Some people use YouTube to upload their granddaughter’s performance of “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” just for fun, while others put weeks of work into their content to make it impossible for viewers to stop watching.
Now, you can choose either route, but one of them will make you money while the other will not—unless the granddaughter is the next Mariah Carey, then that’s another story. Here’s how you can make YouTube your full-time career.
Stick to a Schedule
One of the main things that viewers and customers rely on is consistency. They want to see that you’re uploading content regularly and not just a one-hit wonder. Posting content consistently is a great way to ensure your viewers keep coming back for more.
Remember that although you want to post regularly, resist the temptation to post a video before it’s ready to meet deadlines. Only quality videos earn a profit.
Try to aim for posting a video every other week to ensure you create a routine for yourself in terms of research, filming, and editing.
Treat It Like a Business
To build your YouTube channel like a business, you must treat it as such. Create a plan, a budget, and develop skills that will push you forward.
This includes using YouTube Analytics to track how your content performs to ensure you’re getting the most views, watch time, and CTR (click-through rate).
Sure, the creation part may be more fun for you, but if you want your channel to succeed and earn you enough money to take it full-time, you’ve got to fall in love with the data. The data drives the numbers, which, in turn, controls the revenue you make per video.
Make Your Content Unique
Do you have content that appeals to a niche audience? Great! If not, find a way that makes your videos unique to you. Hundreds of thousands of YouTube creators stream themselves playing video games, but only a few creators, like Markiplier and videogamedunkey, make it to the top.
Infuse your content with your personality and unique features that make your videos pop. Ask yourself what makes your videos special, and if you can’t come up with anything, it’s time to rethink your strategy!
Invest in Quality Equipment
One can generally tell when someone films a video with a phone, under certain lighting (or lack of), or without a proper mic. If you want to be a successful YouTuber, you must invest in quality equipment. This includes using excellent tools to help create your content and make it look and sound good.
If you make content that requires a green screen, you’ll need to understand the basic camera settings when shooting on a green screen. Utilizing additional equipment beyond the basic tools can increase your content value and, in turn, increase your earnings.
By taking the above steps to make YouTube your full-time career, you’ll be ready to leave your day job and start creating full-time! Getting paid to do what you love; isn’t that the goal?