How to Create a YouTube Video in 9 Simple Steps

As the largest video-sharing platform in the world, thousands of hours of video content are uploaded to YouTube every day. The sheer popularity of this platform encourages brands to make a YouTube video whenever they need to launch or promote a product. However, you will be surprised to learn that most videos do not perform well on this platform. The top 10% of videos account for 79% of YouTube views.

If you want to see your videos make it to the top 10%, it is important for you to strategize, film, and edit them to perfection. For novice video content creators, creating such a video may seem like a Herculean task. Taking a step-by-step approach will help you create such videos regularly. To help you out of the dilemma, here is a guide to creating YouTube videos.

Step 1: Be Clear YouTube Strategy

If you want your videos to succeed on YouTube, you need to plan your content. Start by identifying your target audience. When you have a picture of the people who will watch your video, you can gauge the taste, demographics, and interests of your target audience. If you are unsure of the relevant keywords, you can use YouTube’s auto recommendation engine.

After you have listed out the keywords, try to analyze the first few video results by running an actual search on the keywords. That way, you can plan your video content after you have identified the search intent. Listing the pros and cons of your content ideas will help you strategize your YouTube videos.

Step 2: Try Different Types of Video

YouTube is a free platform and allows you to upload all types of video content. While influencers upload product reviews or unboxing videos to demonstrate the features of a product, industry veterans prefer explainer videos where they illustrate their opinion on a niche topic.

Brands use testimonial videos to convince potential customers about the utility of their product or the effectiveness of the service. To do justice to your YouTube efforts, you need to have a clear picture of the results that you expect from the video. Ideally, you should try to create different types of video content and then gauge their performance to see which one is the most suitable for your audience.

Step 3: Arrange the Equipment

No battle can be won without the appropriate ammunition, and YouTube video making is no exception to this. The choice of camera will be dictated by your budget, and you can go for DSLRs, digital cameras, or camcorders. These days most smartphones record in HD and 4K resolutions, and you can use them for filming your YouTube videos.

A podcast mic should suffice as your audio equipment. Alternatively, you can use your smartphone for the audio recording. While you can procure a ring light or choose to film your video in natural light, we recommend that you do not mix multiple sources of lights during the filming. Your editing proficiency and the video quality expectations will dictate the choice of software. Luckily for you, there is editing software available for every budget.

Step 4: Decide the Details of Your Shoots

Depending on the type of YouTube videos that you wish to create, plan your shoots. Ideally, the planning begins with the scripting phase, where you come up with a story that has a hook to attract the audience, an introduction, the video content, and finally, the call-to-action.

That way, you will have a mental image of how you want the video to pan out, and you can then go for location hunting. We recommend that you have a production schedule and a shot list handy before you begin the filming.

Step 5: Prepare to Record the Video Clip

At this stage, all your pre-production tasks are done and dusted. You now need to focus on recording the video. Try to get multiple shots of the same frame, as that will help in your storytelling and editing.

For example, wide-angle shots add context to the frame, while medium shots are effective in connecting footages. Make sure that you shoot in ample lighting and that the audio is loud and clear. If you can film your video in multiple small stages, it will be helpful in the editing stage.

Step 6: Edit Your Video

While there are several video editing tools for you to choose from, InVideo offers the maximum editing options. You have over 500 video templates, and the super intuitive interface ensures that you can create professional-quality videos even when you do not have prior video editing experience.

InVideo also gives you access to a dynamic media library and you can choose stock images, music, or videos as per your need. There is a free version of the tool for those on a tight budget. For others who want to experience all the features of InVideo, the paid version starts at a mere $10 per month.

If you want a larger library of royalty-free music, try Artlist. Use this Artlist promo code to get 2 months free.

Step 7: Upload the Video

The seventh stage is the easiest in your video-making journey. YouTube allows you to upload a video from the web browser of your PC as well as the iOS or Android app of your handheld device. With video editing tools such as InVideo, you can directly upload your edited content on YouTube without having to download it on your device.

Step 8: Optimise Your YouTube Content

The process of YouTube video creation does not end with you posting the content online. Optimizing the video is an essential part of ensuring that it reaches the target audience. When the video title and description have the appropriate keywords, you will notice an improvement in its visibility. The addition of tags to your videos will help you ensure that the content reaches the correct audience.

Thumbnails play an instrumental role in helping YouTube viewers decide whether to watch a video. Ideally, the thumbnail should complement the video title so that viewers have a clear understanding of what to expect.

Step 9: Promote Your Content

To make the most of your YouTube videos, you need to ensure that your hard work reaches the audience. Adding transcriptions, end screens, YouTube cards, and creating playlists are efficient ways of promoting your content. YouTube analytics can give you the data to understand which of your videos are performing well. When you have this data, you can focus on repurposing the popular videos to improve your brand reach.

The 9 tips that we spoke about in this article take you through the ins and outs of YouTube video creation. Understand that video creation is a personal journey and what works for others may not be feasible for you. As you take a step-by-step approach, it will be easier for you to identify the video-making hacks that are suitable for your brand.