If I Started a YouTube Channel in 2024, I'd Do This

Summary

This video script offers a comprehensive three-level framework for aspiring YouTubers, based on the creator's six years of experience. It starts with the 'Get Going' phase, encouraging beginners to create their first three videos without overthinking. The 'Get Good Enough' phase follows, focusing on improving video-making skills with seven more videos. Finally, 'Get Smart' involves understanding YouTube's growth mechanics through click, watch time, and satisfaction. The script emphasizes the importance of finding a niche, building systems for efficiency, and treating YouTube as a serious business venture for long-term success.

Takeaways

• 😀 Starting a YouTube channel involves a three-part framework called the 'Part-time YouTuber Blueprint', derived from six years of experience.
• 🏁 Level One focuses on 'Get Going', encouraging creators to make their first three videos without overthinking, to understand their comfort with video creation.
• 🔑 The first step is crucial as it overcomes the initial hurdle of simply starting a channel and making those initial videos.
• 🤔 Overthinking, such as worrying about niche selection or potential negative reactions, can be a significant barrier to starting a YouTube channel.
• 🎨 Level Two is about 'Get Good (enough)', where creators make seven more videos to improve their skills in various aspects of video production.
• 🛠️ During the 'Get Good' phase, it's advised not to worry about niche selection but to focus on enhancing the craft of video making.
• 🔄 After ten videos, creators face a choice: to treat YouTube casually or commit to a more serious, consistent approach, akin to a 'serious relationship'.
• 🧠 Level Three is 'Get Smart', where understanding the core metrics that YouTube values—clicks, watch time, and satisfaction—is essential for channel growth.
• 🎯 The importance of titles, thumbnails, and video concepts cannot be overstated, as they are key to earning viewer clicks and engagement.
• 📈 Watch time is a critical signal for YouTube's algorithm, indicating that viewers are receiving value from the content and leading to further promotion.
• 📊 Satisfaction is increasingly important, with YouTube using various signals, including surveys, to gauge viewer contentment and satisfaction.
• 📈 Strategy involves identifying a clear target audience and value proposition, standing out in a crowded market with a unique edge or competitive advantage.
• 🛑 Systems and processes are vital for operationalizing and scaling a YouTube channel efficiently, especially when balancing it with other life commitments.
• 📚 The 'Part-time YouTuber Academy' course offers a structured approach to building a YouTube channel, including systems for efficiency and scaling.
• 📢 The final live cohort of the 'Part-time YouTuber Academy' is scheduled for April and May 2023, with increased scholarship opportunities available.

Q & A

What is the 'Part-Time YouTuber Blueprint' mentioned in the script?

The 'Part-Time YouTuber Blueprint' is a three-part framework designed to guide someone starting a YouTube channel from scratch, based on the speaker's six years of experience. It includes steps to get started, improve video-making skills, and understand the strategies for growing a channel.

What are the three levels of the 'Part-Time YouTuber Blueprint'?

The three levels are: Level one - 'Get Going', which is about making the first three videos; Level two - 'Get Good', focusing on improving video-making skills through the next seven videos; and Level three - 'Get Smart', which involves understanding the game of YouTube and developing a strategy for growth.

Why is making the first three videos important according to the script?

Making the first three videos is crucial because it helps overcome the initial hurdle of starting a YouTube channel. It allows the creator to get a feel for video-making and to see if they enjoy the process, without worrying too much about the niche or overthinking.

What is the significance of committing to making at least one video a week?

Committing to making at least one video a week signifies taking YouTube seriously, akin to being in a serious relationship. Consistency is key to channel growth, as it shows dedication and helps in building an audience over time.

What are the three key factors that YouTube cares about for growing a channel?

The three key factors are: click-through rate (CTR), watch time, and viewer satisfaction. These metrics are crucial for the YouTube algorithm to promote videos to a larger audience.

How does the script suggest improving video-making skills in Level two?

In Level two, the focus is on making the next seven videos while actively trying to improve various aspects of video-making, such as titles, thumbnails, filming, storytelling, editing, and understanding analytics, without worrying about the niche.

What is the importance of understanding the 'game' of YouTube in Level three?

Understanding the 'game' of YouTube in Level three is about recognizing the platform's priorities, such as click-through rate, watch time, and viewer satisfaction. This understanding helps in formulating effective strategies to grow the channel.

How does the script define a 'niche' in the context of YouTube?

In the script, a 'niche' is defined as a combination of a target audience and the value provided to them. It's about identifying who the content is aimed at and what unique value or service the content offers to that audience.

What is the role of 'strategy' in growing a YouTube channel according to the script?

Strategy involves understanding the market and identifying one's unique edge or competitive advantage. It's about standing out in a crowded market by offering something different or more valuable than what's already available.

How does the script suggest managing the time commitment required for YouTube?

The script suggests building systems, processes, tools, and templates to operationalize and scale a YouTube channel efficiently. This approach allows for effective content creation within a limited time frame, such as 5 to 10 hours a week.

What is the 'Part-Time YouTuber Academy' and its significance?

The 'Part-Time YouTuber Academy' is a course that teaches systems and strategies to build and grow a YouTube channel, especially for those who cannot commit full-time. It includes live cohorts and offers scholarships, aiming to help students scale their channels like a business.