of the process.

  • Create a Target Audience Profile: Who is your ideal viewer? Consider their age, pain points, interests, and values. This will help you create content that appeals to them. For example, a fitness channel might target viewers aged 25-35, who are busy, confused about nutrition, and want fat loss strategies.
  • Study Your Competition: Look at three successful channels in your niche. What content formats work for them? What's missing that you can offer? By answering these questions, you'll find content "buckets" (ideas and video formats) that are likely to be successful for you too.
  • Discover Viral Content: Use tools like the video outlier tool to find videos that perform exceptionally well for your competitors. You can even filter by small channels to find ideas relevant to new creators. This can give you great ideas for your own content.

3. Set Realistic Goals

Having clear, achievable goals is key to staying motivated and on track.

  • 30-Day Goals: Set a date for your first video. This prevents procrastination and makes things real. Commit to a minimum of 1-3 hours per week to your channel, and try to work in blocks of time. Start by posting one video per week.
  • 90-Day Goals: A realistic target is 12 videos, 100 subscribers, and 400 watch hours.
  • 6-Month Goals: Aim for 20+ videos, 250-500 subscribers, and 1000 watch hours. This is also the time to analyze your video performance and decide if you love the process of making videos.
  • 12-Month Goals: Tailor your goals to your individual needs, focusing on continuous improvement like better titles and thumbnails, trimming your video hooks, and improve your on-camera presence. Reaching 50 videos, 1000 subscribers, and 4000 watch hours is a realistic goal for your first year.

4. Streamline Production

Consistency is crucial, so make creating content as easy as possible.

  • Create a Routine: Decide on specific days for recording, editing, and uploading. Making YouTube a habit will help you avoid burnout. Consider blocking out time for batch filming.

5. Take Action

All of the information will not mean anything if you don't take action.

  • 24-Hour Task List: Immediately take action and complete a task to move you toward launching your channel. This could be filling out your planning guide, picking your first video topic, or setting up a recording space. The goal is to "get in motion".
  • 7-Day Task List: Make a list of tasks that will help you start to produce content and plan your first few videos.
  • Commit to Publishing Your First Video Within 30 Days.

6. Tools to Help You

The sources also mentioned some useful tools to help you on your journey:

  • Vid IQ browser extension: This tool can help you remix titles and thumbnails, and also locate outlier videos.

7. Key Takeaways

  • Passion: Start with something you love.
  • Audience: Understand who you are creating content for.
  • Strategy: Plan your content and set realistic goals.
  • Consistency: Keep creating content regularly.
  • Improvement: Aim to get 1% better with each video.

The end

Starting a YouTube channel is a marathon, not a sprint. Be patient and focus on creating quality content that you enjoy making. By following these steps, and continuously improving your skills, you'll be well on your way to becoming a successful programming YouTuber.