If anyone tells you it's too late to start a YouTube channel, ignore them. The platform is booming, and while there have been some controversies over the years, it's still possible for a new content creator to build a successful YouTube channel from scratch.

Before you dive in, there are some things you need to think about if you want to maximize your chances for success. There are no guarantees when it comes to YouTube, but here's a list of subjects that you may want to consider before diving in too deep.

1. What's Your Motivation for Starting a YouTube Channel?

Screenshot of videos from the official MUO YouTube channel

Maybe you want to teach others how to do something, like how to program web and mobile apps. Maybe you want to tell brilliant stories through short film. Or maybe you want to play and review video games. It can be anything, but it has to be something.

Your motivation is the basis for three key elements shared by every successful YouTube channel:

  • Topic Coverage: What your videos will be about.
  • Target Audience: Who your videos are intended for.
  • Reason of Existence: Why they should watch your videos.

For example, MUO's YouTube channel includes gadget reviews and tech tutorials (what) intended for people who want to level up their tech-savviness (who), and we do it in a way that's easy to understand and approachable for beginners (why).

You have to define these things before you launch your channel. Otherwise, you'll end up with a hodgepodge channel that fails to capture any kind of meaningful viewership which means no long-term success.

2. How Frequently Will You Upload Videos?

eyeglasses on white calendar showing month of january

Once you know how to make a YouTube video, what kind of content you'll make, and who will be watching it, you need to decide on a production schedule. How often will you make and release new videos?

This often mainly depends on content type:

Be realistic, be honest with yourself, and think long-term. You might have the energy to do one video per day right now, but what about the long term? How much time can you consistently dedicate to your channel?

Lowering your frequency later down the road could harm your viewership, and some fans may unsubscribe since they were used to frequent uploads earlier. When in doubt, go with a lesser frequency. You can always live stream to fill in the gaps.

3. The Recipe for YouTube Success: Substance and Style

Screenshot of videos from the YouTube channel Corridor

Many may tell you that success on YouTuber is all about substance, but the true key to success on the platform is a combination of substance and style. There are millions of gaming channels, for example; how will you differentiate yourself from the rest?

Three of the basic ingredients to a successful YouTube channel are smart titles, consistent format, and video thumbnails. If your channel involves commentary, you need to work on articulation and speaking fluently.

If you're going to be on camera, work on your confidence, looking into the camera, being charismatic, and not fidgeting. If you don't feel comfortable talking in front of the camera, come up with another exciting format to present yourself.

So long as the style stays entertaining and consistent, showing your face often isn't the most important aspect. In fact, it can sometimes invite excitement and mystery—something you can use to create a face reveal video later on.

You also need to edit your videos well. For that, pick a simple video editor to get started. Make sure the quality and frame rate are high enough and remember to cut out all the unnecessary bits.

4. What Equipment Does a YouTuber Need?

Woman recording content for her YouTube channel

To succeed, you'll also need to acquire some essential equipment for creating high-quality videos. Fortunately, you won't have to spend much to get started.

At a bare minimum, you'll want to have:

  • Camera: Before you drop hundreds of dollars on a camera, know that your smartphone is good enough to start. Save the high-end cameras for when you've been doing this for over a year and know what exactly you need to improve.
  • Tripod: If you have a camera or end up using a smartphone, then you'll want a tripod to hold it up and keep it steady.
  • Microphone: The built-in microphones that come with cameras are often terrible. Get an external microphone and record audio separately, then mix it with the video afterward.
  • Green Screen: A green screen is necessary if you want to change the background in your videos. While an actual green screen kit could cost upwards of $50, you can use a literal green sheet or DIY one with a white sheet dyed green.
  • Screen Capture Software: Only necessary if your videos involve screen capturing, such as Excel video tutorials or PC gameplay. Try out different screen recording apps to see which one fits you.

This is just an overview—what you will need depends on the content you plan on creating. Once you're truly invested, you may want to try building a YouTube studio at home.

5. How Are You Going to Promote Your Channel?

social media logos on cubes
Image Credit: Antlii/Shutterstock

Want to succeed? You have to promote yourself. Just as with any business, advertising is everything. Here are a few options:

  • Social Media: Building a social media following can be just as hard as building a YouTube channel, but if you have followers already, they might be your first fans. You can also consider doing social media giveaways for exposure.
  • Forums: Forums can help, especially big ones like Reddit. Find a community that's relevant to you and share your best content. Don't share too frequently, or you may get banned for spamming.
  • Collaborate: Collaborating with other YouTubers is a great way to network and expand your contacts. As they share your collaborations on their channel, it introduces their audience to you. It's a win-win for everybody.

Bear in mind that promotion is a long game. It may take months, or even years, for your channel to gain popularity. Perseverance is the number one trait shared among YouTube creators!

6. Making Money as a YouTuber

A piggy bank with a pink background

Making money through YouTube is harder than it used to be, but still possible. A lot of people think YouTubers earn boatloads of cash through advertisements, but the truth is that advertisers rarely pay a handsome amount, especially to smaller creators.

Running a YouTube channel is very much like starting a business. So how do the top YouTubers make their money? A combination of many monetization methods:

  • Affiliate sales and product promotions
  • Consultation services
  • Direct advertisements that aren't AdSense
  • Public speaking events
  • Support from fans who donate
  • Alternative revenue streams (selling merchandise, creating apps, Patreon platforms, etc.)

YouTube videos that are longer than 10 minutes usually have a higher chance of generating more ad revenue, but don't make your videos longer just for the sake of it.

If there's not enough material worth watching for 10 minutes, viewers may fast-forward or even skip watching your video altogether. This hurts your retention rate and harms your channel's visibility in the YouTube algorithm.

7. Set Attainable Goals

Hand placing wooden blocks with check marks on them
Image Credit: LookerStudio/Shutterstock

An effective goal has three core elements:

  • Measurable: The goal should have a quantified component that lets you know, at any given moment in time, whether you've reached it or not.
  • Timed: The goal should have a realistic deadline.
  • Controllable: The goal should be an action you can perform—not an outcome.

For example, you might aim to put out 10 videos (measurable) by the end of your first month (timed). Note that "put out a video" is an action you can perform, whereas "reach 1,000 viewers" is not an action but an outcome. "Earn $50 this month" isn't a goal, whereas "find and negotiate a sponsorship deal" is.

Create a few goals, then keep creating more as you reach them. You'd be surprised how effective this can be at keeping you motivated and on track to success. You can also use the SMART goals framework for the same.

8. What's Your Exit Plan?

outdoor exit sign pointing left

It's great to be motivated, but being a YouTuber is not the kind of job that most people can do for the rest of their working life; that's a fact you need to account for.

Out of the millions of creators, only a fraction have been able to make YouTube their primary source of income, and even fewer have been creators for a decade. If YouTube as a career does become stable enough for you in the long term, that's great.

But realistically, your chances of not only "blowing up" but also staying relevant for many years are rather slim. So, it's wise to have an exit plan ready that details when you want to quit YouTube, what you want to do after that, and the alternatives available to you.

Starting a YouTube Channel Requires Commitment

The main takeaway is this: creating a YouTube channel is easy, but running and maintaining one for years takes a lot of time and energy. Being a YouTuber is like having seven different jobs at once; you're responsible for shooting, editing, audio, marketing, idea generation, researching, engaging with fans, and more.

Knowing this, it's no wonder that so many YouTubers, even successful ones, get burned out and need time off. This is not meant to discourage you but to give you an honest idea of how things might turn out.