Starting a YouTube channel is easy – but transforming that channel into a viral sensation can seem almost impossible. But fear not, we’re here to help with this guide on how to start a well-performing YouTube channel.

For the full rundown of everything you need to know, check out the video above, in which our founder, Finzar, goes deep into the tips and tricks he’s learnt over the years on YouTube (and he has over 500K subscribers, so he’s worth listening to).

Below, we summarise the main points, so you know exactly what you need to prepare for as you embark on your YouTube journey.

Set Up

Setting yourself up for this journey is the very first thing you should think about when it comes to becoming a proper YouTuber! By that, we mean making sure you have a decent PC or laptop with good memory for the purposes of video editing, which, at this early stage, is what you’re most likely going to end up spending the vast majority of your time doing.

That means purchasing M.2 NVME drives and investing in RAM for your computer, and unfortunately, these things are getting expensive, which can limit your buying capabilities. The best course of action for many people will be something like a MacBook Pro, which are very capable of handling Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve, which are the two editing software we recommend.

On top of that, you’re going to want a decent microphone, especially if you’re doing any form of voice-over (the Shure SM7b is our go-to), good headphones or speakers for audio mixing, and, to make spending hours at your computer more comfortable, a good keyboard and mouse (we use Logitech equipment).

If you’re filming yourself, then you’re also going to want a good camera, like the Lumix GH series, or a BlackMagic camera, though a modern phone also has good recording capabilities, and many people like the aesthetic of a webcam.

This may seem like overkill in places, but the reality is, the better your equipment when you begin, the more you’re setting yourself up for quality recordings, which will really help you stand out from the crowd and look professional.

Learn

This is not going to be particularly fun, but learning how to edit, how to film yourself, and how to make thumbnails are all skills worth investing in. If you’re going to start a YouTube channel, you NEED to learn these things.

There are tons of resources online that will help with these things, including a whole load of videos on the Finzar channel and our very own Storezar YouTube channel. If you really want to take things to the next level, then check out our how to edit in Premiere Pro for beginners‘ course, which will elevate your videos to the next level. We also offer presets for Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve that can speed up your editing workflow while making your videos look professional.

Ideas

OK, so you have the equipment and the skills, now comes trying to figure out what the hell to make your YouTube channel about. Really, you probably have an idea of what type of content you want to make, whether it’s gaming videos or vlogs.

This is totally up to you, but what we will say is, don’t overthink it and worry about, “I need to pick a niche and stick to that for the next year.” That’s not always what works, and can lead to burnout very quickly (more on that later).

The best thing you can do is just make a video about whatever you want to make a video about, and just do it. Have fun and make a video. The moment you upload, you’re far beyond most average people who have never uploaded anything, and you’re one step closer to becoming a successful YouTuber.

The First Video

Even if you’ve followed all these steps so far, your first video will probably suck. But really, do not worry at all. Everyone’s first video is messy. Finzar’s was so messy that it’s no longer on the channel. But he put it out there, and that’s what matters. You may think you look like an idiot, that it doesn’t look a million bucks, but you will get there. Trust us.

Second Video

The first few videos will be your evolutionary peak, where you will be excited and pumped to keep making more and more videos. Keep it going, enjoy those early moments and interactions with new fans. Trends can lead to early virality, but can die quickly. Try things, anything! Your first video might be gaming. Your second might be a film review. Your third might be relationship advice.

The point is, the world is your oyster, and you will soon see what begins popping off on your channel, and what’s not working. You’ll also discover what you enjoy making content about, which is half the battle. Because if you enjoy making the content, then you will be in this for the long game, and your future audience will see your joy in the videos you’re making and hit that subscribe button.

One Hundredth Video

If you get to this stage, it’s likely you will have come on leaps and bounds when it comes to video quality, and you will understand your purpose on the platform a little bit more.

Many channels at this point in their journey figure out their angle and what makes them different from other channels. A lot of the time, that can come down to how you edit, how you present yourself or the information you’re sharing, or simply your personality.

Hopefully, you will have found a thing which you can put your spin on. For Finzar, that was editing upcoming YouTubers. For someone like Dantic, that was luxury travelling for gamers. The point is, you will find the thing that fits you, the thing you’ve been chiselling away at for ages now, and hopefully, the engine is well-oiled and ready to be run for a little while.

Burn0ut

So many creators, at this stage, will burn out. If you’re really focused on purely one type of video – like, let’s say, Minecraft content – you might be bored of that style. The best thing you can do is take a minute to refocus on why you started this channel and what you enjoy doing. This is why we said to focus on what you like to do, because you’re the only one who can drive yourself to keep going.

Creating YouTube content is also fickle. If you’re not enjoying what you’re doing, that will come across in a video, which will then put off viewers. So if you’re making Minecraft videos, maybe think of a way to put an enjoyable spin on that. For Finzar, that meant going from editing tutorials to editing challenges, and trying out a few very different styles of video along the way. The key is to be kind to yourself. A video you had to force yourself to make that ends up doing just OK is way worse than a video you enjoyed making that ends up underperforming.

At the end of the day, you need to feel good about what you’re doing, and that will come off in the videos you make and attract the audience you want. So, believe in yourself and give it a go! You’ve got this.